Come Home to Supper

October 7, 2013
True family meals begin with realistic planning, and this accessible collection of recipes has been designed with the demands of a busy parent in mind. Jordan, the blogger behind SouthernPlate.com and author of the same-named cookbook, is especially concerned with thrift, speed, and inspiration. Her one-dish mains are organized by main ingredient—beef, pork, chicken, and seafood (vegetarians are out of luck here). To keep the proceedings affordable, Jordan opts for inexpensive ground meats, canned salmon, and imitation crabmeat. To save time, there are shortcuts like instant potato flakes to thicken soup and dried onion soup mix to flavor burgers as well as plenty of set-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker dishes. And to inspire, there are plenty of homespun anecdotes and how-tos, including mealtime conversation starters and a mix ’n’ match casserole chart. The operative word here is “homey,” and while Jordan doesn’t innovate any new flavor pairings, her Spaghetti Lovers’ Soup, Cornbread-Topped Chicken Potpie, and Cinnamon Pudding Cobbler could coax knife-shy cooks into the kitchen and reluctant eaters to the table. Photos.

September 15, 2013

Like Lisa Caponigri's Whatever Happened to Sunday Dinner? A Year of Italian Menus with 250 Recipes That Celebrate Family and Lucinda Scala Quinn's Mad Hungry Cravings, Jordan's follow-up to Southern Plate: Classic Comfort Food That Makes Everyone Feel Like Family seeks to reconnect families at the table. Written with busy, practical home cooks in mind, her recipes (e.g., Coca-Cola pork chops, oven-baked sloppy joes) emphasize time and money-saving solutions. Store-bought ingredients such as canned soup and frozen vegetables reduce prep time and cleanup, and appliances that include slow cookers and microwaves minimize labor. Optimistic vignettes (e.g., "Your Life Through Rainbow-Colored Glasses") encourage readers to be good parents and to live happy, meaningful lives. VERDICT Unpretentious Southern comfort foods dominate this family-friendly collection. Not recommended for readers avoiding meat or dairy.

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