G. Brent Darnell

Big Mama's Country Cookbook G. Brent Darnell

This book is so much more than a collection of recipes. It's a collection of memories, the snapshot of a lifestyle and the history of an entire family portrayed through the love and enjoyment of "down-home" Southern cooking. Brent was born and raised in the Deep South--Mobile, Alabama to be exact. Understanding the culture of this Southern community is key to appreciating the pages and pages of recipes that follow. In Brent's words, "Mobile is a place where people have names like Bubba, Shirley Boy, Booger Red, Cotton, Snort, Bubby and Aunt Vila (pronounced Aint Vila). People live in shotgun houses and "set" on front porches."
 
The only thing more vivid than this colorful description of Brent's childhood is the irresistible aroma your mind creates while reading through the recipes. This cookbook offers everything from simple and practical recipes like "Clean Out the Cupboard Vegetable Soup" to more adventurous ones like "Ben's Gumbo."  There are recipes you'll be dying to try like "Nanny's Fried Sweet Potatoes" and things you may never have heard of like "Esther's Mayonnaise Cake." But one thing is pretty certain-- every recipe in here is as delicious as it is Southern.
 
While the recipes may make up the content of the book, it's the memories and history you can sense behind each dish that make up the heart of the book. Readers may not have the same Southern upbringing as did Brent, but this is a book everyone, whether brought up in the East, South, North or West, needs to add to their personal library!