The tales of two very different southern families that come together in a marriage with children and grandchildren that each have a story to tell and parents that weave them into an anthology that is fun to read. Each are exciting new authors from 10 years old to 78 and each with something to say. The titles of their stories tell it all; Southern Innocence, Did You Ever See a Dog Smile, Cries In the Skies, or Blondes With Guns. If we had a mission in creating this book, it would have been to show that traditional southern grace and the simple elegance of southern family living have survived.

“Meat pies, po’babies and other Southern nibbles will ‘delightfully extend’ cocktail hour . . . You could party all year with this little book.” —The Dallas Morning News Southerners adore their appetizers, and this collection of sixty recipes—served up with a healthy dose of Southern hospitality—shows why. Smoked pecans on the sideboard, cheese straws on the coffee table, an array of hot dips on the dining table, and pickled shrimp on the porch are just some of the myriad dishes found in this volume that prove food is the life of the party. Tips on creating the ideal party flow, being a gracious host, arranging flowers, sending out invitations, and planning the perfect menu ensure any event will go off without a hitch. Both a lovely hostess gift and a party-planning idea book, Southern Appetizers is all anyone needs for a successful gathering with Southern style. “A collection of 60 crowd-pleasing recipes for laidback entertaining, along with seasoned advice for acting as a gracious host and pulling off a party to remember . . . From ‘Pick-Me-Ups’ like handheld snacks, dips, and spreads to heartier starters for sit-down dinners, Denise presents an assemblage of fine-tuned recipes that spans traditional favorites and innovative combinations of familiar flavors . . . [a] scrumptious compilation.” —Southern Lady “I found it easy to follow, with accessible recipes and with great photos. Many of the dishes make me think of great Sunday brunches or get-togethers in the South.” —Life’s a Tomato

"It's Ecstasy come Dixie." —Southern Living The Most Extensive Collection of Southern Recipes Ever in One Book Voted Southern Living magazine's 1996 Reader's Choice Award for best small-town restaurant in the Southandthe"Best in the South" for six years straight, the Blue Willow Inn is the quintessential eatery for fans of traditional Southern cuisine. Now, you can recreate the Blue Willow Inn experience in your own kitchen with over 600 classic Southern recipes, including: Blue Willow Inn's Famous Fried Green Tomatoes (page 170) Chicken and Dumplings (page 90) Virginia's Vidalia Onion Dip (page 58) Kudzu Blossom Jelly (page 83) Mom's Sweet Potato Casserole (page 194) Alabama "Blue Ribbon" Banana Pudding (page 342) Southern Fried Chicken (page 247) Thanks to proprietor Billie Van Dyke, as well as cooks from all over the South, you can now experience the culinary wonders of the Blue Willow Inn's delectable taste in your very own kitchen. Recipes passed down from generation to generation, adapted and enhanced through the years, have been collected into the most comprehensive collection of Southern recipes ever published.

With over 600 recipes hand-selected by the busy Southern Living Test Kitchens Professionals and Food Editors as their very best fast favorites to prepare for their families and friends, the cook can be sure the recipes in this hefty, 100-pound paper stock book full of pretty photos are indeed quick and delicious. The book was designed for readers to find the recipes they need in a flash; a make-ahead symbol on more than half of the recipes, over 250, identifies at a glance recipes than can be partially or totally made ahead. Other recipe banners highlight those recipes that can be prepared in 30, 20, and even 10 minutes, start to finish.