Product Description

"Many of the bonds my family has were forged over the dinner table and through the sharing of recipes. Cooking is the way we express our love for one another....I feel so lucky and blessed by the strong support and wonderful memories -- and the incredible recipes -- that my family has brought me. They are the heart and soul of this book."

-- FROM THE INTRODUCTION

Nothing is more important to Paula Deen than her family, and nothing makes that big family happier than sitting down to a meal together. In Paula Deen's The Deen Family Cookbook, Paula and the Deens, Hiers, Groovers, and Orts share their recipes and memories.

Paula's beloved Aunt Peggy makes an Old-Fashioned Meat Loaf that's as good in sandwiches the next day as it is for dinner. Baby brother Bubba Hiers brings his Beer and Onion Biscuits to the table, and his daughter, Corrie, makes a simple but luscious Lemony, Buttery Baked Fish that's perfect for a weeknight dinner. (Her Carrot-Pecan Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting are pretty tasty, too!) Son Jamie makes Huevos Rancheros, perfect for brunch, or try Bobby's Whole Wheat and Honey Pancakes. Husband Michael Groover knows his way around a grill: try his Company's Coming Grilled Steak and Veggie Supper for easy entertaining, and finish the evening with his Irish Coffee.

Of course, there was no way The Lady herself was going to let her relatives have all the fun: Paula is, after all, Paula. She shares her recipe for the Ham and Chutney Biscuit Fingers she puts on the table at every family party as well as the Eggplant and Sausage Lasagna that went a long way toward getting the boys to eat their vegetables. And while there's plenty of butter, bacon, and mayonnaise in these pages, you'll find some of the lighter recipes that Paula enjoys, too: Seared Scallops with Pineapple-Cucumber Salsa is her first choice for a healthful but romantic supper with Michael, and Oven-Fried Chicken Breasts with Honey-Yogurt Drizzle lets Paula indulge in her favorite foods without guilt and with room for dessert.

With more than 140 recipes and dozens of beautiful color photographs, there's something here for everyone. So invite over all those aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, and treat them to some home cooking, Deen family style.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #235 in Books
• Brand: Simon & Schuster
• Published on: 2009-04-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780743278133
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Booklist
Is there anyone still left out there who doesn’t know the ever-ebullient Paula Deen? This Savannah restaurateur appears all over television and has even garnered a movie role. Somehow, she still finds time to generate cookbooks. In her newest effort, she draws heavily on recipes from her large extended family. Her sons, who appear with their mother regularly, have started families of their own, and readers now meet a whole host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and other kin, each of whom seems to have a magic touch in the kitchen. Son Bobby contributes a healthy baked chicken with lime and mustard. Niece Corrie reaches outside the southern tradition for some Thai-inspired dishes. Aunt Peggy’s meat loaf boosts the classic hamburger-and-oatmeal version. Friend Katie Lee Joel offers a pumpkin pancake. Alan Richardson’s photos of the Deen family enhance the intimate, homey atmosphere. --Mark Knoblauch

About the Author
Paula Deen was born and raised in Albany, Georgia. She later moved to Savannah, where she and her two sons, Bobby and Jamie, started the Bag Lady catering company. The business took off and evolved into The Lady & Sons Restaurant, which is located in Savannah's historic district and specializes in Southern cooking, as well as Uncle Bubba's Seafood, which co-owns with her brother. Paula is the author of Paula Deen's Kitchen Wisdom and Recipe Journal, Christmas with Paula Deen, Paula Deen: It Ain't All About the Cookin', Paula Deen & Friends, The Lady & Sons Just Desserts, The Lady & Sons Too!, and The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook.  She publishes a bimonthly magazine, Cooking with Paula Deen (Hoffman Media) and is a regular guest on QVC, where she sells her books and food products

 

Melissa Clark's work has been published in The New York Times, Food & Wine, Bon App - tit, Wine & Spirits, Town & Country, and Real Simple. She has written more than 20 cookbooks, including The Deen Bros. Cookbook: Recipes from the Road and The Deen Bros. Cookbook: Y'all Come Eat.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

I have always believed that a big family was the greatest gift that anyone could have. When I was a little girl I would just beg and plead with my mama and daddy because I wished for more sisters and brothers. You may know that my wish didn't come true back then -- I lost both my parents when I was barely grown, and was left to finish raising my brother, Bubba. Now I thank my lucky stars to be blessed with a family that just keeps on growing. And when I talk about family, I'm thinking about all the people who are most precious to me, whether or not we're actually related.

I have the privilege of working with people so special to me that they've become part of what I consider my extended family. So not only have I got my darling husband, Michael, wonderful sons and grandson, and beloved brother, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, inâ??laws, and children by marriage, I've also got my assistants, my publicist, and my dear agent, Barry, who makes me feel like I have a daddy again. All these people have become so important to me that I can't imagine they won't be a part of my life forever. One thing that's become clearer and clearer over the years: Family is not about being blood-­related, it's simply about love.

And food! Many of the bonds my family has were forged over the dinner table and through the sharing of recipes. Cooking is the way we express our love for one another. We celebrate just about everything that happens to us down here with a meal. It's a grand old Southern tradition! I remember as a young girl going to family reunions, and, oh my gosh, everybody would just try to outdo each other with their best dishes. It always felt like the good eating was lined up for blocks on those tables. To this day, bringing my family together means piling up a plate loaded with everybody's favorite recipes.

