I'm P.C., and I have studied food and cooking around the world, mostly by eating, but also through serious study. Coursework at Le Cordon Bleu London and intensive courses in Morocco, Thailand and France have broadened my culinary skill and palate. But my kitchen of choice is at home, cooking like most people, experimenting with unique but practical ideas.

I live, mostly in my kitchen, in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.

Flamiche (Belgian Leek, Goat Cheese and Bacon Tart)

Flamiche (Belgian Leek, Goat Cheese and Bacon Tart)

The first spring weekend of farmers market season is exciting.  I am ready for all that fresh produce with a new treat arriving each week and little surprises on every visit.  I know that I am closer to juicy strawberries, my first tomato in months, bright, sweet corn and so many things.  I know [...]

Bacon Fried Pecans

Bacon Fried Pecans

I don’t know who makes these decisions, but there is an endless list of “National Days” celebrating foods, dishes and ingredients.  I recently saw that it was National Pecan Month, so I thought I better pull out a preparation for the iconic Southern nut.  These are a salty, crunchy snack for the bar, or [...]

Smoky Bacon and Onion Soup

Smoky Bacon and Onion Soup

I spend most of my time in the kitchen.  It’s my favorite space in this house, a house my father has always called a kitchen with a bedroom attached. It’s a large, open space, with a fully fitted kitchen, lots of counter space and a den attached where I do most of my work [...]

Bubbling Beer and Bacon Cheese Dip

Cooking with beer is an October tradition.  While it is just cool enough to have one last outdoor event, it is fun to put together an Oktoberfest celebration. The weather is beautiful and the food is comforting, perfect for a gathering of friends.  Warm sweaters and warm colors, leaves turning, a nip in the [...]

Chicken and Bacon Pot Pie with Sweet Potato Crust

Autumn is officially here, though the weather may be lagging behind a bit.  I saw my first lovely russet-hued oak leaf blowing across the patio the other day.  And I am ready.  I am ready for soups and stews, winter squash, apples, pears and maple syrup.  I am ready to get the [...]

Smoky Bacon Pimento Cheese

I’ll make an admission here that may damage my Southern girl credentials.  I am not a football fan. I went to lots of high school football games, but football was the least interesting part of the event.  And I didn’t go to a college with a big football program.   I am, however, a fan [...]

Mustard Bacon Potato Salad

There is perhaps no better accompaniment to a summer barbecue or picnic than a good potato salad.  But there are a lot of bad potato salads out there.  And I have never been a huge fan of mayonnaise-only potato salads.  To me, they tend to be heavy and gloopy and no one wants to eat one [...]

Wash Day Green Beans

Wash Day Green Beans in progress

Wash day beans are an old tradition, one that has taken on many forms in many places. The story goes that laundry day was once a week, usually a Monday, back when doing the wash meant heating up vats of water on an old wood [...]

Creamy Bacon and Spinach Rigatoni

I love a simple dish with a little something special.  This is such an easy weeknight dinner, with the smoky flavor of bacon, the bright color and fresh bite of spinach and a creamy sauce that is surprisingly simple.  I prefer to use regular spinach, not the baby spinach sold in the salad section, [...]

Bacon Crackers

Making homemade crackers is one of the little culinary secrets I love so much.  It never occurs to most people that making your own is something that can or would be done.  But it is easy to do and pretty impressive when you serve homemade crackers.  It took me awhile to get where I [...]