In Southern Inspired, Chef Jernard Wells tweaks some of his favorite recipes to make them all his own. Throughout the book, you will find a host of classic dishes, such as chicken pot pie, meatloaf, and fried chicken but also some dishes with unexpected flavors, such as barbecue lasagna. And it’s not only the food that makes this cookbook interesting; its the incredible sense of family, culture, and creativity that pulses through Jernard’s story as he reminisces about his younger days on a farm in Mississippi and learning the importance of family and food from his parents and great grandmother.

I love the fact that he makes comfort food seem new again just by adding a few ingredients to his dishes. My favorites were the meatloaf and sweat corn recipes that brought back memories of my childhood. And just adding Parmesan to creamed spinach takes that often plain dish to a new level for me. This is a beautifully presented cookbook with easy-to-follow recipes and wonderful mouthwatering photos. It will undoubtedly have readers scrambling for a cast iron skillet to create their own southern-inspired meal.