Nonfiction Book Review: Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen

I always thought that celebrity cookbooks were kind of hokey, especially when written by country singers. But Trisha Yearwood proved me wrong with her excellent family-inspired cookbook, Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen: Recipes from My Family to Yours.

Trisha’s father was a banker and a farmer, and she grew up enjoying a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Georgia Cooking is filled with simple, down-home recipes and plenty of beautiful color photographs. Her mother and sister, Gwen Yearwood and Beth Berman, worked with Trisha to compile old family recipes, and they all share anecdotes and tips about the recipes in the book.

The twice-divorced Yearwood married Garth Brooks in 2005, and he pops up here and there praising his wife’s cooking. His favorite recipe of Trisha’s? Her German Chocolate Cake. He can’t wait for his birthday to roll around so he can enjoy it, so Trisha surprises him with it throughout the year. Aw.

Like another big-boned country gal, Trisha likes her butter. But if you’re worried about calories, just substitute healthier ingredients or make some of the more fattening dishes as a treat. My husband and I have made her delicious Macaroni & Cheese and it’s a keeper.

No exotic ingredients or confusing instructions, just tasty country cooking like your mama's.