Sean Dietrich invites us into his quirky collection of small-town cookbooks—hand-bound treasures filled with everything from squirrel recipes to “Bra Burner Casserole.” Between the laughter and the oddities, Sean uncovers something deeper: the way food carries history, identity, and love. From Baptist Crack to his wife’s cherished Junior League recipe, this story reminds us that sometimes the best recipes aren’t just about what’s on the table—they’re about the people who gather around it.
Sean Dietrich is a columnist, novelist, and musician, best known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Southern Living, Garden and Gun, Good Grit, South Magazine, Alabama Living, and Thom Magazine. In addition, he has authored thirteen books and is the creator of the Sean of the South Podcast.
As for how he became an author, Sean tells us: As a child, I liked to write. I filled up notebooks with tales of the high-seas, shameless vixens, and steamy scenarios combining both of the aforementioned. My fifth grade teacher found one of my notebooks and scanned through it. She told me I wrote with too many commas, and encouraged me to pursue a career in construction work.
That, old, woman, never, liked, me.