Georgia Boggs remembers a time when family and friends used to get together on the weekends, share a meal and socialize.

She longs for those days again.

“Every Sunday everybody brought a dish and everybody ate,” she said. “People stopped by, the minister stopped by… that doesn’t happen anymore. We are trying to encourage people to do those kinds of things again.”

Niles can get a taste of what Boggs is talking about during the third annual Taste of Soul Heritage Recipe Cook-Off from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Niles District Library.

Sponsored by the Niles branch of the NAACP and the library, the cook-off will feature dozens of dishes prepared by local people.

Registration is encouraged, but not required, to submit a dish.

Anyone can enter or just stop by to taste the dishes and vote for their favorite. The event is free.

Laura Hollister, of the library, said each person would get five beans upon arrival. Voting works by dropping beans in cups placed in front of each dish. The dish with the most beans at the end of the cook-off wins.

“You can drop one in for five different dishes or all five in one — it is up to you,” she said.

Hollister said attendees really enjoy hearing about the family history behind each dish.

“There is a special sense of community that is shared around a table, especially when the food has a history,” Hollister said. “It is a really casual, fun time.”

Any and all types of food are accepted.

Boggs said people could expect to see a variety of southern dishes from chicken and dressing to macaroni and cheese and fried corn.

“People really enjoy it,” she said. “It’s a great way to see different cultures and different foods.”

This year’s cook-off will be held in the rotunda. It has been held in the community room the past two years.

To register, call Boggs at (269) 683-3873 or Violet Webb at (269) 683-5086. People can also register by emailing Hollister at laura.hollister@nileslibrary.net.