When I vacuum-packed my car and struck out for Los Angeles, my brother told me, “Don’t forget your raisings!” after 18 years of living north (and west) of the Mason-Dixon line, I haven’t. While I’ve made my home in the land of laptops and lattes (a.k.a. Seattle) for the last decade, I still feel a certain reverence when I hear “Sweet Home Alabama.” (And, yes, I always dutifully “turn it up.”) I should mention, however, I’m not actually from Alabama, but I just can’t get enthused about “Mississippi Queen.”
I started Stuff Southern People Like as a way to introduce outsiders to some of Dixie’s finest delicacies and doo-dads–from recliners to R.C. Cola. I figured folks back home would enjoy reading it, too (or at least say they did and proceed to gossip about me behind my back saying, “Bless her heart, she thinks she can write…”). Along the way, I’ve heard from transplanted Yankees who appreciate the insight into their quirky new friends and neighbors. While I adore all my readers, I must confess that I especially love comments from fellow Southern expats who enjoy the “taste of home” my posts offer.
I’m not saying that the stuff I list is: 1. lovingly embraced by all Southerners or b. admired exclusively by Dixie-folk. This is one girl’s opinion. I look forward to hearing what you think.
Thanks for reading,
Kim Holloway
p.s. Though these entries are numbered, they are listed in no particular order…other than the order in which I think of them.
p.s. #2 If you enjoy reading “Stuff Southern People Like,” please tell all your friends so they’ll tell their friends and so on and so on…
Also: I’m a freelance writer who’s always on the lookout for interesting new projects. You’ll find my portfolio at www.howdykim.com
stuff southern people like 
Kim,
How can I subscribe to your blog so I never miss a posting? I had this sent to me by a co-worker who knew that I could SO relate because I too have a southern heart wrapped in a moss covered Seattle area address. In fact, I have a need to make chicken n dumplings for supper tomorrow after reading this blog. And as for that sweet corn bread stuff, I think I heard them call it spoon bread once. Tastes like cake.
I just finished reading “We’re Just Like You, Only Prettier” by Celia Rivenbark. You might check it out if you haven’t before.
Keep em coming girl!
Sherry Scoggins Marshall
Gig Harbor, WA
hi sherry, i’m so glad you like my blog! i’m still learning how to use wordpress, so i just installed an email subscription form. i’m crossing my fingers that it works for you.
that book looks great. i just added it to my library hold list. can’t wait to read it.
i’ve never attempted chicken n dumplings, but am thinking i should…stay tuned for my chicken n dumplings entry. it’s still percolating…
Kim,
Spent the weekend in Bristol, TN for the Nascar car race 2 weeks ago and was suffering from withdrawal within 2 days of returning. I was missing the sweet tea, the music, the men, the accent, etc etc. Well,,, I can’t replace most of that but did discover something in Seattle you might want to check out. It’s called Highway 99 Blues Club and Juke Joint. The menu includes: Catfish bites, fried green tomatoes, crawfish hushpuppies, sweet potatoe fries, po’ boys, jambalaya, buttermilk biscuits, pulled pork sammiches, red beans and rice and some awesome St. Louis style BBQ ribs. The music was pretty great too. The place is on the waterfront on Alaskan Way. And yeah- the biscuits are like gran’s.
hi sherry,
my boyfriend’s in a band that plays at the highway 99 blues club occasionally. i had no idea they had good southern food. can’t really fault him for not passing on the info seeing as he’s a nevada-born vegetarian. i’ll have to check it out soon!
also, i loved “we’re just like you, only prettier.”
thanks for the recommendations!
Ah, I may have found my support group for being southern transplant. My family is from West Virginia, with a 20 year stint in Texas. While Seattle is, and always will, be my home, I can’t help but miss my country home. My mom still ships me my supply of Coco Wheats and I’m trying to work up the courage to try my aunt’s biscuit recipe, but the health nut in me is having a hard time coating them in Crisco first.
As my folks say, I’ve “gotten above my raisin'”
Thanks for providing a little taste of home.
rae
i hear you on the crisco. the last time i used it was…um…1990? i found one of my old cookie recipes that called for butter-flavored crisco. yikes! i avoid butter-flavored anything after the never-ending olfactory assault of burnt butter-flavored microwave popcorn in college.
I must use butter in my cookies (on the rare occasion I allow myself to make them) but I am not giving up my butter-flavor Crisco for pie crusts. I can’t eat Pecan Pie out of those frozen shells they put in the freezer at the grocery store. Paula Deen would be proud of my crust.
those frozen shells are AWful! i have been known to use the pillbury ready-made ones in the refrigerated section. but the last time i made a pie (strawberry-rhubarb, yum!) i used a crust recipe that called for butter. it met the approval of my “hydrogenized glop” hating boyfriend. and i must say, it was worth the effort.
I stumbled across your blog by accident one day, but whew boy let me tell you that I’m glad I did! I am always checking out your blog, eagerly anticipating a new post! Don’t stop writing! Question though, how on Earth can a true Southern lady like yourself survive in Seattle?
Lou,
Glad you found me, too! How can I survive in Seattle? Well, for one thing, today’s high temperature was 70. In Jackson, MS, it was 93!
FWIW, summer’s in Seattle are pretty nice, and the rain’s a bit exaggerated. It does get ‘grey’ pretty often though.
I once lived in Ireland for a year, and I had never seen rain like that before (and almost daily too). Made Seattle seem like paradise. :p
shh…we’re not supposed to let people know about the gorgeous summer days and how even the worst rain rarely gets above a drizzle…
Isn’t that the truth? I’m back home in Collierville, TN now, but I spent all of April working in Frankfurt, Germany. Your blog made me just a little less homesick!
Glad I could help!
Your blog is hilarious. I too moved from Mississippi (Greenwood…snotty Delta folks) to Central Florida (not particularly Southern) and then to Utah of all places. I am totally with you on about 90% of your “Stuff Southern People Like.” But I have to say not so much on the “mud riding” thing. I never even heard of that until I moved to Utah. Like I tell the people in Utah, growing up in the Mississippi Delta out in the “country”, you didn’t do that ’cause every time it would rain (which is often and hard), we were up to our ears in mud going up and down gravel and dirt roads just to visit friends.
Glad you’re liking the blog.
I guess mud riding was more popular in central MS, seeing as folks didn’t have to do it just to get around. That would get old pretty quick…