Southern Living November 2022

“Always have an attitude of gratitude.”—STERLING K. BROWN A FEW MONTHS AGO, I woke up early one morning and drove down to Laurel, Mississippi, to spend some time with Erin and Ben Napier (pictured with me above) at their new place in the country. If you don’t know them, Ben and Erin star in a show on HGTV called Home Town, which is all about their mission to revive Laurel one house at a time. Over six seasons, they have helped people renovate 90 homes, with an emphasis on historic properties that have plenty of character and charm. Along with their efforts to reenergize the downtown, open new shops, and support local businesses, the show has had a transformational effect on Laurel, making it one of the hottest tourist destinations in…

Pam Lolley FORMER TEST KITCHEN PROFESSIONAL Pam Lolley has developed hundreds of recipes, including many cover-worthy desserts, since she joined the Southern Living Test Kitchen in 2003. She retired earlier this year, so now her friends and family are benefiting from her outstanding baking skills. Adrian Miller WRITER James Beard Award-winning food writer Adrian Miller is a certified barbecue judge and attorney living in Denver, Colorado. He’s featured in the Netflix hit High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America. His most recent book is Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue. TOP TO BOTTOM: ROBBIE CAPONETTO; RYAN DEARTH…

WHAT WE’RE LOVING, SHARING, AND CELEBRATING Brown Sugar-Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon Cook 2 slices of thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon, chopped, in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high, stirring often, until fat has rendered and bacon is crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving drippings in skillet. Reduce heat to medium, and add 1 lb. fresh Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved, to skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender and charred in spots, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cooked bacon, 2 Tbsp. light brown sugar, 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, ¾ tsp. kosher salt, ¼ tsp. black pepper, and ¼ cup chopped pecans until butter melts. ACTIVE 20 MIN. - TOTAL 20 MIN. - SERVES 4 Brussels Sprout Spoon Bread Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt ½ cup…

AS A CHILD, Christa Cotton soaked up her parents’ entrepreneurial experiences like some kids do fairy tales. “Other people said, ‘I’m going to be a police officer,’ ” recalls Christa, CEO of the cocktail brand El Guapo. “I always wanted to be like my dad.” In college, she worked in the family business and realized that her true dream was to strike out on her own. She moved to New Orleans and, after years in advertising, decided to take the plunge. In 2017, she bought the El Guapo trademark from a local bartender and began developing her line of bitters, syrups, and mixers. Two years in, she struck gold: a 24-store deal with Costco. But then the pandemic hit, bumping her product from shelves, and Christa began studying bankruptcy websites.…

WHEN YOU’RE a TV celebrity chef and win $125,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, what do you do with the money? For New Orleans’ Emeril Lagasse, the answer was easy. He phoned his friend Sister Lillian McCormack, founder of St. Michael Special School in New Orleans (which is privately funded for students who have intellectual and developmental disabilities), and offered a lifeline in the form of his winnings. For high-profile chefs, the options for giving back are endless, but that donation 22 years ago was Lagasse’s first taste of what it meant to make a real difference. Grateful for his enormous success, not only on television but also with his award-winning cookbooks and restaurants throughout the nation, Lagasse (who grew up in Massachusetts and later made a home in…

PET OF THE MONTH Instagram @whiskeytoller Age 1 ½ years Hometown Arlington, Virginia Into the Wild The explorer has romped on both coasts and in Yosemite National Park. “If Whiskey could hike every day, she would,” says owner Amber Aquart. Art Smarts “Whiskey’s latest painting raised over $180 for a special-needs pet rescue fund,” Aquart says. WHEN YOUR big break comes before your first birthday, some might say it was meant to be. “I brought Whiskey home with the intention of training her for TV work from day one,” says owner Amber Aquart, a celebrated pet trainer in Arlington, Virginia. Luckily, Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers like Whiskey are quick learners. In a few short months, the spunky pup snagged starring roles in several ads, including a 2021 L.L.Bean Christmas commercial that cemented her status as a showbiz star. “I think…