The Late Show host Stephen Colbert and his wife, Evie McGee Colbert, both grew up in coastal South Carolina--the place of their Covid quarantine. Enforced dining at home precipitated the cooking sessions that resulted in the Lowcountry-influenced charmer Does This Taste Funny?: Recipes Our Family Loves.
Each of the book's 100-plus recipes gets a spirited introduction (sample line from Stephen: "I say ¼ cup of pine nuts is enough for 2 servings. Where do I find the courage?"). The book's regional fare includes the luscious lemon-and-dill-spiked Mom's Shrimp and Hominy and the heavenly Huguenot Torte--basically an almond macaroon scaled for a baking tray. Loved ones who have fed the Colberts over the years get their due with recipes like the buttery delicacy Kitty's Swordfish with Mustard Cream Sauce and the six-ingredient powerhouse Jim's Spaghetti Squash Casserole. A dessert section highlight: dueling fudge recipes from Stephen and three of his siblings. Scads of color photos show the authors enjoying each other's company at their Charleston home or on the loose in the Palmetto State. --Nell Beram, author and freelance writer