I have a deep and abiding love for southern cooking and cuisine.
Who knew that tea could be served any other way than loaded with sugar and over ice, and that you could actually eat vegetables that hadn’t been soaked in batter, dredged in cornmeal, and deep fried?Southern cooking is not for the faint of heart, though it can cause many hearts to grow faint. One thing that can be said is that you’ll never find anything else like it on earth.
Not all vegetables were deep fried though, few were off limits. I remember eating my share of fried okra, fried squash, and yes, fried green tomatoes. Life was good back when calories weren’t counted and no one really worried about clogging arteries. While I wouldn’t make these daily dishes in any household, I certainly would recommend trying them out if you ever find the opportunity.
Perhaps it’s the seasonings that are often used when cooking southern food. Trust me, I know you’d love to get your hands on the secret ingredient that almost every southern kitchen contains for their fried chicken recipes…you know, the one that only Grandma knows. Perhaps it’s the Sunday church dinners where everyone shares a little of what they have with others, or the love that goes into preparing these meals that are shared with family and friends. Whatever the case may be, if you ever have the occasion to experience real southern cooking, do not pass it up. You might shave a day off your life, but well worth the sacrifice if you ask me.
Of course we can’t go mentioning southern cooking without bringing up some of the more delicious desserts that seem to be perfection for the south. Treats such as banana pudding, bread pudding, lemon pies, pecan pies, sweet potato pies, mud cake, and good old fashion red velvet cake come to thought when thinking about the wonderfully delicious treats that southern cooking has introduced to the world at large. Oh my goodness, my mouth is watering as a write this article!
If you want to really treat your family to an outstanding meal, you should really try southern cooking for the night. While you are at, go ahead and invite me over too!
Happy southern eating. 