Field peas are one of my favorite summer time treats. Though I spend enough time in summer portioning little bags and stashing them in the freezer that I can enjoy them all year round now. And I’ll be honest; I don’t veer too much off my standard method of cooking them. Peas, water, a piece of pork of some variety, maybe onion or garlic and hot sauce. When the farmers … [Read more...] about Purple Hull Salad With Bacon Vinaigrette
bacon
Bacon Popcorn
Bacon Popcorn. Yep. How about a giant bowl of this in front of the big game? Slightly sweet, perfectly salty with the amazing flavor of crispy bacon. Popcorn cooked in bacon fat is nothing new. I imagine it was a popular method before cooking oil could be readily bought and folks were a bit more thrifty about waste. I often use bacon fat from my stove-side canister to … [Read more...] about Bacon Popcorn
Maple Mustard Chicken Salad
Back in the summer, I boasted to you that I am a chicken salad savant and that I have versions for every imaginable occasion and all seasons. This is my favorite fall chicken salad, full of the crispy, crunchy, bold flavors of the season. And yes, chicken salad is perfect in fall – it’s not just for summer anymore. And if you’ve got visitors in the house for the holidays, … [Read more...] about Maple Mustard Chicken Salad
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
Brilliant Baked Beans
Baked beans are almost a staple here. I cannot think of a barbecue place in Memphis that doesn’t serve beans on the side. And if you live in Memphis, you eat barbecue. Some places stir in bits of pulled pork shoulder, some make the beans with their house barbecue sauce, some throw in jalapenos. And of course, some places have better beans than others. But when you … [Read more...] about Brilliant Baked Beans
