When Southern Women Cook: History, Lore, and 300 Recipes with Contributions from 70 Women Writers

by America's Test Kitchen

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food

520 pages, Hardcover

Published November 12, 2024

About the author

America's Test Kitchen, based in a brand new state-of-the-art 60,000 sq. ft. facility with over 15,000 sq. ft. of test kitchens and studio space, in Boston's Seaport District, is dedicated to finding the very best recipes for home cooks. Over 50 full-time (admittedly obsessive) test cooks spend their days testing recipes 30, 40, up to 100 times, tweaking every variable until they understand how and why recipes work. They also test cookware and supermarket ingredients so viewers can bypass marketing hype and buy the best quality products. As the home of Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country magazines, and publisher of more than one dozen cookbooks each year, America's Test Kitchen has earned the respect of the publishing industry, the culinary world, and millions of home cooks. America's Test Kitchen the television show launched in 2001, and the company added a second television program, Cook's Country, in 2008.

Discover, learn, and expand your cooking repertoire with Julia Collin Davison, Bridget Lancaster, Jack Bishop, Dan Souza, Lisa McManus, Tucker Shaw, Bryan Roof, and our fabulous team of test cooks!

Learn more at https://www.americastestkitchen.com/.

Reviews

[Amos · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dissertation disguised as a cookbook. It is heavy-handed and annoyingly political, but when you stumble upon an actual recipe, the heavens temporarily open..because said recipes BANG. I've made five dishes so far, and they have been fan-f-ing-tastic. So, while eighty percent of this thing is filler (I'm not arguing with the merits of the collection's ideas, historical beginnings, etc- I just can't cook that stuff, ya know?) the remaining twenty percent contains plenty to sink one's teeth into.

3 1/2 Delectable Stars

[Annie]

This made me take a moment to be thankful for all the women in my life who taught me to cook and bake.

Nearly all of them are now gone, and I miss them dearly, but I think of them and every woman that came before them when I'm in the kitchen.

[Kristina Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!! Extremely comprehensive with historical stories throughout.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great recipes with photos and lots of southern history. This tome is too big and too cumbersome to easily use. It’s heavy. You have to weigh it down to keep it open when you’re using it.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It counts. In my southern foodways history era

[Dawn Elizabeth Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tiny white font on the dark background was hard to read, but if you persist you’re rewarded with amazing recipes.

[EJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands-down my favorite America’s Test Kitchen cookbook to date. One of my biggest beefs with the ATK books is that they don’t contain enough photography of dishes (I don’t care if you *are* the ATK, if I can’t see the turnout odds are I’m not trying the recipe), but this particular cookbook remedies that issue. Gorgeous photography, delicious recipe choices, and I love the history and lore shared in it as well.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recipes might be good. But the information and stories are not completely accurate.
Disappointing.
The recipes appear to be tasty but not healthful. Only a few might be worth trying.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often read cookbooks cover to cover. I just don't always put them on Goodreads. This one, however, deserves its own stellar review. Please keep in mind that I haven't tried any of the recipes, but the historical notes and contributions of excellent cooks make every recipe a joy to read. America's Test Kitchen, the go-to cooking preference of my daughters, also enhances the book's reliability for me.

Through page after page, the editors consider the historical and regional influences of the cooking of the American South. The photos are beautiful. The recipes will be easily assessed by a competent cook and a worthwhile effort for a new cook. The additional information at the end of the book include contributor biographies, a selected bibliography for further reading, and nutritional information for each recipe, in addition to the more common conversions and equivalents. The book is organized by both food type ('rice and grits') and meals ('breakfast'). The index
allows for access in multiple places, so the reader will find 'Brunswick Stew' alphabetically under the 'B' as well as under the entry for 'potatoes'.

