We're just back from a two-week stay in Provincetown, Massachusetts at the tip of Cape Cod. We made the trek up the east coast, canine kids in tow, in two days. Following the Halloween festivities on Saturday, we made the trip back to Atlanta. Being our first long road trip with the dogs, I'm pleased to say that with a car packed to the gills, Greeley, Olive, and Milo made the trip like real … [Read more...]
Smoky and Sweet Turkey Chili {+ a Cookbook Giveaway}
It was a special weekend morning when my mother would wake us up to a breakfast of pancakes. Knowing that she had a voracious eater on her hands, she'd take out her griddle and whip up a double batch of batter, knowing that it would take at least a couple of stacks to satisfy my appetite. I'd slather my pancakes with melted butter and syrup from a brown bottle in the shape of a woman. Mrs. … [Read more...]
Black-Eyed Pea and Collard Stew with Turkey Sausage
My grandmother's screened back porch was an adjunct to the kitchen. A red and white plastic gingham tablecloth covered a wooden table that served as overflow refrigerator space during cold weather months. I'd frequently see an apple pie, coconut cake, or some such dessert stored there. A white wicker rocker with a thick cushion sat in the corner, and an antique butter churn used for fermenting … [Read more...]
Mushroom, Leek, and Gruyere Tart
Do you ever wonder how humans came to ingest certain foods? Who first thought about eating an egg? Who came up with the idea that spoiled milk in the form of yogurt was a good idea? Why would someone risk their life to eat a fungus that could potentially kill them? How did they figure out which ones were safe to eat and which ones were lethal? I'm not sure who figured out the mushroom thing, but … [Read more...]
Roasted Acorn Squash and Brussels Sprouts Salad
When we remodeled our house four years ago, I dedicated a large kitchen cabinet for cookbooks. At the time, my collection all but filled the space. Over the last few years, my obsession with buying cookbooks and food magazines has the cabinet bulging at the seams. Many of the books get a quick look and become lost in the collection. Others keep my attention and end up with dog-eared pages and … [Read more...]
Roasted Winter Squash Soup with Candied Ginger and Coconut Milk
Years ago, I spent a month in Nepal trekking around Mt. Everest, so for obvious reasons, I was excited to see Everest, the movie. Right off the bat, let me say that I can be a little bit of a ditz. About three weeks ago, I saw a blurb about the movie and thought I read that it opened that day. I promptly signed on to Fandango and bought tickets for Friday night. Jim and I made it to the theatre … [Read more...]
Mediterranean Garbanzo Bean Soup
Yesterday was one of those cool, gray, drizzly days that make you want to stay in and cook a big pot of soup, so I seized the opportunity and did just that. Being married to an Italian, I have to cater regularly to his taste buds, so what better type of soup to prepare than a Mediterranean one? Santa Claus brought me an electric pressure cooker a couple of years ago, and since then I've become … [Read more...]
Kale-Sweet Potato Salad with Cornbread Croutons and Crispy Shallots
I usually associate salads with summer and warm weather. After all, a salad can be very cooling on a hot, sweltering Atlanta day, and there have been plenty of those days this year. We're finally getting a break from 90+ degree days with mornings in the high 50s and highs of low 80s. Those crystal clear days with low humidity always signal the start of fall. I eat salads all year round, and as … [Read more...]
Creamy Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
Have you ever read the labels on popular store-bought salad dressings? I always look at ingredients in the products that I buy, and I find it a little scary to read the long list of unnatural ingredients I see on salad dressing labels. I always go for brands that only include all natural ingredients, but those dressings are usually pretty pricey. Today, I'm making the case for preparing your … [Read more...]
Pumpkin Biscuit Cinnamon Rolls
I may be jumping the gun a bit with this post. I know fall hasn't officially arrived yet, but I'm ready for some fall flavors. It's always interesting to observe how my cravings follow the change of seasons. During warm weather seasons, I'm drawn to lighter fare, like salads, veggies, chicken, and fish. Cooler weather finds me craving soups, stews, and casseroles. … [Read more...]
Salmon Burgers with Pickled Onion and Lemon Garlic Mayo
As a child, I always got excited about burgers. Whenever it was burger night during the summer, my parents ceded grill duty to me. Being the budding epicure that I was at the time, I'd practice meticulous grilling techniques, making sure the charcoals burned just the right amount of time to avoid flare-ups. I'd flip the burgers with perfect timing, so they had prominent grill marks, but were never … [Read more...]
Pizza Margherita
The end of summer is closing in, and I'm desperately trying to ingest as many local, organic tomatoes as I possibly can. I eat tomatoes all year round, but supermarket tomatoes pale in comparison to the ones I get at my neighborhood farmer's market. One of the farmers grows at least seven or eight varieties, and he can tell you details about the flavor profile of each one and offer the perfect use … [Read more...]