I remember as a child going to visit relatives in the community where my grandmother was born. Typically, we would go on Decoration Day, a day set aside to visit the community cemetery and honor deceased relatives by placing flowers on their tombstones. This special Sunday also included a dinner on the ground. Now in case you non-Southerners don't know what a dinner on the ground is, let me … [Read more...]
Sliders with Smoked Chicken and Cheddar Sun-Dried Tomato Cornbread
Some would say it's almost getting too cool to cook outside, but that's never stopped me before. I live in the South, so cooking outdoors can be a year round activity for dedicated grillers. When it comes to outdoor cooking, I really couldn't live without my Big Green Egg. This versatile smoker/grill works well year round and it's the perfect tool for smoking anything, especially chicken. In my … [Read more...]
A Duet of Party Cheese Balls
Our good friends, Kevin and Matt, are heading out of town for the Big Apple. Even though I'll miss them, this is a great career move for Kevin and I applaud his success. To celebrate this next chapter of their lives in New York, we hosted a cocktail party on Saturday night. Several years ago, I would have been a basket case on party day, cooking all day and expending all my energy during the … [Read more...]
Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Bruschetta
We invite friends over for dinner fairly regularly. When company's coming, I'm always so focused on getting the the main course and a dessert put together that appetizers are an afterthought. You've heard me say before that I'm usually scrambling at the last minute to find some cheese and olives and hoping against hope that there are some crackers in the pantry that aren't stale. I've even been … [Read more...]
Biscotti with Dried Cherries, Macadamia Nuts, and White Chocolate
I'm absolutely sure that some of the best food I've ever had was in Italy several years ago. Driving around the countryside of Tuscany, we explored tiny villages and always stopped at the local osteria where no one spoke English. Pointing and speaking broken Italian, we ordered food as best we could. What arrived on our table always delighted our taste buds. I vividly remember a plate of … [Read more...]
Peach and Gorgonzola Crostini
Since I live in the Peach State and since I live in a city that boasts 71 streets with some variation of Peachtree in the name, I figured I should post a recipe with peaches. Peaches are in season in Georgia and supermarket shelves are brimming with the golden, fuzzy orbs. I anticipate the season each year and there's nothing better than biting into a juicy peach and feeling the sweet liquor … [Read more...]
Pulled Pork Sliders with Ranch Coleslaw
Felix celebrated a birthday on Saturday and to honor the occasion we hosted a dinner party for several of our good friends. Cooking for eight in the past would have required me to run around like a crazy person making last minute preparation even after the guests arrived. The work would continue until dinner was over at which point I would collapse from exhaustion. Over the years, I've learned … [Read more...]
Cucumber Rolls with Pesto Shrimp Salad
When I think of summer, I think of fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. A previous post features one of my very favorite salads for this season. Basil occupies a prominent place in my herb garden this summer and I'm always looking for ways to use it. For this post, I decided to make a batch of pesto and pair it with shrimp salad. The recipe will make more pesto than you need for this dish, but it … [Read more...]
No-Knead Bread with a Trio of Spreads
We entertain in our home fairly regularly and when I'm shopping and planning for a meal, appetizers are sometimes an afterthought. Thirty minutes before guests arrive I'm scrambling to find some before dinner noshes, most often consisting of cheese, crackers, and olives. Boring, right? This post reflects my creative efforts at serving dinner company something a little more interesting before … [Read more...]
Fried Okra with Buttermilk Herb Sauce
I would be remiss if I didn't post a fried okra recipe on a blog about southern food. So... here it is! I think we all fondly remember food from our childhood and the ultimate comfort meal for me would include fried chicken, black-eyed peas, creamed corn, and collard greens. My mother and most southern cooks would almost always serve fried okra with a traditional meal such as this. During the … [Read more...]
Vietnamese Summer Rolls
We're back from an amazing vacation to Asia and finally, a week later I'm over the jet lag! Stops in Thailand, Vietnam, and Hong Kong proved every bit the adventure that I had hoped for. There were many facets to the trip, but of course food was at the top of my list. This southern boy has always loved Asian food, but after visiting this part of the world, I have a renewed appreciation for Thai … [Read more...]
White Bean Dip with Pita Chips
We had a dinner party last night. It seems that every time we have friends over for dinner, the appetizers are an afterthought and we end up putting cheese, crackers, and olives out for our guests for before dinner snacks. This time I wanted to try something a little different. I love beans of all kinds and I don't make them nearly enough. Beans are so versatile and varied and I'm committed to … [Read more...]