For the Love of the South - by Amber Wilson (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Named by Garden & Gun as one of the best books of 2018, For the Love of the South captures the essence of Southern culture--a deep devotion to family, friends, and food--in a charming cookbook featuring delicious, comforting recipes, her recollections of growing up on the bayous of Louisiana, and more than 100 full-color and black-and-white photographs.

Amber Wilson's popular blog, For the Love of the South, reflects the generosity, cordiality, and sense of tradition that are the heart of Southern culture. In her engaging posts, she shares personal, entertaining stories about her childhood in the deep South, pays tribute to her heritage, and presents mouthwatering recipes that showcase the best of the region's cooking, accompanied by gorgeous photos.

In this first book, drawn from her popular website, she brings together 100 delectable, accessible, and easy-to-make recipes for Southern classics, and mixes them with delightful family anecdotes, which convey her love and respect for her roots. A terrific cook and captivating writer, Amber is also an accomplished photographer. For the Love of the South showcases 100 of her pictures--both black-and-white and color images of ingredient prep and finished dishes, as well as photos that evoke quintessential Southern life.

No matter where in the country you live, no matter if you've barely used a stove or are an old hand around the kitchen, Amber teaches you how to master a host of Southern dishes, from starters to desserts. The recipes use inexpensive, readily available ingredients and come with instructive, encouraging directions. Learn to make a roux, perfect the popover, fry okra, lattice a piecrust, and create irresistible gumbos and jambalayas like a true Southerner. From Pain Perdu, Pimento Hushpuppies, Corn Bisque, and Spicy Oven-Roasted Okra to Tomato and Bacon Sandwich with Chipotle Mayonnaise, Nashville Hot Chicken, Cajun Jambalaya, and Bacon-Latticed Apple Pie, there's something tasty for everyone.

Amber offers a pantry-full of time- and money-saving kitchen tips--from storing and freezing bacon to prolonging fresh berries in the fridge, seasoning cast-iron skillets, and making vanilla extract--and provides helpful do-ahead and leftover-saving tips for many recipes as well.

Grab a chair, sit down for a spell, and enjoy a taste of Southern life and food with For the Love of the South.

From the Back Cover

With 110 full-color photographs

Amber Wilson, creator of the popular food blog For the Love of the South, beautifully evokes the joys and comforts of Southern food and life with this highly personal, accessible volume that includes more than 100 delicious recipes accompanied by entertaining recollections of her life growing up on the bayous of Louisiana, including time spent in the kitchen with her family. Her relaxed, encouraging voice will inspire home cooks to make a roux for gumbo, whip up homemade mayonnaise for a perfect chicken salad, and confidently create pie dough from scratch.

Interwoven with the recipes are engaging family anecdotes--Wilson's first sip of chicory café au lait at the age of three with her grandmother; the spicy aromas, unmistakable sounds, and table-setting rituals for shrimp boils with her extended family; watching her grandparents effortlessly work together to make blackberry pie--all of which convey her love and respect for her roots. The recipes and anecdotes are accompanied by her intimate photographs of ingredient prep and finished dishes, as well as landscapes that depict Southern life.

Wilson makes it easy to master a host of Southern dishes, from starters to desserts, with clear, straightforward recipes; inexpensive, readily available ingredients; and techniques such as shallow pan-frying and oven-roasting that replace the more daunting deep-frying. She also offers a pantry full of kitchen tips--from storing and freezing bacon to prolonging the freshness of berries in the fridge, seasoning cast iron skillets, and making vanilla extract--and provides many helpful do-ahead and leftover-saving tips for many recipes.

This delightful book reflects the generosity, hospitality, and sense of tradition that are the heart of Wilson's beloved Southern culture.

Review Quotes

Wilson's book is as practical as it is pretty. There's no question that we have gleaned useful material from this book beyond new recipes. -- Chapter16.org

The beauty of Wilson's dishes is that, no matter where in the country you live or how much of a novice you are in the kitchen, she teaches you how to master many Southern dishes, from starters to desserts. The recipes feature readily available ingredients and come with instructive directions. -- Brooklyn Digest

Drawing from her blog For the Love of the South, self-taught cook Amber Wilson, whose Instagram account has 168,000 followers, offers recipes for recognizably Southern dishes-- pimento hush puppies, oven-roasted okra, bacon-latticed apple pie--alongside family anecdotes. -- Publishers Weekly

The brand new cookbook, full of mouthwatering Southern recipes and photos (taken by Amber herself), is one you'll definitely get mileage out of in the kitchen. -- Draper James Blog

For the Love of the South: Recipes and Stories from My Southern Kitchen by the Nashville-based blogger Amber Wilson is a beautifully photographed love song to updated Southern classics like ambrosia salad and lady peas. -- Garden & Gun

No matter where in the country you live, no matter if you've barely used a stove or are an old hand around the kitchen, Amber teaches you how to master a host of Southern dishes, from starters to desserts. -- Popular Culture Guy

If you're not sure what Southern hospitality entails, just leaf through Amber Wilson's For the Love of the South. The creator of the eponymous blog wanted readers to feel like she's in the kitchen with you, rolling out dough and stirring roux, and the familial warmth splashes off the page. -- American Express Essentials

"She pays homage to her Southern roots while creating new dishes that draw on her experiences throughout the South." -- Taste of the South Magazine

No matter where in the country you live, no matter if you've barely used a stove or are an old hand around the kitchen, Wilson teaches you how to master a host of Southern dishes, from starters to desserts. -- Evolving Magazine

This collection of recipes captures the essence of Southern culture and honors family, friends, and food. -- Mississippi Magazine

Amber Wilson beautifully evokes the joys and comforts of Southern food and life with this personal, accessible cookbook. -- Southern Farm & Garden