Ask the Experts: Southern Cooking

I absolutely love to cook. The process acts as therapy for me, and I love the look of my guests faces when they taste my latest creation. My cooking addiction was so crazy, that it resulted in my husband and I both gaining about 20 lbs the first year of marriage!

My appreciation for southern cooking came from my mom, Elizabeth Stover. Even though she worked a typical 8-5 job while my sisters and I were little, she always managed to have a meat, two or three vegetables, rolls and a dessert with every dinner. I mean EVERY dinner. Ordering takeout and pizza back then was a huge treat! The pic below is of my sisters, along with my mom.


As I have gotten older, I have come to greatly appreciate her profound wisdom and passion for cooking. I interviewed my mom to ask her for recipes for my favorite dishes and tips on how to create a great southern meal. For every dish my mom creates, it is filled with love and a little butter :).

What are the key ingredients you feel like every southern cook should have in their house?
It's funny you ask that...recently we have more than our share of snow. In the south when there is a prediction of snow, everyone runs to the store to buy milk and bread. I was one of those crazy people who braved the crowds BUT I bypassed the bread and milk. I thought to myself, all I need is sugar, flour, buttermilk and eggs (which we have a hen house with fresh eggs every morning). I was set for the storm. Needless to say we ate like little pigs!!

What is your favorite meal to prepare? Tell me what items it would include? The meal would consist of baked Ham, Ranch Potatoes, Deviled Eggs, Baked Beans and Yeast Rolls. I always bake my Ham with brown sugar and Pepsi.

The ranch potatoes consists of red potatoes boiled and quartered, salt/pepper, 1 pkg of Ranch Dressing made with mayo and milk, shredded cheddar cheese.

The deviled eggs are made with mayo, mustard, and little pinch of salt topped with paprarika. My baked beans are always Van Camps Pork nBeans, bell pepper, onion, ketchup and brown sugar, and the rolls are Sister Scheberts.

Can you share how to prepare two of my favorite things you make (and not surprisingly, they both contain chocolate!)? Homemade biscuits and chocolate gravy and your famous chocolate pie?
The Chocolate Gravy consists of 1 cup sugar, 2 T SR flour, 2 T CoCoa and 1 cup of water (sometimes I use milk for a richer gravy). Mix dry ingredients and add water. Cook until it starts boiling. Serve over hot biscuits with butter.

Chocolate Pie: 2 cups sugar, 3/4 cups flour, 1/2 cup cocoa. Mix together in a heavy sauce pan, add 3 cups water and mix until blended and starts to boil. Then add 4 egg yolks and keep stirring until thickens. Add 1/2 stick butter and 1 t vanilla. Pour into 2 baked pie shells and top with meringue.

To make meringue: Let 6 eggs come to room temperature. Beat one at a time until they start to get fluffy and stiff. Add 2 t of sugar a little at a time. Add this to the top of each pie and bake until lightly brown (make sure you spread the meringue from side to side closing all the way around the pie.)

Let's say that you learn you one afternoon you are going to have guests over for dinner. You want to impress, but you have little preparation. Can you share a meal you can whip up quickly and still have your guests wanting seconds (or in my case, thirds!)?

Fried Minute Steak, Creamed Potatoes, English Peas, Fried Apples and Homemade Biscuits and Gravy. Depending on how many I have to serve, I just cut the steak into pieces to make sure I have plenty for everyone.

Finally, when did you start your journey of cooking and who inspired you the most?

Well my Mom knew I was going to enjoy cooking when I was a little girl and asking Santa for a kitchen sets and cookware. She knew I was serious when I soaked the beans in my Don't Spill the Beans Game!!

My Grandmother was an excellent cook. She prepared supper every night for our family. Although she was a wonderful cook, I honestly don't think she ever made something sweet. Your Dad's Mom and grandmother started me in baking sweets. They always had something sweet baked just about every meal, from cakes to fried pies. P.S. In the 8th grade, I won a blue ribbon in the bread baking contest. I made Banana Bread and still make it about every 2 weeks when the Bananas ripen.