I love delving into traditional recipes from the South, learning new things or rediscovering classics. Perloo (pronounced purlow, and sometimes spelled that way, or pilau, or any number of variations) is a dish I first heard of when my brother returned from a trip to South Carolina and suggested that I figure out how to make it. He described is as kind of a … [Read more...] about Shrimp Perloo (Low Country Shrimp and Rice)
Meat Poultry Seafood
Baked Coconut Shrimp with Tequila Lime Butter Sauce
Crunchy coconut shrimp are sort of a secret treat for me. I don’t eat at a lot of chain restaurants, but there are a few that really excel and I make the occasional visit to sample them. The first time I had coconut shrimp years ago, I was attending the trial run of a chain restaurant opening its first branch in town. The night was a real disaster…the waiters were not ready, … [Read more...] about Baked Coconut Shrimp with Tequila Lime Butter Sauce
Mustardy Ham and Noodle Casserole
I love a good honey-glazed, spiral sliced ham, but I rarely get to enjoy one, because they are just so darn big. But my parents received a whole ham as a gift, and as my mother defines eternity as two people and a ham, we served it for Thanksgiving. I managed to get away with most of the still-copious leftovers and went to work on recipe ideas (and enjoyed a number … [Read more...] about Mustardy Ham and Noodle Casserole
Southern Cornbread Chicken and Dressing with Gravy
My life sometimes requires comfort cooking. Not comfort food, but comfort cooking, though the two are not mutually exclusive. Comfort food for me is old classics that bring back happy memories, sometimes bittersweet, or that make a down day worthwhile. Often, that means food prepared by someone other than me. Comfort cooking is me, in the kitchen, alone. Usually silent … [Read more...] about Southern Cornbread Chicken and Dressing with Gravy
Guinness Glazed Irish Bacon
It’s hard not to start cooking with Guinness around St. Patrick’s Day. It is a very versatile brew, lending itself to sweet and savory recipes. And as the old ads say, it makes you stronger! I love this simple glaze and think thick slices of Irish bacon are the perfect vehicle for it. Irish bacon is similar to Canadian bacon and more like ham than our “streaky” bacon, so a … [Read more...] about Guinness Glazed Irish Bacon
