Deep South Staples: Or How to Survive in a Southern Kitchen Without a Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup

Robert St. John is an excellent chef, and his recipes in this book reveal that. His ingredients are easy to obtain. I have fancy cookbooks with great recipes, but they call for ingredients that I can't find. Good home cooking is what this cookbook is all about: the basics with flare. Everytime I cook something from this book, people go on and on about how good it is. I'd love to take the credit, but it all really belongs to Robert St. John.

This fellow has it all- the ability to cook, and cook well- and the ability to truly tell a story. The book itself, even outside of the recipes, is a pleasure to read. The author is able to paint some really lovely pictures with his words- I got a very real sense of what it was like to grow up Southern, in slightly more genteel time than the present. The recipes are fabulous, as well- I have tried several, and every single one has been a hit with my family. Fantastic book!

I found this gem while wandering thru my library. I thought I'd try a few recipes and if I liked it, would go ahead and buy it. Well, I've had it about a week. I've made the meatloaf twice (once for a carry-in at work), the beef vegetable soup and today I am trying my hand at the Chicken tetrazzini. I am also buying a copy for me and another for a friend!

I received this book for Christmas last year and have used many of the recipes in it on a weekly basis. Although some of them require quite a few more ingredients than I normally use, I love them so much that I'll take the extra time to prepare or buy those ingredients. My family particularly enjoys the maccaroni & cheese, scalloped potatoes and meatloaf recipes - but our all time favorite has to be the redfish recipe...it is amazing! Having grown up in Mississippi, I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a true taste of the South. You will not be disappointed!

I have "Deep South Parties,"and just had to have this one too. They share a few of the same staple recipes, but the stories and histories that are in it are well worth it.