“Southern cooking is the mother cuisine of our nation,” renowned chef and cookbook author Nathalie Dupree said.

More advice from the Southern cooking great: “What I like to do is teach people that food shouldn’t be scary. Anyone can cook. The trick is giving yourself permission to mess up. Lock yourself in your kitchen, make some dough, and make biscuits until you get it right. The worst that happens is you waste a few dollars and have all the bread you need to make your Thanksgiving stuffing.”

Dupree’s no-nonsense advice has led to her appearance on more than 300 cooking shows and filled the pages of more than 10 cookbooks. Her latest cookbook, “Southern Biscuits,” has recipes and advice for creating every type of biscuit imaginable. As part of her visit to Macon on Tuesday, Dupree will be teaching a class on just that subject.

“Nathalie’s Biscuit Bash” is set for 11 a.m. Tuesday, and Dupree will teach participants about making classic Southern biscuits.

“People worry too much,” Dupree said. “Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers made biscuits because it was a daily chore. They just did it, fearlessly. That’s what we need to do.”

Space for this class is limited and advanced reservations are required. Admission is $85 and will include personal advice and taste testing, with sides and beverages.

As part of the Sidney Salon Series by Historic Macon, on Tuesday evening, Dupree will present a lecture giving her best tips for a quick and easy Thanksgiving preparation that yields delicious results.

“Sometimes we welcome friends and family into our home with joy and gladness; sometimes we just get cornered. But all those times can be made more pleasurable if you take to heart the principles of comfortable entertaining,” she said.

“They keep saying that Southern cooking will be the next big thing,” Dupree said. “They’ve been saying that for years. They were saying that when I wrote ‘New Southern Cooking’ in 1986. I don’t know if ‘they’ are right, but I do know that Southern cooking occupies a special place in our hearts. It’s the epitome of comfort food. It’s about memories and family and creating special times together with friends and loved ones.”

When it comes to Thanksgiving, Dupree warns about the dangers of being unprepared.

“I want people to think about and plan their meal. A little bit of time spent before the first shopping trip can save so much time and headache down the road,” she said. “I want to give people some tips so that instead of spending their entire Thanksgiving in the kitchen fretting, they can spend it enjoying a good meal with the people they care about the most. That’s what Thanksgiving is supposed to be about.”

In addition to the lecture, Dupree will linger to greet attendees and autograph books.

“I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in Macon. I think it will be a really good day. Maybe a long one, but definitely a good one.”

Historic Macon presents Nathalie Dupree

• Biscuit Class: 11 a.m. Tuesday, the Blacksmith Shop, 665 Poplar St. Reservations required. $85. To register, visit www.historicmacon.org/nathalie-dupree or call 742-5084.

• Salon and book signing: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Blacksmith Shop, 665 Poplar St. $10 for Historic Macon members and $15 for non-members at the door.