I am a chess pie fanatic. It was a frequent dessert at my grandmother’s house and a fond childhood food memory for me. That sweet, soft filling with a slightly grainy texture from a tiny dose of cornmeal. I love it. And I have produced many iterations over the years, from Sweet Potato Buttermilk, to chocolate in a chocolate crust to salted honey. Some … [Read more...] about Cranberry Chess Pie
Pumpkin Gruyere Muffins
Pumpkin time has arrived, starting with the silly Halloween season and running through Thanksgiving. Cookies, pie, bread, soups – pumpkin is everywhere (but please, let’s get over the “pumpkin spice” insanity). I love pumpkin at this time of year and incorporate it whenever I can. With these muffins, I move from the traditional sweet cinnamon tradition to a lovely, cheesy, … [Read more...] about Pumpkin Gruyere Muffins
Savory Butternut and Sage Cheesecake
Savory cheesecake is a thing. A few years ago, in support of my cookbook Southern Snacks, I appeared on Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family show to make my country ham cheesecake, and everyone was rather surprised (and dubious) of the concept. I won them over however. I love a savory cheesecake – it’s a fabulous party piece. It serves a crowd, can be made ahead, and with … [Read more...] about Savory Butternut and Sage Cheesecake
Pear, Leek and Walnut Tart
I want to extol the virtues of the savory tart. From classic quiche to stunning flamiche, Chicken, Cheddar and Pecan or a seasonal Italian Summer Cherry Tomato. The permutations are endless, which is certainly a large part of the appeal, but for me the savory tart represents exactly what I aspire to in the kitchen most of the time. Beautiful, … [Read more...] about Pear, Leek and Walnut Tart
Steak House Platter Salad
As summer slowly moves into fall, the gorgeous fresh produce of summer fades and the beautiful autumn bounty isn’t quite in yet. The calendar may say autumn, but the weather has other ideas. It’s not quite time for soup and stew season and still nice enough to eat outdoors. I love a big platter salad for communal friend and family eating. It’s beautiful to present and everyone … [Read more...] about Steak House Platter Salad
