I love cookbooks! Sometimes when I find a little spare time, I just want to crawl up in the sunshine with a good cookbook and a glass of sweet tea. I really never thought I would write a cookbook, but I’m so grateful to HarperCollins for the unique opportunity. They have allowed me to show you just who I am, barefoot in the kitchen. Thank you, Cassie Jones and Kara Zauberman, for being dream editors and for letting me be me.
Were it not for some very generous and patient loved ones, this book would not exist. First of all, Schlappy and Daisy, thank you for understanding when I would have a dozen test dishes going on in the kitchen and yet we had to have cold cereal for supper. Daisy, thank you for turning my tears to laughter when things went way wrong. You are pure sunshine. Schlappy, thank you for sweetly kissing me on the head when you walked through the kitchen as I was frantically playing mad scientist and for letting me turn your willing palate from “refined Northern” to “down-home Southern.” You two are my life!
Mama, how in the world would I have made it through this without your ciphering of all those heirloom recipes where you just “add a pinch of this and a dab of that”! Every time I called you in a panic, you said, “Don’t worry, I’ll get right on it,” and you grabbed the keys and ran straight to the grocery store—or sent Daddy!
With a schedule like mine, it takes a village to pull something like this off! Kelly Jarrell, there’s no better liaison and cheerleader! Thank you for believing in me whenever I doubted, and for knowing me so well that you can speak for me. Also, thank you for being such a lover of my Tried-and-True Almond Pound Cake. I’ll make it for you till I’m too old to stand!
Shaina Burrell, everybody needs a “Shaina Baina”! You’re like the concierge of my life! I would be a disaster without your help. Thank you caring about all the details, for being the little ribbon on my finger that gently reminds me of the many things I’ve forgotten, for grocery shopping for me, for cleaning up my sinkfuls of dishes, and for being my behind-the-scenes, pull-everything-together girl! Thank you also for being my stylist on this shoot. You’re incredibly special!
Megan Pepke, thank you for coming to my aid and being my sous-chef in the eleventh hour, with a spoon in one hand and a math book in the other!
Ms. Brenda Fairchild, it was an honor to have an incredible cook like you testing some of these recipes.
Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, and Phillip Sweet, thank you for believing in and enabling my passion for cooking. You have been my skinny guinea pigs over the years, and you’ve graciously tried every dish I brought to you, even the ones that were kind of like a bad song. When I lost my first husband, Steve, whom I so loved to cook for, in tears I asked, “Who am I going to cook for now?!” Karen, you took me in your arms and said, “Me!” I’ll never forget that moment. I love cooking for y’all!
Jason Owen, thank you for dreaming as big as I do. You are the best manager, protector, friend, comrade, gladiator—I could go on and on—a girl could ask for! Thank you for bringing out the best parts of me and for hiding all the rest! I owe you a lifetime of cookies!
Cait Hoyt, when I first met you, I thought, what a gorgeous, adorable lady. Then I saw you work! Wow! You know how take on a crusade and make dreams come true! Thank you!
Monica Hutchison, you’ve been like my favorite professor. You’re the only chef school I’ve ever had. You’ve taught me so much, and it’s a joy to partner with you in the kitchen. Thank you for all the testing of these recipes.
Martha, oh Martha, when we set out to find someone to help me put this book together, I stopped in my tracks when I heard your name, both because of your great success and reputation in this field and because you’re so perfectly Southern! I thank God that our country-girl paths crossed. Thank you for finding my voice, for leading me so smoothly though uncharted waters, and for being the calm, sane one—when I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. You’re incredible at what you do! It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with you on this labor of love.
Well, I don’t wake up looking like this! It takes some very early mornings, false eyelashes, heavy curl cream, and one talented hair and makeup artist. Neil Robison, thank you for getting me all gussied up and for making me feel pretty, all the while being a great friend.
I can write out these recipes, but a cookbook without photos would be like cookies without milk! Our photography team was stellar! Heather Anne Thomas, as soon as I met you, I knew we would best fast friends. You have such a pleasant spirit and put the whole gang at ease. It was an absolute pleasure to have you and your crew in our home. You brought the food to life on these pages! It’s beautiful and cozy and makes my mouth water! Michael Pederson, what a sweetheart you are! You prepared the food so gloriously and took such care to do it just how I had in mind. Kevin Green and Dustin Busby, thank you for your generous and meticulous “sous-cheffing” to make the food look absolutely perfect. Thank you, Brittany Payne, for your help in pulling it all off. Zane Jernigan, thanks for turning out those gorgeous photos and for graciously letting me and my wishy-washy self see the same photos over and over again until I could make a decision. Mary Clayton Carl, please come live with me and make my house look like a photo shoot every day! You took the time to learn my taste spot-on. It was like you saw the whole concept through my eyes. You are my decorating hero!
And from Martha—a hearty, heartfelt thank-you to Robin Ramone Rushing and Jayne Jane Kennedy for fielding late-night calls, issuing sound advice, and being great pals.