Sara Foster's Southern Kitchen

Sara Foster's love of Southern fare began in her Granny Foster's Tennessee kitchen. There, the combination of down-home comfort, fresh-from-the-farm ingredients, and dedicated preparation hooked her for life. Now the award-winning cookbook author and restaurateur serves up nearly two hundred contemporary interpretations of classic dishes--Shrimp Jambalaya, Slow-Roasted Pulled Pork Butt, Cheesy Grits Casserole; refreshing drinks, including Mint Juleps and Sweet Tea; and such satisfying breakfasts as Country Ham and Hominy Hash. And a table wouldn't be Southern without the sides--Skillet-Fried Corn, Creamy Potato Salad, and Arugula Pesto Snap Beans. Be sure, too, to save room for Molasses-Bourbon Pecan Pie and Freestyle Lemon Blackberry Tart.

From revealing the secret to fluffy buttermilk biscuits to giving us ideas for swapping out ingredients to accommodate any season, from providing tips for frying up chicken like a true Southerner to detailing barbecue fundamentals that put you on par with any pitmaster, Foster's helpful sidebars ensure that your dishes will turn out perfect every time. You'll also get expert tips on the essential equipment (cast-iron skillets, griddles, casserole dishes) and the ingredients no Southern pantry should be without (from stone-ground grits to Carolina Gold rice). As a bonus, Foster offers her Sidetracked feature, profiles of tried-and-true roadtrip destinations throughout the South where you can find the best fried catfish, barbecued brisket, big breakfast plates, and more. And finally, Foster's lessons in pickling and canning guarantee that you can enjoy your favorite flavors all year round.

With its handy list of resources and Southern pantry essentials, and entertaining stories, Sara Foster's Southern Kitchen is an all-inclusive collection of Southern cooking in which simple feasts meet artisanal ingredients, traditional tastes meet modern methods, and fantastic flavors make every bite a succulent mouthful of Southern comfort.

Presents a collection of 150 contemporary recipes of classic Southern dishes by a North Carolina Restaurateur of the Year, providing a healthier version of Southern cooking that incorporates local, seasonal, and artisanal ingredients.

\Sara Foster is the owner of Foster’s Market, the acclaimed gourmet take-out store/cafés in Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the author of several cookbooks, including The Foster’s Market Cookbook, winner of the Best Cookbook Award from the Southeast Booksellers Association. She has appeared numerous times on Martha Stewart Living Television and NBC’s Today show. She has also been featured in magazines such as More, House Beautiful, and Southern Living, and is featured regularly in Bon Appétit.

Tema Larter works in acquisitions at the University of North Carolina Press and as a freelance food writer. A native Southerne, she now lives in Durham with her husband.

Peter Frank Edwards is a native of Charleston, South Carolina and a former sous chef. His work appears in Travel + Leisure, Garden & Gun, and Southern Living.

Introduction. Good cooking, good eating, and good living — Come on in: hors d'oeuvres and cocktails — Soups, stews, and gumbo — Biscuits, cornbread, and rolls — Hearty breakfasts — From catfish to crawfish — Birds — Pig: a food group all its own — Steaks, burgers, and roasts — Grits and rice — Farm-stand vegetables, casseroles, and salads — Dressings, pickles, and condiments — Stay awhile longer: sweets — Equipment must-haves — Southern pantry essentials.