Blue Ribbon Baking from a Redneck Kitchen Book Review

I was looking through the list of the books that was available through Blogging for Books to find out what I was going to read next.  They sent me an email about one that looked interesting so I was looking around to find more details about it...but then I found another cookbook.  I know that I have a problem because this is my third cookbook recently and I need to get this under control but I really like reading cookbooks and trying out new recipes.  This one spoke to me more because I had seen the show where the author/cook was featured!!  I had to get it right!!!  After a complicated UPS delivery of a pet door that was for the people on the next street over which I had to chase down the truck to give back, the UPS man came back with a  Blue Ribbon Baking from a Redneck Kitchen by Francine Bryson which I happily accepted!!  I even cheered when I saw the cover because I was ready to check out some of these yummy southern recipes.

This cookbook was the best kind with lots of reading and helpful hints.  I loved the foreward by Jeff Foxworthy and the back story about how she didn't win the show... which did start me thinking that I needed to figure out who did because I was hoping that she would win (so I think that I decided she did).  The show was great if there is anywhere that you can go back and watch the challenges that they had every week...I know that I wouldn't be able to do it.  

There was a story at the beginning about how she learned to cook with her grandmothers and how she grew up and I was hooked.  It is an ideal way to grow up and I would love for my son to have those memories of cooking but they are only going to be with me since we don't live close to his grandmothers and neither really cook/bake anymore.  I was supposed to be cleaning the house and all my weekend chores but I couldn't put it down.  Her personality came through on the show and it was the same on paper which just makes you feel like you are sitting in a friends kitchen and getting a recipe that they have made and you want to bring home to try yourself.  Here are the chapters so that you can see if this might be the right book for you:

Pies
Cookies and Bars
Cakes Like Granny Made
Cheesecakes
Sunday Go-to-Meeting
Baked Goods to Show Off
Biscuits and Bread
Candy and Truffles

I loved the little note at the beginning of the recipe to give you details about how it relates to her.  The first is a butter crust from one grandmother and the second is the crust from her other grandmother.  There is a tip at the bottom to add vanilla to enhance the flavors in the pie even though it is listed as an optional ingredient so it is nice to know when she uses it.  The second gives a tip that the crust is better with the juicy fruit pies.  There are notes in recipe saying what products she uses like Crisco or White Lily flour.  It is nice to know those details and it adds more to the down home feel that you are getting this recipe straight from her kitchen.  I know that I will be able to read this one over and over again!!

My biggest downside is that many recipes use self rising flour which I don't use.  I prefer to add the baking soda, powder and other ingredients separate so I would have liked a little conversion chart to say use self rising or make your own.  I would also love to see a picture of every single recipe in the book but since this book is jam packed with lots of great recipes, I hope to try to make some for myself.  I know that I want to start with her chocolate chip and peanut butter cookie recipes as well as try a few of her biscuits.  I would love to have a few of her other treats to so I will have to put them on my list for a special occasion.  I hope that you check this out because you will be confused as to whether you should keep it in the kitchen or next to your bed because of the great stories and the great recipes!!  I promise a good read either way whether you are looking for the story or just want great recipes.  I can't wait to have a few of these yummy recipes!

** I was provided a copy of the book through Blogging for Books for my honest review and all opinions here are my own.