Macaroni salad is a great summer picnic dish. And it is a classic of the Southern table, from church suppers to days outdoors. I have been served a lot of macaroni salad and read a lot of traditional recipes in Southern community cookbooks that include, like many a southern dish, pickle relish. I am not a fan of pickle relish so I haven’t always been a fan of macaroni salad. So … [Read more...] about Buttermilk Bacon Cheddar Macaroni Salad
buttermilk
Buttermilk Banana Bread
Honestly, I have always been ambivalent about banana bread. Most of what I have been offered is filled with all kinds of additions, lots of nuts, chocolate chips, spices. It’s too much for me and masks any banana flavor. And it is often accompanied by the disclaimer “I had a bunch of old bananas, so I thought I ought to make bread,” which is not a very good … [Read more...] about Buttermilk Banana Bread
Southern Cornbread Chicken and Dressing with Gravy
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
Buttermilk Bread
Making a fresh loaf of lovely, real homemade bread gives me more of a sense of accomplishment than just about anything. I am not an expert at it, you see, and I am still a little wary around yeast. So I look for simple recipes and adapt them as best I can for my skill level. Because I love that moment when you see that your dough has risen to a beautiful, soft … [Read more...] about Buttermilk Bread
