"Country Music's Greatest Eats"

What would happen if you were to put Alan Jackson, Alecia Davis, Allison Demarcus, Amy Grant, Brett Eldredge, Cody Alan, Craig Morgan, Easton Corbin, Eli Young Band, Gloriana, Holly Williams, Jana Kramer, Katie Cook, Miranda Lambert, Randy Travis, Scotty McCreery, The Henningsens, The Oak Ridge Boys, Trace Adkins, Wynonna Judd and Zac Brown Band into a giant kitchen with nine other country stars? There would be great stories, amazing music and food good enough (and varied enough) to make you cry!

That's nearly what happened when Southern Living and CMT released Country Music's Greatest Eats. With Tanner Latham sharing stories and recipes he's collected while talking with some of country music biggest stars, this cookbook is as much "cook" as it is "book." He has a knack for bringing out favorite memories when he's chatting with someone and he's able to translate those into living stories that form little plays in the minds of readers rather than just words and ingredient lists.

Thus far, the recipes I've tried are all excellent. For my bacon-loving husband, Zac Brown Band's Bacon-Mushroom Stone-Ground Grits was a huge hit. Mama's Chili had my older daughter ready to trade me in for Sara Evans and my younger daughter, who only liked her chicken fried, fell hard for Trace Adkins' Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole. My favorite, so far, is Alan Jackson's Chicken Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich recipe that came straight from his mom's kitchen.

Bottom line: if you love good food and great stories, you'll adore Country Music's Greatest Eats. If you're from the south, you'll find the dishes bringing back memories of your own childhood and if you're not from the south, you'll quickly figure out why those of us who call it home love it so much.