Winter can produce a few challenges for creative cooking. Most of the produce is dormant, or at least I’m starting to get tired of the same things. Tantalizing Spring is just around the corner, but the doldrums carry on. After the flurry of cooking for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, even Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras, the kitchen can get a little humdrum. But I say … [Read more...] about Old Fashioned Buttermilk Cake
Southern Specialties
New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp
Mardi Gras is around the corner again, believe it or not, so I am dusting off one of my favorite classic New Orleans dishes – Barbecue Shrimp. Now, as a born and bred Memphian, I am very particular about what is and is not barbecue, and by that reckoning, this is not. No slow cooking, no smoke, no grill, no tomatoes or molasses in the sauce, just juicy shrimp in a deeply rich … [Read more...] about New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp
Collard and Country Ham Quiche
Recipe development is a constant process, and everything that I eat (or see, or think about eating) becomes a recipe possibility. So here we are. I have a recipe for a spinach quiche that I make to take to people in need of a meal or sometimes for a luncheon. It’s the kind of thing you can pretty much have all the ingredients on hand and it is really easy to pull together. … [Read more...] about Collard and Country Ham Quiche
Pepper Jelly Glazed Sausage Bites
Little pieces of sausage in a tangy glaze are always a huge hit parties. Seriously, I have never had leftovers after a big gathering. So here is a perfect holiday party recipe to have in your back pocket. It is barely a recipe at all if I am honest, but it is delicious and packed with flavor. Stock up on the ingredients before the holidays and you always have something on hand. … [Read more...] about Pepper Jelly Glazed Sausage Bites
Honey Drops
Several years ago, I had several friends who took up beekeeping. Not sure why that suddenly became a big hobby, but I was all for it, as they would bring me jars of honey. Most of them seemed to have moved on from the bees, or at least from leaving jars on my doorstep. And the truth is, I miss it. It always made me exercise my recipe development muscles to find ways to use it. … [Read more...] about Honey Drops