Those family recipes are the very soul of everything I do. On my restaurant menu, you'll find my Grandmama Paul's fried chicken and collard greens; you'll find Aunt Peggy's meat loaf and her sweet potato soufflé. And if you've ever sent one of your family recipes to me or my Web site, it might just end up on TV, where I love to share all the tasty tricks I learn from the people around me and beyond. My life is my cooking, and none of it would be possible without my family, and yours, too.

Of course, I could never have started my restaurant without my aunts, uncles, cousins, and, most of all, my wonderful sons. Everyone really came together and pitched in from the very beginning, and they've been there for me ever since. My Aunt Peggy and Uncle George made my dream of owning a beautiful restaurant come true when I didn't think I would be financially able to finish what I'd set out to create. My little brother, Bubba, helped handle business matters at The Lady & Sons before opening Uncle ­Bubba's Oyster House.

Then there are Jamie and Bobby, who have been behind me all along. My boys were barely out of their teens when they started delivering lunches for The Bag Lady. And when we got our own restaurant, Jamie went right to work in the kitchen, and Bobby's smile was out front, making guests feel welcome in the dining room. The smartest thing I ever did was add "& Sons" to the name of the restaurant. I wanted so badly to give those boys wings, to see that they had security and a future, and I feel I have done my best. I think so many of the people who eat at The Lady & Sons pick up on the love ­that's at the heart of our restaurant.

I try to thank my beautiful family and acknowledge them every chance I have, but even if I do this every day for the rest of my life, it will never be enough. That's why I decided that it was time to go ahead and dedicate a book to them. I just have to share with y'all the love and good times I have with my family. Not to mention all the stories -- like the time Cousin George got behind the wheel of the family car at age eleven, or how Brooke went from being "the five o'clock girl" to being Jamie's beautiful bride and mama to my grandson, baby Jack. I feel so lucky and blessed by the strong support and wonderful memories -- and the incredible recipes -- that my family has brought me. They are the heart and soul of this book.

I'm proud to share the recipes that I grew up on, like Aunt Peggy's Old-Fashioned Meat Loaf (page 80) and Our Favorite Hearty Oxtail Stew (page 96). And I just can't keep to myself all the new ones that marriage has brought to our family table, like Michael's Deluxe Twice­Baked Potatoes with Shrimp (page 72) and Michelle's Banana­Chocolate Gorilla Bread (page 189). Although I may be the one you've seen cooking on TV, there's a whole family of great cooks behind every dish I make.

As you look through these pages, you'll recognize some old­time down­home favorites as well as some more health­minded dishes. Those tend to be the ones that Michael and I enjoy a little more often these days to balance out all the pound cake and fried chicken! Eating a more moderate diet is something we all have to think about, especially as we get older. Making it all still taste delicious is a must for me -- otherwise ­it's right back to that fried chicken! I look to Bobby when I need inspiration for that kind of cooking. He's so clever when it comes to cooking fish or coming up with healthy grilling recipes for a cookout. That's where his cooking really shines.

I hope you'll enjoy learning a little more about where all the great food in my life comes from, and I know ­you'll love trying your hand at my family recipes -- they're all time-­tested and Paula-­approved, I guarantee!

I wish you best dishes, y'all -- from my family to yours.

Copyright © 2009 by Paula Deen Enterprises LLC

Customer Reviews

Buy the book
Omygosh...a cookbook that's a good read. What a concept. Paula makes cooking fun and just a little naughty...I mean...real butter, bacon, sugar and just the right amount of sauce. Thank goodness there are still cooks who create real food. Lots of great recipes...if I had to pick a favorite I guess it would be Michael's sinful twice baked potato...it's a meal unto itself. With the fabulous photography and easy instructions you can't miss...and believe me, I am no cook...but I can wow my guests with these recipes.

love love love it!
I love love loved this book! It was so much fun reading all the little family stories that go along with the recipes - Paula's family is just as hilarious as she is (no surprise there, I guess)! The recipes all seem pretty easy to make and they're so creative. My #1 favorite is Aunt Peggy's meatloaf (no boring old meatloaf here!), and I can't wait to try all of the sweets recipes. Her cousin's recipe for whoopee pies looks amazing. And it's even got a healthy family recipe chapter - who would have thought? Looks delicious!

I love this cookbook!
I had become tired of buying cookbooks sight unseen, and then being disappointed by the recipes once the book arrived. This had become especially true of some the the "celebrity" chef books of late. So, I decided to check this book out of my local library first and what a pleasant surprise I found. This is a GREAT cookbook with a nice variety of recipes provided not just by Paula and her sons, but also her extended family. And each recipe is accompanied by a story about the person or the recipe and it was a really great read on top of adding some superb recipes to my collection. The recipes are easy to follow and make, and there aren't too many obscure ingredients that you would have to go in search of, and many are made with staples that you probably keep on hand. It covers everything from appetizers to desserts, and I can not wait to make the coconut bread pudding. YUM! I am so pleased with the cookbook, I plan on buying my own copy. You will thoroughly enjoy the book!

Update: I have made two recipes from this book and they were great. The first one was Jamie's Mexican Chicken and Tortilla Casserole. My eight year old son loved it--said it was a "keeper" and I should definitely make it again. The other was Corrie's Christmas Granola Waffles with Buttered Pecan Syrup. We did not use the granola--however, we did make the waffles and they are out of this world. I have made homemade buttermilk pancakes once a week for the past 8 years as either a Saturday or Sunday morning breakfast for my family, and this recipe has replaced that ritual. Both of my kids LOVE them, and they ask for them whenever I am taking breakfast requests. You will not be disappointed!