Alan Sawyer
What I would have given to walk the line with Johnny Cash all the way to the dining room. The country music sensation and his wife June Carter Cash were known for serving up southern delicacies in their Nashville home to friends and family alike. From their homemade chili to cornbread, the Cash Carter clan were always in the kitchen.
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In fact, Peggy Knight, the caretaker and companion of the Cash and Carter families for over 30 years, shares the family’s favorite recipes in the cookbook Cooking in the House of Cash, sharing over 100 of the family’s favorite recipes along with short stories about Johnny and his family.
And that’s not all, John Carter Cash, Jonny and June’s son, is releasing a brand new cookbook this September. The cookbook also includes bits from Loretta Lynn, Marty Stuart, and Kris Kristofferson who shared meals at their table. Until the release of the book we wanted to share with you five favorite recipes that Johnny Cash loved to eat.
1. Old Iron Pot Chili
The Ring of Fire and Man in Black songwriter wasn’t only known for his killer tunes. Johnny Cash was famed for his homemade chili recipe featured in the USO cookbook. Cash, an Air Force veteran, used to tour various bases, putting on 7-8 shows daily for the service men and women.
2. Cornbread
Nothing goes better with chili than homemade cornbread. This recipe, made originally by Mama Cash, (Johnny Cash’s mother) is easy to make and tastes good to boot. Take our best advice and serve this bread hot out of the oven.
3. Peanut Butter Cookies
Recently son John Carter Cash took to Reddit to speak about his late father. One redditor asked what Johnny’s quirks were. John’s response was all food related, “My father liked crunchy peanut butter. Fried catfish. And deep-fried chicken skin.”
Johnny’s mother loved baking these peanut butter cookies whenever she could.
4. Pineapple Pie
Peanut butter cookies weren’t the only desserts that Mama Cash made. This pineapple pie made with crushed pineapple and vanilla was another family favorite. Can you just image eating this on the porch in Tennessee with a glass of sweet tea? We sure can.
5. Pan-Fried Okra
No southerner’s table would be complete without a plate of okra. Sliced and fried, these okra bites go great with just about anything at the table. Make sure when preparing this dish the okra isn’t overcooked, otherwise it gets a bit slimy.
You can learn more about Johnny and his music, including the meaning behind many of his songs, by visiting this link to AmericanSongwriter.com.
