My Southern Table: Recipes from a Georgia Kitchen was the winner in the COOKING/BAKING category of the 2024 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Lana Taylor Stuart.
I am delighted and honored that “My Southern Table: Recipes from a Georgia Kitchen” won in the Cooking/Baking category for the 2024 IRDAs! My journey began in 2009 with my food blog (www.lanascooking.com), where I share beloved recipes from my Southern heritage. This book is is the culmination of years of writing and stands as a tribute to that rich culinary tradition. I owe a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported my journey through blog to cookbook, and particularly to Indie Reader for this very much appreciated accolade. If you haven’t yet experienced the warmth and soul of Southern cooking, I invite you to explore the book and let the flavors tell their stories.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
My Southern Table: Recipes from a Georgia Kitchen; Published October 2023
What’s the book’s first line?
“Welcome, friends, to My Southern Table: Recipes from a Georgia Kitchen. I’m delighted to invite you into the warmth of my Southern heritage, a world where food is more than sustenance, it’s a shared language of love, history, and community.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Born and raised in south Georgia, Lana Stuart grew up in a family where the kitchen was the heart of the home. The smell of chicken frying, the taste of freshly churned ice cream, the laughter and conversation that filled the air as the family gathered around the dining table—these are the cherished memories that have shaped her and her new cookbook, My Southern Table: Recipes from a Georgia Kitchen.
A full-color photo and clear, easy-to-follow directions accompany each of the 246 recipes. Notes and tips on nearly every page ensure success in the kitchen. Readers will find dozens of “heritage recipes” throughout the book. “These are the recipes I learned from my mother, grandmothers, and aunts who were all accomplished home cooks,” says Lana. “And, I’ve also created new recipes that reflect the continuing evolution of Southern cooking. This is southern food as I know it today—vibrant, diverse, and ever-changing.”
You’ll enjoy recipes like Baptist Church Party Punch, Copper Pennies, Shrimp and Grits, Watergate Salad, Chicken Jallop, and Chocolate Little Layer Cake
“Each recipe in this book carries a piece of my heart and tells a story from my life. They are the recipes I turn to when I want to celebrate, to comfort, to share love, and to create new memories with my family and friends. Now, it’s your turn to bring these recipes to life in your kitchen and to weave them into your own stories.”
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I’ve been blogging at lanascooking.com about southern comfort food for more than 15 years and throughout that time, readers often asked me if I had a cookbook. I finally decided the time was right and embarked on a project to gather my favorite southern recipes into a printed volume.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
Anyone who appreciate the rich and diverse cuisine of the southern U.S. will enjoy this book. There are many familiar recipes, plus some that are quite unique that have been passed down through family for generations.
Is this the first you’ve written?
I’ve been writing in one form or another for years. I was the “webmaster” of a public school system for many years publishing material for the schools and public on a daily basis. Following that, I started my blog in 2009 and have been publishing content through that channel and on social media ever since.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I’m a full-time food blogger publishing on my blog, Lana’s Cooking, at www.lanascooking.com
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I write every day. Creating and publishing a blog post from start to finish requires about 10 to 12 hours of work. When creating My Southern Table, I worked mostly on weekends when I wasn’t busy writing for the blog.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part is having complete control over the publishing process and the content of my book. The hardest part is having to learn everything on your own.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
I would consider it, but only if I retained creative control of my content.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
My motivation is to save older recipes for future generations to enjoy. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy trying new recipes, because I certainly do! However, I think it’s important that our culinary heritage is preserved.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Craig Claiborne, New York Times food writer
Which book do you wish you could have written?
Southern Cooking by Craig Claiborne. Every recipe in that book reminds me of home and my family’s culinary traditions.