From the foreword"

"For over 20 years, Southern Living magazine has presented the South with delicious recipes and wonderful entertaining ideas. In a region where people enjoy cooking and entertaining in their homes, Southern hospitality has always been a strong tradition. And Southern Living has played an important role in strengthening this tradition as Southerners have turned to our recipes to please family and friends.

THE SOUTHERN LIVING COOKBOOK is the culmination of a much-cherished wish. Indeed it's a dream come true! THE SOUTHERN LIVING COOKBOOK is our proud collection of over 1,300 favorite classic recipes depicting the South's good food and gracious lifestyle.

Many of the selected recipes have been family treasures passed down from generation to generation, and they have been updated for this book to reflect current trends and cooking techniques. Additional recipes were newly-developed specifically with you and your busy lifestyle in mind.

For our entire foods staff, producing this cookbook was much like taking a lengthy trip throughout the Southern states. First, it was a monumental task and a great challenge to vividly recall the thousands and thousands of wonderful recipes we've tested from the South's best cooks. Next, as the foods staff retested, tasted, and evaluated each recipe for this book, we once again shared the food celebrations, legends, and traditions so loved all over the South.

When many people think of Southern food, images of country ham, cornbread, and fried okra come to mind. These are still favorites, but Southern food is much, much more. From crab cakes and clam fritters to Texas chili and Kentucky burgoo, the food of the South is as varied as its people and its regions.

Besides offering you traditional Southern favorites, and many of these with a new twist, this book brings you the best in microwave adaptations, quick-and-easy reci-pes, plus party ideas, menu plans, and preparation tips.

THE SOUTHERN LIVING COOKBOOK maintains our standard of excellence and represents the best of Southern Living. We are proud that this cookbook continues the tradition started by Southern Living in 1966 to share the South's treasured recipes and gracious entertaining ideas.

— JEAN WICKSTROM LILES"