New cookbook takes a look at The South!

I recently received a copy of Southern Living’s No Taste Like Home, A Celebration of Regional Southern Cooking and Hometown Flavor (authored by Kelly Alexander).

The 320-page book is comprised of various recipes from celebrities, “locals,” chefs, and authors from six regions of The South: The Heart of Dixie, Cajun Country, Big, Bold Texas, The Piedmont & the Mountains, The Bluegrass, Bourbon & Barbecue Trail, and The Coastal South.

Recipes range from the more advanced, like Donna D’Errico’s Country Captain (page 4) to Mo’Nique’s simple F.A.T. Green Beans (page 270).

I chose a recipe that fell right down the middle in level of difficulty: Memphis local Carol Saucier’s Corn Chowder (page 239). Truthfully, this 4-step, 9-ingredient recipe was certainly very easy to pull off. I made a few modifications to the original recipe (based on what I did and didn’t have around the house), substituting Petit Jean sausage for the bacon, adding some fresh corn, and ditching the nutmeg.

The end product turned out to be a hit with the family. I particularly enjoyed how the chowder’s base wasn’t as thick as I had anticipated. I definitely recommend opting for the inclusion of some fresh corn. It will add a nice sweetness and texture to the chowder, as well as serve as an excellent garnish.

The book itself is fun, informative, and a nice reference source to any aspiring cook. Unfortunately, there was no mention of Arkansas…a fact that comes as a bit of a disappointment to this Little Rock food blogger.

Aside from that, No Taste Like Home does an excellent job of capturing the flavor of The South… from Bobby Dean’s Crispy Oven-Fried Chicken (page 292), to Eva Longeria’s Mint Lemonade (page 140), to Chef John Tesar’s Salt-Crusted Red Drum, and more! These recipes, along with Alexander’s brief look into each sub-region’s history and culture, make this book highly enjoyable.

Note: Book was complimentary, but opinions are my own.