For Dora Charles, cooking is not only an exercise in feeding the people she loves, but a way to honor her family's past. The Savannah, Georgia-based chef still cooks many of her mother and grandmother's recipes the same way they did, opting for old-school techniques that yield quality dishes again and again. This week’s video from the Southern Foodways Alliance documentary series features Charles and her legendary Southern cooking.

After working in the kitchen and behind the scenes developing recipes for Paula Deen for over 20 years, Charles parted ways with the celebrity chef in 2013, and has since released her own cookbook, entitled, “A Real Southern Cook: In Her Savannah Kitchen.” Watch the video above for a look at Charles’ cooking style, her approach to time spent in the kitchen, and why she’d never settle for just one kitchen sink.

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