How can anyone resist a sassy book title like this one?
It's been fun learning about Southern (establishment) life through the hilarious stories and interesting recipes in this book.
Most of the stories come from the close-knit community of Greenville in the Mississippi Delta area and read like a transcription of oral history - it's hard to tell how long ago some of them happened. They showcase the best and worst of smalltown life gathering-around in times of crisis, the tradition, gossip, snobbery, and quips can sound a bit over-the-top and stereotypical, except for the fact that this book was a huge unexpected success because so many readers related to it!
Most of the recipes have a retro feel to it - aspics, stuffed eggs, cakes on stands, finger sandwiches, punches - especially as they relate to formal gatherings. They sound quite delicious although they often include ingredients not available outside of the South/US.