Sunny yellow summer squash is so abundant here in the summer. If you know anyone who grows it, you’ve probably found a bag of excess stealthily left on your doorstep in the deep of night – when it grows, it really grows. The farmers market is also awash in all varieties of summer squash, and sometimes I find it so cheerful I just can’t say no. But I frequently have one or two … [Read more...] about Summer Squash Muffins
Southern Specialties
Salted Honey Chess Pie
I have been on a quest for some time now to create a dessert that really tastes of honey. I make many desserts that have honey as a sweetener, but the rich, earthy taste of honey is often masked by other ingredients. I mastered the honey flavored cake with my Honey Raspberry Cake, but then I tasted this amazing, almost creamy, honey tart at an afternoon tea in London. It was … [Read more...] about Salted Honey Chess Pie
Green Tomato Vanilla Cake
Over the years, I have seen a number of recipes in old school Southern community cookbooks for green tomato cake. The idea intrigued me - it sounds so old fashioned and resourceful to me. I could just imagine a cook making the most of everything in the garden to create something special, or I like to imagine that this cake is born of scarcity, a recipe that uses what’s on hand … [Read more...] about Green Tomato Vanilla Cake
Curry Biscuits with Ginger Pork Tenderloin and Mango Chutney
Ham biscuits are a staple of any brunch buffet for me, particularly at Easter. Whether it’s a whole ham on a pretty platter with a basket of biscuits on the side or a tray of pre-assembled bites, I can’t do without them. And one of my favorite classic southern party dishes is pork tenderloin with lovely rolls and a nice spread, from mustard to flavored butters (it even made it … [Read more...] about Curry Biscuits with Ginger Pork Tenderloin and Mango Chutney
Cane Syrup Pie
In the pantheon of Southern sweeteners, cane syrup ranks high for me. There is this earthy caramel note I adore. Cane syrup is made from a sugar cane breed, ribbon cane, that grows in the South. There are now farmers creating fantastic cane syrups using traditional methods that are well worth seeking out, and the more widely available Steen’s cane syrup is deep and … [Read more...] about Cane Syrup Pie
