November/December 2021

Taste of the South

Authentically Southern, Always Delicious

Taste of the South1 min read
Taste Of The South
EDITOR Daniel Schumacher MANAGING EDITOR Whitney Durrwachter ASSOCIATE EDITOR Georgia Clarke SENIOR COPY EDITOR Rhonda Lee Lother COPY EDITOR Adrienne Davis EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Daniel Dubuisson CREATIVE DIRECTOR/PHOTOGRAPHY Mac Jamieson SENIOR PHOTOG
Taste of the South2 min readRegional & Ethnic
Editor’s Letter
AS THE OLD ADAGE GOES,’tis better to give than receive. During the holiday season most of all, food plays a central role in our gatherings. We come together around meals both simple and grand, and those dishes around the table represent more than sus
Taste of the South2 min readRegional & Ethnic
Dishing with Benjamin “BJ” Dennis
Which meals come to mind when you think of traditional Southern food? Maybe it’s crispy fried chicken or pots of gumbo or even a pan of cornbread? To Benjamin “BJ” Dennis, who was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, it goes far beyond any
Taste of the South2 min readRegional & Ethnic
Tastes & Tools
Cathead was the first legal distillery in Mississippi, and they have bottled their one-of-a-kind spirits since firing up the stills over a decade ago. With this vodka, their most citrus-filled option, they’ve packed all the natural freshness of bitte
Taste of the South2 min readDiet & Nutrition
New + Noteworthy
This recently opened French eatery welcomed its first guests this past July in one of downtown Charleston’s most beautiful and historic buildings. The dining room’s elegantly restored antique finishes perfectly complement the menu’s traditional Frenc
Taste of the South5 min read
Cruciferous Veggies
MAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS Try it once, and you’ll want to incorporate this recipe into your regular rotation. ½ cup unsalted butter1 cup chopped sweet onion3 cloves garlic, minced½ cup all-purpose flour2½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth, room temperature
Taste of the South7 min read
Made with Love
DURING THE HOLIDAYS when my children, Dallas and Hannah, were growing up, they always had their own favorite recipes when it came time to plan the meal. I always asked my husband, George, first, “Anything special you want for Christmas dinner?” Somet
Taste of the South1 min readRegional & Ethnic
Cold-Weather Classic
MAKES ABOUT 13 CUPS This simplified take on chili makes it manageable enough to throw together on a weeknight. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil3 cups chopped red onion (about 2 medium onions)4 cups water2 (15.5-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained2
Taste of the South6 min read
Fruitcake
FRUITCAKES undoubtedly conjure up thoughts of Christmas. For some, it’s sweet memories of the classic cake like mama used to make with colorful bits of candied and dried fruits, plenty of spices, a generous pour of alcohol brushed on or added to the
Taste of the South4 min readRegional & Ethnic
Holiday Traditions
MAKES ABOUT 9 CUPS Grab a slice of leftover cornbread and a bunch of greens to satisfy your comfort-food cravings. 2 teaspoons olive oil8 ounces pancetta, diced1 cup chopped sweet onion4 cloves garlic, minced2 (32-ounce) cartons low-sodium beef broth
Taste of the South4 min read
For The Love Of Leftovers
MAKES 8 Mashed potatoes are tasty in any form or fashion, and these fried delights are no exception. Vegetable oil2 cups cold thick mashed potatoes3 large eggs, divided1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh chives1 teaspoon kosher salt¼ teaspoon ground bla
Taste of the South6 min read
Holiday Pies
MAKES 1 (9-INCH) DEEP-DISH PIE Make a few extra batches of this delicious piecrust to keep in the freezer and pull out whenever you receive your next holiday potluck invite or company is coming. 5 cups peeled ¼-inch-sliced Granny Smith apples2 cups p
Taste of the South5 min read
Say Hello to Sweet Sorghum Syrup
The distinct taste of sorghum syrup is difficult to put into words. In the rank of Southern sweeteners, it is milder than robust molasses, more complexly flavored than cane syrup, and less sweet than honey. If you ask Virginia chef and recent sorghum
Taste of the South3 min readRegional & Ethnic
Red Velvet Cake
THIS CRIMSON BEAUTY is the ultimate holiday cake. It’s a staple menu item to commemorate and celebrate Juneteenth; its red hue makes it the perfect pairing with Valentine’s Day and Christmas fare, and it’s often requested as the centerpiece for birth
Taste of the South2 min read
On A Roll
MAKES 24 We think every supper menu is made better when a fluffy bread is served. 6 cups all-purpose flour¼ cup sugar5 teaspoons kosher salt2 (0.25-ounce) packages instant yeast1 cup hot water (120° to 130°)1 cup hot whole milk (120° to 130°)⅓ cup un
Taste of the South4 min read
Southern Candies
MAKES 1 (9-INCH) PIE If you can’t find these peanut butter-and-coconut-flavored candies, try looking at your local Cracker Barrel, amazon.com, or the maker’s website, atkinsoncandy.com. 2 cups crushed salted butter crackers (about 60 crackers)1½ (1.6
Taste of the South1 min readRegional & Ethnic
Sweet Skillet Morning Treats
MAKES ABOUT 12 Subtly sweet cornmeal pancakes are perfectly complemented by this tart Cranberry-Maple Topping. ¾ cup self-rising flour¾ cup stone-ground cornmeal½ cup finely chopped toasted pecans2 tablespoons sugar½ teaspoon kosher salt1¼ cups whole
Taste of the South3 min readRegional & Ethnic
Cheers to Chocolate
I’VE ALWAYS LIKED TO THINK of myself as a food historian. My dad was a history teacher for 40 years, so you can say a deep interest in the world’s past was baked into me from the very start, just like we are about to bake this incredibly delicious an
Taste of the South2 min readRegional & Ethnic
8 Spots to Satisfy Cornbread Cravings
EVERYBODY AND THEIR MAMA HAS THEIR OWN IDEA of the perfect Southern cornbread. Some like it crispy and fresh out of a cast-iron skillet. Others prefer it fluffy and baked in a sheet pan. Some like to enjoy it as an essential side dish, and some like
Taste of the South2 min readRegional & Ethnic
Recipe Index
Cornmeal-Pecan Pancakes 86 Dinner Rolls 76 Candy Cane Red Velvet Swirl Loaf 83 Ambrosia Pie 68 Beet Red Velvet Cake 74 Chick-O-Stick™ Peanut Butter Pie 80 Chocolate-Coconut Custard Pie 66 Cranberry-Apple Pie 63 Date-Nut Balls 36 Divinity Pavlova 81 F
Taste of the South2 min readRegional & Ethnic
Pound Cake
FEW DESSERTS ARE AS ICONIC as an old-fashioned pound cake. Donning a crisp, sugary crust and a dense, moist interior, it’s the baked good every Southern grandmother has mastered and every novice baker yearns to perfect. There’s common speculation tha

Taste of the South

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