What is Southern cooking?

For me, Southern cooking is a way of life. It’s more than just a recipe, a pot of fried chicken, or fresh biscuits. It’s that welcoming sense of warmth that you feel after eating this wonderful food. It’s saying “Hey y’all,” with a grin to a stranger, or opening a door for someone. It’s hospitality on a plate.

When I set out to write the Southern Cooking Bible, I wanted to keep all this in mind. And I remembered the great cookbooks that I grew up with in the past. You know, the ones that you got from your momma and your grandmother, with tattered and worn pages, and recipes that never fail. Well, I wanted to make that. I knew that this cookbook was going to be special to me, and I wanted it to be special for y’all as well, this cookbook is filled with over 300 hundred Southern recipes that I’ve come across in all my years of cooking.

Recipes for Every Course
It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a recipe for a baby shower, dessert, or side dish; there are recipes for everything! For the past few weeks, I’ve been teasing y’all with a brand new recipe from the cookbook. Well, believe me, there’s more where came from. Now you’ll recognize some of the recipes, like The Lady’s Cheesy Mac or my Famous Foolproof Standing Rib Roast.  But there are tons of new ones that I can’t wait to share, like Artichoke and Smoked Cheddar Bake, Decadent Double Chocolate Cream Pie, or the Perfect Char-Grilled Filet Mignon.

Helping Hands
Have you read a recipe and thought, “Now how in the heck am I supposed to do that?” I know I have, and I’m sure plenty of you have as well. The Southern Cooking Bible is meant to be a teaching tool, in addition to being a cookbook. That’s why many of the recipes have helpful illustrations that accompany some of their trickier steps, like how to peel and devein a shrimp properly.

Takeaway Tips
One thing that I love the most about this cookbook is that each recipe comes with little nuggets of wisdom that I thought everyone should know. There are tips and recipe variations and plenty of substitutions.

Being Southern, we strongly believe in tradition. We have this inherent need to pass our heritage down to our children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren. And in a way, I feel like I’m doing just that with this cookbook. It’s important to me that I share the specialness and traditions of Southern cooking with you, because well, I just wouldn’t be a good Southerner if I didn’t!

As always, I’m sending y’all love and best dishes, from my kitchen to yours.

Love,
Paula

Order your copy of Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible today!