My Southern Food – A Review {and a giveaway!} |

My Southern Food – A Review {and a giveaway!}

Filed under Muffins/Quick Breads

Apr 7
Don’t forget to enter my other current giveaways:

$100 Visa Card – Stouffers ends 4/11/2011

$100 Visa Card – Purina Pro Plan Selects ends 5/4/2011

Betty Crocker’s Big Book of Cupcakes ends 4/11/2011

and a copy of this cookbook – details at the bottom of this post!

CONTEST CLOSED – THE 3 WINNERS ARE 4SISTERS, SHARONJO & SWEET AND SAVORY. WATCH FOR AN EMAIL FROM ME – CONGRATS!

One of my favorite parts of having a food blog is when I have the opportunity to review a cookbook. There is little that is more exciting to me than opening up a new cookbook and getting to flip through the pages, trying to narrow down what I want to make first. Sometimes it’s easy to narrow down the recipes, but sometimes, you get a cookbook that ends up with sticky notes stuck through many of the pages – the recipes begging to be made. This was one such cookbook. Normally, I like to do 4 recipes for a cookbook review. But I just couldn’t narrow this one down!! I ended up making 5 recipes, but believe me – I will be cooking more from this cookbook!!

This cookbook also had an added bonus that I truly loved. Throughout the book are quotes – and I was truly smitten by them. They made me want to move to the south and become a true Southern lady. Things like “Memories happen when I bite into a recipe that I know was my grandmother’s. I remember her hands…arthritis, age spots, and reddened skin from years of washing dishes by hand, and a simple wedding ring that she never took off her finger.” I seriously loved every single one of the quotes in this book!!

Number of Photos: some

Ok, so this is a little misleading. There are some photos in the book, but very few of actual finished dishes. Mostly photos of families or ingredients. I’m a total photo lover, so usually I’m disappointed when there aren’t lots of photos, but for some reason, it doesn’t bother me that much in this book. Maybe it’s because I was distracted and entertained by the quotes!

Difficulty Level of Recipes: easy

Looking through the book, I think most beginners could make most of these recipes. There doesn’t seem to be lots of steps or complicated instructions. Just down home cooking!

Availability of Ingredients:easy

The majority of the ingredients are everyday ingredients. I did see a couple of recipes that had an ingredient that might be hard to come by.

And here’s what I made!

Maw Maw’s Mystery Pie

There are so many pie recipes in this cookbook that I want to try, but the story behind this one is what got me! The author – Devon O’Day – said that her Maw Maw made this pie for her for a birthday once, and she requested the pie every birthday after that. She asked her Maw Maw what kind of pie it was, and she told her that she didn’t know. She called it a “Misty” pie, or a Mystery pie. The recipe was found in Maw Maw’s bible after she died. I just couldn’t resist making it, knowing it had such a touching history! This really tasted like a bit of summer. I did cheat and used a store bought pie crust, simply because I had one in the fridge that I needed to use. The only complaint I had with this pie is that the pineapple becomes a bit runny, but after some time in the refrigerator, it wasn’t really an issue.

Pineapple Chiller

So, I’m not usually one for fancy drinks. I’m mostly a water drinker – with a Diet Coke thrown in there every once in awhile – but it’s pretty rare that I drink, much less make, different drinks. For some reason, this cookbook is making me want to change all that. There are several drinks in this book, and I wanted to make just about every one of them!! (So be prepared to see more drink recipes here!) This was delicious and refreshing. And yes – another one that made it feel like summer. I can see myself making these in the dead of summer, enjoying one while I sit on the porch and watch my daughter playing in the yard!

Creamy Dill New Potato Casserole

What’s not to love in this one?? Potatoes, sour cream, dill, cheese, bacon. With a list of ingredient like that, I knew it was going to be a winner. And it was. Simple to put together, and a great side dish. It was even good cold the next day!

Marinated Country Pork Ribs

The only problem with this recipe was my own problem. The only country ribs my grocery store had were boneless ones, and I’m a girl who likes the bones in her ribs. This was a good recipe, but I think it would have been great if I would have had bone-in ribs!

Peanut Butter Muffins

Go figure that a muffin recipe is my favorite of all the recipes I tried!! These muffins are divine. They made the house smell like peanut butter cookies as they baked, and they were a delicious breakfast treat. I loved everything about them: the texture, the sweetness, the moistness… I wouldn’t change a thing on these! And since we are a muffin loving family, I know these will make another showing very, very soon!!

