50 Great Cookbooks at Thomas Ford – Week 49

Who needs main dishes when we have sides? Some of these Southern dishes would be welcome at upcoming holiday gatherings.

Fred Thompson’s Southern Sides: 250 Dishes That Really Make the Plate by Fred Thompson by Fred Thompson (641.5975 THO)

What kind of cookbook is Fred Thompson’s Southern Sides?
Whenever I attend a big traditional family holiday meal, I see main dishes, such as a roast, a turkey, or a ham. While these are okay, what really catches my eye are the side dishes. I love the salads, casseroles, and vegetables. In Fred Thompson’s Southern Sides, the author supplies the potential host or pot-luck cook with an abundance of side dishes ideas with a Southern flare.

Is this cookbook easy to use?
Yes, Thompson instructs the reader in plain language. None of the recipes are long and the ingredients are easy to find. Look in the index for recipes using main ingredients, such tomatoes or grits.

What is special about this cookbook?
Thompson starts with Southern tradition but then innovates. The first recipe in the book is Sweet Potato Guacamole. I’d never known that guacamole could be anything other than avocado. He also includes a spinach paneer, which I would not expect in a Southern cookbook.

What are your favorite recipes from this cookbook?
These recipes hold special appeal to me:
Alabama Sweet-and-Sour Slaw (page 47)
Old-Fashion Squash and Onions (page 100)
Mediterranean-Influenced Potato Salad (page 131)
Virginia’s Roasted Acorn Squash (page 283)

Review by Rick