“Home” means something a little different to each of us.
For Lauren Angelucci McDuffie, “It’s a cozy, tucked-away stretch of southern mountains, where you will find some of the kindest people, the most stunning scenery, an endless variety of interesting foods and traditions, and the spookiest ghost stories around — if you’re brave enough to listen.”
Though the author of the award-winning food blog, Harvest & Honey, currently lives in Indianapolis, she remains deeply connected in spirit to the Virginia mountains of Appalachia where she grew up. Her first cookbook, "Smoke, Roots, Mountain, Harvest," invites us into that world with enchanting stories, captivating photography, and inventive recipes that blend seasonal Appalachian ingredients and traditions with the flavors of a modern, global kitchen.
She tosses a salad of spring lettuces, fresh strawberries, edible flowers and pistachios with a verdant vinaigrette loaded with fresh basil and a touch of honey. She sears pork chops in moonshine and molasses and tops them with a compote of apples and dried cranberries. She ices cinnamon rolls with a pomegranate-orange buttermilk glaze.
Other recipes that push the edges of her creativity while paying homage to her heritage: Honey-Pickled Peaches, Stove-top Toast with Truffled Ramp Butter, Creamy Squash & Chanterelle Bread Puddings, Stacked Caramel Apple Cake.
Besides turning to her own childhood memories, McDuffie traveled country roads visiting small farms, foraging for mushrooms, and chatting up locals in cafes to collect new material.
She weaves these scenes into her chapters with environmental photography that, like her tabletop spreads, bring into focus the inky indigos, mossy greens, misty lavenders, earthy browns, and smoky grays that color the place she calls home.
Susan Puckett is a cookbook author and former food editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow her at susanpuckett.com.
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