Disclosure:  I was compensated for this review of  Southern Living’s Country Music’s Greatest Eats by Tanner Latham.  As always, opinions presented here are my own.

I have such an affinity for cookbooks.  I read them in much the same way as others read novels and without the angst of love triangles or mysterious crimes.  Perhaps I envision myself in the role of the author or chef in some phenomenal kitchen with the perfect ingredients and all of the magnificent tools and equipment at my disposal.  At least that’s probably what I am dreaming after I’ve fallen asleep while perusing my latest food magazine or cookbook.  Now don’t tell me you don’t fall asleep reading those romance novels of yours. You know you do.

Or maybe you’re like me and your nightstand is stacked mile high with the latest of your cookbook acquisitions.  If so, I think I love you.

Southern Living, for well over 40  years has been the source we ladies of the South have gone to for our decorating, gardening, entertaining and food ideas.  We trust it.  We love it.  We dream that one day our homes, gardens, porches and kitchens will be gorgeous enough to make it on the cover of the latest issue.  Like many of you, I grew up with Southern Living always present in my mother’s home.  Just like it is in mine today.  Rather like an old friend or confidant, we trust Southern Living.

So when I was asked to review another of their cookbooks, I jumped on the chance.  I had read about Country Music’s Greatest Eats in some publication – don’t remember where – and was intrigued by the review, but now that I have like a gazillion cookbooks, I wasn’t convinced that I needed this one.  Yet, with over 30 of country music’s super stars sharing their favorites, well…I wanted to join in the party.  I mean.  I watch Trisha and Garth whipping up their culinary creations on Food Network.  They have talent in the kitchen as well as on the stage.  Perhaps some of the “country’s biggest stars” might as well.  Says the one who cannot carry a note in a bucket!

It’s a fun book, ya’ll.  I cannot, in all honesty say that it is innovative because it isn’t.  What it is though, is real.  These are some familiar people with homegrown stories shared through the dishes they love and grew up with.  Family tales.  The kind of stories that make you really relate to the people who have shared them.  For the novice cook, the majority of the recipes are easy to follow and will be welcome additions to the menu.  For the more experience cook, you’ll enjoy revisiting some favorites that, perhaps, you have forgotten or enjoy a new twist on an old favorite.  Most of the recipes are simple and can be made with the ingredients you probably already have on hand in the pantry or refrigerator.  For the most part, the ingredients are easily obtainable from the local market.

I must admit.  I do love a good country song now and then.  My paternal grandparents, with whom I stayed from the time my parents left for work until it was time for me to walk to school, ALWAYS watched The Grand Ole’ Opry each morning when it came on at 6 a.m.  My pa laughed along with Minnie Pearl and Mamaw sang along with whatever gospel singer was on stage.  I’m sure Minnie, Grandpa Jones and the likes of them are probably “rolling over in their graves” with the likes of country music today.

But times change.  Me?  I happen to like most of what I hear.  Just like I like most of the recipes in this cookbook or I wouldn’t recommend that you purchase it for your library.  Or give it to your family member or friend who is a die-hard country music fan.  It retails for $24.95, but I have seen it on Amazon for around $16.00 in paperback. 

Tanner Latham, the author, spent over 10 years as an editor with Southern Living.  In this book, not only does he share some simple, downhome recipes, he shares the stories that some of country music’s darlings such as Trace Adkins, Wynona Judd, and the Zac Brown Band have to tell us about themselves and their families.  It’s a “mom’s best dish” kind of read that you will enjoy falling asleep with and waking up to work with kind of book. 

Do yourself a favor, get it.

Three of the dishes that we most recently enjoyed from Country Music’s Greatest Eats were: Mandarin Almond Salad  (I added beets.) contributed by Alecia Davis (page 76), Scotty McCreery’s Grandma Janet’s Broccoli Cornbread (can you believe I had never made this before? page 186 }, and The Oak Ridge Boys’ Cheesy Potato Soup (page 203).  We really like all three, but I was most surprised by the potato soup.  I also made the Melting Moments from Holly Williams, but I added some peppermint-flavored pieces to the filling and omitted the food coloring.  They were very good, but they were extremely fragile.  These are not lunchbox cookies.  However, everyone who tried them said that they really liked the taste and texture.  Just be aware that they will not travel well at all.

Honestly, when I saw it, I thought “This is going to need something to add some taste to it.”  But because I was testing the recipe for the review, I made it as is.  It was dang good!  I really liked that it did not have all of the extra calories that my regular baked potato soup has – no bacon, sour cream, extra cheese.  It was quick, easy, tummy filling and quite tasty.  I really recommend it.  The salad wasn’t anything  spectacularly different from what I have previously prepared, but it was tasty nonetheless.  It could easily be a summertime meal for us with, perhaps, the addition of some roasted chicken.  And the broccoli cornbread.  After one taste, I think  Hubby seriously considered proposing to me all over again.  Yep.  That good.

 Additional cookbook reviews for Southern Living:

Comfort Food Made Easy

Scooped: Cheats, Treats and Frozen Eats