15 Classic Dishes My Southern In-Laws Taught Me to Cook

Summer is peach season, and while I can indulge in fresh peaches, peach pie, cobbler, and ice cream all season long, I also always want to preserve some for the cold months. For me this was always jam, but once you have a great pickled peach, you'll want to be sure to add those to the plan. They are amazing with any protein, but especially pork.

I grew up on both the pub cheese traditions of Wisconsin and bagels with schmear, so I was predisposed to fall in love with any cheese spread. Punchy pimento cheese is amazing, as a spread with crackers, filling for an omelet or topper for a burger. I also love it on a bagel.

Collard greens are one of the vegetables that you should eat many more of; they are a powerhouse of terrific nutrition and fiber, and I have become a serious fan.

If you learn only one Southern recipe, fried chicken should be it. It is a skill you will never regret building, and it sets you up for a lifetime of crispy crunchy chicken joy.

As a Jew, I know the healing power of chicken soup with matzo balls, so getting to know Southern chicken and dumplings was a natural step on that path to comfort. You should absolutely have both in your repertoire.

There may be no finer pie traditions than those of the American South, and while I am a fan of all of them, chocolate pie will always have an extra special place in my heart.

I always thought that catfish was a bit muddy tasting and never really loved it. That is until I had the opportunity to taste really great, fresh Southern catfish perfectly prepared — light and flaky, with a crispy cornmeal crust. Source smartly, looking for brands like Simmons or Delta Pride.

No great Southern feast is complete without a baked macaroni and cheese, and every family keeps their special recipe a tightly held secret. Start with this recipe and adapt to your own palates.

The first dish my amazing mother-in-love taught me was her biscuits. I've been practicing ever since, and while I may never get them exactly perfect, I get them pretty good! Having a great biscuit in your back pocket is the start to a lot of fantastic meals.

If you are going to learn to make breakfast biscuits, your next stop should be a really terrific sausage gravy. The heartiest savory companion to a flaky crispy biscuit, and the work of minutes, biscuits and gravy are classic for a reason.

Once you learn sausage gravy, it's time to learn the one they keep a bit secret. I was in my late 40s before I had chocolate gravy, but it changed my life. Sort of a warm loose custard, it makes biscuits into something ethereal, and turns what is essentially dessert into a breakfast without one bit of shame.

If you grew up on pork chops and applesauce, you are going to go crazy for Southern fried apples! This dish is also great with chicken or turkey.

Speaking of pork chops, when I was growing up they were always grilled or baked. But served smothered in a rich brown gravy is a whole new fabulous way to celebrate them!

My husband is a pudding guy all day long. He usually wants pudding instead of cake for his birthday, so nailing a banana pudding was going to be key to keeping him happy! I love that there are both regular and baked versions of this classic, but always recommend the baked style as one to get to know — it is a little more interesting.

My mother-in-love was famous for her chocolate pecan sheet cake (also known as a Texas Sheet Cake), and it is the one cake my husband most craves when he is missing her. Bonus? It is super easy to make and serves a crowd, so perfect to learn for all your family gatherings.