tea sandwiches:chicken salad and is it pimento & cheese that is often referred to? cucumber and cream cheese. I loved The Help.

Nita's Pralines! You can make them a day or two ahead! Here is her post from the Christmas Candy thread:

Pralines

1 stick margarine
1 stick butter
place in sauce pan and turn on low to melt slowly. While this is being done line a large cookie sheet with aluminum foil.

1 box graham crackers (I can get almost 2 trays out of a box of crackers)
Place graham crackers close together until you have covered the whole cookie sheet.

1/2 cup brown sugar
add to butter mixture, stir until the sugar is mixed in then turn up heat and bring to a boil. When boiling stir constantly for 2 minutes.

Remove from stove and add stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla (watch out it will spit). Then pour this mixture over the cracker slowly spreading with a spoon to cover all the crackers.

Then sprinkle chopped pecans over all; approximately 1 cup. Cook for 14 minutes in a 325 degree oven.

When done take out and lift by foil and place on counter. When cool peel from foil and break into pieces.

*If when you make the sugar mixture it doesn't get thick don't worry. Go ahead and spoon the brown sugar over the crackers and spread it around with a spoon to cover all. Pour any of the butter that is left over the crackers also. They will still taste the same and nobody notices the difference. I don't know why this happens since I have always cooked it the same way. Might have something to do with the weather, who knows.

Ingredients:
Â1 pound French style bread (the firmer the better)
Â3 1/4 cups milk
Â3 eggs
Â2 teaspoons vanilla
Â3/4 cup granulated sugar
Â1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Â1/4 cup pecans
Â1/4 cup raisins (optional)
ÂBourbon Sauce, recipe follows
Preparation:
Tear bread into medium pieces. Add sugar and cinnamon. Mix milk, lightly beaten eggs, and vanilla. Add to bread mixture. Place 1/2 mix in casserole. Layer pecans and raisins, if used. Top with the rest of the mix. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until lightly brown. Serve warm with Bourbon sauce (below).
Bourbon Sauce

1 cup granulated sugar 6 tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 tablespoon (or more!) Bourbon 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon white corn syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla
In a sauce pan mix all ingredients. Bring to a boil for 1 minute. Serve warm.

Lemonade or Sweet Tea is Southern.

I agree with the Tea Sandwiches.

To me, my opinion, mint juleps is an acquired taste. I went to a cocktail party in Savannah, and almost everyone left their drinks unfinished, including me.

First thing that comes to mind is here in Alabama, boiled peanuts are the thing. You can find boiled peanuts in the grocery store, that are ok, when desperate.

Any kind of peanuts in the shell, roasted is great.

Pork Cracklings are great. You find them here in the potato chip isle.

Pimento Cheese ribbon sandwiches are great.

My pimento cheese recipe I inherited from previous marriage. Always made a jar when camping.

Homemade pimento cheese
1 lb sharp cheddar cheese
1 4 oz jar pimentos
1 small can evaporated milk
1 cup Hellman's mayonnaise ( if you like it thinner, add 1/3 cup more) I like it thin.
Grate cheese and pimento in processor.
Combine with remaining ingredients.
Leave in mixing bowl, refrigerte for several hours or overnite.to thicken.
Makes almost a quart. Would make a quart if I didn't have to sample, before jarring.

Pulled pork in mini burger buns and serve on the side white bbq sauce I have recipe that we like,

pecan tassies for something sweet

1 cup butter, softened
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
Preparation
1. Beat 1 cup butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add flour to butter mixture, beating at low speed. Shape mixture into 48 balls, and place on a baking sheet; cover and chill 1 hour.

2. Place 1 dough ball into each lightly greased muffin cup in mini muffin pans, shaping each into a shell.

3. Whisk together brown sugar and next 5 ingredients. Spoon into tart shells.

4. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until filling is set. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool on wire racks 20 minutes or until completely cool

Pecan pie.....made ahead of time? I'm from Texas & haven't read the book....how far south? I also make little pecan sandie balls, rolled in powdered sugar, it displays well on a plate. Or coconut cake?

this is so quick and easy

Mini Pecan Pie Muffins

1 cup light brown sugar
1 cups pecans, chopped
1/2 cup flour
2/3 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350¢ªF.

