I know a few things...

Case and point.

One thing I know, for absolute certain, is that pearls go with everything; that's something my momma taught me when she gave me my first strand. Any southern belle knows this--they also know how much it costs to have them restrung. As I spent the better part of two hours knotting my pearls, I began to think about the other important stuff I know... the stuff that makes me southern, and thus awesome almost by definition.

Here are a few things that separate me from my non-southern husband: I know that just because a car has a turn signal on, that doesn't mean the car is turning soon. Or ever. I know exactly how many potatoes it takes to make a "whole mess of creamed potatoes." I also know what a swaller (swallow) is: it's a right good sip. My husband doesn't get this. It's more than a sip, but less than consuming the whole glass. Of sweet tea, naturally. I know that some words have different meanings: ex: y'all. My in-laws don't understand this, but y'all is both singular and plural. Oh, and "fixin..." this could be a verb... "I'm fixin to..." But, it could also be a noun--the fixins are on the table, y'all." This one is important... I know that "Bless your/his/her heart" is not always a compliment, but it softens the blow and basically allows you to criticize... Ex: Bless his heart, he doesn't have the sense God gave him.

I can also do a beautiful southern drawl. My dad seems to not really like it, so I won't do it. Unless you ask nicely. In front of him. But I won't wear white shoes before Easter or after Labor Day.

So, what else have Momma (yes, I call her that; no true southern belle has a mom or a mommy) and Nanny taught me? Momma taught us always to write thank you notes. Always. Thanks to my Nanny, I know that when someone asks for sugar, they don't actually mean the white stuff that goes into tea. Speaking of tea, I was raised to make good sweet tea, I don't buy that Arizona mess. 

Yes, there are rosters on my supper plates.

I can make fried chicken many different ways. Here's my favorite--your welcome in advance. Unlike Paula Dean, I know that not all recipes start with butter. They start with love, and then a whole mess of butter. So, get a right good amount of butter and melt it in a rectangular pan--don't mess with cooking sprays, it won't come out right. Now you need salt, pepper, paprika, flour, and bread crumbs. Mix them together on a plate. (No, I don't have measurements, I don't use them. Neither does my Nanny. Plus, my Momma's the best cook this side of the Mississippi, so I know a thing or two about what I'm doing.) Now, bread your chicken. Bake (yes bake! told you I could do it more than one way, and currently this is my favorite, and coincidentally dinner tonight) at 425 for 30 minutes, flip, bake 30 more minutes. Beautiful! 

I suggest pairing with greens--snaps, collard, or butterbeans and mac 'n' cheese. Oh, and sweet tea. Homemade. Obviously.

But, enough about me, how's your momma and them?