Cooking with Faith: 125 Classic and Healthy Southern Recipes [Hardcover]

Faith Ford (Author), Candice Bergen (Foreword), Melissa Clark (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2004

Beloved comic actress Faith Ford puts a fresh and healthy new spin on down-home cooking with 125 updated Southern classics and traditional favorites cooked by three generations of her family. You wouldn't know it by looking at her -- either during her years as Corky Sherwood on CBS's Murphy Brown or now on her hit ABC comedy Hope & Faith -- but Faith Ford loves to eat. Growing up in Pineville, Louisiana, Faith learned how to cook the great Southern classics from her mother and grandmother: Old-Fashioned Smothered Chicken, Mom's Smoky Beef Brisket, Southern-Style Fried Catfish, Cora's Skillet Candied Sweet Potatoes, Snap Beans and New Potatoes, Buttermilk Biscuits, Fluffy Lemon Icebox Pie, and more. Then, at age seventeen, she left Pineville for a modeling and acting career in New York City and later Los Angeles. She longed for the comforting foods of home but sought to adapt them to match her new, California, health-conscious sensibility. Thus began a lifetime of experimentation in the kitchen, developing healthier versions of foods from her childhood by cooking with olive oil; incorporating loads of vegetables -- staples on the family farm in Louisiana -- into every meal; oven-frying; and using chopped fresh herbs for maximum flavor. The delicious results -- Golden Crispy Oven-Fried Chicken; Broiled Red Snapper with Olives, Onions, and Tomatoes; Grilled Veggie Po' Boys; Dilled Egg White Salad; Green Beans Braised with Balsamic Vinegar and Soy Sauce; Asparagus with Tarragon Vinaigrette; Peaches-n-Creamy Shake; and Sweet Summer Melon-Mint Salad -- regularly wow friends in Los Angeles and have even won over Mom and the folks back home. An inspired combination of the best of both worlds -- the homespun, heirloom dishes Faith grew up on (because every once in a while you need to indulge and only the "real thing" will do) and her own healthier, more modern versions and creations -- Cooking with Faith is also about the bonds that grow between family and friends as they spend time together in the kitchen. After all, says Faith, "well-made food is an experience. It's about taking pride in what you eat. It's a remedy for an increasingly fast-food-reliant society -- I mean, how can you be that much in a hurry?"

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Faith Ford earned five Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for her portrayal of Corky Sherwood on CBS's Murphy Brown. In the fall of 2003, her new comedy Hope & Faith debuted on ABC to great acclaim. Faith lives in Los Angeles and New York City with her husband, Campion, and her dogs, Tess and Bosco.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (April 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743251652
• ISBN-13: 978-0743251655
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,408,600 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Cookbook With Heart !!, May 4, 2004

By 

Quinn Wyatt "qthereader" (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cooking with Faith: 125 Classic and Healthy Southern Recipes (Hardcover)

I couldn't wait to order this book because I'm a big fan of Faith Ford's. I wasn't disappointed! This book has heart, warmth and wonderful recipes. My mother-in-law is also a good southern cook and many of these recipes struck a familiar chord with me. The food here is truly delicious and the ultimate "comfort food" that we all crave - plus, as Faith demonstrates, it doesn't have to be fattening or unhealthy. I also love the format of the book. Filled with Faith's family anecdotes, photos and stories, they are wonderful touches and add a personal warmth. Candice Bergen's "Forward" was also a nice surprise, and I agree that Faith should diversify into other books on home decor, entertaining, style, etc... Faith has always seemed so refreshing, not your "typical" celebrity. She obviously cherishes home, family, friends, and the things that really matter. If you love cookbooks, this one will be a great addition to your kitchen!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Cookbook, May 21, 2004

By 

Beth (Center, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cooking with Faith: 125 Classic and Healthy Southern Recipes (Hardcover)

I was in New York City and had tickets to Good Morning America the day Faith was there promoting this cookbook. I got to meet her and eat some of the Applesauce cake which was delicious. I couldn't wait to get the cookbook. I have tried a new recipe everyday and so far, all are wonderful. I also love the format of the book and the personal notes. It is like when your best friend gives you a recipe and tells you the little tricks to make it extra good. I have been so inspired by this cookbook and being a southern girl myself, I understand and appreciate the anecdotes. You won't be disappointed.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple Recipes For Amazing Food!!!, December 26, 2004

By 

W. Bernier (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cooking with Faith: 125 Classic and Healthy Southern Recipes (Hardcover)

This is one of the best cookbooks I've ever used. I have very little cooking/baking experience, but every dish I've tested from this collection have turned out to be deliciously perfect. The recipes are simply written, making them extremely easy to understand and apply, and the end results are fantastic. The only disappointment is that Ms. Ford does not include a recipe for Red Velvet Cake -- a timeless classic in all southern kitchens.