I was once invited to bring a soup to a soup potluck and I readily agreed, because I love soup and getting together with friends to eat soup is a great idea. But I forgot that I had agreed to it, until the hostess called a day before to ask what soup I was bringing. For reasons I cannot fathom, I blurted out “Italian Sausage and White Bean.” I had no recipe for such a soup; … [Read more...] about Italian Sausage and White Bean Soup with Orecchiette
Clove Cookies
As a kid, I was a great one for projects. Homemade play-dough. Cookies painted with egg/food-coloring paint. Dollhouse furniture. Leaves pressed between waxed paper. I was never very good at any of these, and my record on finishing what I started was less than stellar. So maybe I should clarify that I was a great one for the idea of projects. I liked thinking about them, … [Read more...] about Clove Cookies
Shrimp and Grits
Shrimp and Grits, technically the child of the South Carolina Low Country has been adopted by Southerners as their own. You will find shrimp and grits in homes and on menus from Florida to Misssissippi, and of course here in Tennessee. I bet most Southerners would put it on a grand list of Southern classics without even realizing its specific geographic origin. And I imagine … [Read more...] about Shrimp and Grits
Cinnamon Apple Salad
Easy and good. Maybe two of the best words ever for busy cooks. This is a great little recipe for a simple, crispy salad that highlights autumn’s goodness. I make this for myself throughout the season. I love it beside a peanut butter sandwich, but I have also put it in a pita with a few spinach leaves. I’ve made this for kids and it’s always a big hit. You can serve it on … [Read more...] about Cinnamon Apple Salad
Boiled Peanuts
This week, the farmers market was looking a little forlorn as summer moves into fall. The tomatoes and beans are fading, but the winter squash and pumpkins aren’t quite in yet. But I did find a nice treat at one of the stalls. Raw peanuts. Nice, big fat ones just waiting to be boiled up. A big ol’ batch of goobers. Boiled Peanuts are a love-or-hate kind of thing. They … [Read more...] about Boiled Peanuts
