She’s the embodiment of Southern hospitality and the friendly neighbor whom everyone wants next door, the kind who doesn’t mind sharing a cup of sugar but only if you stay for an iced tea and a bit of conversation, as well. I’m talking about Paula Deen, of course, and I recently had the opportunity to peruse two installments of her magazine, Cooking with Paula Deen .

My first introduction to this larger-than-life personality was on The Food Network , and I was completely taken in with her down-home flavor and authentically-Southern flare. Having grown up in Georgia and vacationed in Paula’s hometown of Savannah many times, I felt akin to this energetic woman and the delightfully-sinful dishes she enthusiastically creates for her television audience.

So it was with great pleasure that I received two of her magazines in the post, courtesy of Hoffman Media. I assumed I’d be doing little more than salivating over pages of tantalizing and mouth-watering recipes, but I was pleasantly surprised that Cooking with Paula Deen offers much more. In each issue you will find a foreword from Paula and a section dedicated to readers’ questions. She shares what she calls her Golden Ring recipe along with her Hot Picks and Batch of Ideas. Often she profiles restaurants from across the United States and invites guest foodies, like Giada De Laurentiis and Emeril Lagasse, to cook up something new and exciting. The magazine also offers insight into Paula’s personal life, whether it’s a glimpse of her home decor or pictures of her first grandson.

You’ll put down Cooking with Paula Deen feeling like you’ve just caught up with an old friend!

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