Customer Reviews

Southern Living: Our Readers Top-Rated Recipes (Southern Living (Hardcover Oxmoor))

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From the more than 5000 recipes that Southern Living has available on its web site, the editors have assembled 550 recipes that are web site favorites of readers. These recipes have all received hundreds, if not thousands, of hits and have all earned five star ratings. Readers, invited to leave comments, have given tips for substitutions, suggestions about new variations, and menu ideas, all included here. The result is a book of completely tested recipes which have proven to be most popular with Southern Living's on-line readers, recipes that vary from the typically southern (stir-fried okra, catfish, and ham with collard greens), to old standards (tuna noodle casserole, pot roast, and chili), interesting sandwiches (smoked turkey wraps with caramelized onions, shrimp gyros with herbed yogurt spread), an extensive soup assortment (including my favorites--curried peanut soup, and witches' brew chicken soup), and fine vegetable and dessert sections.

The site's #1 recipe, in terms of popularity, is King Ranch Chicken Casserole, a southern standard calling for chicken, peppers, onions, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, tomatoes with chiles, seasonings, corn tortillas, and 8 oz. cheddar cheese. The high-fat content, about 10 g. of saturated fat per serving typifies many of the recipes that are reader favorites here. The Sweet Potato Creme Brulee, which, frankly, looks and sounds delicious, has 28.8 grams of saturated fat per serving. The Three-Cheese Mashed Potato Casserole has about 26 g. of fat per serving. (According to cardiologists, a healthy diet should have no more than 10 - 20 grams of saturated fat per DAY.)

The high fat content is not the fault of Southern Living, which is providing what readers want, but it would be helpful if the nutritional content were provided for each of these recipes. (The fat content here is based on my own calculations.) SL includes lighter fare in its magazine, and a few of those lighter recipes are included here, but it is clear from the popularity of many of these recipes that America's cooks prefer the taste of high fat content.

If you are looking for good standard recipes, southern specialties, luscious desserts and appetizers, and veggies and meats for which fat content is not an issue, this is a wonderful cookbook. The recipes are well tested, taste good, and have the endorsement of thousands of home cooks. The many illustrations show them to be attractive, and the directions make them easy to reproduce. If you have health issues and/or are looking for low-fat alternatives, however, you may want to seek other sources for your recipes. n Mary Whipple

I bought this cookbook a while ago and have really enjoyed it. Everything I've made has been quite tasty, and many recipes have been excellent. I really like that they included comments from their website, because often the comments will include variations on the recipes, as well as what others especially liked about the recipe. There are a wide variety of recipes, from appetizers and beverages to main dishes, breakfast items, and deserts. Some use everyday ingredients, but there are also recipes that are a little fancier, so it's a really nice mix. I would definitely add this one to your collection--I use it all the time to cook for my family--plenty of child-friendly recipes, too!

I have been collecting the Southern Living Annual cookbooks for 20 years, but this is the one I reach for first when I am searching for recipes. Everything I have made from this book has been delicious. I also appreciate the reader reviews and suggestions. Buttermilk Baked Chicken, Pork Chops and Gravy, Pecan Pie Muffins, and Cheesy Bacon and Ham Casserole have all been big hits. I like this cookbook so much, I have given it as a gift to friends and family

I love SL. Many of these recipes are things that everyone needs to know how to cook from delicious mashed potatoes to hearty homemade spaghetti sauce to Thanksgiving dinner to barbecued chicken. There are also "newer" twists on the old standard too. Their recipes almost always turn out wonderful! I agree with previous poster that many of their recipes are high in fat but the recipes have such great flavors that I have had a lot of success lowering the fat content and still tasting delicious. Some recipes even offer suggestions. Plus there is a Light section in the book. Most cookbooks have a handful of recipes that sound good - I promise almost every one is GREAT - I've tried dozens of them. I like the "cooks chat" section for each recipe. There are also a lot of pictures which I like. I usually don't like "suggested menus" in cookbooks but the ones in here are very good and useful. I can't go on enough about how wonderful the cookbook is - I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with it.

This cookbook has an large variety of recipes that are all very appealing. I have tried the shortbread, fruit dip, monster cookies, and the spinach and artichoke casserole. All have come out wonderfully and I am looking forward to trying more. The best part of the book is the reader's comments on the sides of the pages. I would reccommend this cookbook to anyone who likes southern food or putting new twists on old favorites. It also includes many pictures.

This is the best cookbook ever. I bought one for my daughter also and every recipe that we have made is outstanding. I have hundreds of cookbooks...this one is my new favorite.

I own a LOT of cookbooks (more than 400) and am both a serious home cook and an inveterate "arm chair" cook. Some cookbooks are great for reading; some are great for cooking. A very few are great for both. This one fits in the latter category. But even more importantly, EVERY recipe I've tried from this book during the first week I owned it, deserved to go into my "keeper" box--things I'll make again and again and that I would be proud to serve not just to my family, but to guests. If you are going to own only one Southern Living cookbook (which I do not advise; the more of these you own, the better a home cook you are likely to be!), make it this one.

this has quickly become my favorite cookbook. i had borrowed this book from the library and made a couple of the recipes prior to buying it. i had to have it. love, love, love everything i have made from it. a must have.

I have been using this book for over a year. The copy I bought on Amazon was a gift for my mom. It has a combination of classic Southern favorites and newer updated recipes. Many of the classics are the exact same recipes published in The Southern Living Cookbook (1985) and The All New Ultimate Southern Living cookbook (1999).

Every recipe has at least one Cooks Chat blurb saying how good the recipe is, and sometimes a new variation that makes it even better or a preparation tip. The recipes are easy and several use convenience items such as mixes, frozen pie crusts, refrigerated dough, canned and bottled items, and pre-packaged produce.

Not only are the recipes in this cookbook great, it's put together so well. The menus are a great way to plan a meal, and the reader tips in the margins are fun and helpful to read. My husband and I have loved several recipes from this book, especially Chicken Marbella, which I've served at family events to great reviews. Very highly recommended.