Mildred Council (1929–2018)

For southern US cooking this is said to be a great book - not an area of expertise so I take other's words on this but the background narrative makes it a great read, regardless. The book came out of Mildred Council's many years of running Mama Dip's restaurant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. See, also, Paula Deen, for southern cooking.

As a collector of southern food recipes, traditions, and history, Mama Dip's Family Cookbook contains all three. If you aren't old enough to remember the good ole' days, don't fret. Now you get to read the story behind the food and if you follow her directions, you also get to taste them. Reading her autobiography is like listening to an old friend tell you stories from their childhood. Who could ask for more?

A rare jewel very precious to me. Mama Dip's recipes remind me of meals with my maternal grandmother on Sunday's. Even though I don't cook this way, I need to have it as part of my collection. It reminds me of my roots and keeps me grounded.

Interesting recipes, some of which probably won't have much use (chitlins, hog lites). However, it's no substitute for going to Chapel Hill and eating at her restaurant.