The Editors of Southern Living

Say the word "bayou," and we conjure romantic notions of swampy marshlands and, natch, Cajun fried shrimp.

Juicy, tender, and subtly spiced, this Texas-style smoked chicken is as good as barbecue gets with its intriguing four-ingredient spice rub that beautifully melds heat with sweet.

Steak marinated in beer and spices, grilled to juicy magnificence, and piled atop lightly charred tortillas. Beats plain old ground beef tacos, eh?

This Texas dry rub recipe has just the right blend of seasoning for bbq ribs, chicken, even flank steak for fajitas.

Rubbed with spices and grilled rather than battered and fried, these fish tacos are so easy, so healthy, and so something we want to make again and again and again.

These wee biscuits are spectacular just with a smidgen of butter, but slap some ham or turkey on them and woah.

We could blather on and on about this surprising (and stealthy healthy) riff on a Southern classic that everyone is swearing is the best cornbread they've ever had.