Overall thoughts…

Overall, this was really a great cookbook. I didn’t have any major issues with any of the recipes I tried, and like I mentioned before, there are plenty more recipes I want to try from this cookbook! I would definitely say this is one I’d recommend – especially if you love southern cooking!

Peanut Butter Muffins
slightly adapted from My Southern Food

makes 12-18 muffins

1/3 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 large eggs, beaten
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a muffin tin; set aside.

Place the butter in a large bowl. Gradually add 1 cup of brown sugar, the salt and the vanilla and cream together until fluffy. Add the peanut butter, continuing to blend. Set aside.

In another bowl, beat the eggs well. Add the remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar and mix until completely blended. Stir into the creamed mixture gradually, mixing until completely blended.

In another bowl, sift together the baking powder and flour. Gradually add the dry ingredients and the milk alternately to the creamed mixture, mixing well after each addition. Pour in the prepared muffin tin and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

——————————————

And the giveaway!!

The publisher of this cookbook, Thomas Nelson Publishing, had generously offered up 3 copies of this cookbook for me to giveaway! Want to win one?

Here’s how you can enter:

Mandatory: Comment below and tell me your favorite southern dish/recipe.

Extra entries:
*Follow Taste and Tell on Facebook
*Share this giveaway with your Facebook friends
*Follow Taste and Tell on Twitter
*Tweet about this giveaway
*Follow Taste and Tell via RSS feed.

Note: for any of the extra entries, make sure you leave a separate comment for each.

*This giveaway is open to US residents.
*This giveaway will be open from today until Wednesday, April 13th at midnight MDT. The winner will be announced on April 14th.

Disclosure: I received a free copy for this review. The publisher is also providing the copies that are being given away. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.
125 Comments

125 Responses to “My Southern Food – A Review {and a giveaway!}”

Topher said on April 7th, 2011 at 12:58 pm

I'd say either chicken fried steak or a classic coconut layered cake. Thanks!

Chris M.

zekks at yahoo dot com
Joan said on April 7th, 2011 at 1:02 pm

Fried Chicken and pecan pie!
Joan said on April 7th, 2011 at 1:03 pm

… followed on FB!
Laurin said on April 7th, 2011 at 1:14 pm

Shrimp and grits! Yum Yum Yum!
Danielle said on April 7th, 2011 at 1:32 pm

I'm a true southern girl so picking just one thing is very hard. I think I'd go with biscuits and gravy though!
Danielle said on April 7th, 2011 at 1:32 pm

I follow you with Google reader.
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions said on April 7th, 2011 at 2:22 pm

I love Southern food! This cookbook sounds delightful. I love cookbooks with personal stories attached to each recipe.
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions said on April 7th, 2011 at 2:23 pm

I am a facebook follower!
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions said on April 7th, 2011 at 2:23 pm

I follow on twitter!
LRAtRandom said on April 7th, 2011 at 2:29 pm

I agree with Danielle, biscuits and gravy!

Jen
Lratrandom@gmail.com
Http://lratrandom.blogspot.com/
LRAtRandom said on April 7th, 2011 at 2:30 pm

Following on Twitter

Jen
Lratrandom@gmail.com
Danielle said on April 7th, 2011 at 2:36 pm

I love Shrimp and Grits!
Danielle said on April 7th, 2011 at 2:36 pm

I follow!
Sweet and Savory said on April 7th, 2011 at 2:49 pm

Another great giveaway! I love fried chicken, although I've never made it myself!
Sweet and Savory said on April 7th, 2011 at 2:49 pm

I follow on facebook!
Val said on April 7th, 2011 at 2:56 pm

That pie looks very similar to my MawMaw's buttermilk pie that she used to make all the time… Made it a couple of years ago but it was nowhere near as good as hers, although I used her recipe! Other Southern faves – fried green tomatoes, okra and tomatoes, poppyseed chicken, Red Velvet cake, and the list goes on and on! That cookbook looks delightful!
Ang said on April 7th, 2011 at 3:00 pm

Fried Green Tomatoes~Yum!
rachel said on April 7th, 2011 at 3:02 pm

My favorite southern food is hands down chicken fried steak!
Karen said on April 7th, 2011 at 3:16 pm

Fried chicken!
Jazz said on April 7th, 2011 at 3:20 pm

oh wow! these look scrumptious! going to have to try them soon, maybe even cook them on Easter..

