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
Buttermilk Bacon Cookies with Bourbon Caramel Frosting
Two of my very favorite Southern ingredients are creamy buttermilk and pig. So, I just couldn’t resist adding the salty crunch of bacon to a classic, tender buttermilk cookie. Swirling on a bourbon-y version of classic caramel icing makes this a real Southern overload cookie. I created this recipe several years ago for a party. I wanted to combine my favorite flavors for … [Read more...] about Buttermilk Bacon Cookies with Bourbon Caramel Frosting
Carrot and Dill Risotto
Risotto for me was, for many years, solely a restaurant dish. I had only eaten it at fancy eateries at a time when it was ubiquitous on menus as the trend of the minute. I did not understand that it was something a normal human could make at home. But when I discovered that there is no real mystery, that it is quite a simple dish to make, one that takes only patience, a whole … [Read more...] about Carrot and Dill Risotto
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
Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes and Cabbage)
Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish that showcases the true brilliance of that culture’s rustic cuisine. Simple, staple ingredients transformed into something all together luscious and comforting. Mashed potatoes and cabbage are combined with a touch of leek and lots of rich dairy to create a dish that will fell like a welcome home, even if, like me, you’ve never been to … [Read more...] about Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes and Cabbage)
