Lighten Up, Y'all

May 4, 2015
The latest folksy effort from Willis (Bon Appetit, Y'all; Basic to Brilliant, Y'all; etc.) aims to help readers lower the caloric intake of American Southern classics without sacrificing flavor or authenticity. For the most part she succeeds, using lighter or low-fat versions for key ingredients, and substituting lighter proteins for the fattier staples. Her riff on the classic pimiento cheese, for example, uses bold sharp cheddar as well as light cheddar, light mayonnaise, and Greek yogurt to cut the calories. Ground turkey is a stand-in for ground beef in meatballs, chili, and meat loaf, and for pork in traditional pork sausage. Items that are traditionally fried, such as onion blossoms and Chicken-on-a-Stick, are baked in order to retain the crispy exterior. And readers may be pleasantly surprised to see that they can have their bacon and eat it too, provided they use the leaner center-cut variety. Not every dish will satisfy as soulfully as the classics (her pulled pork tenderloin would induce cries of outrage in certain areas of the country), but lovers of Southern cuisine will surely pick up a few valuable tips to lighten their meals.