*This Giveaway has now ended.

 

Every now and then, you get lucky enough in life to cross paths with someone that is just so kind and caring, and makes such a huge impression on your life, that they are frequently in your thoughts though you’ve never even met them in person. A long time ago, I was searching on the internet for who knows what, one click led to another, and I happened to stumble onto a recipe website that did just that.

It instantly became more about the person behind the blog, as she is such a wonderful person, the epitome of a southern lady, and really touched my heart. That person, whom I now have “met” and consider a dear friend, is Mary Foreman.

She started her blog due to a very sad circumstance that we both completely related to. She and her husband survived Hurricane Katrina, and my husband and I survived Hurricane Sandy. What a devastating thing to have in common! She turned the loss of her job, due to the hurricane, into something wonderful, her blog, Deep South Dish . And in no time, her blog soon blossomed clear across the country! A true steel magnolia!

Her homespun recipes and stories of her life touched everyone.

And now she has, much deservingly, her very own cookbook published! (I have a feeling that this is the first of many to come! 😉 )

 

 

 

Mary graciously sent me a copy, and I have been absolutely thrilled over it from page one! I wanted to put together an entire summer supper making only her recipes, but it was extremely difficult to narrow down! I wanted to make everything from cover to cover! Quite a lot of the photos were taken by her, and they entice you to just plain want to run into the kitchen and make them, too!

There are nine separate sections of recipes from Appetizers & Beverages to Desserts and everything in-between that your southern-at-heart could possibly desire!

Some of the recipes I plan to make in the very NEAR future are her Slow-Stewed Southern Green Beans, Sweet Potato Biscuits, Hushpuppies, Cornbread Salad, Fried Green Tomatoes, Chicken and Dressing Casserole, Creole Stuffed Bell Peppers, Atlanta Brisket, and her Mississippi Mud Cake!

If THAT doesn’t make you want to whet your whistle enough to go check out her book on Amazon and order a copy soon, well then, ya just ain’t right. 😉 😀

Why buy a cookbook these days when there are so many recipes online? Many reasons, actually. Quite a lot are what I call “Pinterest Fails”. They just plain either don’t work or don’t even taste nearly as good as the professional-looking photo snapped with an eye phone by a wannabe food photographer. It seems to be all about the photos now and not the actual recipe. You do have to actually eat it. And I don’t know about you, but I got tired of wasting money on computer ink and paper and having stacks of printed out recipes all over the house. They finally got used as kindling in the fireplace. Mary’s recipes are authentic, credible, and all put into a beautiful book that is quickly becoming a best-seller for a reason.

So here is the summery supper that I made, an entire incredibly memorable summertime supper, making every homestyle deep south dish straight from Mary’s cookbook!

I hate to tease you like this, but follow to the end….there’s one last surprise! 😉

 

Mary’s Buttermilk Ranch Dressing! page 73

(*The only recipe that I changed to suit our own personal tastes.
I cut the apple cider vinegar in half, didn’t need the regular milk,
and upped a few ingredients to suit our own tastebuds.
All other recipes made exactly as written.)

 

 

Mary’s Grilled Backyard Barbecued Chicken! pages 131, 186

(*THE BEST barbecued chicken that I’ve ever made or tasted!
Sweet Baby Ray’s Original barbecue sauce was applied at the end.)

 

 

Mary’s Special Occasion Macaroni and Cheese! page 122

(There are mac ‘n cheese recipes – – and then there are mac ‘n cheese recipes!!!!!!
Guess which category this one fits in?! 😉 😀 )

 

 

and Mary’s Best Homemade Chocolate Brownies! page 206

(We’ve never met a better homemade brownie! Simply perfect!!)

 

 

I have a huge cookbook collection, but this book in particular, will definitely be one of my favorite go-to books that I’ve ever had the pleasure, and honor, of owning! All the recipes that everyone should know how to make, complied into one tenderly written and beautifully photographed book! Whether you’re a well-seasoned cook, a beginner, or a professional, it’s one of those books that I think everyone will enjoy and appreciate having!

I wish Mary all of the best that life has to offer, and a bright and prosperous future!

 

Be sure to subscribe to Mary’s blog, and follow Mary on these social media sites: Facebook@ Deep South Dish , Twitter @DeepSouthDish , and Pinterest@ Deep South Dish !

 

*Scroll below recipe to find out
how you can WIN a copy of her new cookbook!

 

Recipe from Deep South Dish.

Yield: 12 servings

Mary's Best Homemade Chocolate Brownies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Print

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2/3 cup canola oil, divided
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1-1/2 cups of all purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup of walnuts or pecans, chopped

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350º F. Butter or lightly spray a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with non-stick spray and place a sheet of parchment paper across the pan so that there is overhang on both sides of the pan. This is so that you can lift the brownies out of the pan in one piece and make it easier for cutting. (*I just used foil to line the pan, then sprayed it with no-stick butter-flavored spray.)

In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the cocoa and baking soda. Blend 1/3 cup of the canola oil into the cocoa until well mixed and shiny. Add the boiling water and stir until the mixture thickens.

Add the sugar and stir in the remaining 1/3 cup of oil and the eggs, mixing until smooth. Add the flour, vanilla and salt, blending completely. Add nuts; toss. Pour into the prepared baking pan and bake at 350º F for approximately 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center returns with just a bit of sticky crumb clinging on it. Do not over bake, or your brownies will be dry! Cool in the pan for about 2 hours, then use the parchment (or foil) to lift from the pan and cut into squares. Store in a tightly sealed container.

 

 

GIVEAWAY RULES TO ENTER!

Would you like to win your very own copy of Deep South Dish? I will be announcing the winner of one copy of Mary Foreman’s fantastic new cookbook, this Friday, June 19th, 2015. Here are three ways to enter to win!

~*~

1} Leave a comment on this blog post describing your favorite childhood memory of cooking or baking, or why you would like to win! (*Subscribing to my blog might earn you a brownie point. 😉 )
2} Pop over to my facebook page and comment on the recipe/giveaway post (here) for one more entry!
3} Click “Share”, and share the recipe/giveaway post with your Facebook Friends for one last entry!

 Three ways to enter, three chances to WIN!
You have until 6 P.M. EST,  Friday June 19th, 2015 to enter.
Winner will be announced on Facebook and given 24 hours to reply or message me.
In the case that there is no response within that time, another winner will be chosen.

*Contest open to U.S. citizens only.

Good Luck, Everyone!