As I filled my supper plate last night I realized everything I fixed is represented in the cookbook Jim Casada and I wrote.
- cornbread
- soup beans
- soupy potatoes
- kilt lettuce
- ham
“Celebrating Southern Appalachian Food – Recipes and Stories from Mountain Kitchens” is chock full of traditional Appalachian recipes. The items on my plate are prime examples of what can be found in the book.
Someone interested in purchasing the cookbook asked if the recipes were ones Jim and I actually cook.
I know Jim feels like I do about the recipes. Not only are they ones we cook on a regular basis they are the cream of the crop—in other words the recipes that can be found in the cookbook are our favorites.
We are thrilled the cookbook is still selling well. If you still need to pick up a copy you can find one here.
Jim and I would love to see you at one of our upcoming cookbook events. Here’s a list of the places we’ll be signing and promoting the book.
Mast General Store Book Signing Events
- May 27, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Knoxville, TN
- June 10, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Roanoke, VA
- June 17, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Boone, NC
- June 17, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Sugar Grove, NC
Other events
- June 1, 6:30 p.m. Swain County Genealogical & Historical Society – Bryson City, NC
- July 1, 3:00 p.m. City Lights Bookstore – Sylva, NC
Last night’s video: Preparing for a Big Planting Day in the Mountains of Appalachia.
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Supper last night was soupy dried big Lima beans seasoned with hog jowl, stir fried spinach with butter, skillet fried cornbread hoecakes, diced onion, and sliced tomatoes. It has been a comfort food in our home since childhood. Life is indeed good, Tipper. Your plate looked equally delicious; has been awhile since I have had “kilt lettuce”. May be “getting above my raisin’s” in later life.
Mine is arriving tomorrow and I am looking forward to perusing it! I am thinking that it might be a glimpse down my ancestors past and a way to connect again. Thank you.
Nothing like good ole home cooking!
What a delicious looking supper!! That’s my kind of meal! Loved last night’s video. Your garden is going to be beautiful! Love how you have planted it. So pretty!
I purchased the cookbook on Amazon and I am enjoying reading through it. I was hoping to come see you this weekend in Knoxville, TN since it is only an hour from where I live. However, I am scheduled for hip replacement surgery on May 25th, so there is no possible way for me to come now. Hopefully, I will be able to drive to one of the other locations in July. I would love to meet you and your girls! When I watch your videos, it is like I am watching my family. There are so many similar traditions that we share. Hope you have a great turn out. I have been and will continue to pray for Miss Cindy and all the family. God bless you and keep you!
Charman- thank you! I hope the surgery goes well!!
That looks like a meal fit for a king. My killed lettuce looks a lot different than yours. Mine is completely wilted and dark green from using too much oil I’m sure. I would benefit from reading your cookbook recipe for a healthier way to prepare it. Mom used lard for all her cooking, including wilting the lettuce. I use olive oil and it drains off of the lettuce so I never worry too much about how much I am consuming.
Praying for Miss Cindy and her family.
That plate looks fit for a king and queen and that’s exactly what you and Deer Hunter must feel like eating well with proof being the beautiful plate you shared with us graciously. It really looks tasty, healthy and filling, btw! Im thinking for several days now on that Apple stack cake. I just don’t look forward to baking multiple short stacks so soon I will get my gumption and go for the leaning tower of cake! Lol. I’d love to come meet you, but I am highly doubtful cause I’m just not feeling right. There used to be a music festival at Sugar Grove and it was legendary, although I was too young to go… please travel safely and know angels will go “afore and aft” you. I heard the Holy Spirit tell me that before I went to St. Louis area so I’m just passing along what I heard and believing that! Prayers to you and yours and the beautiful Miss Cindy-and let’s not forget lovely Granny or the babies!!! (That’s Chitter and Chatter btw.) Happy Gardening , y’all! I know I am happy barefoot knee deep in brown gold. It’s the ideal place for me and I’m proud of it!
Did I hear Matt say he doesn’t like radishes? Try them sliced thin and sautéed with peppers and onions. They are delicious that way. I also put them in the crockpot with carrots, potatoes, and onions when I’m cooking a roast. Even my picky daughter didn’t know they weren’t little potatoes.
Now that’s good eating!
Congratulations on the sales of the cookbook. See you on the 27th!
Yesterday at a graduation gathering, eating hamburgers and hotdogs, of course the subject was how good the hamburgers were. Then out of the blue someone mentioned good country cooking like soup beans. Then the conversation led to fried potatoes, turnips and of course cornbread.
Some people call it Appalachia cooking, down home cooking and cooking that sticks to your ribs. I call it just plain good food that you can’t get away from and who would want to?
That looks delicious – and just like what you would’ve found served on my Mamaw and Papaw’s table every night!
Good, healthy, delicious supper!!! Headed out to plant squash and cucumbers and beans. Have a Marvelous Monday!!!
Goodness, guys, you are going all out. So many cattle panels and raised beds. I for sure can’t keep up with you all. The only thing that is new on Matt’s plate is the kilt lettuce. When I first saw that video I had to try it. Yum is all I can say. I have made it more than once and love it even more each time. I do wish you and Jim were closer so that I could meet you face to face at one of your book signings. Being down here in upstate Florida, it is a fur piece for sure. I do wish you much success and it looks like my wish is on target. Prayers for Miss Cindy and the rest of your family. God Bless
I’m so glad we found you, Tipper and your lovely family on YouTube and The Blind Pig and the Acorn. We look forward to spending time with you all through the vlog and YouTube. Your Faith, your work ethic, music, care for each other all are so inspiring. Many prayers are being prayed for Miss Cindy and all who love her. Keep putting on the full armor of God, to help you walk in His strength and peace. We sure love you, all.
They ARE such a wonderful family. Go back and read the older posts. I started from the beginning. And have always read Miss Cindy’s comments. So much love. Have a blessed day.
Kathleen-thank you so much!!
We noted on last night’s video that you’ve been told to soak your okra seed overnight. We learned this from my dad and I urge you to try it. On the day I planned to plant it, I had forgotten to soak the seed so forced myself to soak it and wait a day to plant. Our okra was up in 3 days after planting. On the day you plan to plant it and realize you’ve forgotten to soak the seeds, just fix your row for okra and soak the seeds instead. The following day you’ll have a five-minute task of planting the seeds.
I am a Northern girl that wants to be a Southerner!! I debate every year if I could get okra to grow. We are still two weeks out to getting tomatoes and peppers in the ground. When Tipper talked about soaking okra seeds I started getting excited again. Your post has confirmed it….I am going to give it a try!!! The best part of gardening is experimenting….well, next to eating all the wonderful blessings of garden freshness.
When I was still living at home we would always soak the okra seed overnight before. This works well only if dropping seeds by hand, the wet seeds will gum up these small push type planters. I have a friend that puts some of his seed in freezer and freezes it before he planting.
save me a plate, looks really good Tipper, God bless you and your family in Jesus name, God bless Ms Cindy with healing and health in Jesus name , God bless you friends of Appalachia, God bless my family! God bless me and my cats, ✝️❤️
Now, I could sure belly up to a plate of that! Congratulations to you and Jim on the success of your new cookbook.