Buy wine because of a funny label and you kind of expect to forgo flavor for a few laughs. But after tasting the kookiest of the crop, we found the bottles that don’t require the trade-off!

MAD HOUSEWIFE CABERNET SAUVIGNON A not-too-sweet companion for pizza night—or girls’ night. $10
FRENCHIE 2009 NAPOLEON RED An intense, oaky red blend that made us think about our favorite steak recipes. $30
MIDDLE SISTER DRAMA QUEEN PINOT GRIGIO A crisp, fruity find that got nabbed for one editor’s seafood dinner. $12
WELL HUNG MERLOT-VERDOT A smooth, earthy sip that’s definitely not your mother’s merlot. $20
CHATEAU SMITH 2010 CABERNET SAUVIGNON A robust red that may induce serious burger cravings. $20
(OOPS) CHEEKY LITTLE WHITE SAUVIGNON BLANC A citrusy hit, emptied before the tasting was over. $11
—Allyson Dickman, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
(Source: rachaelraymag.com)
SOUTH POLL: Survey the bookstore and you’ll notice that much of this season’s new cookbook crop hails from below the Mason-Dixon line. But not every book is singing the same Dixie tune: See how four different cookbooks handle the Southern staple, okra.

THE GLORY OF SOUTHERN COOKING by James Villas ($23)
You could call Villas, an expert on everything from biscuits to bacon, the granddaddy of Southern food. He has six okra recipes here, and says that even squeamish non-Southern eaters will love Okra Fritters with Thousand Island Dressing, loaded with onion, green peppers and chili sauce.
—Allyson Dickman, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
Read more cookbook reviews: here!
SOUTH POLL: Survey the bookstore and you’ll notice that much of this season’s new cookbook crop hails from below the Mason-Dixon line. But not every book is singing the same Dixie tune: See how different cookbooks handle the Southern staple, okra.

FRED THOMPSON’S SOUTHERN SIDES
by Fred Thompson ($35)
“No Southerner in hisor her right mind would be caught dead without a jar of pickled okra,” says this North Carolina native. And his Crunchy Pickled Okra recipe offers a superlocal serving suggestion: Split ’em open and stuff them with pimento cheese for Southern tapas.
—Allyson Dickman, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
Check out more cookbook reviews here!
SOUTH POLL: Survey the bookstore and you’ll notice that much of this season’s new cookbook crop hails from below the Mason-Dixon line. But not every book is singing the same Dixie tune: See how different cookbooks handle the Southern staple, okra.

SOUTHERN COMFORT
By Allison Vines-Rushing and Slade Rushing ($35)
The husband-and-wife team behind the New Orleans restaurant MiLa gives down-home cooking a restaurant- kitchen spin. Exhibit A: Roasted Okra with Chili Oil, which gets a spicy Indian edge.
—Allyson Dickman, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
From the October Issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray

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