Best of the Best from Virginia

I recently pulled this old favorite off the shelf and started digging in. I received a copy of the Best of the Best from Virginia Cookbook from a lifelong friend and her mother back in 1993. I looked it up online this week and was surprised to see you could order a copy for five bucks.

Reading this book lets you take a mini-vacation across the commonwealth, since it features recipes from Norfolk and Virginia Beach, to Arlington and Abingdon. One of my favorite contributors is Tidewater on the Halfshell from the Junior League of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. For years this was my mother’s go-to gift. The recipes are triple tested and give a real flavor for that region of Virginia. I also enjoyed reading some offerings from St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Abingdon, Va.

The Best of the Best from Virginia Cookbook includes a terrific
Brunswick stew recipe. It is a bit of work, but if the weather stays as rainy and cool as it has recently, I plan to make it soon. Happy cooking, friends!