My social life was really amped up this month, so I didn’t get to try as many of For the Love of the South recipes as I wanted to. A few that I had planned but didn’t have the time for were the pecan, honey and sea salt milk (pg. 70), cheddar and rosemary wafers (pg. 98) and the at-home shrimp boil (pg. 162). However, those I did get a chance to try were great – especially the three below. I guess I subconsciously saved the best for last.
I found all of these recipes to be pretty simple. No overly fancy ingredients or expensive gadgets needed. I whipped up most of these with items in my pantry, with limited runs to the grocery store.
You should buy this book if…
You resonate with Southern food, hospitality and culture.
Your cast iron skillet needs some love.
You’re not afraid of a little hot oil.
April Cookbook: For the Love of the South: Recipes and Stories from My Southern Kitchen by Amber Wilson
I started off this week with okra in two ways – skillet-fried okra (pg. 133) and cayenne-fried okra with chive sauce (pg. 89). Yes, it’s a little early for fresh okra, but I was determined to make fried okra this month. It just wouldn't be right to do a Southern cookbook without it. Luckily, I managed to find some at Sprouts! Despite my love for okra, this was my first time making it myself. I anticipated the cayenne-fried being my favorite, as it is what I’m most used to, but I actually preferred the skillet-fried. I’ll be making this version of okra all summer long!
With a friend coming into town and my calendar stacked with meetings, I didn’t have time for much cooking this week, but the trout with pecans (pg. 169) seemed like a simple enough dish. The recipe name may seem lackluster, but this was one of my favorites of the month! Growing up near the Gulf, there are few things I enjoy more than perfectly cooked fish with a squeeze of lemon. The pecans toasted in brown butter didn’t hurt either! This will be another go-to recipe for me from now on.
Thanks for reading, sweeties! 🍎
I LOVE your silverware!! The food looks delish too!
This cookbook looks right up my alley; you may need to bring it this summer and cook for me :)