Thanks, Love from dutch cooking
Elizabeth said on April 7th, 2011 at 3:37 pm

I didn't grow up with southern food so my only experience with it is at restaurants such as Cracker Barrel. There I can't get past the French Toast, probably not considered a southern food, but its so good I can't help it.

But at a BBQ place I did try Fried Okra and absolutely loved it.
Elizabeth said on April 7th, 2011 at 3:37 pm

I follow on facebook.
Elizabeth said on April 7th, 2011 at 3:37 pm

I follow with google reader.
Desi said on April 7th, 2011 at 3:54 pm

I love cornbread, hushpuppies, and good ole fried chicken when cooked right

vickdn@live.com
Julie said on April 7th, 2011 at 4:17 pm

All those dishes look great…my son is always wanting me to make him a pineapple pie My favorite southern dish? Probably my mother's fried chocolate pies!
Kim said on April 7th, 2011 at 4:25 pm

This sounds like a great book and I also love it when cookbooks have quotes like the ones you mentioned. Everything you made looks heavenly, especially the pb muffins

My favorite southern food is probably pimento cheese.
Kim said on April 7th, 2011 at 4:25 pm

Happy follower:)
Kim said on April 7th, 2011 at 4:25 pm

On facebook too:)
Rhondi said on April 7th, 2011 at 4:29 pm

Fried chicken and apple pie are tied being my favorites!
Rhondi said on April 7th, 2011 at 4:30 pm

I'm a FB follower
Rhondi said on April 7th, 2011 at 4:31 pm

I follow by RSS too
Joanne said on April 7th, 2011 at 5:00 pm

I definitely haven't dabbled in southern food much at all, but I do love a good bowl of grits! This sounds like one great cookbook!
Charlie and Jessica said on April 7th, 2011 at 5:03 pm

Favorite foods from the south are definitely fried chicken, the good double breaded kind that has been sitting in buttermilk! Also, sweet tea, theres nothing like good southern sweet tea! This cookbook looks amazing
Charlie and Jessica said on April 7th, 2011 at 5:03 pm

Following on Facebook too
Charlie and Jessica said on April 7th, 2011 at 5:04 pm

Also follow you on twitter! @jashivers
Charlie and Jessica said on April 7th, 2011 at 5:06 pm

I tweeted about it! @jashivers Can you tell I'm excited about the book
Allison said on April 7th, 2011 at 5:07 pm

I often fantasize that I am living in the south. I so want to live in the south. I love everything about it including the food! Grits, cornbread, fried green tomatoes, gumbo, sweet tea, greens, sweet potato biscuits. Ugg I love it so much I can't pick one.
Jennifurla said on April 7th, 2011 at 5:18 pm

as other have said Shrimp & grits baby! That is my favorite for sure.
Kate said on April 7th, 2011 at 5:43 pm

Chicken mull or onion casserole! Hard to pick between all the others, but those are the first thing I thought of. (This time around, anyway.)

Kate
Kate said on April 7th, 2011 at 5:45 pm

I am an RSS subscriber!

Kate
Rosa's Yummy Yums said on April 7th, 2011 at 6:01 pm

A great book. A pity that the giveaway is only for US residents…

Those muffins must be terrific!

Cheers,

Rosa
Danielle said on April 7th, 2011 at 6:26 pm

I follow you on Google Reader!
Danielle said on April 7th, 2011 at 6:27 pm

Fried pickles. YUMMMMM!!!!
Danielle said on April 7th, 2011 at 6:27 pm

I like you on Facebook!
Kim said on April 7th, 2011 at 7:07 pm

RIBS! RIBS! RIBS! Yum, can't wait!
zookeeper said on April 7th, 2011 at 7:11 pm

Succotash. I don't know what it is, but I love good succotash!
zookeeper said on April 7th, 2011 at 7:19 pm

…followed on FB
zookeeper said on April 7th, 2011 at 7:19 pm

….followed on Twitter.
zookeeper said on April 7th, 2011 at 7:19 pm

……shared on FB.
zookeeper said on April 7th, 2011 at 7:19 pm

……and subscribed by RSS.
Lizzybee said on April 7th, 2011 at 7:41 pm

I'd love to win a copy please! Def fried chicken! lizzybee79@gmail.com
Dor said on April 7th, 2011 at 7:56 pm

I absolutely love sweet potato pie! dbenford@gmail.com
Dor said on April 7th, 2011 at 8:00 pm

