BEST IN CLASS

Twelve standout favorites from 60 delicious years of Southern Living

- JOSH MILLER,JENNIFER CAUSEY,EMILY NABORS HALL,PRISCILLA MONTIEL

In a locked room down a long hallway at our home office in Birmingham, a treasure trove of Southern history lies stacked in silence. We call them “the red books”—thick, leather-bound volumes of every issue of the magazine, with the years of their births embossed on the spines in gold. A careful flip through their crumbling pages is like stepping back into the past. There are sherbets and aspics aplenty, pound cakes and green beans galore. And while some might not be in your weekly rotation—like the Candied Ham Loaf from our first issue in 1966—a generous helping of them has stood the test of time. It’s impossible to choose the best. Instead, we’re celebrating 12 recipes that became instant classics upon publication. We think you’ll agree that each of these icons—from cheeky to cherished—deserves a spot in our hall of fame.

MOST DRAMATIC

Potato Salad

No dish is more likely to start a fight at a cookout than potato salad. Opinions can be strong, and feuds abound: hot vs. cold, mustard vs. mayonnaise, smooth vs. chunky, eggs vs. olives. Just beware of adding something really wacky—like raisins—or you’ll be put on potluck probation and demoted to plate-and-napkin duty.

CUTEST COUPLE

Pepper Jelly & Cream Cheese

From showers to tailgates to funerals, these two lovebirds are inseparable. On their own, they don’t stand out from the crowd all that much, but paired up, they’re the South’s most desired duo—a little bit country and a little bit rock ’n’ roll.

MOST POPULAR