I was once invited to bring a soup to a soup potluck and I readily agreed, because I love soup and getting together with friends to eat soup is a great idea. But I forgot that I had agreed to it, until the hostess called a day before to ask what soup I was bringing. For reasons I cannot fathom, I blurted out “Italian Sausage and White Bean.” I had no recipe for such a soup; … [Read more...] about Italian Sausage and White Bean Soup with Orecchiette
Fruit and Vegetables
Cinnamon Apple Salad
Easy and good. Maybe two of the best words ever for busy cooks. This is a great little recipe for a simple, crispy salad that highlights autumn’s goodness. I make this for myself throughout the season. I love it beside a peanut butter sandwich, but I have also put it in a pita with a few spinach leaves. I’ve made this for kids and it’s always a big hit. You can serve it on … [Read more...] about Cinnamon Apple Salad
Simple Watermelon Feta Salad
This is hardly a recipe, more like a set of instructions, but I wanted to share it before this long weekend of picnics and cookouts and gatherings, because it is so good and so simple and so perfect for this last official weekend of summer. I first had this in South Africa several years ago, as part of a big beautiful lunch spread at a safari camp. I was impressed by its … [Read more...] about Simple Watermelon Feta Salad
Brilliant Baked Beans
Baked beans are almost a staple here. I cannot think of a barbecue place in Memphis that doesn’t serve beans on the side. And if you live in Memphis, you eat barbecue. Some places stir in bits of pulled pork shoulder, some make the beans with their house barbecue sauce, some throw in jalapenos. And of course, some places have better beans than others. But when you … [Read more...] about Brilliant Baked Beans
Toasted Corn and Bacon Muffins
A good corn muffin is a thing of beauty. The perfect accompaniment to a bowl of soup or a supper salad, and so comforting passed around the table in a basket while still warm. Slather on a little butter, and you’ve got a bite of heaven, my friend. These tender corn muffins have the added attraction of crispy bacon and intense, chewy fresh corn kernels. The tang of buttermilk … [Read more...] about Toasted Corn and Bacon Muffins
