30 November 2013

Weekend Cooking: Southern My Way: Food & Family by Gena Knox

Weekend Cooking hosted by www.BethFishReads.comWeekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

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Southern My Way: Food & Family by Gena KnoxAs a native Georgian, Gena Knox grew up fishing in local streams and gathering fruits and nuts from her family's trees. Some of her fondest memories are of cooking with her grandmother and mother and eating field-fresh foods that were both nourishing and comforting.

Her third cookbook, Southern My Way: Food & Family, is a celebration of Knox's own tastes and family favorite recipes. As you would expect, most of the recipes have a traditional Southern feel, but the surprise is that many have been given a twenty-first-century twist. For example, Knox transforms the common fresh-corn hush puppy into a slightly spicy crab-meat treat.

Busy cooks will appreciate Knox's easy approach. No recipe is more than three steps away from your table, and her "From My Kitchen" hints offer tips, time-saving suggestions, and how-tos. Furthermore, all the recipes (except the few game dishes) call for common ingredients, and the fanciest equipment you'll need is a food processor. You'll also love the beautiful full-page photos and Knox's preparation and cooking time estimates, which are a great help to novice cooks.

It's clear by reading the personal recipe introductions, that this collection is close to Knox's heart. She shares many family recipes and is quick to mention which ones are her children's or husband's favorites. Although the focus is on Southern flavors, Knox has also included several dishes with either a Mediterranean feel, such as her grandmother's spaghetti, or a Mexican slant, such as the white bean chicken chili.

I've marked several recipes to try this winter, such as the glazed acorn squash salad, bourbon-spiked bananas, spicy roasted cabbage, and carrot ginger soup. Oh and did I mention the gingerbread with warm lemon sauce? For the summer, I'm looking forward to such dishes as chilled vegetable soup, peach and tomato salad, and lime-grilled chicken. I love Knox's flavor combinations and simple directions.

From shrimp and grits to fresh peach pie, the recipes in Southern Food My Way: Food & Family will appeal not only to readers from Knox's Georgia but also to those from California, Maine, Nebraska, and beyond. If you're looking for new ideas for family meals, give Gena Knox's easy, flavorful recipes a try.

Here's a nibble I plan to serve this holiday season. Note: the photo was scanned from the cookbook; all rights, including the copyright, remain with photographer Brian Woodcock.

White Cheddar-Wrapped Pecans
Copyright Brian WoodcockPrep time: 20 minutes; cook time: 15 minutes
Yield: about 45
  • 1 (10-ounce) block sharp white Cheddar, room temperature
  • 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
  • About 45 pecan halves
FIRST: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grate cheese using a food processor or hand grater. Combine shredded cheese, butter, flour, salt, and pepper in a food processor fitted with blade attachment. Process until dough forms a ball and separates from side of processor.

NEXT: Using hands, roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Place 1 pecan half in center of each ball and press gently so that pecan is embedded in dough.

LAST: Bake for 15 minutes, until lightly browned. Allow to cool before serving.

Gina Knox Media, 2013
ISBN-13: 9780615836416
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)


17 comments:

Beth S. 11/30/13, 8:58 AM  

Gingerbread with warm lemon sauce? That sounds delicious!

Kailana 11/30/13, 1:03 PM  

I have a shelf of cookbooks and never really use them. Maybe I should get back around to it in 2014... I am not huge on pecans, but still sounds good!

Carole 11/30/13, 1:29 PM  

boy I got to be number 6 this week! Everybody must be in a recovering from Thanksgiving mode. Have a good week and thanks for hosting

maria helena 11/30/13, 1:39 PM  

I'm not a big fan of pecans, but I love cheese so I might have to try these.

Tina 11/30/13, 3:34 PM  

I like pecans and cheese, these would be excellent to take to a party.

Too Fond 11/30/13, 4:31 PM  

As a fellow Georgian, I have a feeling I would really like this cookbook. I'll definitely have to check it out--thanks for the review.

bermudaonion 11/30/13, 4:34 PM  

I've got this one on my kitchen island, waiting for me to try a recipe or two.

Couscous & Consciousness 12/1/13, 1:31 AM  

These cheesy dough wrapped pecans look like the perfect little nibble for the holiday season. I have the perfect occasion to try these coming up. I'm also drooling over the idea of gingerbread with a lemon sauce - that sounds divine.

Thanks for hosting again, Beth - I've linked some little strawberry custard tarts - perfect for holiday entertaining.

Jackie McGuinness 12/1/13, 8:50 AM  

They sound good! I am going to br slow visiting everyone as I am away and we have a very slow internet connection.

Anonymous,  12/1/13, 11:40 AM  

This sounds like a really good book. I am very intrigued by southern cooking, especially for winter when all I crave is comfort food.

Joy 12/1/13, 12:06 PM  

White Cheddar-Wrapped Pecans look amazing -- and the recipe is easier than I would have expected. I just saw a 5lb bag of local pecans. I may have to go back and buy it.

Joy's Book Blog

Daryl 12/1/13, 2:44 PM  

those sound so good .. i have a long food filled post coming tomorrow ....

Sandy Nawrot 12/1/13, 3:22 PM  

Literally FOUR days ago, I was in this little bookstore in Apalachicola and the person working there pulled this book out and was extolling its virtues. I just never got back there to buy the book, but I had intended to. I'm putting it on my Christmas list!

Teddyree 12/1/13, 5:33 PM  

I don't think I've ever made a savoury biscuit, but I like cheese and pecans so might just give this recipe a go. I've tried a few 'Southern' recipes from pinterest but I like the sound of "no recipe is more than three steps away from your table."

Heather 12/1/13, 8:43 PM  

lemon sauce on gingerbread sounds heavenly. If I were to serve those cheese and pecan bites, they'd be gone in minutes. Thanks for sharing this book.

Heather 12/1/13, 8:47 PM  

Hi Candace, I've been trying to add my link, but for some reason, Mr. Linky isn't looking kindly on me today. Would you add it for me. Thanks.

http://www.heatherpearson.com/2013/12/weekend-cooking-sweet-as-honey.html

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All content and photos (except where noted) copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads 2008-2020. All rights reserved.

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