A simple Southern appetizer

Now that we're in the thick of the holiday shopping frenzy, I highly recommend Julia Reed's book “But Mama Always Put Vodka in Her Sangria: Adventures in Eating, Drinking and Making Merry.” It's filled with some of her hilarious essays and delicious recipes.

I met Reed during her book signing at Capitol, and she is so charming, delightful and fun. 

She’s a wonderful writer who has lived such an interesting life that her words bounce off the page and suddenly you feel that you’re part of the party.

When I asked her how she prefers to entertain at her home in New Orleans, she told me she likes to keep things simple. One of her favorite hors d’oeuvres to serve is a watermelon rind pickle wrapped in bacon and broiled. “It’s so easy, but I promise you people will be chasing the trays down,” she said.

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