If you search through the bread recipes on this site, you will see that it maps out my quest to bake fresh bread without too much effort. I am not one who is going to carefully nurse starters or delicately knead and form stylish loafs of artisan breads. The mysteries of yeast sometimes elude me. I love a shortcut, but I do love the smell of fresh bread baking and the sense of … [Read more...] about Herbed Focaccia Dinner Rolls
Taleggio Risotto Cake
I did not grow up eating risotto. It was not a dish on the menus of the many fine Italian-American restaurants in Memphis we ate at during my childhood. When it started to become a common and trendy dish, for many years, I assumed it was some sort of chef-secret dish that couldn’t be created at home (a silly thought now I know). Once I realized that at its heart, risotto is … [Read more...] about Taleggio Risotto Cake
Parmesan Thyme Cocktail Biscuits
Savory little cheese wafers are the perfect accompaniment to a sophisticated cocktail. I have made more versions with cheddar cheese than I can count, and have branched out with my famous Blue Cheese and Fig Savories. But you can never have too many variations of these lovely little nibbles, and this one is a perfect treat with a glass of champagne or a crisp white wine. And … [Read more...] about Parmesan Thyme Cocktail Biscuits
Shrimp Sauce Piquant
Somewhere between an etouffee and a gumbo lies sauce piquant, a rich, roux-based stew with a little kick. The layered flavors of a caramel dark roux, the trinity of Louisiana cooking, rich tomatoes and the added kick of Creole seasoning and chiles is everything you want in a Cajun meal. It’s a perfect winter dish, warm and comforting and spicy, a slow simmered stew packed with … [Read more...] about Shrimp Sauce Piquant
Baked Roast Beef, Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion Sliders
In my recently released The Southern Sympathy Cookbook, I included a recipe for perfect little baked sliders, because several people told me they had always called them “funeral sandwiches.” The book version includes a delicious country ham spread, cheese and a sweet buttery topping. Working on that recipe, I realized what a great concept they are – perfect flavor-packed hearty … [Read more...] about Baked Roast Beef, Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion Sliders
