A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

[caption id="attachment_205219" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Credit Enabled[/caption]   No. 11: Layered Lettuce Salad RECIPE BY LYNN WELLS Serve this striking salad with tongs to scoop down to the bottom layer. MAKE

Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

[caption id="attachment_205219" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Credit Enabled[/caption]   No. 11: Layered Lettuce Salad RECIPE BY LYNN WELLS Serve this striking salad with tongs to scoop down to the bottom layer. MAKE

11 Our State Recipes You Loved in January

photograph by Matt Hulsman

 

No. 11: Layered Lettuce Salad

RECIPE BY LYNN WELLS

Serve this striking salad with tongs to scoop down to the bottom layer.

MAKE IT

 


photograph by Matt Hulsman

 

No. 10: Fireside Chicken Stew

RECIPE BY LYNN WELLS

Loaded with hearty vegetables, this creamy chicken stew is our antidote to the coldest of winter nights.

MAKE IT

 


photograph by Bill Lusk Studio

 

No. 9: Sausage Balls

RECIPE BY TODD DULANEY

Whether for an after-work soiree, a pre-dinner mixer, or a formal holiday fete, the role of sausage balls is the same: provider of happiness.

MAKE IT

 


photograph by Tim Robison

 

No. 8: Slightly Fancy & Really Good Grilled Cheese

RECIPE BY SHERI CASTLE

Sheri Castle’s recipe is delightfully melty and full of flavor; plus, her top tips will help you craft the ultimate grilled cheese every time.

MAKE IT

 


Chicken noodle soup

photograph by Matt Hulsman

 

No. 7: Chicken Noodle Soup

RECIPE BY LYNN WELLS

This easy, comforting chicken noodle soup tastes like it spent hours simmering on the stove but comes together in a cinch.

MAKE IT

 


photograph by Matt Hulsman

 

No. 6: Apple Butter Pound Cake

RECIPE FROM COOKING ON HAZEL CREEK BY DUANE OLIVER

A traditional mountain ingredient gets its just “desserts.”

MAKE IT

 


St. Timothy's coffee cake

photograph by Matt Hulsman

 

No. 5: St. Timothy’s Coffee Cake

RECIPE BY COMMUNITY COOKBOOK SERIES

Whip up this spiced treat for a cozy breakfast.

MAKE IT

 


photograph by Matt Hulsman

 

No. 4: Rocky Road Cola Cake

RECIPE BY LYNN WELLS

Chef Lynn Wells puts a spin on old-school Coca-Cola cake with a layer of marshmallows that melts into the cake as it bakes.

MAKE IT

 


photograph by Tim Robison

 

No. 3: Butter Swim Biscuits

RECIPE BY SHERI CASTLE

Butter Swims were once a boon for time-strapped cooks. This is the type of recipe that many home chefs would keep near the front of the recipe box or taped inside a cabinet door, assuming they didn’t know it by heart.

MAKE IT

 


photograph by Tim Robison

 

No. 2: Field Pea Soup With Cornmeal Dumplings

RECIPE BY SHERI CASTLE

Simmer pillowy dumplings in a pot of field peas and veggies for a soul-warming meal on a cold winter’s eve.

MAKE IT

 


photograph by Matt Hulsman

 

No. 1: Chicken Pot Pie

RECIPE BY LYNN WELLS

Chef Lynn Wells loves old church cookbooks, with their spiral-bound collections of recipes shared by home cooks in communities across the state. In the midst of winter, she makes a classic chicken pot pie, where chicken and gravy cozy together between layers of buttery crust.

MAKE IT

 


print it

This story was published on Jan 23, 2026

Our State Staff

Since 1933, Our State has shared stories about North Carolina with readers both in state and around the world. We celebrate the people and places that make this state great. From the mountains to the coast, we feature North Carolina travel, history, food, and beautiful scenic photography.