Cooking with Paula Deen July/August 2021

FRIENDS, I HOPE Y’ALL ARE DOING WELL and basking in the sunshine. It’s kind of surreal that we’ve been going through these trying times for more than a year, and while it’s always good to be cautious and safe when spending time with family and friends, it’s also important to find joy in the little things and soak up each and every moment. Speaking of spending time with family, y’all know seafood boils are a way of life around here. I can’t get enough of our delicious wild Georgia shrimp, so I’m sharing my Easy Shrimp Boil and some scrumptious sides starting on page 23. I also want to let y’all in on some of my classic potluck sides (starting on page 39) that you can throw together for your nearest…

MADE IN THE SOUTH COPPER POT & WOODEN SPOON With a family history in farming and a longtime appreciation of local agriculture and good food, creating a pickle and preserves company came naturally to sibling duo Jessica DeMarco and Dan Stubee. The sister and brother joined business forces in 2011 and created Copper Pot & Wooden Spoon to sell their handcrafted jams, savory spreads, and pickled goods at farmers’ markets in Waynesville, North Carolina. Soon thereafter, local stores began to take notice of their specialty products and the small family business hasn’t been the same since. The brand’s motto of “preserving tradition” is evident in its approach of meticulously crafting small batches of delicious pickles and preserves with only all-natural ingredients. The company’s products are sold online and in stores across…

THE RECENT REOPENING OF Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen in Panama City Beach, Florida, was greeted with enthusiasm by locals and visitors alike. The newly reopened restaurant remains in the same Pier Park location as before and has welcomed back many of its wonderful staff members, who have been dearly missed. Fans of the popular restaurant chain can experience the same family-style menu and signature recipes that are beloved at Paula’s other Family Kitchen locales, including Southern Fried Chicken, Beef Pot Roast, Chicken and Dumplings, and, of course, Ooey Gooey Butter Cake. In addition to the restaurant’s delicious dishes, a new line of fun coastal-themed kitchen wares, home décor, gifts, and more is available to peruse before and after your meal. For more info and to find a location near you,…

PINEAPPLE-STRAWBERRY UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE Makes 8 to 10 servings 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar¼ cup unsalted butter, melted1 (20-ounce) can pineapple slices, drained and juice reserved1 (16-ounce) container frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix*4 large eggs⅓ cup vegetable oil 1. Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. 2. In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar and melted butter; spread in bottom of cooker. 3. Cut each pineapple slice into 4 pieces. Place pieces in a single layer on top of sugar mixture. Spoon strawberries and syrup onto pineapple. 4. In a large bowl, beat cake mix, eggs, oil, and reserved pineapple juice with a mixer at medium speed until thick and smooth, stopping to scrape sides of bowl, about 2 minutes. Gently pour batter onto fruit; cover. 5. Cook on…

BACON-WRAPPED CORN ON THE COB Makes 4 servings 8 slices bacon4 ears fresh corn, shuckedGround black pepperButter, to serve 1. If preheating is recommended by your air fryer manual, preheat fryer to 375°. 2. Wrap 2 slices bacon around each ear of corn, securing as needed with wooden picks. Sprinkle pepper onto bacon. 3. Spray wrapped corn with cooking spray, and place in air fryer basket. Set temperature to 375° 4. Cook until bacon is browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes, turning and spraying with cooking spray halfway through cooking. Serve warm with butter. For more air fryer recipes, check out Paula Deen’s Air Fryer Cookbook at pauladeenshop.com.…