All in all, a gorgeous book for savoring.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Throughout history, food and cooking have sustained women as they have carved out a place for themselves in society and their communities. This is particularly poignant when you listen to women's stories in the American South; in this book, we highlight those stories, exploring how food has enabled women to overcome adversity, provide for themselves and their families, advance society, exercise their creativity, and claim their identities." (p. x) This first few sentences in the Introduction of this comprehensive cookbook/Southern women's food history book perfectly sums up what you're about to read. This is a cookbook. But it is much more than a cookbook as well. Their are 14 chapters of recipes, but each chapter also includes LOTS of other information either about the food/recipes, historical women, and/or current women working in food in the South. The recipes are created by America's Test Kitchen but using both historical and current recipes to find either the best combination or an easier home cook recipe. This is one I will definitely buy. There are several recipes I'd like to try and I could definitely see this being a cookbook you turn to regularly.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a lucky winner of the "When Southern Women Cook" cookbook through the Bookclub Cookbook website giveaway! It contains 300 Recipes from every corner of the American South, with Stories About the women who feed us. I have many recipes earmarked to try, and I am enjoying all the history and memories recounted by the cooks in the book!
I began with preparing Nathalie Dupree's Cider-Brined Pork Chops with Apples and Onions, along with Sweet Potato Cornbread, from a recipe by Chef Stephanie Tyson, along with her partner, Vivian Joyner, co-owners of Sweet Potato. Both recipes were amazing! The cider-brined pork chops were very tender and flavorful and the method to cook them was easier than how I prepared them in the past. The sweet potato cornbread was equally delicious, I added the optional nutmeg and cinnamon to the recipe which made the cornbread taste like a dessert! We ate leftovers for breakfast for a few days in a row. I highly recommend this cookbook if you enjoy delicious home cooking!

#thebookclubcookbook #penguinrandomhouse

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deep dive into many Southern and Southern-adjacent recipes. As one would expect from America's Test Kitchen, this is a door stop of a book, veering off from personal stories into academic research (or vice versa) just when you'd like to hear more about the first bit. This is a door stop of a book, beautifully put together and with many appetizing photos, but tough to read cover-to-cover because of that.

This is not a practical cook book. You're welcome to follow the recipes, but many add details not because they are traditional but because the editors think they are tastier, for all that they may add a great deal of effort, additional ingredients, and time. Just take that into account when you're reading it. Still, the tips and tidbits are welcome, and the whole philosophy of the brand is "what's the best way of doing this?" trouble and cost aside. I often end up thinking my "best" is not the same as theirs, and that's fine.

Worth reading? Absolutely.

[Michelle Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this much-more-than just a cookbook. Containing more than just the traditional recipes from the Southern United States, it has so many wonderfully delicious, and comforting dishes from a wide variety of global cuisines. Paired with stories and histories of the women that brought these dishes to life, this is an enjoyable read.

I tried several of the recipes already, and they were all great. The Smothered Chicken, and Corn Muffins are my favorite so far.

I also appreciate that the nutritional information for each recipe is in the back of the book.

My one dislike is that the text is very small, I don't usually need glasses to read but I had to throw them on for this one.

[Monette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Southern Cuisine has always been a cherished part of my family’s culture. Reading a cookbook that not only preserves the recipes passed down through generations but also provides historical context was a deeply validating and heartwarming experience. Visually, the textbook is absolute delight. The binding and matte pages are incredibly practical for cooking. It’s become a favorite cookbook that I’ll continue to read and re-read, reliving the memories of the matriarchs with whom I’ve cooked.

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost 600 pages from 70 women writers, filled with history and lore of southern recipes. I found 2 vinegar pie recipes similar to those passes down by my husband’s Virginia family. My intention was to read and donate the book. Instead, I’m ordering a copy for my Minnesota daughter, with wishes she introduces the deliciousness to those around her😋

[Kimberly A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, recipes are easy to follow. Plus they are basic with the occasional treat thrown in. Reading the history of some of the recipes is fascinating to get an understanding of when it was developed or why. I gave it a 4 star but wished I could have said 4.5

[Anna]

The recipes look amazing! But they are in very tiny print in a giant book that is bruising my legs as I try to read it while seated on my sofa. There is a lot of history and related material. This might have been better as a 2-volume set.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Christmas gift and am now enjoying making so many delicious things from it. The stories about the recipes are as good as the food is. One of my favorite ATK books.

[Kina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the history of all the dishes, truly a melting pot.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a beautiful book. Huge! Would be a beautiful coffee table book.

[Camille D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Great recipes and stories/backgrounds to accompany the recipes.

[Lynne]

Weighing in at hefty 4 lb. 1 oz., this is a "weighty" book and big (9.75" x `0.25")....wonderful stories of Southern cooks; a plethora of wonderful heirloom recipes...

But.....the publisher made it very difficult. Besides its weight, the print throughout is very small and it is very light (grey?) making it hard to read, hard to use, hard to appreciate...the contents are great....if only the publisher had considered the reader/user and make it all legible & easier to read. Too much white print on dark background making it difficult to copy recipes.

[Nancy Pschorr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great recipes that will be every day recipes and love the history and beautiful photos. I bought a copy!