Long and lazy summer days, especially the Fourth of July holiday, are perfect for picnics, which always leads to the question, “What can I bring?” To answer, we turned to chef Elizabeth Heiskell, an Oxford resident and Today show contributor. Her new cookbook is titled just that, What Can I Bring? Southern Food for Any Occasion Life Serves Up, and it gives plenty of delicious answers to one of the most common Southern questions.
What is your favorite dish to bring to a Fourth of July gathering?
We always get a big bushel of the most amazing Silver Queen corn from a farm in Indianola, Mississippi, right before the Fourth, so I love to make a big, fresh corn salad. It has cumin, lime, mayo, red onion, and cilantro. It’s similar to Mexican street corn.
What are your favorite lake traditions?
I love to stay on the lake until the sun goes down. We pack late afternoon hors d’oeuvres, like cheeses and crackers, prosciutto-wrapped mozzarella sticks, nuts, grapes, and bottle of wine. That hour before the sun sets, the light is just magic.
What memories did you draw from while writing What Can I Bring?
When I was writing the book, I remembered all the all the heartfelt gifts that I had been so blessed to receive over the years. When my daughter was not even a year old, my sweet neighbor Lea Fyfe brought over supper for us. Many days I cannot remember my own name, but I can remember every aspect of that meal like it was yesterday. It reminded me how deeply touched I was.
What are you working on now?
A remake of the 1973 Southern Living Parties Cookbook. This cookbook was an all-time best seller for Southern Living. I was overwhelmed when they asked me to remake it. It's a great honor. It is such a beautiful book filled with practical advice on how to throw a party to remember. The parties featured are just fantastic, and all of the recipes are truly delicious. The book comes out October 23, and I cannot wait.
