Whats better than down home cooking, stories steeped in tradition and good ol country music? Blend all 3 and you get the latest project from Southern Living.…Country Music’s Greatest Eats. Led by CMT personality and host of Reel Eats, Allison Demarcus, the book features stories from over 30 artists and 75 easy recipes. Our favorite country music stars give us a glimpse into their kitchens, life on the road and the memories that built them.
GC: Throughout this project did you have a favorite recipe?
AD: I loved Wynonna Judd‘s Broccoli Cheese Rice recipe. Her great aunt would make this for Wynonna and her mom and now she is recreating the dish in her kitchen with her daughter, Grace.
GC: Many families have generations of food traditions. Did you find this with the artists that contributed to the book?
AD: This didn’t start out to be a family cookbook but thats what it ended up being. There were so many neat stories of family traditions. Amy Grant and Vince Gill are a blended family. Amy cooked Vince’s grandmothers pot roast that she had made for him throughout childhood. Amy used the same old speckled pot his grandmother used many years before.
You will see a lot of traditional southern casseroles in the book that have been passed down for generations.
GC: Do you have a new “guilty pleasure” recipe that came from the book?
AD: Sara Evans made a Missouri Dirt Cake that I could not put down. Her mom made it for her when she was young and now she makes it for her children’s birthdays. The recipe calls for cream cheese, whipped cream, vanilla pudding, oreos and more. Its so good.
GC: Was there a story that was most memorable for you?
AD: Zac Brown has such a love for food and cooking. Instead of Meet and Greet he hosts “Eat and Greets” before his shows. He has a full time chef that travels with him and prepares meals for the fans. Thats so incredibly special. Its time consuming and costly but so worth it to him.
GC: Were there any surprises?
AD: laughs, and says….. I expected the love for food and recollection from the women. The men took me by surprise. We have contributions ranging from Hank Williams Jr to Florida Georgia Line.
GC: Do you have a favorite dish to make at home for your family?
AD: I do, and its included in the book. Jays’s mom makes a pizza casserole that is our absolute favorite. She made it all the time growing up and now I get to make it. Its all the things you love in a pizza thrown in a pyrex.
Country Music’s Greatest Eats is centered around food, family, and country music with wonderful pictures throughout. You feel more connected to the artists, learn the story behind why its special to them and take a peek inside their life. You will walk away with easy new recipes to try and a great appreciation for the insight into some of your favorite country music stars.
Allison DeMarcus is a CMT personality and host of the network’s Reel Eats, which combines select CMT movies and featured recipes prepared by Allison, as well as interviews with country’s favorite stars, the latest Hollywood and country music news, and more. Allison has served as CMT’s red carpet correspondent covering the AMA, CMA, ACM and CMT Music Awards and has appeared on numerous CMT programs since 2007. She is married to Jay DeMarcus of the CMA, ACM and CMT vocal group of the year, Rascal Flatts.
Fans can order Southern Living Country Music’s Greatest Eats- presented by CMT on Amazon HERE. Your tummy will thank you for it!count
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