Paula Deen announces a 20-city live cooking tour

It's almost been a year since Paula Deen admitted to using racial slurs and was booted from the Food Network. Since then, the celebrity chef and butter aficionado has mostly stayed away from the spotlight. So, the time is ripe to plot a comeback tour — at least, that's what Deen hopes.

The 67-year-old celebrity chef known for her heart-clogging Southern-inspired recipes is embarking on "Paula Deen Live!," a live show featuring cooking demonstrations, games, and personal stories. The tour will stop in 20 cities across America. "I cannot wait to get on the road and meet so many of my amazing fans during these shows," said Deen in a statement.

The tour marks Deen's return to the spotlight since last year's media firestorm around her use of the N-word caused her to lose her Food Network show and several of her corporate sponsorships. The Associated Press notes that all of the cities announced so far on the tour (five) are located in her "Southern comfort zone," so it won't be too scary for her.

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The first city on the tour is Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where a $20 million restaurant featuring her name is under construction. Ah, synergy.