I follow by RSS
Blair said on April 7th, 2011 at 8:09 pm

Pineapple Casserole! YUM
JC said on April 7th, 2011 at 8:54 pm

Fried green tomatoes!
JC said on April 7th, 2011 at 8:54 pm

I Follow Taste and Tell on Facebook
JC said on April 7th, 2011 at 8:55 pm

I follow Taste and Tell via RSS feed.
Heather said on April 7th, 2011 at 11:30 pm

I love Hummingbird Cake.
heatherspooner1981 at gmail dot com
bonnie said on April 7th, 2011 at 11:38 pm

pecan pie!!

sweetlife
Melly said on April 8th, 2011 at 3:23 am

Shrimp and grits.
mellisa.willis@sbcglobal.net
Melly said on April 8th, 2011 at 3:23 am

I follow on Google. Thanks!
mellisa.willis@sbcglobal.net
Kaitlin said on April 8th, 2011 at 3:36 am

Crawfish!!! yum yum
Melissa @IWasBornToCook said on April 8th, 2011 at 3:43 am

Fried chicken!
Melissa @IWasBornToCook said on April 8th, 2011 at 3:43 am

I follow you via RSS.
Melissa @IWasBornToCook said on April 8th, 2011 at 3:44 am

I'm a fan of yours on FB!
miltonmom said on April 8th, 2011 at 4:20 am

My all time favorite country food is tomato gravy w/biscuits or rice!! Add a slice or two of crispy bacon and I am in HEAVEN!!!
miltonmom said on April 8th, 2011 at 4:20 am

My all time favorite country food is tomato gravy w/biscuits or rice!! Add a slice or two of crispy bacon and I am in HEAVEN!!!
TheKeilShpeel said on April 8th, 2011 at 6:25 am

I follow Taste and tell on FB
TheKeilShpeel said on April 8th, 2011 at 6:25 am

I follow Taste and Tell on Twitter
TheKeilShpeel said on April 8th, 2011 at 6:26 am

My fav southern dish would be biscuits and gravy. and I have to say all those recipes you posted sounds sooo good.
Jenny Sunshine said on April 8th, 2011 at 10:41 am

Being in MN, southern food is almost as exotic as thai food- grits, greens, okra, fried green tomatoes are just not common place…. I did, however, make a gooey butter cake on New Year's after seeing the recipe online… be still my heart (but move my legs because I need to burn off calories just remembering it!)
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) said on April 8th, 2011 at 10:56 am

fave southern recipe…anything involving Jim Beam. Does that count?
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) said on April 8th, 2011 at 10:56 am

FB following
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) said on April 8th, 2011 at 10:56 am

twitter following
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) said on April 8th, 2011 at 10:56 am

in my reader/RSS feed
April @ PolkaDots n' PinkySwears said on April 8th, 2011 at 11:06 am

A big bowl of cheese grit! Can't beat it!!
April @ PolkaDots n' PinkySwears said on April 8th, 2011 at 11:08 am

FB fan!
April @ PolkaDots n' PinkySwears said on April 8th, 2011 at 11:08 am

Shared on FB.
April @ PolkaDots n' PinkySwears said on April 8th, 2011 at 11:08 am

Twitter follower.
momof2girls said on April 8th, 2011 at 12:46 pm

I love Chicken and Dumplings.

katiemur@gmail.com
momof2girls said on April 8th, 2011 at 12:47 pm

I like Taste and Tell on FB.

katiemur@gmail.com
momof2girls said on April 8th, 2011 at 12:47 pm

I follow with Google Reader.

katiemur@gmail.com
Melissa said on April 8th, 2011 at 1:54 pm

I love the Peanut Butter muffins and I always like Chicken Fried Steak!
Thanks for the giveaway!
~Melissa
Melissa said on April 8th, 2011 at 1:55 pm

I follow on Twitter!
@mblisa2
~Melissa
Ruth L said on April 8th, 2011 at 7:39 pm

Love southern food which is hard to come by in PA. Chicken fried steak, okra & tomatoes, grits, the list goes on and on.
123456 said on April 8th, 2011 at 7:54 pm

My favorite southern dish is Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes and cream gravy.

