"Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce Cookbook" is a truly readable cookbook. This cookbook is pure Southern and is a true treasure! It is full of stories that are absolutely entertaining and the way it is written, you can just hear the stories being told around the kitchen table while you are sipping a sweet tea. I have spent more time than I'll ever admit to looking for a recipe for dinner and then finding myself reading the cookbook. Oh, the stories! I will never, ever hear "This Little Light of Mine..." without thinking of the little Boy Angel Cullen. OH MY!!! I laughed so hard I had tears rolling!

This book is not only fun, but it has some mighty good recipes in it as well. One of the things I really love is not only is there an intro to the recipe, but many of them have comments in the instructions that make it feel like you are cooking with a friend or relative. For example, there was a comment of how the original recipe called for 1/2 cup of sugar, but the author's uncle made the recipe and forgot to add it in. The sugar was not missed, so from then on, it has been omitted when making it. Great to know - and love the omission since we really don't need all that sugar, right?

Sprinkled throughout the book are BELLE TIPs that are helpful and very useful hints, sayings and quotes and drop dead gorgeous photography. The recipes themselves are amazing - well of course they are, they are from a Southern Belle! I love Southern cooking and this book nails everything I love about it. Some of my favorite recipes are: Cajun Grits, Aunt Peggy's Chicken and Dumpling Casserole, Tomato Onion TART WITH Cornmeal Crust From Kitchen Belleicious, Brown Butter Maple Berry Skillet Cobbler From Kitchen Belleicious, and Aunt Debbie's French Market Doughnuts - just to name a few.

I had originally gotten an eBook of "Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce Cookbook" from NetGalley to review. When it comes to cookbooks, if I find I really like them I'll go out and buy the book. This is one that I loved - so I added the comb-bound book to my collection (mine is a little different than the photo as it has a white comb binding). This book is one that is used a lot and not only for the cooking, but for the stories. I've read more stories and even the recipes to my husband or daughter than I ever thought I would out of a book, let alone a cookbook.

What it all boils down to is, "Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce Cookbook" is a must for anyone who loves to cook Southern food, read cookbooks, loves great recipes or just wants a great all-around useful and entertaining book. I love it and highly, highly recommend it!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to post a positive review - but one of my honest opinion. ( )

Monday, October 3, 2016
Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce: Recipes & Ramblings from The Belle of All Things Southern ~ Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, © 2016

Okay, then! I know y'all are anxious to read this review! Let me wash my sticky fingers from that awesome photo on the front cover!

Are you ready?? This story-telling cookbook is the best! You know you will glean the recipes and read all the stories before you make it to the kitchen?! You will be amazed at some of the assistance ingredients, and you can truly say, "Yes, I made this."

This will be real food that you will have ingredients mostly at-the-ready for! Out of her Mama's older treasury cooking, friends and family recipes with neighbors stopping by with dessert, and... Shellie's recipe from her Kitchen Belleicious shown on this very cover.

Be ready for homemade spaghetti sauce, white sauce, BBQ sauce, comeback sauce, hot fudge sauce! Soups, dips, feed the sports crew appetizers. These recipes are close at hand with a taste of memories.

"Of course you were invited! You mean you didn't get your invitation?"
--Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce, 135.

Cozy in and enJOY these gathering-in recipes for family and friends dropping by to watch the game during these crisp, Fall days. These recipes will not keep you in the kitchen long, so you can entertain and be entertained by your friends, and most importantly, spending time together with Jesus. He will feed y'all long after you've put the dishes away!

***Thank you to the Belle of All Things Southern! for this awesome copy for review. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received except for an, "Oh, this sounds good...!"

Order your copy today!
It's more than a cookbook!! ( )

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

The first thing that attracts me to this cookbook is the cover. The cover tells the reader a lot before they even open the book. Besides having a great design and color, it clearly says what kind of cuisine it contains. I have lived in the South my whole life, so I jump at the chance to read and try new Southern recipes. I also like the fact that the author is a “storytelling” cook. It is great to have stories to go with the recipes.

I love the structure of this cookbook. It is organized the way most cookbooks are which is by course, except the author adds a charming little back story to each section, as well as a paragraph before each recipe explaining the why, when, and how she uses it. It adds a nice personal touch to each recipe and the reader can really feel the love and attention that went into each one. Scattered throughout the book are more stories about Shellie and her adventures through life so far. It is clear from the first few pages that this is a true Southern lady who loves God, family, and friends.

Each recipe lists easy to find ingredients in the order they will be used. The instructions are appropriate for even the most novice cook. Shellie evens adds some shortcuts if cooks are in a hurry. Included with each recipe is a high quality color photograph of the finished product.

Although there are a few traditional Southern recipes in here, many of them Shellie has put her own twist to make them even more delicious. Her basic white sauce recipe is sure to become a regular in my kitchen. I would highly recommend this cookbook for the most seasoned Southern chef and also for those who are just beginning their journey through Southern cuisine.
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