Lightly grease mini muffin cups and set aside. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Spoon evenly into the muffin cups and bake for 18 to 20 minutes. The edges will be crispy. Remove the muffins and cool completely on a wire rack.

To Freeze: Place the cooled muffins in a labeled freezer bag and freeze up to 2 months. Warm muffins for 30 seconds in the microwave, and let set for 30 seconds before eating.

I knew ya'all would come through for me!

Nicole, I haven't actually read the book yet but it takes place in Jackson, Mississippi.

Gayle, what did you give me a recipe for???

Gosh, pralines sound so good!

The reason I chose Mint Julep is because I need at least one Southern drink with booze in it. I run with a tough crowd. LOL

Jodi-

Here's a link to a recipe with a Southern pedigree that was in our local paper today. It sounds delicious, easy, and you can make it the day ahead.

Here is a link that might be useful: Southern Treat

How about a Scarlet O'Hara cocktail--now that's SOUTHERN

Southern Comfort 2 oz
Cranberry juice 6 oz
Fresh lemon juice dash

Preparation:
Pour the Southern Comfort and cranberry juice into an ice-filled old fashioned glass. Stir and top with lemon juice.

Jodi, our book club does something similar for our monthly meetings and we try to pick a munchie "theme" that relates to our book for the month, just as you are doing. We read and discussed The Help several months ago. I think once you read the book you will know exactly which dessert you should consider having since it will fit the theme of the book perfectly. I don't want to mention what it is and spoil it for you.

Mint Julep's are definitely an acquired taste and not to my liking but maybe I'm just not "refined" enough. LOL We have a drink called the Alabama Slammer. I wonder if Mississippi has a drink named after the state?

Lana, I remember the evening we met, at an Italian restaurant, down on hwy 280, and I had my first ever peach martini, or maybe I had two :o)

Ooo, ooo, ooo. Mississippy Mud Pie!

Glenda, the Scarlet O'Hara sounds perfect to me. We're real 60s throwbacks so always have Southern Comfort on hand.

I went to a party in the southeast corner of Arkansas.....one of the favorite snack things was bologna cake.......soften some cream cheese, add a couple of shakes of Tabasco sauce and spread it on thickly sliced bologna....stack like a cake and slice. Provide toothpicks.
It isn't something I would want a lot of but it was interesting and the other women loved it.

I like watermelon margaritas.

Monkey Bread (go's great with sweet tea)

4 pack biscuits
cinnamon
sugar
l stick butter/margarine

quarter the biscuits...swirl around in the cinnamon sugar mixture (i usually do a cup of sugar and just dump the cin in till it's pretty dark)...

PAM A BUNDT PAM

drop the quartered/sugar covered biscuits in the pan...after two of the cans of biscuits are in it..pour half the melted margine over the top...continue with the other two cans of biscuits and then pour the rest of the melted margarine on top..

BAKE 350 for 35 minutes...

Turn on to a plate and eat it all up...it's usually a breakfast tradition for us but it's so sweet it goes great anytime!

Have fun!

I grew up about 45 miles from Jackson and then lived in Jackson for five years. The Mint Julep is definitely an acquired taste that I never could learn to acquire! We preferred rum and coke. One thing that is a must at parties : Cheese Straws!! I think it is actually considered a sin to have a party without them! We also ate pralines, pecan pies, divinity candy and those cute little cucumber and cream sandwiches at every gathering. Ahhh, good memories! Bettye/AZ

The newest alcoholic beverage in the south is Firefly sweet tea vodka. Some drink it straight, some mixed with iced sweet tea and some half and half with lemonaide. This could be an alternative to the mint julep, because everybody in the south drinks iced sweet tea!! Here's a link: www.fireflyvodka.com

Just being a smart a$$ here, anything fried will work. When we moved to SC from California that is what we noticed right off the bat. They fry everything! We went to a local place for lunch after church one day. They have a killer buffet and I mean that both ways. Every thing was fried. Even bologna! Which we thought was ham. I joked that I was going to skip the salad bar because I was afraid they had fried the lettuce! All joking aside, it was an incredible meal. We only go there now when we have guests come in from out of state. Boiled peanuts are a staple here. My son loves and I mean loves fried spam with Dukes Mayo on white bread. He also loves fried bologna done the same way. Your book party sounds like a lot of fun!

