Sylvia's Family Soul Food Cookbook: From Hemingway, South Carolina, to Harlem

Book arrived in described condition. Recipe look good. I Haven't used any recipe yet, just received it today.

I was afraid to buy this after her first book, but she really redeemed herself here. One day I just had to have smothered pork chops, macaroni & cheese & collard greens and this book DELIVERED on the pork chops & macaroni & cheese!! (use the first book for the greens though) .. These are now in the repertoire as my roommate prefers this to going out to a restaurant! Can't wait to try the red velvet cake!

When I first received Sylvia's book I thought it was just going to be another cookbook where the pictures look good but the flavor never turns out...,Well not this book. If you follow the recipes to a tee you will end up with absolutely delicious dishes. My family really thinks I learned how to cook..I tell them "honey it's not me but my best friend Sylvia". The cake recipes are excellent and are all flavorful and moist. How many times have you baked a cake from the book and it is dry and never looks like the picture? Sylvia has recipes for pound cakes that...., well I can't believe she gave out these secrets. Invite your family and your mother-in-law over for pot roast, string beans, sweet potatoes, etc., etc., etc. all seasoned great and turn out delicious. Don't forget the last recipe in the book -- Fresh Squeezed Lemonade -- do it exactly as she says -- You don't know what you're missing. If you know just the basics in the kitchen and want your soulfood meals to taste like "Mama's" get this book and you're in for a big surprise. Before Sylvia came along I just cooked but now I BURN in the kitchen!!

If your idea of soul food cooking is the extra crispy family meal deal at "Popeyes(TM)", Mrs. Woods' cookbook wants to show you the light. I received this cookbook by accident. I belong to a cookbook club and forgot to tell them I didn't want that month's selection. I've been able to prepare many of Mrs. Woods' recipes with great success. The tuna croquettes are very easy and delicious! They reheated well for lunch the next day too. The smothered pork chops are to die for, and I finally can make gravy my grand mother would have been proud of!The only trouble I ran into in the entire cookbook were several of her cooking times. In a few recipes, like the "Wednesday Night Special Meat Loaf", cooking took noticeably longer than specified. I know all ovens are different but when the recipe says bake for 1 hour and it took almost 2, that's a big difference. Still, the meat loaf was delicious and worth the wait. Along with some great recipes, if you enjoy reading your cookbooks, you'll spend lots of engrossed in this one. This cookbook is a human-interest biography with lots of humor and soul.

My family is entirely from Kentucky (except for myself, I was born in New York) and I grew up on good southern cooking.Though I love to cook, I never learned to cook real southern food. I regret not taking the opportunity when my great-grandmother was alive and my grandmother is too ill to teach me now.Sylvia's book covers many of the staple recipes my family whipped up and they are truly *easy* to prepare. She even has several more health conscious recipes for those who must have them (Southern and healthy are not synonymous).I've prepared many of her recipes with great success. The tuna croquettes are easy and yummy! You probably already have all the ingredients in your cupboards. The smothered pork chops are to die for, and I finally can make a gravy my grand mother would be proud of! There are a few recipes I simple will not try. I wouldn't as a kid and I'm not starting now! (Eeewww chitterlings! ), but if you're adventurous or your taste bud run that way, enjoy! If you love real southern cooking, you can easily make it yourself with this book. It's also filled with lots of interesting stories and anecdotes about her, her family and her restaurant. She's a wonderful woman whom I hope writes another cookbook soon!

This cookbook is not only a great one to have for the delicious recipes of good, southern home-cooked food, but it is also one that reminds people of their own roots and heritage. Any time a family unites for a meal, there is a great deal more going on than fulfilling that need to kill the hunger. Good food is the only recipe for the soul. Sylvia has included many recipes in this book that my family has enjoyed for many, many years. I may be a bit biased in rating this book because there are some included by my aunt, Neomia Brown, and grandmother, Annie Frazier (who passed a year ago this December). Bless your heart Sylvia and to all of you who enjoy the recipes throughout the book! Thank you Sylvia for reminding us through your own story that good food may not be able to heal a broken heart, but it can at least nourish the soul when families can gather to enjoy it!