Cooking Exceptionally With Gin Lee

Mom’s BBQ Coon: The Unexpected Taste of Southern Hospitality In the deep South, where stories are as plentiful as sweet tea and every dish comes with a side of family history, there's one tall tale that still makes us chuckle—especially when it involves cousin James, a college kid with a big appetite and even bigger opinions about wild game. This is the story of how my mom’s legendary BBQ coon turned a skeptic into a believer, all served up with a hearty dose of Southern humor. The Backstory: Wild Game and Family Adventures Growing up in the South, hunting and fishing are more than hobbies, they’re traditions. My dad, ever the outdoorsman, loved to take his shot at the game, sometimes coming home with surprises. And by surprises, I mean raccoons. Yes, raccoons. To many, they’re pests, but to my dad, they were just another challenge to conquer. Mom, on the other hand, is a pro at turning whatever’s on hand into a feast. She’s skinned, cleaned, and cooked everything from ...

Turtle Soup, Nope! None for Me: Growing Up Southern and Dodging the Delicacy If you’ve ever spent time in the American South, you know it’s a place where traditions run deep—and sometimes come with a side of questionable culinary adventures. As a kid, I was no stranger to the inevitable “try it, honey, it tastes just like chicken!” line from my mom whenever she handed me something that, let’s be honest, I’d rather leave untouched. But one thing I always knew for sure: no matter how convincing she was, turtle soup was not on my menu. And that’s a story worth telling. Growing Up Southern: A Tapestry of Traditions and Tastes In the South, food is more than sustenance—it's a way of life, a tradition, and sometimes, a test of your culinary bravery. My childhood was shaped by slow-cooked collard greens, crispy fried chicken, and yes, the occasional mention of turtle soup. It was a delicacy, a family tradition, and an acquired taste that I, thankfully, never acquired. My Pet T...