Down here, our home cooks have a language all their own.
Everyone is welcome in a Southern grandma’s kitchen, but she just might put you to work.
“Measure with your heart.”
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If it tastes like it needs another dash ofTony Chacheres, sprinkle until your heart says stop.
“Stay close and stay clean.”
This becomes even more challenging when the weather is beautiful and everyone wants to be outside.
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In fact, to pour away the treasured ingredient inside would be close to sin.
Down here, were nearly experts at repurposing our scraps and bacon grease is one of the most celebrated.
Fromcocktailstosalad dressing, theres hardly a dish that this treasured ingredient cant improve.
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“Keep that margarine container, I’ll use it for leftovers later!”
In a Southern kitchen, don’t trust the plastic containers in the fridge.
Everything is kept to be used as tupperware later on.
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“Mama would roll over if she knew you used the boxed stuff.”
Beth Dreiling Hontzas
“Honey, that’s not near enough sugar in the tea.”
“It’s not seasoned until you’re sneezing.”
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“We have a whole mess of greens.”
When a Southern cook says theres a mess of something, it doesnt mean theres chaos on the countertops.
This phrase is usually translation for garden bounty thats made its way into the kitchen.
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If youve lived through one Southern summer, you know just what I’m talking about.
Ive gone places that do not put enough and Ive told them.
Well use it generously and we know those classic recipes taste better for it.
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“Youve got a good scald on that.”
No this phrase doesnt mean the chickens burned.
“Everyone grab a shucker, the sweet corn just came into season!”
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“We’re going to need to crack into my secret mayo stash.”
“Go ahead and fix yourself a plate.”
These large-format suppers lend themselves to large creamycasseroles, vegetable side dishes, and multiple main courses.
With choices like these, who wouldnt want to pick out their own selections and portion sizes?
Known aspotlikker, this flavor-packed broth can improve everything fromBloody Marystopappardelle pasta.
Dipping my New Years Day cornbread into the potlikker from the lucky batch of collard greens.
“Hold on, let’s throw in some Sister Schubert’s, just in case.”
“But itll eat.”
This is a phrase you might lean on when your recipe didnt come out quite perfect.
So it might not look like the magazine photo, but is the dish edible?
Itll eat and youll still have supper tonight.
“Im full as a tick.”
“Youre cleaning the cast-iron with dish soap?!”
“Just leave that covered dish on the counter.”
One too many casseroles in the icebox?
Dont be surprised if Aunt Wilmasbutterbeansstay on the kitchen counter or get relegated to the screened-in porch.
I wouldnt recommend doing this at your own home, folks.
“There’s nothing better than cornbread and buttermilk before bed!”
“Mama never needed money to make a good meal.”
Cheap meals are aSouthern grandma specialty, whether we’re talking aboutcream-cheese-and-olive spreador a good old-fashioned tomato sandwich.
