Taste of the South Good Country Cooking 2022

A HOT SKILLET OF CORNBREAD, a tray of macaroni and cheese, a sweet Bundt slice, or a heaping spoonful of banana pudding—sometimes, we all need a little good ole comfort food. Each of those dishes and all the others that make up the pantheon of traditional Southern cookery mean something different to all of us, and in this special collection, we tried to come up with a mix of classics along with several new favorites. A few of the basics that we couldn’t leave out include Deviled Ham, crispy Fried Okra, Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings, and Texas Sheet Cake (recipes on pages 17, 13, 41, and 74 respectively). I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for Texas Sheet Cake, and while I don’t often make one at home, this…

SPICED PORK RINDS WITH PIMIENTO CHEESE Tossing pork rinds in a homemade spice blend allows you to control the flavor. For a twist, toss them in powdered ranch seasoning or lemon pepper. MAKES 4 TO 6 SERVINGS 1¼ teaspoons smoked paprika, divided½ teaspoon garlic powder¾ teaspoon onion powder, divided½ teaspoon dry mustard, divided¼ teaspoon firmly packed light brown sugar¼ teaspoon chili powder¼ teaspoon ground black pepper1 (3.25-ounce) bag pork rinds½ cup mayonnaise¼ cup cream cheese, softened½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce1 cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese1 cup shredded MontereyJack cheese1 (4-ounce) jar diced pimientos, drained2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chivesGarnish: chopped fresh chives 1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 teaspoon paprika, garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon mustard, brown sugar, chili powder, and pepper. 3.…

CHICKEN AND DRESSING CASSEROLE Asparagus adds spring flavor to one of our favorite comforting casseroles. MAKES 4 TO 6 SERVINGS 6 cups cubed cornbread (about 2-inch cubes)3 cups shredded cooked chicken2 tablespoons unsalted butter1½ cups frozen vegetable seasoning blend (celery, bell pepper, onion, and parsley)¼ cup thinly sliced leeks¼ cup all-purpose flour2½ cups chicken broth1 teaspoon poultry seasoning1 teaspoon kosher salt1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme½ teaspoon ground black pepper2 large eggs, lightly beaten1 (1-pound) bunch fresh asparagus, blanched and cut into 2-inch pieces (see Kitchen Tip)Garnish: fresh thyme 1. Preheat oven to 375°. Spray a 2½-quart baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In a large bowl, combine cornbread and chicken. 3. In a large deep skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add seasoning blend and leek; cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is evaporated…

CRACKER-TOPPED SQUASH CASSEROLE A double layer of crunchy crackers takes this classic casserole to the next level. MAKES 8 TO 10 SERVINGS 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened10 cups sliced yellow squash (about 3 pounds)3 cups water3 cups chicken broth1 cup chopped yellow onion1½ cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided½ cup sour cream½ cup mayonnaise⅓ cup chopped green onion1 teaspoon kosher salt¼ teaspoon garlic powder⅛ teaspoon ground red pepper1 large egg, lightly beaten1 cup coarsely crushed saltine crackers, divided2 tablespoons unsalted butter, meltedGround black pepper 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spread softened butter in a shallow 2½-quart baking dish. 2. In a large Dutch oven, bring squash, 3 cups water, broth, and onion to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until squash is crisp-tender, about 7 minutes.…

TEXAS SHEET CAKE This iconic Lone Star State dessert is commonplace on potluck spreads from funeral gatherings to church homecomings, earning it the nickname “church lady cake.” Wherever you take it, we can guarantee it’ll be a hit. MAKES 1 (15X10-INCH) CAKE CAKE 1 cup unsalted butter, cubed1 cup water⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder2 cups all-purpose flour2 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar1 tablespoon espresso powder1 teaspoon baking soda½ teaspoon kosher salt½ cup whole buttermilk2 large eggs½ teaspoon vanilla extract CHOCOLATE ICING ⅓ cup water¼ cup unsalted butter, cubed3½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder1 pound confectioners’ sugar1 teaspoon vanilla extract⅛ teaspoon kosher salt¾ cup toasted pecans, chopped 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 15x10-inch metal jelly roll pan with baking spray with flour. 2. For cake: In a medium saucepan, whisk butter, 1 cup water, and cocoa powder…

BREADS Bacon-Cheddar Cornbread Sticks 9 Black Pepper–Buttermilk Biscuits 21 Ham & Cheese Pull-Apart Bread 24 Peanut Cornbread 16 DESSERTS Banana Pudding 95 Bananas Foster Crumb Cake 82 Butterscotch-Pecan Skillet Cookie 95 Chocolate Chess Pie 87 Classic Pound Cake 79 Fresh Strawberry Sheet Cake 86 Fudgy Peanut Brownies 90 Lemonade Pound Cake 78 Molasses, Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Cookies 91 No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies 79 PB&J Bread Pudding 87 Sheet-Pan Buttermilk Pie 83 Strawberry Crumble 94 Sweet Tea Pie 75 Texas Sheet Cake 74 MAINS BBQ Shrimp and Creamy White Grits 45 Blackened Catfish Po’Boys 29 Cheerwine® Barbecue Wings 9 Cheesy Meat Loaves with Potatoes and Green Beans 40 Chicken and Dressing Casserole 28 Chicken-Fried Shrimp 20 Chicken-Fried Steak and Sweet Tea Gravy 36 Creamy Chicken and Shells with Broccoli 41 Deviled Ham 17 Easy Chicken and Andouille Jambalaya 37 Greens Gumbo 33 Lemon Fried Chicken 45 Poblano Pepper and Pimiento Cheeseburgers 37 Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole 33 Pork Chops with Country Ham Gravy 44 Roasted Onion Chicken 29 Slow…