Contents

Introduction

CHAPTER 1: Family Fireworks

Blackberry Lemonade

Fruit Cocktail Punch

Corn and Roasted Peanut Salad

Hush Puppies

Southern Fried Dill Pickles

Fire and Ice Tomatoes

Cheddar Bacon Hot Water Cornbread

Three-Bean Baked Beans

TCB Slaw

Red, White, and Blue Potato Salad

Fried Catfish

Smoked Pork Baby Back Ribs

Barbecue Chicken with Bacon and Cheese Topping

Good Granny Smith Apple Sheet Pie

Summer Peach Cheesecake Ice Cream

CHAPTER 2: A House Divided

Fall Flavor Fruit Tea

Potato, Ham, and Cheese Appetizer

Deep-Fried, Deep-South Sweet Potato Chips

Soup Beans

Armchair Quarterback Pork Tenderloin and Pinto Bean Soup

Good Neighbor Chicken Fiesta Soup

Bacon-Wrapped Barbecued Shrimp

Muffulettas

Blackened Bologna Sandwich

Creole Seasoning

Sautéed Sliced Beef Tenderloin

Popcorn Balls

Rhubarb Cake with Coconut Pecan Topping

Orange Slice Cake

Toasted Coconut Pie with Macadamia Coconut Crust

Touchdown Brownies

CHAPTER 3: After the Ball

Hot to Fox Trot Chocolate

All-Purpose Biscuit Mix

Sour Cream Coconut Biscuits

Apple Walnut Cheese Biscuits

Linda’s Chocolate Friendship Bread

Brown Sugar Bacon with Pecans

Ham and Cheese Oven Omelet

Puffed Up and Proud French Toast

Red Velvet Pancakes with Maple Cream Cheese

Fresh Fruit Salad with Orange Dressing

Scrambled Egg Breakfast Cups

Cherry Cobbler Cupcakes

Fried Country Ham with Redeye Gravy

CHAPTER 4: Dinner for Two . . . Me and You

Shrimp Salad

Y’all Cumin Roasted Carrots

Fresh Strawberry Soup

Two-Potato Scalloped for 2

Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon and Jalapeño Peppers

Roasted Asparagus with Pine Nuts and Parmesan Cheese

Barbecued Lamb Chops

Bacon-Wrapped Filet

Ham and Cheese Stuffed Pork Chops

Deep-Fried Flounder with Pimento Cheese Grits

Pimento Cheese Grits

Cherry Shortcake

Isn’t It Romantic Baked Chocolate Pudding

CHAPTER 5: Dinner with the Preacher

Southern Spoon Bread

Green Beans with Bacon and Tomatoes

Orange Strawberry Salad with Orange Vinaigrette

Green Chili and Corn Casserole

Sunday Carrots

Fried Green Tomatoes with Fresh Tomato Salsa

Macaroni and Cheese and Shrimp

Chicken and Peach Pecan Dressing

Country-Style Pot Roast with Sour Cream Gravy

Vegetable Soup Meat Loaf

Apple Pie Sweetened with Sugar Substitute

Carole’s “Take Some Home with You” Spice Bars

Cherry Cobbler

CHAPTER 6: All Politics Are Local

Chocolate Punch

Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs

Charleston Buttermilk Corn Sticks with Bacon Tomato Jam

Bacon Tomato Jam

It Makes Two Fruit and Nut Bread with Pineapple Nut Spread

Pineapple Nut Spread

Cheesy Black-Eyed Pea Dip

Marinated Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Chicken Macadamia Platter with Honey Mustard Dip

Honey Mustard Dip

Chili Creole Shrimp

Caramel Chocolate Chews

Peanut Butter–Filled Cookies

Balanced Budget Cracker Candy

Praline Bundt Cake

Coconut Cream Cheesecake

CHAPTER 7: Lending a Helping Hand

Apple Lemonade

Pineapple Grape Salad

Old-Fashioned Southern Fried Okra

Don’t Tell Beer Rolls

Swiss Potato Casserole

Hominy Salad

Iron Skillet Roasted Chicken with White Beans and Tomatoes

Mac and Cheese Soup with Ham

Preacher Fried Chicken and Gravy

Salmon Croquettes

Oak Hill Fried Pies

Cinnamon-Butter Filling

Chocolate Filling

Strawberry Pizza

Summer Snowballs

Butterscotch Sauce

Chocolate Sauce

CHAPTER 8: Cooking from the Garden

Pea-Pickin’ Black-Eyed Pea Corn Muffins

Vegetable Beef Soup

Watermelon Salad with Feta and Toasted Pecans

Cheese Soup with Squash and Tomatoes

Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Soup

Asparagus with Cashew Butter

Cabbage Casserole

Corn Pudding Crème Brulee

Squash Tarts

Cheese and Corn Stuffed Tomatoes

Vegetable Corn Salad

Summer Tomato Sandwich

Green Beans with Cucumber and Onion Topping

Roasted Red Onions

Parsley Red Potatoes

Slaw with Walnuts and Cranberries

Eggplant Pie

Raspberry Crumble

Sweet Tea Pie

CHAPTER 9: Cooking with Honey

Pimento Cheese Soup with Mayonnaise Cheese Toast

Mayonnaise Cheese Toast

Frozen Apricot Fruit Salad

Candy Apple Salad

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Pecans

Cauliflower and Broccoli Wreath

Baked Orange Cups with Pineapple and Apples

Alice’s Green Bean Roll-Ups

Blackberry Barbecued Chicken with Jalapeño Corn Fritters

Blackberry Barbecue Sauce

Jalapeño Corn Fritters

Chicken Fried Steak with Cream Gravy

Bryan’s Osso Bucco

Grilled Sweet-Tea Brined Pork Chops with Peach Salsa

Peach Salsa

Chicken Pot Pie with Sweet Potato Crust

Caramel Nut Pound Cake with Brown Butter Pecan Icing

Watertower Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle

Cherry Cheesecake Bars

CHAPTER 10: Making Memories

Lemon Drop Tea

Grits Cornbread

Pecan Rice

English Pea Casserole

Sweet Potato Relish

Vegetable Mashed Potatoes

Pistachio Pork Tenderloin with Cream Sauce

Cola Baked Country Ham with Cherry Cola Glaze

Whole Smoked Turkey

Mushroom Bacon Casserole

Blackberry Wine Cake

Caramel Candy

Peachy Cheesies

Creamy Pecan Pie

Sweet Potato Cobbler

CHAPTER 11: Surprise, Surprise

Pineapple Tea Punch

Spicy Pretzels

Pimento Cheese Corn Muffins with Turkey

Hot Pecan Spread with Lemon Pepper Crackers

Pepperoni Dip

Vegetable Spread

Cornmeal Cups with Black Bean Corn Salsa

Black Bean Corn Salsa

Crab Dip with Artichokes

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Baked Tomato, Bacon, and Cheese Dip

Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Mayonnaise

Butterfinger Dip

Banana Split Ice Cream

Cranberry Snow Candy

Coconut Black Walnut Cake

CHAPTER 12: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

Sour Cream Crescent Rolls

Strawberry Peanut Brittle Salad

Accordion-Cut Roasted Potato

Baked Pineapple with Pears

Ground Beef Stew with Black-Eyed Peas

Southwest Macaroni and Cheese

Creamed Chipped Beef

Honey Brined Southern Fried Chicken

Chocolate Banana Pudding

Butter Roll Dessert

German Chocolate Chess Pie

White Chocolate Pie

Acknowledgments

Index