I am just a southern girl. I mostly love to cook this way also. I married a man from the north (is it ok to say yankee?) He had never eaten food from the south and says he truly loves my cooking. Not only do I cook true traditional southern cooking, I also give a try at anything that catches my fancy. Coming from the coast, I can filet a fish, open oysters, and even hang gill nets ( only people from the coast will understand this, lol) I don't know if all people from the north have never tasted boiled peanuts before, but, my husband had never until I introduced him to them. He really likes them, however, he does not like oysters, too bad!!! I love them, especially steamed and served with cornbread.... I love to cook any kind of beef. For some reason this turns out to be my best. I especially love to cook my crockpot beef and gravy........not to brag, but, it is so yummy!! Also, I can cook a mean pork roast any way you want it and add just enough BBQ sauce to cook in and give it that true, delicious, southern flavor that we are famous for....I don't like, nor do I cook, pork BBQ that is overwhelmed, or drenched in BBQ sauce, nor do I use any brand in particular. I mix all kinds of ingredients and make my own...........It is great!! wish you had some!!! Chicken and dumplings....and cornbread dressing with ,potatoes, onions, and giblet gravy...........the gravy must have chopped, boiled eggs to give it that true, extra touch. This is when I made up my beef crockpot recipe with gravy.........I love it and so do others.... When I was 14, I volunteered to cook a pot of rice for a family gathering. I did not know how, nor was I going to ask, or admit this to any adult present. Not knowing how much water to add, I think I added three cups to one cup of rice.....anyway, needless to say it was awful and turned out to be a gooey, rice, nasty, soup-like mixture........I threw it away before anyone saw it and claimed not to have any rice to cook.....(I know this was naughty......but I was a kid......geezzz)