We recently traveled to New York to attend the wedding of some good friends. Just around the corner from their loft in the Flatiron District, we discovered Eataly, my new favorite spot in the city. The New York Times described it as a "megastore" that "combines elements of a bustling European open market, a Whole-Foods-style supermarket, a high-end food court and a New Age learning center." An … [Read more...]
Apple, Bacon, & Cheddar Bread Puddings
Last summer I made some Summer Squash and Vidalia Onion Bread Puddings. They made a big splash at our house, so I thought I'd change the recipe up and make it a little more holidayish. Okay, I know that's a made-up word, but you get my point. I've made many variations of stuffing over the years from my Mom's traditional cornbread dressing to oyster dressing to any number of stuffings with fruit … [Read more...]
Sweet Potato Biscuits
It's not like you need another carb for your Thanksgiving dinner, but I'm giving you one anyhow. After all, once a year you should be able to engorge yourself with anything and everything on the table without an ounce of guilt, right? I don't think it would be Thanksgiving without some form of bread, so I'm offering you some delightful sweet potato biscuits with hints of maple syrup and … [Read more...]
Pumpkin Pound Cake with Bourbon Caramel Glaze
It's time to start thinking Thanksgiving, so what do you say we start with dessert? How about a Pumpkin Pound Cake with a Bourbon Caramel Glaze? First off, did you ever wonder why it's called a pound cake? I always thought it was because it was made with a pound of butter, but actually the original pound cake recipe called for a pound of each of the four main ingredients: flour, sugar, butter, … [Read more...]
Chicken Gumbo Pot Pies
We had our first cold snap this weekend and after waking up to a low of 43 degrees on Sunday morning, the mood hit me to make a big pot of something warm and comforting. After some consideration and an inventory of the refrigerator, chicken gumbo jumped to the top of the list. I've written before that my family has ties to south Louisiana and Cajun and creole food. My mother's sister and her … [Read more...]
Kiki’s Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
I consider myself somewhat of a chocolate chip cookie aficionado. I’ve cooked and devoured my weight in these cookies over a lifetime, and I'm always on the hunt for the next best recipe. Up until now, no recipe has ever beat the chocolate chip pecan cookies at Alon's Bakery just a few blocks from our house. With these cookies, Alon may have met his match. We spent last weekend at with our … [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...]
Summer Squash and Vidalia Onion Bread Pudding
During the summer months, I tend to OD on Vidalia onions. I guess because of our proximity to Vidalia we have a long season with the onions showing up in late spring and lasting through late summer. I eat them with fresh cucumbers and tomatoes, saute them for hamburgers, and add them to most anything and everything that can benefit from a little onion love. This time of year there's nothing … [Read more...]
Blackberry Galette with Mascarpone Cream
When I see blackberries, I'm transported back to a specific point in time. I have such fond memories of sitting at my grandmother's table eating blackberry cobbler after a day of blackberry picking. My grandmother grew up in a tiny community in north Mississippi where wild blackberries were plentiful. If you've ever been blackberry picking in Mississippi, you can rest assured that you'll … [Read more...]
Cherry Crumble
We spent a quiet evening at home on Saturday for a change. Leftovers for dinner left me unsatisfied and at 8:00 p.m., craving something sweet, I scooted over to Publix in search of a quick dessert. The peaches looked great, and considering I'm still on a peach kick, I grabbed some along with a pint of blueberries. When I looked in my basket at the checkout counter, some of my favorite vanilla ice … [Read more...]
Pecan Turtle Brownies
I was a skinny kid. And when I say skinny I mean really skinny. At high school graduation, I was 6'1" and weighed 130 pounds. All through my childhood, I possessed a voracious appetite. School lunches sucked, so by the time I was home at 3:00, I was ravenous and raiding the refrigerator. I'm not kidding you when I say I snacked until dinnertime around 6:00. I would eat dinner and most likely have … [Read more...]
Strawberry and Lemon Curd Tart with Almond Coconut Crust
We had another cold snap a few days ago but I'm holding on to hope this was the last one of the year. Sunday brought the most amazing warm and sunny day that drew us outside for a morning of yard work. Later in the day, I made my weekly jaunt to the farmer's market for grocery shopping. Always attempting to cook seasonally, I was on the hunt for fruits and vegetables that speak to spring. … [Read more...]