National Country Cooking Month

For those who love traditional home cooking, National Country Cooking Month is the perfect opportunity to try something new or settle back into some old classic favorites. So get those taste buds ready and salivating, and make a point to show some appreciation and love for a delicious array of foods!

History of National Country Cooking Month

Country Cooking is a special version of American cuisine that was established particularly in the southern United States, although it is certainly not limited by geography. The culture areas that are considered to have influenced country cooking include Appalachia, Cajun, Creole, Tidewater, Low Country and “Floribbean”.

The dishes within the category of Country Cooking are often created around the idea of “comfort food”, including ingredients that are rich, warm, filling and deeply satisfying. From slow cooked barbecue ribs to buttery cornbread, from classic fried chicken to farm style green beans with bacon, this southern style of cooking offers a down home feel that simply can’t be beat!

National Country Cooking Month, situated in early summer, is a special time that was established to promote simple, home cooked meals that are hearty and delicious!

How to Celebrate National Country Cooking Month

National Country Cooking Month offers a full range of opportunities to celebrate – for thirty whole days for whoever might want to! Get started with ideas for celebrating by considering implementing some of these plans:

Go Out to a Country Cooking Restaurant

Several different chain and locally owned restaurants offer opportunities to experience country cooking at its finest, without the need to cook at home. This is a great option for celebrating National Country Cooking Month whether for those who have culinary challenges or folks who are just a bit busy enjoying the beautiful summer weather to want to spend time cooking or baking in the kitchen.

Choose from restaurants that serve country or homestyle food, including places like Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits or Country Kitchen. Check out some of these places for delicious homestyle meals, or choose a local place that offers southern or country cooking cuisine.

Cook Meals from Scratch

For National Country Cooking Month, why not try cooking something from scratch every day? It could be a full meal or something simple like cookies with the kids. Try to use new techniques, like making bread by hand instead of in a machine, to really experience traditional styles of cooking for yourself, and try out some new recipes. A great idea for kids is to ask older members of the family for heirloom recipes and have a go at making them themselves.

Gift Someone a Country Cooking Cookbook

Those lucky people who have a culinary gifted friend or family member in their lives might want to take National Country Cooking Month as an opportunity to give the gift of country cooking to a hobbyist or professional chef. Pop over to a locally owned bookstore and support their culinary endeavors with a cookbook. Perhaps choose one of these titles:

• The New Low Country Cooking: 125 Recipes for Coastal Southern Cooking with Innovative Style by Marvin Woods (2000)
• The Cook’s Country Cookbook by Cook’s Country (2008)
• The Taste of Country Cooking: The 30th Anniversary Edition of a Great Southern Classic Cookbook by Edna Lewis (2006)
• Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking by Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart (2012)

Cook with Home Grown Foods

To make this month even more special, it might even be an interesting twist to try growing some herbs or vegetables in your own backyard, garden, or even containers in the window sill and then using them in a meal. Those who raise chickens might want to include their freshly laid eggs in the recipes they use this month. It’s a very satisfying experience, and the food is much more tasty when it is derived from something you have grown yourself!