Georgia Magazine - April 2011 - (Page 44)

Southern, in a snap Rebecca Lang’s cookbook offers Southern recipes for those short on time C BY JENNIFER J. HEWETT ome sit a spell, there’s no rushing “Southern”—especially when it comes to time at the table with a good meal. But with Chef Rebecca Lang’s latest cookbook, “Quick-Fix Southern,” released in March (Andrews McMeel Publishing; $16.99), this Athens-based chef shares her secrets for serving great Southern favorites with grace, and time saved. Growing up “below the gnat line,” Lang learned her love of Southern cooking from her grandmothers, Claudia Thomas (“Tom”) and Sarah Dopson (“Sa”), who passed along their passion for great food and big family gatherings. In “Quick-Fix Southern,” Lang shares memories of Friday night ﬁsh fries at Sa’s house, and big Sunday lunches at Tom’s after church. Her favorite Southern go-to meal is macaroni and cheese, fried chicken and biscuits—“the kind of comfort food I grew up on,” Lang says. Inspiration for “Quick-Fix Southern” came from her love of these types of foods and the need to feed her family—husband Kevin and little ones, Camden, 5, and Adair, 18 months—in a short amount of time, to accommodate their busy lifestyle. Lang’s career as a cookbook author, chef, cooking instructor and food writer keeps her busy balancing multiple projects and deadlines. She is also a contributing editor for Southern Living magazine, writes a monthly “Girls Night In” column for myreci pes.com, and is featured in cooking segments on the nationally syndicated television show “Daytime.” “I need to make dinner in 30 44 Food writer, instructor and cookbook author Rebecca Lang, of Athens, recently released her third cookbook, “Quick-Fix Southern,” featuring easy, time-saving recipes. minutes, or it’s not happening at my house,” she jokes. With that in mind, her cookbook is divided into 10 themed sections, from “Sipping on the screened porch” to “Comforting casseroles,” helping guide readers through scenarios from breakfast to the ﬁnishing touch of dessert, with ease. The cookbook features 115 easy-to-make recipes that can be prepared in about 30 minutes or less. Throughout the book, Lang also offers up “cooking school” tips and friendly anecdotes before each recipe to share a memory, give the recipe’s history, serving hints or to clarify a step in the cooking process. Lang’s early career began as an apprentice with noted Southern chef Nathalie Dupree during her senior year of college. “I don’t think I’d be doing anything like this had it not been for Nathalie,” Lang says. “She showed me how to set up a recipe, and encouraged me to attend culinary school. More online at www.georgiamagazine.org She’s been my biggest cheerleader.” From there, Lang landed at Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, S.C., and earned her culinary arts degree. Building on her previous degree in journalism from the University of Georgia in Athens, Lang honed her editorial skills as an assistant food editor for Oxmoor House, working on several cookbook projects. She has served on the board for the Atlanta Chapter of Les Dames d’Escofﬁer, and is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, the Southern Foodways Alliance, and Georgia Organics. “Quick-Fix Southern” has been a ﬁve-year endeavor for Lang, who wrote and produced the cookbook in between the births of her children and ever-growing culinary career. “I go to the Atlanta food community for career advice—those who have been at it longer than I have, or who’ve had more success. And they encourage me to never give up, and keep trying until you get a ‘yes,’” Lang says. “My family’s been really supportive over the years, and my mom GEORGIA MAGAZINE DENNIS MCDANIEL http://www.myrecipes.com http://www.myrecipes.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - April 2011

Georgia Magazine - April 2011
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar
Georgia’s Energy Outlook
Currents
Standing for the Fallen
Green Power EMC: First and 10
LEEDing the Way
Special Travel Guide
My Georgia
Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Cookbook of the Month
Snapshot

Georgia Magazine - April 2011