Miss Mary's Down-Home Cooking

Book excerpt: This is mouth-watering, authentic Southern cooking at its best, courtesy of Miss Mary Bobo, whose boarding house down-home dishes have made her justly famous. For 80 years, anyone lucky enough to pass through tiny Lynchburg, Tennessee, could taste her appetizing, remarkably economical, and easy-to-fix meals. The recipes were passed from mother to daughter, and now 120 of them are here so anyone can prepare them right at home. Whip up traditional, finger-licking favorites such as Skillet Corn Bread, rich and hearty Country Fried Steak with Buttermilk Gravy, and fresh and luscious Peach Cobbler. Make classic Southern specialties: Hush Puppies, Hoppin' John (spiced up black-eyed peas, ham hocks, and rice, only eaten on New Year's Day), and the most delicately crisp Fried Chicken ever. There are flaky biscuits; wonderful gelatin molds; holiday treats; and to-die-for desserts, including a spectacular, incomparable four-layer Fresh Coconut Cake. Plus: a look at Miss Mary's personal story.