Skip to main content

The Southern Foodie by Chris Chamberlain



A couple of years ago, I had to go on a cookbook hiatus. We had too many, they were taking over. But The Southern Foodie, I rationalized was not just a cook book, but a travel log as well.

The idea behind The Southern Foodie is captured in the subtitle:  100 places to eat in the South before you die (and the recipe that made them famous). The book is divided by state and then each restaurant has a bio that explains not only what they serve, but a little of their history and what makes them great. There are recipes and pictures of the various ones through out.

We picked two for the purpose of review. And I want you to know that I also checked with my Southern friends and family to make sure that these restaurants were the real deal. Considering that we chose two from extremely small towns and both were known, I'm taking that to mean that the rest are going to be winners as well.

We made The Crown's Pavlova from The Crown in Town Restaurant in Indianola, MS. Even though it looked nothing like the picture, the entire family enjoyed every single morsel. It was a great dessert that came together easily with no specialty items. Which are key notions for most Southern cooking.

We also made Hattie Mae's Tomato Pie from Grits and Groceries in Belton, SC with homegrown tomatoes! It was delicious! I would eat it again, but I'm out of mayo. I'm also told that this restaurant isn't in Belton, but that's the closest land mark.

Overall, it's a great addition to our recipe library. If you want to take a trip through the South in your kitchen, this would be a great itinerary.

And since it's the end of tomato season here, I know that some of you need something to do with them, I'm going to share the recipe with you!!

Hattie Mae's Tomato Pie

4 ripe, but firm large tomatoes, sliced 1/4-inch thick
Salt
1 (9-inch) piecrust, chilled
1/2 cup finely diced onions
1/2 cup chopped fresh herbs, such as tarragon, oregano, parsley, and basil
Pepper
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 (degrees Fahrenheit). Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet and season with salt. Allow to sit for a few minutes until some of their water is drawn out. Pat dry with a paper towel. Place 1/2 of the tomatoes in the piecrust. Top with the onions and 2 tablespoons of the herbs, and season with salt and pepper. Layer the remaining tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Combine the mayonnaise, cheese, and remaining herbs in a small bowl. Spread the mixture on top of the pie. Bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown.

Makes 6 servings
The first layer!

Finished product!

If you make it, let me know what you think!!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hospitality for the Rest of Us: Long Distance

People are moving more and more. When I was a youngster, it was a rare instance for a friend to move away. Now it's me that moves away. We've moved a lot, especially when we first got married. It was something like five addresses and three states in the first four years of our marriage. We've slowed down a bit. In the midst of all that moving, we've made some friends along the way. I try to keep an open line in case of times of grief and celebration. One of the best tools I've found for keeping in touch with loved ones far away is Facebook. As much time as I could spend doing other things instead of checking it, it's the best thing I've found. It allows me to communicate with others, without having to call. I know calling is amazing, hearing people's voices, but for introverts, there are no body language clues for us to pick up on that help make our conversations easier. It's also why we prefer to video chat :-) Back to Facebook, some etiquette.
Post a Comment
Read more

Stories from the Kitchen: Taste and See

I celebrated my birthday last weekend. It was wonderful and the leftovers left me with a question or two. Find out what they are and how I'm currently answering them in this week's podcast. Stories from the Kitchen Season 2, Episode 2: Taste and See Notes from the episode: Taste and See by Margaret Feinberg Dad’s New York Cheesecake (from the back of a Philidelphia Cream Cheese package) 1 ⅞ cups graham cracker crumbs ¼ to ½ cup butter, melted 1 cup sugar, divided 2 lbs cream cheese (4 packs) 2 large eggs (lightly beaten) 1 tsp vanilla 2 tbsp cornstarch 1 cup sour cream Preheat oven to 450F Mix well graham crackers, 2 tbsp sugar, and enough butter that the mixture holds together. Reserve 2 tbsp for garnish. Press mixture onto bottom and sides of a greased 9-inch springform pan. Chill in the freezer while preparing the filling. Mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth and light. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and cornstarch until just blended. S
Post a Comment
Read more

Tasty Tuesday: Roasted Broccoli

I ran across this recipe on Pinterest the other day that was labeled " The Best Broccoli Of Your Life. " I normally either steam our broccoli in the microwave or saute it with olive oil and red pepper flakes on the stove top. I decided this would be something to try. I did the salt, pepper and olive oil part of the recipe. I didn't have the majority of the other ingredients. In fact, all I had was a little bit of Parmesan  It was wonderful. Not the best broccoli of my life, but honestly, it was pretty close. And if I had the lemon juice and all that jazz, it may very well be the best. What have you been eating lately?
Post a Comment
Read more