Eric Jones - Healthier Southern Cooking: 60 Homestyle Recipes with Better Ingredients and All the Flavor

HEALTHIER
SOUTHERN
COOKING

Homestyle Recipes
with Better Ingredients and
All the Flavor

ERIC AND
SHANNA JONES
Creators of Dude That Cookz

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We want to dedicate this book to Beverly Jones, Eric Dutchy Boy Jones Sr., Helen Dupree, Pearl Momma Pearl Bynum, Herman Daddy Paul Bynum and Oliver Papa Jones Sr. The stories and memories I cherish most are the foundation for every recipe we create.

I remember just like it was yesterdaythe first time I turned on a stove to make a meal, or what I thought was a meal. At six years old, I was determined to serve a hot breakfast while watching Saturday morning cartoons, and this wasnt going to be my regular weekend cereal routine. Nope. I was going for eggs and toast. To my surprise, it came out great, and I was intrigued by the cooking process, which later led me to make pancakes from scratch. After carefully watching my mother whip up a batch of batter and subsequently preparing my first stack, my love for cooking was born.

I owe a great deal of my culinary prowess to my mother and grandparents. My mother, Beverly Jones (a.k.a. T-Bev to everyone else), was a great cook. Her spaghetti and meatball recipe was so famous that family members randomly appeared out of nowhere when the word got out she was making it.

Spending many summer months in south Louisiana meant lots of time with my mothers parents. My grandfather, who we all called Daddy Paul, was a hardworking man. His prized garden was home to sweet watermelons, crunchy cucumbers, oversized sweet potatoes, juicy cantaloupes and huge bunches of collard greens. My grandmother, who we all called Momma Pearl, was an excellent cook too. She could transform anything my grandfather harvested from the garden into a fantastic meal.

When I wasnt sitting on the kitchen counter anticipating what Momma Pearl would cook up next, I was with Grams, my fathers mom. Grams was known for her Sunday suppers after churchand trust me, they were a big deal. Buttery cast-iron cornbread, savory red beans and rice and vibrant succotash were all staples in her kitchen. I learned about the versatility of the cast-iron skillet from Grams. She made everything in it. Not only did I learn cooking techniques that I still use to this day, but I also grabbed some secret tips and tricks.

My mother and grandmothers were fantastic cooks, each with unique cooking styles. Through them, I learned the essential ingredient in every meal, which was love. This spirit of love still lives with me today, and that passion allows me to bring joy to others through food. As the great Maya Angelou would say, Im just someone who likes cooking and for whom sharing food is a form of expression.

From making the best out of what I had while growing up, to Valentines Day cook-offs with my wife, to enjoying unique dining experiences around the world, my creativity in cooking continued to expand throughout my life. Cooking became an art form for me, and I started to challenge and channel my inner chef. However, along with those happier milestones came loss. Losing both parentswho were considered still relatively youngto health problems forced me to reevaluate my overall health and the food I was consuming. I started researching ingredient alternatives as well as organic and clean foods, and I began eliminating certain proteins from my diet. Those dietary changes are the focus of the healthier recipes in this cookbook.

Dude That Cookz, my wifes and my food and recipe blog, was born from those very changes. Like putting quick and easy spins on traditional dishes by replacing certain ingredients with ones that are better for you. And sharing how to eat healthier without sacrificing flavor. My journey has allowed me to showcase how to enjoy southern cuisine in a new light.

In this cookbook, you will find recipes that will help you maintain a healthier lifestyle by making a few tweaks, adjustments, swaps and substitutions. The seven chapters in this book will take you from breakfast to dinner and back.

The first chapter, Healthier Southern Comforts with All the Flavor, will showcase southern entres. Youll find drool-worthy favorites and healthier renditions of my mothers and grandmothers recipes, like my .

The Neighborhood Sandwich Shop is where youll find my will get you ready for your next gathering. And no one will guess they are eating healthier.

If soups are your thing, youll want to make your way to Wholesome Soups to Warm Your Soul. This chapter is filled with delicious soups, stews and bisques that show how easy it is to enjoy a luscious, creamy soup with minimal fat. If you are a lover of mushrooms, you really cant go wrong with the to the next level, adding the perfect amount of natural sweetness without a drop of sugar.

are just a few ways to kick off a meal in true southern fashion.

Since you cannot have a main dish without sides, Calling All Sideswith Fewer Calories is a must-see chapter. Several of my familys recipes show up there in a healthier form. The , a recipe born from my love of picking sweet potatoes straight from my grandfathers garden. All great and better for you!

A Healthier Way to Rise and Shine boasts healthy and tasty breakfast and brunch options, like that take me back to the kitchen with Grams. Say goodbye to heavy cream; youll be amazed at what a little coconut milk can do.

And since my lovely wife grew up baking, she is giving you all the goodies in the dessert chapter. The Guiltless Sweet Tooth is a treat for everyone. Here youll find every recipe will blow you away. And the great part? You dont have to pass on dessert, because ours are all made healthierwith less sugar and fat but without sacrificing the feeling of indulgence that dessert brings.

Our goal for sharing these recipes is to bring readers a new way to enjoy southern cooking that may influence a healthier lifestyle. All recipes in this cookbook have a more nutritious element. They are either low in carbs, sodium, fat or calories. And as frequently as possible, we have incorporated organic, grass-fed and fresh ingredients to enhance each dishs flavors and nutritional value. We recommend buying organic ingredients whenever possiblefrom fresh produce, to meat and dairy products, to dried herbs. Eating organic foods reduces the number of chemicals in your diet; they are free of any artificial colors, flavors and preservatives; and as a bonus, they are great for the environment due to better farming practices. Organic food is both delicious and beneficial.

Lets turn great, better-for-you ingredients into healthier southern recipes! Are you ready?