Now that's a long title for a taco, right? I love every element of this recipe, so I really wanted to put them all in the title to entice you to take a closer look. Fried chicken is the star of the show, but it's not complete without the collard green slaw, and of course, the chipotle ranch dressing is icing on the cake. I'm calling this recipe Fried Chicken Tacos, but you might quibble with … [Read more...]
White Bean and Chicken Chili
Our local farmers market stocks shelves and shelves of every variety of dried beans you can imagine. I was thinking about soup on Saturday while I was shopping, so I picked up a large container of Great Northerns. Chili with white beans and chicken has been rolling around in my head for months now, and this week I took it off my to-do list and gave it a whirl. I got an electric pressure cooker … [Read more...]
Pan-Seared Chicken with Parmesan Grits & Mushroom Gravy
In 2002, Georgia declared grits as its official prepared food. So, being a transplanted but almost native Georgian, I thought it only fair that I revisit grits on a semi-regular basis on Southern Boy Dishes. If you grow up in the South, grits practically become part of your DNA. In my childhood, this ubiquitous staple was found on breakfast tables across the deep South. As time has passed … [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...]
Thai BBQ Chicken {+ a Cookbook Giveaway}
Last weekend I attended Camp Blogaway, a food blog conference in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains of southern California. Packed with useful blogging information, the conference featured sessions on search engine optimization, food styling, food photography, Google +, and cookbook publishing. One of the things I loved about Camp Blogaway was that it is a smaller and more intimate conference, … [Read more...]
Cioppino
San Francisco stole my heart during my first visit many years ago. On that trip, my cousin, Delia, and my best friend, Bill, joined me for a trek up the Northern California coast to Ashland, Oregon. We spent the first few days exploring and eating our way through the city. Known for its cuisine, San Francisco did not disappoint us with its plethora of culinary offerings. I first experienced … [Read more...]
Stuffed Pork Loin Roast with Sausage, Cherries, and Fennel
Every year when Thanksgiving approaches, my mind enters hyper mode as I fantasize about holiday food. I'm a traditionalist at Thanksgiving and I prefer some form of fowl with semi-traditional sides. I don't mind a twist on the classic dishes, but I usually stick to the basics: stuffing or dressing, green beans, Brussels sprout, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Christmas is a different ballgame. … [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...]
Seared Scallops with Sweet Potato Grits and Chanterelle Mushrooms
I was never a big breakfast eater when I was younger. My mother was lucky to get me to drink a Carnations Instant Breakfast as I was running out the door to school. Even on the weekends when I did eat breakfast, grits never made it to our table. The few times that I did eat grits, they were usually plainly prepared with salt and maybe a little butter. I didn't hate them, but I found them to be … [Read more...]
Pan Seared Duck Breast with Cherry Port Wine Reduction
I've been on a duck kick lately and this post features my latest creation. For some reason I think of fall when duck comes to mind and this dish's mix of sweet and savory flavors makes the perfect autumn dinner. If you're entertaining, this presentation will impress your guests. A few months ago, I made a duck and sweet potato gumbo. When I was creating this recipe, I roasted a whole duck. … [Read more...]