The best food usually makes an occasion with friends turn into the best party. My name is Jane and I love to cook.
You know that we were founded by two best friends who love parties. We all know that parties need food (and nametags). In fact, it really is not a party without food. We are not shy about saying we throw some pretty spectacular parties. In fact, most of our friends also throw great shin-digs. Who can say whether they become our friends because they give great parties or whether they give great parties because they are our friends.
We are about to spill the beans on some of the BEST FOOD in the South. We get it from the local cookbooks. Our favorites are those dogeared and handed down gems from our moms. The treasured church cook books, the grease splattered junior league cookbooks, and the tattered newspaper clippings from years gone by top the list.
Holly learned to cook with her mom's copy of the 1958 Betty Crocker Cookbook and agrees with the Matriarch in Training that this book IS life changing. The way the recipes are organized with the instructions to the right of the ingredients makes it so easy to read. Also, each basic recipe has a list of variations directly below it. It is sooo easy to learn with it. The biscuits are on page 83 and everyone in Holly's family knows that page number.
Charleston Receipts - This cookbook is the oldest Junior League cook book in print. It has some of everything. Check out the shrimp and grits recipes.
Rocky Mount Junior Guild Rainbow of Recipes -- Good luck EVER finding this one. You'd have to pry it out of someone's hands. This writer has witnessed a debacle at a tag sale where one was spotted.
You're Invited - Junior League of Raleigh - This one is great for our favorite balsamic chicken recipe. Yum. It's only available for a limited time.
