Fornearlytwenty-fiveyears,MildredCouncil--betterknownbyhernickname,MamaDip--hasnourishedthousandsofhungryfolksinChapelHill,NorthCarolina.Herrestaurant,MamaDip’sKitchen,isamuch-lovedcommunityinstitutionthathasgainedloyalfansandcustomersfromallwalksoflife,fromNewYorkTimesfoodwriterCraigClaibornetoformerTarHeelbasketballplayerMichaelJordan.MamaDip’sKitchenshowcasesthesamedown-home,wholesome,everydaySoutherncookingforwhichitsnamesakerestaurantiscelebrated.Thebookfeaturesmorethan250recipesforsuchfavoritesasold-fashionedchickenpie,country-styleporkchops,sweetpotatoes,freshcorncasserole,poundcake,andbananapudding.Chapterscoverbreadsandbreakfastdishes;poultry,fish,andseafood;beef,pork,andlamb;vegetablesandsalads;anddesserts,beverages,andpartydishes.Thebookopenswithacharmingintroductoryessay,asavoryreflectiononalifeincookingthatalsorevealsthestorybehindCouncil’snickname.Itisbothagracefulreminiscenceofacountrychildhoodandtheinspiringstoryofawomandeterminedtomakeherownwayinthelargerworld.
