Carrollton GA, February 11, 2009: Horton’s Books & Gifts welcomes self-proclaimed ‘Cracker” Janis Owens, who explores the cultural history of the south through great food and storytelling in her book: The Cracker Kitchen: A Cookbook in Celebration of Cornbread-fed, Down-home Family Stories and Cuisine. Come visit with her on Saturday, February 28th from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Cracker culture is one of the oldest and most misunderstood cultures in American history. But in THE CRACKER KITCHEN, Janis traces the history of Crackers in America to show how they’re more than just the “eighth-generation children of working-class immigrants who came to America before the Civil War.”

The term “Cracker” was originally used to describe a group of southerners considered “ill read” and “overchurched.” Negative in connotation throughout the 19th and first half of the 20th century, “Crackers” were also known as the “crew-cut, toothless miscreants” of the Civil Rights Movement. However, according to Janis, “Cracker” took a positive turn towards the 1970’s, when “Disney moved to Florida and every Yankee on earth built a condo on the coast” and “the Florida-born natives began to self-refer as Crackers as a way of separating their old Florida culture from the flood of Yankee transplants.”  Today, “Cracker” is a term of pride for many (including Janis who is a Florida-born native herself) and is used to describe the kind of people Crackers really are: proud Americans with a deep love of their country, their family, good food and storytelling.

In THE CRACKER KITCHEN, Janis organizes her Cracker cuisine into twenty different seasonal menus for significant celebrations throughout the year, including Easter, Bridal and Baby Showers, Sunday Dinner, Wild Game Days/Hunting Season, a Tailgate Party and Christmas. With more than 150 incredible recipes paired with charming personal stories, Janis guides readers through this delightful southern culture of delicious eating. Just a few of the amazing recipes in THE CRACKER KITCHEN include: Easter Ham (which involves the use of a can of cola!), Cracklin’ Cornbread, Sister Jackson’s Sausage Cheese Balls, Cold Coconut Cake, Aunt Izzy’s Banana Pudding, Chicken and Dumplings, Peanut Butter Pie, Velveeta Rocky Road Fudge, Fried Cooter, Baked Armadillo, and even Stewed Squirrel. THE CRACKER KITCHEN is a unique and incredibly charming cookbook that will appeal to anyone with an appreciation of Americana.

To reserve a copy of either book, please contact the store at 770-832-8021, or send an e-mail to: events@hortonsbooks.com