I don’t know if necessity is the mother of invention here so much as desire. I had beautiful strawberries. I needed to make a dessert. I knew I needed to make something new and exciting, but I really craved my strawberry caramel sauce - it’s a favorite of mine. I thought maybe I could make a strawberry cake and serve it with the sauce and have it both ways. While the … [Read more...] about Strawberry Caramel Cake
Southern Specialties
Peanut Butter Pound Cake with Strawberry Jelly Glaze
I can’t think of a more home comfort dessert than pound cake with the classic flavors of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It’s one of my very favorite flavor combinations. I love it in a chess pie or a sheet cake. I eat a peanut butter sandwich for lunch most days. In the form of a pretty molded Bundt cake with a traditional glaze tinted a lovely pink, this … [Read more...] about Peanut Butter Pound Cake with Strawberry Jelly Glaze
Ultimate Pecan Brownies
I kind of think of these as the ultimate nut brownies. Nutty browned butter, pecan meal, chopped pecans – and a little dose of bourbon to give them some Southern flair. I am a big fan of nut flours (or meals) that are now so readily available. They add such dimension to simple recipes. Almond flour is a solid standby, but I love experimenting with hazelnut meal (in a fig … [Read more...] about Ultimate Pecan Brownies
Cajun Smothered Shrimp with Green Onion Rice
I can’t get near Mardi Gras season without whipping up several Louisiana-inspired meals. Sure, I make gumbowith a roux, slow cooked red beans and rice, fabulous party food like savory crawfish king cake or crab remoulade cheesecake and desserts like tarte a la bouille and king cake bars. But it’s nice to have a simple, weeknight … [Read more...] about Cajun Smothered Shrimp with Green Onion Rice
Sweet Potato Sheet Cake with Caramel Icing
I sing the praises of the sheet cake for big holiday and family gatherings. Sure, they are not showstoppers like tiered and layered confections artfully piped and swirled. They aren’t tabletop sculptures like molded Bundt cakes. But they are easy to make, easy to serve and feed a ravenous crowd. And for a busy Thanksgiving feast, what more could you want? I go full Southern … [Read more...] about Sweet Potato Sheet Cake with Caramel Icing