Cynthia Shannon 's Reviews > Smoke, Roots, Mountain, Harvest: Recipes and Stories Inspired by My Appalachian Home

My dad's family is from Virginia, and I have fond memories of spending holidays there with my grandparents: my granddaddy tending to his garden for the ripest, sweetest tomatoes I've ever eaten, my grandmother baking biscuits and making gravy, and coconut cake for special occasions. Country cooking was good, as in, it made you feel loved.

ANYWHO, this is part of why I love, love, love this book. There's stuff in here that you'll just get when you're from the South, when you've seen the Blue Ridge Mountains, and when you know there's more to Appalachia than guns and Walmart. Lauren McDuffie is also a great writer and shares stories that evoke nostalgia even if you haven't been to this part of the country. The photos are stunning and moody and the recipes are familiar with a modern, unexpected twist: adding grapes to jalapeno corn bread, gouda to grits, and bourbon to the carrot glaze. Plus the desserts! I love them. Though it's missing a coconut cake :)

Disclaimer: I work for the publisher of this book and got early access to the book. Opinions however are my own.