Read This Not That: A taste of the south....

While reading The Help I realized that what I know about the south is largely based on Gone With the Wind and Roots. From those two very different perspectives, I didn't know what to think. I feel like Kathryn Stockett filled me in. My naive eyes were opened. I was disgusted and sad, amazed and surprised. I hope and pray that I never treat another human being that way. I recommend this book to EVERYONE.

Even though fellow book babe Crystal already touched on this, I have to agree. The Help had me thinking about food the entire time. After we went to the Screen Door I couldn't get southern food out of my head. Italian, Mexican and Chinese food were all regulars in my kitchen, so I decided to add in deep south flavors. One thing I HAD to try was Minny's caramel cake. Whew, I can see why she said she "had to talk to myself when I make a caramel cake or else I get too jittery" (page 216). It is a process! I stirred and stirred and stirred and stirred and stirred and stirred. But I still didn't stir enough. My caramel wasn't quite thick enough for frosting, but it was still gooey goodness. You cut a slice and pour on the sauce.

The only time I can remember having grits was stealing a bite from Crystal's plate at book club. So I also attempted that. I made a chicken bacon wine sauce to go over them. It was pretty good but grits remind me of Cream of Wheat so it was hard to not expect sweet instead of savory. Sometime I will have to try them a la Mae Mobley, Aibileen said "I fix some grits without no seasoning, and put them baby marshmallows on top. I toast the whole thing to make it a little crunchy. Then I garnish it with a cut-up strawberry. That's all a grit is, a vehicle. For whatever it is you rather be eating." (page 283) Yum!

"Got to be the worst place in the world, inside a oven. You in here, you either cleaning or getting cooked"