A collection of Carolina-inspired cookbooks arrived on my doorstep yesterday. One of my readers took note when I made a Twitter post about collecting local cookbooks and gifted me a few from their shelves. It made my whole day!

I haven’t had a chance to read them yet, but I did flip through and note quite a few dishes I grew up on. Deviled crab. Chicken pastry. Lemon meringue pie.

Each book is like a little reminder of Wilmington. Mama. Grandma. Good food and good people.

I think that’s why I love local and regional cookbooks so much. They have the magical ability to spark old memories.

My kitchen is full of those kinds of books.

Our family recipe book is my favorite. Handwritten and full of my loved ones’ best dishes. I know most of those recipes by heart.

My Cochran family cookbook is dear to me, too. It was made for a family reunion in 2014. The pages are covered in family photos, stories, and heritage recipes. Opening it up is like welcoming Mamaw back into the kitchen with me.

Celebrating Southern Appalachian Food by Jim Casada and Tipper Pressley conjures a similar feeling. Bug gave it to me for my birthday, and I swear I can smell cornbread and milk wafting out of its pages.

These new books represent my coastal heritage well and make my library feel more complete.

So, to the kind soul who sent these treasures my way—thank you from the bottom of my heart. You’ve given me more than just cookbooks; you have given me a chance to reconnect with my beachy roots, one bite at a time.