9 new cookbooks prove Southern cooking never goes out of style

If the season's slate of cookbook releases is any indicator, it's safe to say the national appetite for all things Southern remains robust. From celebrity chefs to hole-in-the-wall bakeries and country stars to cowboys, many tasty topics are on the table. If your bookshelf is in need of a flavorful facelift, consider any of the following titles.

‘12 Bones Smokehouse: A Mountain BBQ Cookbook,' by Bryan and Angela King, Shane Heavner and Mackensy Lunsford; Voyageur Press; $25. Available April 1.

This Asheville-based barbecue joint's list of fans goes straight to the top, with President Barack Obama paying the shop several visits during his tenure. Turn to this title if you're looking for an updated attitude toward old-fashioned tastes.

‘Back in the Day Bakery Made with Love: More than 100 Recipes and Make-It-Yourself Projects to Try and Share,' by Cheryl and Griffith Day; Artisan; $25. Available March 17.

This follow-up to the Day family's best-selling debut cookbook buys access to even more secrets from their bakery in Savannah, Georgia. In addition to the shop's popular roster of desserts, look for a long list of savory selections.

‘Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto,' by Aaron Franklin and Jordan MacKay; Ten Speed Press; $30. Available April 7.

Barbecue is big this year, and this Austin, Texas-based bastion has become one of the hottest spots in the country. In addition to the requisite recipes for ribs, this treatise on pit mastery delves into smoker design and wood selection.

‘Oh Gussie!: Cooking and Visiting in Kimberly's Kitchen,' by Kimberly Schlapman and Martha Foose; William Morrow Cookbooks; $30. Available April 14.

Country music superstar and television host Schlapman shares recipes from her Appalachian upbringing in Georgia as well as new discoveries encountered while touring with her band, Little Big Town. Schlapman specializes in simplified, updated spins on Southern staples, using fresh, healthy ingredients.

‘Made in America: A Modern Collection of Classic Recipes,' by Megan and Colby Garrelts; Andrews McMeel Publishing; $22. Available April 14.

All right, so maybe Kansas City isn't technically the South, but this Midwestern couple dives into classic cookery that could make anyone whistle Dixie. Biscuits and gravy, corn fritters, and fried chicken are just a few of the dishes the James Beard Award-winning chef Colby and his Beard Award semifinalist spouse Megan tackle in this new tome.

‘Pure Pork Awesomeness: Totally Cookable Recipes from Around the World,' by Kevin Gillespie and David Joachim; Andrews McMeel Publishing; $30. Available March 31.

Gillespie earned his fame on Season 6 of the popular cooking show "Top Chef," but has since gone on to become a respected Atlanta-based restaurateur. His second title is a paean to the pig, with more than 100 recipes pulling from both the American South and far-flung destinations like Vietnam and Korea.

‘Root to Leaf: A Southern Chef Cooks Through the Seasons,' by Steven Satterfield; HarperWave; $45. Available March 3.

Atlanta chef Satterfield has earned high praise for his approach to vegetables, and this book is crammed with 175 recipes defending that reputation. Organized by season, this book is sure to please vegans and omnivores alike with nearly 500 pages of informative instruction and colorful photography.

‘Sunday Dinner in the South: Recipes to Keep Them Coming Back for More,' by Tammy Algood; Thomas Nelson; $27. Available May 5.

Algood packs 180 entries into this 300-page title, a compilation of recipes and remembrances from Southern pastors and the meals they've shared in the homes of their parishioners. Look for light, healthful options to round out the heartier fare typically found at a Sunday feast.

‘A Taste of Cowboy: Ranch Recipes and Tales from the Trail,' by Kent and Sharon Rollins; Rux Martin/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; $30. Available April 7.

Named the official Chuck Wagon Cook of Oklahoma in his home state, Rollins has wowed national audiences during appearances on cooking shows like "Chopped" and "Throwdown with Bobby Flay." This book collect his frontier food favorites served with a side of cowboy poetry.

Paul Stephen writes for the StarNews in Wilmington, N.C.