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...]
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...]
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...]
Brown Butter Nectarine and Blueberry Cobbler
If you live in the South, cobbler is in your blood. We Southerners grow up eating the ubiquitous dessert from an early age. Although there are may variations of cobblers, the one that I remember was the Peach Cobbler at Shelaine Restaurant in my hometown. The fresh peaches were baked with a thin, crisp, buttery crust that was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I've never been able to master that type … [Read more...]
Calzones with Smoked Chicken, Collards, and Pimento Cheese
There's nothing better than something smoked for the Fourth of July. It doesn't matter whether you're making ribs, pulled pork, salmon, or chicken; it's just not the 4th without some form of outdoor cooking. Whenever I fire up the smoker, I make enough of whatever I'm cooking to last for several meals. Last week I smoked a couple of chickens with plans to make a Summer Pizza with Smoked … [Read more...]
Summer Pizza with Smoked Chicken
I have a confession to make. I'm an occasional QVC shopper. There...I said it. I'm somewhat obsessed with kitchen gadgets; Jim says my pantry looks like a Williams-Sonoma store. My friends all tease me, but in my defense, I use every item that I've bought, with very few exceptions. I've been smoking on a Big Green Egg for years, but it's a bit of a production to prepare and cook on it. In a … [Read more...]
Peach Pandowdy
In the 1970s, Aberdeen, Mississippi, population 6,000, was fairly slim on eating establishments. Ernie's Fountain Grill enticed idle high school kids to hang out. Adam's Dairy Bar served the best burgers and milkshakes in town. But, Shelaine Restaurant cornered the market on the lunch crowd. On Sundays, the line of churchgoers waiting for the buffet snaked out the door. The Robinson family … [Read more...]
Lemon Icebox Cupcakes
Jim loves lemon desserts. So, being the good partner that I am, I have to gratify his sweet tooth sometimes with some lemony confection. We typically can't have sweets around the house, lest we overindulge. However, every once in a while, boys need some cupcakes. A little overindulgence never hurt anybody, right? Lemon Icebox Pie is the quintessential Southern dessert. Everyone who grew up in … [Read more...]
Biscuits with Grandma
Grandma's house was very familiar. Perhaps it was because I spent so much time there as a youngster. My grandparents built the family home at 703 South Meridian Street in the 1920s. The quaint bungalow had a large front and side porch, both outfitted with swings and rocking chairs, where the family spent countless hours visiting and watching traffic pass. During the summer, I often took respite … [Read more...]
Banana Cream Pie
Monsoon season has descended on Atlanta, and for the last couple of weeks an endless barrage of rain storms has moved through the area. The sun seems to have forsaken us. I'm a spring kind of guy, and this time of year I crave those 70-degree days filled with sunshine, daffodils, and azaleas. So far this year my weather cravings are somewhat unfulfilled. This week's forecast tells me sun in on … [Read more...]
BLT Pizza with Egg
I don't usually think of pizza as typical breakfast food. Anytime we have leftover pizza from the night before, Jim is happy to eat it cold in the morning. Me? Not so much. But, I'm happy to eat BLT Pizza that I made for today's post. This healthy pizza made with whole wheat crust makes the perfect breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and if you use store-bought pizza dough, you can put it together in … [Read more...]
Peanut Blossom Cookies
It's just not Christmas without some Peanut Blossom Cookies. I'll say right off the bat that I have no claim to this recipe other than the fact that I've eaten my weight in them over the years. Any combination of chocolate and peanut butter in the form of a cookie makes this southern boy very happy, and these cookies are at the top of the list. I decided to post this ubiquitous recipe after … [Read more...]