Candy making is not something I typically try my hand at. All that talk about thermometers and stages and testing methods. Those recipes always look like the kind of thing I don’t have the patience for. Plus, once you’ve been badly burned by hot sugar, it makes you candy-shy. But this is an exception. I call it Pralines for Idiots, because it really does away with all that … [Read more...] about Pralines for Idiots
Smoky Beef Tacos
For most of my life, a taco was ground meat, a package of seasoning and hard shells from the box, with lots of cheese and maybe a little lettuce on top. And I will tell you, I have nothing against that version. But in the last few years, there has been a proliferation of Mexican restaurants in Memphis that serve what is considered more authentic Mexican food. And I haven’t … [Read more...] about Smoky Beef Tacos
Green Chile Cheese Puffs
I love these little puffs. They are tender and cheesy with a nice bite from the green chiles and couldn’t be easier to make. They are a great nibble to start a family taco night but are also elegant enough for the swankiest party. Green Chile Cheese Puffs I love the extra little hit of smoked paprika on top, but use sweet paprika if that’s what you have. ½ pound … [Read more...] about Green Chile Cheese Puffs
German Meatballs
Recipe ideas come to me everywhere, at any time and take me in odd directions. I was reading a magazine during an interminable wait at a doctor’s office once and saw a recipe called “German Meatballs.” My mind immediately went to bratwurst, beer and mustard so I was intrigued and kept reading. But that magazine recipe involved frozen meatballs, French onion soup mix and … [Read more...] about German Meatballs
Butterscotch Babies
Every once in a while, it’s nice to take a step out of the brownie box. Technically, I suppose these qualify as a blondie, but for some reason, that term has always bugged me. I don’t really remember where this recipe came from, but I seem to remember cleaning out the panty and finding a surfeit of butterscotch chips (probably from Apple Pie Bars) and improvising these babies … [Read more...] about Butterscotch Babies
