Butter beans, lima beans, whatever you want to call them, good, fresh butter beans are a real treat. When I start to see these fresh little green gems at the farmer’s market and produce stand, I load up on them. And I love to cook them in the Southern manner – with pork. Here I use bacon and add a simple, old-fashioned sauce. These would be great alongside a pork chop … [Read more...] about Southern Girl Butter Beans
Southern Specialties
Strawberry Shortcake
I would hazard a guess that for many people, the image that comes to mind with the words strawberry shortcake are those electric yellow sponge cake cups with the little crater on the top that are sold as “shortcakes,” usually next to the berries in the produce section. Maybe served with fresh berries, maybe with frozen berries in syrup or maybe even gel-glazed pie filling. … [Read more...] about Strawberry Shortcake
Cane Syrup Cupcakes
Any good Southern cook has a supply of sweetening syrups that would put Willy Wonka to shame. Corn syrup, light and dark, and generally known by its brand name Karo (pronounced KAY-Ro). Molasses, regular and blackstrap. Sorghum. Cane syrup. Maybe even maple syrup, though that smacks somewhat of the Yankee. I use them all. Corn syrup for chess pie and pecan pie, molasses … [Read more...] about Cane Syrup Cupcakes
Chicken and Dumplings
Real Chicken and Dumplings have got to be one of the best examples of good, Southern country cooking. It is creamy and comforting and one of those dishes that makes something from nothing with amazing results. There are undoubtedly as many ways to make Chicken and Dumplings as there are cooks who make it. The biggest debate is probably strips-of-dough dumplings or fluffy … [Read more...] about Chicken and Dumplings
Blue Cheese and Fig Savories
If you are like me, you always offer to bring something when invited to someone’s house. I mean the offer, I always love an opportunity to cook for people, but sometimes it’s hard to come up with a quick idea on the fly. And when it’s one of those roaming parties – not a seated affair - choosing a dish that doesn’t have to be kept hot or cold or require and special … [Read more...] about Blue Cheese and Fig Savories
