Ever wonder why your grandmother’s cornbread dressing always tasted so good? How to make delicious fried okra? Or the best way to prepare grits? For many of us, the dishes we grew up eating, those delicious Southern meals, are what we equate with comfort food. Dare we also say that many of us have either lost old family recipes or never taken the time to obtain them. Not to worry. We’ve found the perfect reference book: Southern Living 1001 Ways to Cook Southern is filled not only with great recipes but also tips, menus, and delightful commentary.

The book is divided into seventeen food sections plus chapters on kitchen basics, metric equivalents, a useful recipe index, and more. Wading through the 1001 recipes, readers will come across many Texas dishes, including Big “D” Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Blond Texas Sheet Cake, and Texas Cranberry Chutney. “Inspirations for Your Taste” is a reoccurring box—designed to look like a fancy recipe card—that highlights everything from fresh grilled corn with lemon-basil butter to Texas Ruby Red grapefruit. Another Lone Star State connection? The “Texas Food Find” that spotlights Reef, in Houston, where chef Bryan Caswell’s menu focuses on fresh local seafood. With prep and cook times for each recipe in addition to a varied menu, novices and gourmands alike will find something appetite pleasin’.

Here are some recipes that will leave you hungry for more:
Pork Tenderloin on Cornmeal Biscuits
Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad
Bourbon-Glazed Pork Chops
Buttermilk Fried Corn
Quick Collard Greens and Beans Risotto
Buttermilk-Garlic Dressing
Caramel-Pecan Pie