Julia

wtxgirl67 (at) gmail (dot) com
123456 said on April 8th, 2011 at 7:55 pm

I follow you on fb.
Stephanie said on April 8th, 2011 at 8:12 pm

My mom's red beans and rice recipe is my favorite. Her chicken fried steak is amazing too!
cmjhawaii said on April 9th, 2011 at 1:53 am

I just love collard greens and black eyed peas or pinto beans with a big ole ham shank.
flowerpower0097 at live dot com
cmjhawaii said on April 9th, 2011 at 1:54 am

following you on FB.
flowerpower0097 at live dot com
cmjhawaii said on April 9th, 2011 at 1:57 am

tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/cmjhawaii/status/56535976016748544
flowerpower0097 at live dot com
cmjhawaii said on April 9th, 2011 at 2:01 am

following on twitter
flowerpower0097 at live dot com
cmjhawaii said on April 9th, 2011 at 2:01 am

getting rss feed.
flowerpower0097 at live dot com
sharonjo said on April 9th, 2011 at 2:31 am

My favorite Southern recipe is Hummingbird Cake–with pecans, pineapple, and banana topped with cream cheese frosting. So yummy!
Thanks for the great giveaway.
sharonjo at gwtc dot net
sharonjo said on April 9th, 2011 at 2:32 am

I follow Taste and Tell on facebook.
(Sharon Olivier)
sharonjo at gwtc dot net
sharonjo said on April 9th, 2011 at 2:34 am

I follow Taste and Tell on twitter @sharonjo2
sharonjo at gwtc dot net
sharonjo said on April 9th, 2011 at 2:35 am

Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/sharonjo2/status/56545237434249216

sharonjo at gwtc dot net
sharonjo said on April 9th, 2011 at 2:36 am

I subscribe to your feed via Google reader.
sharonjo at gwtc dot net
Amanda Thompson said on April 9th, 2011 at 5:00 am

Biscuits smothered in sausage gravy!
Amanda Thompson said on April 9th, 2011 at 5:01 am

I follow by RSS.
Kelly said on April 9th, 2011 at 4:25 pm

I love chicken and dumplings!
Kelly said on April 9th, 2011 at 4:26 pm

I follow via rss.
Holly said on April 9th, 2011 at 6:44 pm

My favorite southern foods… Good old southern barbeque (pulled pork or ribs) with mac and cheese and slow cooked baked beans on the side! Yummy!!
E said on April 9th, 2011 at 8:57 pm

too bad there arent links to the recipes
Jess said on April 10th, 2011 at 2:06 am

Southern fried chicken. Mmm.
grace said on April 10th, 2011 at 7:31 am

peas and dumplins!
Heather said on April 10th, 2011 at 2:11 pm

Biscuits and gravy!
Elaine said on April 10th, 2011 at 3:06 pm

Fried chicken is my all-around favorite
Elaine said on April 10th, 2011 at 3:06 pm

I follow on Facebook.
Elaine said on April 10th, 2011 at 3:06 pm

I subscribe with with RSS.
Tiffany said on April 10th, 2011 at 10:29 pm

My favorite Southern meal is shrimp and grits.
Tiffany said on April 10th, 2011 at 10:30 pm

I also subscribe to your RSS feed in google reader.
4Sisters said on April 11th, 2011 at 2:57 pm

Fried Chicken along with some sweet tea!
4Sisters said on April 11th, 2011 at 2:58 pm

I subscribe to your feed!
Jumpin J's Mom said on April 11th, 2011 at 5:49 pm

I LOVE okra!
Linda716 said on April 12th, 2011 at 4:10 pm

Southern Food- Fried Green tomatoes!!!
Barbara said on April 13th, 2011 at 6:18 pm

I LOVE pecan pie!!!
Lindsey said on April 14th, 2011 at 4:41 am

I made the muffins and they are pretty good! They have a little hint of peanut butter in them. I wish they had a stronger taste but I did really like them!
Kat K. said on April 14th, 2011 at 7:36 am

Hush puppies and fried chicken…yum! Thanks.
TC said on April 14th, 2011 at 2:22 pm

Collard greens! yum!
mommabean said on April 14th, 2011 at 4:49 pm

Pecan pie!
mommabean said on April 14th, 2011 at 4:49 pm

I follow on FB!
Ashlie said on April 14th, 2011 at 7:26 pm

Pinto beans with cornbread – my ultimate comfort food!
Beckie Fulton said on April 15th, 2011 at 1:04 am

Hmmm . . . okra, fried green tomatoes, coconut layer cake, pecan pie . . . There are so many it’s hard to choose! After I make the peanut butter muffins, they’ll probably be added to the favorites list, also!
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