A Yankee in a Southern Kitchen

Here are the rules for A Yankee in a Southern Kitchen. These rules were designed to keep me accountable during the year, which I prefer greatly over the thought of wandering around aimlessly. Let’s face it I am not getting any younger, and time is a-wasting. I also have a call coming from Heaven and I don’t want to miss it.

1. I am committed to cooking at least five Southern recipes a week, while maintaining a Southern Kitchen with the proper foods. That’s right, just Southern dining and cooking for the year for this lady, her husband and her dog.

2. My cooking inspiration for the year will come from Edna Lewis, Scott Peacock, Nathalie Dupree, James Villas and any other Southern chef that comes across my path that is willing to share their heritage and appreciation of Southern cooking.

3. Twelve pass cards will be awarded to me as a menopausal handicap. This means I have the option to not cook for 12 days of whatever reason I deem fit;like dying to have a pizza or I’m just too tired to cook, or I can’t bring myself to cook a pigs head. Start placing your bets on the pigs head!

4. Frog legs, turtles, or anything else that would upset me and my stomach will not be eaten by me; this responsibility will rest on Scout who has happily volunteered to continue to be my Southern Taster for the year, what a gentleman.

5. This rule is for Scout. You are to savor, not chow down, when I pass the culinary torch to you. I need a genuine response to my cooking. Swallowing whole will not deliver the required results. Drooling encouraged.

6. Sorry folks, but no booze. I know you are saying, how anyone can cook and cook good without alcohol. Well I can, and I will.  Having managed to turn out some pretty good meals for over 21 years now without the aid of this popular libation, I will continue in these steps.  God is very clear on this one, no alcohol used in cooking not ever. I will substitute something else should a recipe call for Moonshine, Bourbon or Mint Juleps.

7. I will research all the Southern food that I will prepare. This will enable me to share my new found Southern insights and appreciation of the South with you. Ingredients will be bought locally from farmers, mills and fishmongers to ensure a more authentic Southern cooking experience. Additionally, to support growers and catchers. 

8. If at any time it appears I am loosing all sense of being a Yankee, I am requesting that an intervention be made on my behalf and the sabbatical will be cancelled.

9. At all times I will attempt to retain my new found sense of humor. This is especially important as the hot summer months are approaching and that usually renders me just a touch cranky.

10. With both biscuits and fried chicken on the menu, this is for both Scout and me. Yes, this new Southern babe will be walking the dog and herself daily so that by the end of the year we are not overweight. This is a side effect I must avoid at all costs.

 One last thing, no paper napkins will be used. When I can get my 13 dinnerware patterns that I created out of storage they will be used along with fine linen napkins. This is the South and a Southern Lady knows better than to serve Southern Fare with paper products.