New New Southern Basics or Two of Usand Friends

New New Southern Basics

Author: Martha Phelps Stamps

Southern cooking was an act of art and love at one time, according to Martha Stamps, but during the middle of the twentieth century an "abomination of honest southern cooking" took place. As women joined the work force in ever-increasing numbers, their lives became so busy that eating became an inconvenience and cooking a chore. Anything that could render the job of feeding the family more convenient was hallowed. Instant meals, frozen foods, microwaves-these became the staples of "cooking," replacing the knowledge and techniques once handed down from generation to generation. Casserole Cuisine-"just add Velveeta and a can of cream of mushroom soup"-pushed aside the traditional hearty cuisine of the South.
 
Blessedly, a change is occurring throughout the nation and particularly in the South. Today's homemakers are looking to get back in touch with the foods of character that previous generations took for granted. The cuisine celebrated in The New New Southern Basics performs that role, reaching back to a generation that took the time to do things right and recreating the basic southern foods in ways that accommodate the tastes and nutritional concerns of our time. Martha Stamps exalts the use of fresh ingredients and cooking from scratch, noting that this is more than a matter of style; it tastes better and is much more valuable nutritionally and economically.
 
The first edition of this book, The New Southern Basics, was published to critical acclaim in 1997. "This is the food that has found its way to the hottest restaurants in New York and Los Angeles, but which tastes even better at home," Stamps writes. This food is "worth taking a little time and giving a little effort, for your friends, your family, your own satisfaction."

Interesting book: Southwestern Grill or Cooks Guide to Grains

Two of Us...and Friends: A Young Couple's Guide to Entertaining (Easily, Affordably) with Wit and Style

Author: Jessie Carry Saunders

The Two of Us...and Friends introduces young couples to cooking and entertaining, while providing fun and inexpensive ways to have all the extras like flowers, candles, and invitations. There are no styrofoam balls to roll in glitter, only useful, elegant, and playful ways to entertain with ease and style. Organized with the 2-4-6-8 principle, each section contains four full menus, plus cooking, decorating, and entertaining tips taken from real life experiences. The "2" chapter, for "The Two of You," deals with the couple's care and feeding, emphasizing the need for alone time. The "4" chapter for a "Party of Four" includes easy but sophisticated menus with a seasonal bent. "6" celebrates "The Joy of Six" with lunches and dinners, sometimes in unusual places, and "Eight and Up" changes the formula slightly to provide not only a swanky dinner party for eight, but for sixteen, twenty-four, and thirty-two. Special "Multiplication Tables" note which menus are easily halved, doubled, and more, with specific notes on what might occur if the reader wants to alter the recipes. Easy, annotated recipe conversions provide additional assistance. Rounding out this Uniquely wonderful book are Jessie's exuberant, contemporary tone, unique entertaining suggestions, and delicious watercolor illustrations throughout.