Whiskey in a Teacup
What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits
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4.3 • 7 Ratings
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- $27.99
Publisher Description
Academy Award–winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur Reese Witherspoon invites you into her world, where she infuses the southern style, parties, and traditions she loves with contemporary flair and charm.
Reese Witherspoon’s grandmother Dorothea always said that a combination of beauty and strength made southern women “whiskey in a teacup.” We may be delicate and ornamental on the outside, she said, but inside we’re strong and fiery.
Reese’s southern heritage informs her whole life, and she loves sharing the joys of southern living with practically everyone she meets. She takes the South wherever she goes with bluegrass, big holiday parties, and plenty of Dorothea’s fried chicken. It’s reflected in how she entertains, decorates her home, and makes holidays special for her kids—not to mention how she talks, dances, and does her hair (in these pages, you will learn Reese’s fail-proof, only slightly insane hot-roller technique). Reese loves sharing Dorothea’s most delicious recipes as well as her favorite southern traditions, from midnight barn parties to backyard bridal showers, magical Christmas mornings to rollicking honky-tonks.
It’s easy to bring a little bit of Reese’s world into your home, no matter where you live. After all, there’s a southern side to every place in the world, right?
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Nashville native Reese Witherspoon is proud of her Southern heritage—specifically being the kind of refined yet brassy Southern woman her grandmother Dorothea described as “whiskey in a teacup.” In this lighthearted mix of memoir and lifestyle advice, Witherspoon describes the emblems of Southern living she loves, things like bold wallpapers, flea market finds, and monogramming on pretty much everything. There’s also some proper Southern recipes, like a weeknight-friendly chicken pot pie casserole, and style tips, including instructions on how to use hot rollers without looking like Miss Alabama 1958. Reese barely mentions her life as an actress, instead focusing on charming childhood and family stories (like that of the supermarket the Witherspoons still boycott because an employee there once accused her grandmother of stealing a doughnut). Reese’s writing is fun and bubbly, and you’ll enjoy exploring all the photos, recipes, and party playlists you need to be your best Southern lady.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Actress and book club host Witherspoon pays tribute to her Southern roots in this charming collection of recipes, how-to's, and personal stories. She draws heavily on life lessons learned from her grandmother, including how to be a good hostess ("Serve dinner about one hour after the start time on the invitation") and guest ("When in doubt about how fancy it is, dress up"). Recipes are grouped by events with suggestions for what to serve at, say, a book club meeting (red and white wine, baked brie, hot spinach-artichoke dip, olive medley, cheese and fruit) or a pre-concert gathering (smoked pecans, crab puffs, champagne and ginger ale cocktail). Almost without exception, recipes are emblematic of country fare and feature classics including fried okra, creamy gravy, and shrimp and grits. Fried chicken, ribs (in her brother's Tennessee barbecue sauce), and pulled pork sliders with bourbon sauce are highlights among the many enticing dishes. The book's scope is wide and ranges from Southern expressions ("madder than a wet hen") and must reads by Southern authors (Walker Percy's The Moviegoer) to Witherspoon's love of Dolly Parton and monograms. Readers looking to make a foray into Southern cooking and etiquette will find Witherspoon an enthusiastic guide.
