Warm Your Soul with Down Home Cooking

It's hard to pinpoint what American food really is. Every city and state has its own specialties, from Philly cheese steak to Maine Lobster to the fresh shellfish and salmon of the Pacific Northwest. But ask anyone what they think of when they imagine "American food." Chances are it's a big plate of Southern fried chicken, biscuits and mustard greens. Southern country cooking has a great flavor that anyone can enjoy. Here are some basic tips to get you started.

With true down home cooking, there is no dieting. You can't be afraid to use heaps of butter or lard, and no skimping on the pork either. Your grandma didn't know about trans-fats and she didn't count calories. If your goal is to get your flavors as close to authentic as possible, there can be no cutting corners. This kind of food is best enjoyed as only an occasional treat, or else, be prepared to spend a lot of extra time at the gym.

One hallmark of down home cooking is great barbeque. While it may seem simple - throw some meat on the grill - it's actually an art form. True barbeque masters spend years perfecting their meat rubs, sauces and cooking techniques. To start, head to the local meat market, not the grocery store, for some high quality meat. Then, make your own rub from scratch, using a recipe from the internet or a cookbook. Store-bought rubs just don't have the same flavor. Finally, no gas grills. If it's not charcoal or wood chips, it's not authentic.

Down home cooking is tough to master, but a worthwhile pursuit for any serious chef. If you want the best pulled pork sandwich ever, or the smokiest, most succulent ribs possible, be ready to spend some time experimenting. Preparing other down home cooking like fried chicken and biscuits can be equally as demanding. But watching your friend and family devour everything down to the last slice of pecan pie will tell you why this is a true gem of American food culture.