As a girl who was born and raised in the South, I love food. More specifically, I love Southern comfort food. The following foods remind me of home and the thought of them make me want to leave college and return to my mother's kitchen. Other regions of the United States may have their own versions of these foods, but none quite compare to what you will find in the kitchens and on the dinner tables of Southern households. After all, nothing beats grandma’s home cookin’.

1. Buttermilk Biscuits

This list would be inaccurate if I didn't start with buttermilk biscuits. This baked, flour-based product satisfies anyone and everyone. Ham, jelly, egg, butter and bacon are just a few examples of things that go well in a biscuit's fluffy interior. Step inside my grandma's kitchen on any given morning and I guarantee you will find buttermilk biscuits rising in the oven.

2. Fried Chicken

Fried chicken represents simple and classic southern comfort food. Nothing quite compares to the first bite of fried chicken: the original crunch of the browned, flakey outer layer followed by the satisfying burst of flavor found within the meat. The people in the South sure do know how to fry their food.

3. Collard Greens

Just looking at the image above makes my mouth water. My stomach rumbles at the thought of collard greens splashed with vinegar. In the South, people eat this leafy vegetable on New Years to bring a year of wealth. However, I enjoy collard greens on any given day.

4. Pecan Pie

Pecan pie is a staple for any get-together in the South. Pecan Pie was born in the South and continues to thrive there. This crunchy-sweet dessert goes well with whipped cream, ice cream or a caramel sauce.

5. Shrimp and Grits

I am proud to say that the Southeastern coast first introduced shrimp and grits. States such as Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Louisiana and South Carolina love this dish. Although this combination may seem like an unlikely pair, shrimp and grits compliment each other very nicely. Add a little cheese on top of this dish and you have made yourself a delicious meal.

6. Peach Cobbler

I have such fond memories of coming downstairs on crisp fall nights to the smell of peach cobbler baking in the oven. This dish is a personal favorite that no one makes quite as well as my own mama.

7. Cornbread

Nothing completes a Southern meal like cornbread. Who would have thought that something as simple as cornmeal, flour, eggs and butter could come together to create such a delicious food. Cornbread also compliments any main dish.

8. Sweet Tea

I have grown up with the understanding that sugar belongs in tea. I was shocked to find that sweet tea mostly does not exist outside of the South. Nothing beats leaning back in a rocking chair on a hot summers day while sipping refreshing sweet tea.

9. Fried Catfish

This Southern delicacy appeals to the tastebuds of any rational human. My family has recently started serving fried catfish at large get-togethers and it always proves to be a crowd favorite.

10. Fried Okra

I'm sticking to our fried theme here because no one loves to fry food more than the South. Fried Okra is the next food on our list. Unfortunately, this is not one of my favorites... However, I know many people who can't get enough of this fried vegetable.

11. Macaroni and Cheese

Other regions of the United States may try to claim that they can serve up the best macaroni and cheese. That claim is false. End of story. Macaroni and cheese belongs on the front porches of the South and on the red checkered table clothes that cover Southern dinner tables. Gooey, baked macaroni and cheese topped with breadcrumbs can satisfy any craving.

12. Coleslaw

My dad LOVES coleslaw. If I ever get coleslaw as a side, it always ends up on my dad's plate. Coleslaw compliments any meal whether that be hamburgers, Southern pulled pork or seafood.

13. Corn on the Cob

Every summer, my family goes to pick corn on my grandparent's farm. Personally, corn on the cob represents more than a food. It represents a culture and a Southern tradition unlike any others. Nothing is quite as satisfying as biting into a freshly cooked cob after a long day of harvesting.