Trish

I hope lkgrace will come back and tell us what that dessert is. I read the book and I swear I don't remember what they had for desserts :-(

Trish, you're so funny--fried lettuce LOL!!

Yeah....you wouldn't want mint juleps. Glenda is right. It is definitely an acquired taste. One I haven't acquired. ;)

A friend of mine, who lives in Natchez, Miss., took me to see a friend who lived in one of those gorgeous antebellum homes and she served us mint juleps in silver stirrup cups. It was a lovely gesture, completely wasted on me.

Jodi, I haven't read your responses, but in Tyler I bet 70% of our restaurants are Mexican. Tex-Mex, or Mex-Mex. I'd for sure have chips and salsa, guacamole, queso, beer--maybe Corolla with a lime slice. Sorry if I'm repeating another response, but that's what we'd term "Texan." Unless it'd be pinto beans and cornbread, or make the pintos into refried beans. Lots of sites w/ Texas type recipes. Y'all have fun.

Sorry Jodi, I posterd Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce.

I read that book, it was really good. And yes, one particular dessert played a rather large role in the story. If you make that dessert, it will be perfect.

I don't have a lot of suggestions for the other food, but here's a website that might help. Are you trying to cook a whole dinner or just desserts or snacks?

Here is a link that might be useful: Home Cooking in Mississippi

Look at your own risk on the link below. It's a discussion thread on someone else who was serving food for her book club. I haven't read the book so I don't know the significance, but I don't want to ruin it for you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Food from

From the Neely's Memphis bbq (I've made pig candy with brown sugar) This one can be made ahead of time. Nite before

Pig Candy

16 slices applewood smoked bacon, thick cut, cooked crisp and cooled, cut in half
3 (4-ounce) bars semisweet chocolate, chopped (recommended: Ghirardelli)
1 (4-ounce) bar white chocolate, chopped
Directions
Melt both the semisweet chocolate and white chocolate in separate double boilers. Whisk until completely smooth. Remove them from the heat.

Dunk the bacon into the semisweet chocolate and make sure it is completely coated. Let excess drip off and lay on a parchment or waxed paper lined quarter sheet tray. Repeat with all the bacon slices. Drizzle the white chocolate over the chocolate covered bacon. Put the sheet tray in the refrigerator to set, about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from the sheet tray to a serving dish and serve.

I don't know anything about the book.....BUT I do know what I am going to have with the next kidney stone I pass!!

Scarlet O'Hara cocktail--now that's SOUTHERN
Southern Comfort 2 oz
Cranberry juice 6 oz
Fresh lemon juice dash

Preparation:
Pour the Southern Comfort and cranberry juice into an ice-filled old fashioned glass. Stir and top with lemon juice.

HEY.......I was told that cranberry juice (with lots of other liquids) is great to drink while I am passing stones....just gonna add the Southern Comfort!!!!!! =)

he-he

Enjoy your party and make sure you let us know what you serve.

LOL Sandy.

So may great ideas!

Cheese Straws ... huh?

Boiled Peanuts ... lived on the west coast all my life and had never heard of boiled peanuts until I was on a business trip to Greenville, SC. Have never seen them in any store around here. And certainly not along the roadside.

I want to stick with things that are "classic" Southern treats. The first thing that one thinks of when Southern is mentioned.

Spam ... oh my, I love spam ... fried. I'm a freak of nature. Hate chocolate. Love spam. :-)

Jodi-

Little ham biscuits!

patti, check out the link that adellabedella posted. And then pick the one that you think would be served by someone with warped humor. ;)

Glenda, I remember that martini bar. That's where I had my first ever (and second) apple martini.

Jodi, I came back by to mention the cheese straws and I see mamatoad has already posted about them. I've seldom been to a sounthern function when cheese straws weren't served.

What are Cheese Straws?

What is with the SPAM -- That is made in Minnesota!
Is it just a popular food down there? I grew up with it and loved it fried, but when I tried it a couple years ago -- I was very UN-impressed. Fortunately, my taste has refined! LOL

What about southern fried chicken -- "boneless drummies heated in the oven."

I've never had a Mint Julip...being from No, Mn. it's no wonder. You all say it is an acquired taste, what is in it?

