To Paula Deen fans, who measure in the legions, the arrival of a new cookbook is cause for celebration. According to Paula, however, it is family that is the reason to celebrate. "I try to thank my beautiful family and acknowledge them every chance I have, but even if I do this every day for the rest of my life, it will never be enough. That's why I decided that it was time to go ahead and dedicate a book to them."
The recipe titles credit the source, revealing a very large extended family indeed, each with a few favorite dishes and most inclined to the down-home cooking that Deen favors. There are recipes for every course from soup to dessert along with a good supply of "Nibbles, Snacks and Sandwiches," and a section for what Deen calls "Good Food That's Good for You (or, Recipes for a Later Age." Deen being Deen puts the emphasis on tasty food, and none of those recipes are dry and inedible. "Those tend to be the ones that Michael and I enjoy a little more often these days to balance out all the pound cake and fried chicken! Eating a more moderate diet is something we all have to think about, especially as we get older. Making it all still taste delicious is a must for me -- otherwise it's right back to that fried chicken!"
From her friends and family Deen has gleaned recipes such as Jamie's Jalapeno Bottle Caps with Blue Cheese Dip, Aunt Trina's Shrimp Boulettes, Corrie's Lemony Baked Fish, Aunt Peggy's Old-Fashioned Meat Loaf, Bubba's Beer and Onion Biscuits, Michelle's Sausage and Peach-Stuffed Pork Chops, Aunt Peggy's Italian Zucchini Bake, Johnnie's Red Velvet Whoopee Pies. Husband Michael Groover knows his way around a grill: try his Company's Coming Grilled Steak and Veggie Supper for easy entertaining, and finish the evening with his Irish Coffee.
Lest you think that Paula has abandoned the kitchen herself, she offers her own recipes such as Ham and Chutney Biscuit Fingers she puts on the table at every family party as well as the Eggplant and Sausage Lasagna Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Lots o' Butter, Smoky Tomato-Bacon Pasta, Asparagus Risotto with Shrimp and Scallops, and for sweet desserts try Banana Spice Cake with Peanut Butte Frosting, Two-Berry Chess Pie or a truly southern Bourbon-Bathed Brown Sugar Pound Cake.
The lighter side of eating is here as well. Try Seared Scallops with Pineapple-Cucumber Salsa or Oven-Fried Chicken Breasts with Honey-Yogurt Drizzle, Easy Poached Salmon with Lemon and Herbs, Parmesan Tilapia Roll-Ups or a Quick Curried Zucchini-Apple Soup.
As Deen herself says, "I hope you'll enjoy learning a little more about where all the great food in my life comes from, and I know you'll love trying your hand at my family recipes -- they're all time- tested and Paula- approved, I guarantee!
I wish you best dishes, y'all -- from my family to yours."
There are 140 recipes and dozens of beautiful color photographs by Alan Richardson throughout the book, many evoking the feeling of the south.
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