Cookbooks to Give Mom This Mother’s Day, Handpicked By Our Food Editor

By Patricia S. York

If your Mom loves to cook, then gift her with a new cookbook this Mother’s Day. Rather than just a source for new and interesting recipes, a well-written cookbook tells a story, not only of the author, but also of the person who used the book. The pages of a great cookbook are dog-eared and marked with personal notes from the cook, reminding her that this is her Dad’s favorite pound cake or this easy-to-freeze lasagna was a hit at the church dinner. A Southern cook prizes her assortment of cookbooks, so browse the list below and choose one to add to your Mom’s collection.

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The VeryVera Cookbook: Recipes from My Table

Amazon

Vera Stewart

After more than 30 years of being asked for her recipes, caterer, hostess, and beloved TV personality Vera Stewart finally divulges her culinary secrets. In this new cookbook dedicated to her own mother, Vera Stewart shares more than 75 of her favorite Southern-inspired recipes that put her VeryVera Café and mail-order business on the map.

Buy It: $27; amazon.com

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Mémère’s Country Creole Cookbook: Recipes and Memories from Louisiana's German Coast

Amazon

Nancy Tregre Wilson

A native and longtime resident of the “German Coast,” a part of southeastern Louisiana located along the Mississippi River north of New Orleans, Wilson focuses on foods she learned to cook in the kitchens of her great-grandmother (Mémère), her Cajun French grandmother (Mam Papaul), and her own mother. She also embellishes the book with personal anecdotes and cooking tips to ensure others can enjoy the specialty dishes of this region.

Buy It: $22; amazon.com

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For the Love of the South: Recipes and Stories from My Southern Kitchen

Amazon

Amber Wilson

The creator of the popular food blog For the Love of the South captures the spirit of Southern culture—a devotion to family, friends, and food—in a charming cookbook featuring delicious, comforting recipes, her recollections of growing up on the bayous of Louisiana.

Buy It: $23; amazon.com

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Margaritaville The Cookbook: Relaxed Recipes For a Taste of Paradise

Amazon

Carlo Sernaglia and Julia Turshen, with a foreward by Jimmy Buffet

Warm sun, cool drink, and nowhere to be―that’s Margaritaville! Filled with recipes that bring the flavor of island living straight into your home, spend a few minutes flipping through the pages and you will soon be slipping into your flip flops, headed to the patio with drink in hand.

Buy It: $20; amazon.com

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Deep Run Roots: Stories and Recipes From My Corner of the South

Amazon

Vivian Howard

Published in 2016, this cookbook has quickly become a must-have for those interested in studying all aspects of Southern cuisine. As much a storybook as it is a cookbook, it tells the true tale of Southern food: rooted in family and tradition, yet calling out to the rest of the world.

Buy It: $28; amazon.com

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Baking: From My Home to Yours

Amazon

Dorie Greenspan

Dorie Greenspan has written recipes for the most distinguished chefs in the world. In this classic cookbook, Dorie applies the lessons from three decades of experience to her first and real love: home baking. Ideal for both a novice or an experienced cook, the hundreds of recipes promise to excite and inspire a new generation of bakers.

Buy It: $24; amazon.com

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Coconuts & Collards: Recipes and Stories from Puerto Rico to the Deep South

Amazon

Von Diaz

When her family moved from Puerto Rico to Atlanta, Von Diaz traded plantains, roast pork, and malta for grits, fried chicken, and sweet tea. Filled with humor and nostalgia, this book is a recipe-packed account of growing up Latina in the Deep South.

Buy It: $24; amazon.com

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