Spring is truly here and with it our palates are awakened and ready for fresh tastes. The doors are open at Square Books and the savory smells waft in from our great restaurants on the square, making me ready to go home and get busy in the kitchen. With two new beautiful cookbooks out, Sara Foster's Southern Kitchen, and Martha Foose's A Southerly Course, I have extra inspiration.
Sara Foster, the owner of Foster's Market, the acclaimed gourmet stores for pick-up or eat-in in North Carolina, came to Square Books a week ago to promote her fourth (and I think best) cookbook. Sara wanted to have samples of her recipes and graciously offered to prepare them if I could find a kitchen for her. That is how I ended up cooking alongside a famous chef. As Sara's pound cake from her first book has become our family standard, I thought I'd try her Buttermilk Pound Cake with Tangy Buttermilk Glaze (p 316), while Sara and her sister effortlessly whipped up Deviled Ham Salad (p 11), Carmelized Red Onion Tarts (p 14) and Rosemary Cheese Crackers (p 8). We brought all these tasty treats to the store for the event that afternoon and enjoyed them with an Edward Sellers' Paso Robles Rhone. All was delicious and quickly gone. The Rosemary Cheese Crackers were great plain or with a little brie and a dab of pepper jelly. I wish Sara & Judy were still in my kitchen, but will think of them as I prepare Roasted Asparagus with Country Ham, Red-Eye Gravy and Poached Eggs (p 84) for Easter brunch.
Sara Foster, the owner of Foster's Market, the acclaimed gourmet stores for pick-up or eat-in in North Carolina, came to Square Books a week ago to promote her fourth (and I think best) cookbook. Sara wanted to have samples of her recipes and graciously offered to prepare them if I could find a kitchen for her. That is how I ended up cooking alongside a famous chef. As Sara's pound cake from her first book has become our family standard, I thought I'd try her Buttermilk Pound Cake with Tangy Buttermilk Glaze (p 316), while Sara and her sister effortlessly whipped up Deviled Ham Salad (p 11), Carmelized Red Onion Tarts (p 14) and Rosemary Cheese Crackers (p 8). We brought all these tasty treats to the store for the event that afternoon and enjoyed them with an Edward Sellers' Paso Robles Rhone. All was delicious and quickly gone. The Rosemary Cheese Crackers were great plain or with a little brie and a dab of pepper jelly. I wish Sara & Judy were still in my kitchen, but will think of them as I prepare Roasted Asparagus with Country Ham, Red-Eye Gravy and Poached Eggs (p 84) for Easter brunch. 
A few days later, Martha Foose was in town for her follow-up to the James Beard Award winner, Screen Doors and Sweet Tea, A Southerly Course. Martha was to be on Thacker Mountain Radio with fellow Yazoo City homie, Teresa Nicholas (Buryin' Daddy). Sadly, Martha did not have time to cook for me, but we got in a good visit, and Martha can tell some stories. Besides being an amazing collection of everything Delta from Dandelion Cracklings, Kibbe, Burgundy Duck, Pickled Crawfish Tails, Grilled Co-Cola Drumsticks, and Satsuma Tart, A Southerly Course is as much fun to read as to cook from. Read about Eudora Welty while waiting for that Peach Shortcake to come out of the oven. CFR
(from left: Sara Foster, Lyn Roberts, and Sara's sister, Judy)