Even if you’ve never set foot in the South except for visits before moving into your Vista Developers home, you’ve probably heard a thing or two about Southern food. It seems like chefs all over the country are getting some of their most popular ideas by looking south of the Mason-Dixon line. Even for those born and bred Southerners, it’s worth taking a look to make sure you have these Southern Kitchen Essentials.
- Pretty, complementary mixing bowls. Baking is an art form in the South. Entire cookbooks have been written just on biscuits, considered the most Southern of baked goods. Southerners are also great at pies or make-ahead desserts like banana pudding. Make sure you have plenty of mixing bowls on hand. Try to have at least three more than you think you’ll need, in varying sizes. They won’t go to waste, we promise! Making sure they’re complementary or part of a set means you can use them for keeping the egg-and-butter mixture separate until needed or use them to display finished dishes in style when you set the table.
- Stone-ground grits. Grits are the Southern answer to oatmeal. A kind of coarsely ground cornmeal cooked with water or chicken broth, they can be a mystery to folks not from the region. Done right, they’re a dream and always a crowd-pleaser. The secret is to add in cheese, sausage, shrimp, or ladle on a spicy tomato sauce to create a delicious breakfast that will go the distance. Try to buy your grits as close to home as possible. Farmers’ Markets like those in Asheville can be a great place to find local grits, or search out mills like Hagood Mill in Upstate South Carolina or Barkley's Mill in Weaverville, NC. Trust us; local grits make all the difference.
- A chef’s knife and cutting board that will go the distance. Southern food came about out of necessity - making delicious meals out of what was available. In that same spirit, every Southern cook knows that you don’t need a different knife for every job in the kitchen. Combine one really good, high-quality chef’s knife with a thick, true wooden cutting board that’s able to take a beating and you’ve got two-thirds of your southern kitchen right then and there.
- A pitcher for sweet tea. If you visit pretty much any restaurant in the South, be prepared to order “iced tea” and get it sweet. Having company over and you want to get things off on the right foot? Whip up a batch of true southern sweet tea. It’s easy to make ahead and have on hand, and it’ll make your guests feel right at home. Keep a pretty pitcher on hand and you’ll elevate even this simple drink for dinner parties.
- Cast iron cookware. No Southern kitchen is complete without it. Cast iron comes in every shape and size, but you can do just about anything with a basic skillet, which is the perfect place to start building your collection. You’ll use it for chicken, fish, biscuits, desserts and even for roasting vegetables. Once your cast-iron has been seasoned, all it requires is the occasional dry scrub and wipe-down and it will stand the test of time. Many Southerners cook with cast iron that’s been passed down by mothers and grandmothers and it works just as well as the first day it came home. It may look intimidating, but they’re easy to cook with and will make your Southern kitchen complete.
Southern Kitchen Essentials are affordable and easy to add into just about any space, because Southern food culture isn’t about fancy tricks or competition - it’s one of welcoming everyone around the table for something wonderful. That sense of welcome doesn’t just come at the dinner table, though - it’s in our everyday lives, too! We’d love to see more people discover how wonderful living in the South truly is.
Have you considered moving South? Vista Communities give you the best of both worlds - all the great friendly faces and slower-paced living the South is known for, but with a mild climate, gorgeous mountain views, and custom luxury homes made just for you. Contact us online or give us a call today to discuss which of our developments has the perfect home for you!
