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...]
Mushroom, Burrata, and Arugula Crostini
Burrata seems to be everywhere these days. I frequently observe it on restaurant menus around town. I'd had it before in an appetizer and I knew it was delicious, but I didn't pay too much attention to exactly what type of cheese it was. As I was thinking about making something with this special cheese, I did a little research into how it's made. Burrata, which translates to "buttered", is a … [Read more...]
Crabmeat Ceviche + a $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway
Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know about my ties to South Louisiana. My Mom's sister and her family lived in the Lake Charles area, and road trips to that part of the country were an annual summer occurrence for our family. Years later, I attended college in South Mississippi, which is a hop, skip, and a jump from New Orleans. I made many trips to The Big Easy during those … [Read more...]
Chopped Salad with Tarragon Vinaigrette + a Calphalon Giveaway
A few weeks ago, our house was selected for a Calphalon photo shoot. As part of their digital media campaign, they were photographing their Calphalon Elite Nonstick Cookware. Roughly 15 people, including an Ad agency executive, a Calphalon executive, a food photographer, a food stylist, a prop stylist, and a hand model, took over our kitchen for a four-day shoot. As a food blogger, I was … [Read more...]
Pimento Cheese Wontons with Bacon Apple Jam
Hey, y'all! I may have had a Paula Deen moment in my kitchen this weekend. There may have been some cheese frying going on. Well, technically the cheese itself wasn't actually fried. But it sure did get all melty inside some crispy, crunchy wonton pyramids. And don't forget about that Bacon Apple Jam. I had a wicked Mississippi accent when I was growing up. As I got older and left home for … [Read more...]
Spinach Salad with Candied Walnuts and Golden Beets
I vividly remember sitting in my freshman comp class many years ago on a cool October day. Professor Kemp began the class by assigning a 300-word essay on any topic to be completed by the end of class. Never being a quick thinker, I wasted the first fifteen minutes of class trying to think of an interesting topic for my essay. Desperately watching the time and realizing that a good idea just … [Read more...]
Celery Caesar Salad
I've always thought of celery as a background ingredient, chopped and sauteed with onion and bell peppers before ending up as a minor player in a soup or stew. Being a big fan of celery, however, I've been spotted before with a stalk in one hand and a container of peanut butter or hummus in the other. I thought today's post should move celery out of the shadows and into the spotlight, so I've … [Read more...]
Stuffed Artichokes
It's hard to believe that two years have passed since Jim's Mom passed away. We still miss her, and I know we always will. Some of my fondest memories of her were of us sitting in her apartment watching her make Eggplant Parmesan. She always made it for me each time we visited and as I would help myself to a third serving, she would look at me and say, "God bless." I don't think she could believe … [Read more...]
Flatbreads with Brie and Chipotle Peaches
The shelves of the market where I shop still swell with Georgia and South Carolina peaches and I just keep buying them. I know I've probably overdone the peach thing this season, but I seriously can't get enough of them. So, I'm not apologizing as I post yet another delicious peach recipe. After all, I do live in Georgia, and that's what we do, right? As I thought about peaches, I knew I wanted … [Read more...]
Fried Green Tomatoes with Crabmeat and Chipotle Tartar Sauce
It's been fun watching everyday food that I grew up with become chic over the last several years. Southern food has become mainstream in restaurants across the country where top chefs have given traditional southern fare a fresh makeover. When I was growing up in Mississippi, my grandfather tended a large garden during the summer months and every morning he dropped off a basket of whatever was … [Read more...]
Guacamole and Pico de Gallo
In my opinion, a Mexican meal isn't complete without guacamole, pico de gallo, and chips. As I said in my last post, the only problem with serving these condiments is that I seem to have no control over how much of them I eat. Frequently by the time the main course is served, I've already engorged myself with guac, chips, and salsa. For this post, I've created my version of pico de gallo and it … [Read more...]
Monkey Bread with Sausage, Spinach, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Have you ever wondered why they call it Monkey Bread? I have, so I looked it up and didn't really get a satisfactory answer. Monkey Bread, typically a sweet and gooey pull-apart pastry baked in a bundt pan, is of uncertain origins. Probably created in the U.S., it first appeared in magazines and cookbooks in the 1950s. Wikipedia says that it may have gotten its name because it resembles a monkey … [Read more...]