How about a Mississippi Mud Pie. You would create your own version and make "dirt" in a pie pan- pudding, and crushed oreo cookies.

I haven't read your responses so I might be repeating someone here, but chips, salsa, guacamole, tortillas would be a good start!

Dotmom, a mint julip is mint, usually crushed then bourbon and a sugar syrup. That's basically it. A very sugary, sweet drink with lots of booze and mint. Never had one and never plan to try one.

Hayjud, cheese straws that I know of are cheese, flour, some pepper flakes or cayenne and milk, butter and 1/2 & 1/2 or cream as I recall. And I do recall a lot of popularity with that "new" food called Spam! Spam though is very popular in Hawaii for some reason.

The only thing I can add is Kool Aid pickles! Or deep fried pickles. Nathalie Dupree's Daffodil Cake would go over big with me.

And for some reason when I was in N. Carolina "sausage burgers" were so popular. A slice of overcooked, dried out pork sausage on a dried out baking powder biscuit! Ugh! Gimme "Grands" and Jimmy Dean any day! LOL And hold the grits...

Skip the mint julip. Give me a mojito!

I visited the South for the first time in my life last April (I'm from Eastern Canada) and fell in love with Mint Juleps... So much that I came home and planted spearmint in my garden!

Boiled peanuts....I had never heard of them, until I went "home" to Florida with my husband. Ugh! One of the nastiest looking things I've ever seen...but he loves them and has them every time he goes home. That and smoked mullet. I'll skip that too.

Oh, what fun!
Not being a fan of any kind of bourbon/whiskey/southern comfort beverage, my vote for the "adult beverage" category would be for white wine, Mimosas or champagne and cranberry juice.

Gotta have some cold "Coke Colas" on hand. Be sure to bring out all of your sterling silver...use your good china and cloth napkins, for sure.

Can you get some magnolia blossoms/leaves to use in a center-piece?

I'm reading the book now, and loving it!

Banana Pudding - there was a recipe in the Feb. 2009 Southern Living Magazine. Its called Nutter Butter-Banana Pudding Trifle, uses Nutter butter Cookies instead of Vanilla Wafers. If you are interested and can't find it on line - let me know and I will post it, its rather long in test but not hard to make.

Or Banana's Foster.

I tell ya, by the end of October I'll have so many ideas my head will spin. :-)

Keep 'em comin'

Jodi-

Live on the coast in the Carolinas. Went to my book club meeting yesterday. Menu included pimento sandwiches, pecan tassies, cheese straws, and the drink was a kool aid punch, your favorite flavor of sweetened kool aid, large can of pineapple juice, ginger ale, she had frozen a block of the punch and had it floating in the punch bowl to keep it cool. Had other things, tea cakes, cucumber sandwiches, and also another drink with cheerwine and ginger ale. Reason we have so much food, we can take a sampling of our favorite foods, not sure if we are a book club or a food club. We sure have fun at meetings.

I hosted my bookclub when we read The Help. It was a January afternoon in Ohio. I served coffee and 'the dessert'! It was a great hit and there are many recipes for it online.

Enjoy! The book takes place in the 60's so if you have any 60's type dishes, that would be great too. I wish I still had my mom's little clear oval dishes with the place for the coffee or tea cups. Those would have been perfect! It was one of the best discussions we've had in our 10 years of meeting together.

I can find lots of those "Luncheon Set" dishes that Margaret is talking about at SAVERS. Those would be a MUST for depicting the 60's. I was married in the mid 60's and I think we received 4 different sets of those things for wedding gifts.

I'm dying to find out what "the dessert" is, but I'm not likely to read the book to find out.

Gosh, I'm fresh out of 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s stuff. :-) We had our kitchen remodeled a couple years ago and DH made me throw everything away so we could buy new stuff.

Peanut Butter Pie! It's a big southern thang!

I make it in those little graham cracker individual crusts, it's so much easier. You mix PB butter and powdered sugar to make little crumbly balls out of it. Put that in the bottom, cover with an egg custard and top with whipped cream and more of the crumbly mixture. Serve chilled. It's delish and you could make it the night or morning before and just put it together at the last minute. It's a no bake pie!

I'll give you the recipe if you want it. Wish I could come, Jodi. :)