Essentials of Southern Cooking

Book excerpt: An authentic collection of recipes celebrating Southern traditions. Southern cooking as most people think of it doesn’t exist. After all, there are as many ways to make real corn bread, gumbo or fried chicken as there are cooks. Instead of dwelling on conventional notions of authenticity, Essentials of Southern Cooking honors the spirit, the history, the people, and the taste of the classic Southern table by focusing on the essence of great Southern food and combining traditional ingredients in fresh ways. In this tempting collection of over 250 recipes, author Damon Lee Fowler balances the enduring appeal of rural Southern flavors with the modern sensibilities of today’s cook. It’s an engaging and informative look at the heritage of Southern cuisine. Sampling of recipes: Creamy Chicken Pot Pies Sweet Potato Cobbler Scalloped Oysters Lowcountry Crab au Gratin Baked Vidalia Sweet Onions with Ham Bourbon-Grilled Flank Steak Shrimp Étouffée Pecan-Crusted Cat Fish Butter-Bean and Okra Ragout Old-Fashioned Southern Shortcake