We're just back from a two-week stay in Provincetown, Massachusetts at the tip of Cape Cod. We made the trek up the east coast, canine kids in tow, in two days. Following the Halloween festivities on Saturday, we made the trip back to Atlanta. Being our first long road trip with the dogs, I'm pleased to say that with a car packed to the gills, Greeley, Olive, and Milo made the trip like real … [Read more...]
Creamy Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
Have you ever read the labels on popular store-bought salad dressings? I always look at ingredients in the products that I buy, and I find it a little scary to read the long list of unnatural ingredients I see on salad dressing labels. I always go for brands that only include all natural ingredients, but those dressings are usually pretty pricey. Today, I'm making the case for preparing your … [Read more...]
Blueberry Lemon Buttermilk Sorbet
The Deep South heatwave has hit! We've been in the mid- to upper-90s for a couple of weeks now. I spend my days at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doing technology consulting. This health-promoting agency practices what it preaches and encourages healthy lifestyles for its employees. I'm fortunate in that I can take a couple of 15-minute walks during the day. It's amazing how much … [Read more...]
Coffee-Ancho Filets and a Sub-Zero and Wolf Showroom Tour
All opinions stated in this post are 100% mine. This week Jim and I went to the Sub-Zero and Wolf Showroom in Atlanta for a tour and cooking demonstration. This trip was our second, and we were equally as impressed as we were the first time. Since our last trip, the showroom has relocated from the suburbs to the Buckhead area of Atlanta which was much more convenient for us. The new space … [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...]
Seared Scallops with Pea Pesto
Every summer our family hit the road in our 1965 sky blue Pontiac Catalina for a family vacation. One year our destination was the Great Smoky Mountains with stops in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Fontana Dam. On another trip, we followed my Aunt Sarah and Uncle Vernon and their popup camper to the mountains of North Georgia. Six Flags over Texas highlighted another trip. Perhaps my favorite … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Carnitas
Whenever I write a recipe, I always start by doing a little research on the history of the dish and looking at 10 or more recipes. I decided to make carnitas for this post, and after a little digging, I was a little surprised to find the authentic Mexican version is made by slowly braising pork in lard or oil over 3 or 4 hours. Most of the recipes I reviewed were not truly authentic and called … [Read more...]
Roasted Roma Tomatoes
We had a pizza dinner party last week for our friends, Bruce and Felix, and Felix's daughter, Sierra. When I'm making pizza, I go a little crazy with toppings. It's an obsession. I admit it. My ultimate fear in life is that there won't be enough food. I suspect it's a southern thing that I inherited from my grandmother. In my mind, if you don't have at least twice as much food as you need, there's … [Read more...]
Tomato Aspic with Crème Fraîche and Chives
How many of you remember Tomato Aspic? It was the "fancy" congealed tomato salad that all the ladies in town made for their garden club years ago. I'm sure it made regular appearances at church potluck dinners as well. It was certainly popular in my hometown of Aberdeen Mississippi. My parents gave me a copy of Prime Meridian cookbook for Christmas which features the recipes of Meridian, … [Read more...]
Flank Steak with Romesco Sauce
You know how one really cool article of clothing can make an otherwise boring outfit extraordinary? You can put on a plain pair of jeans and a nondescript shirt with a chic jacket, and you're ready for a night on the town. That special hat gives you a look that catches peoples' eye. A sylish belt gives your outfit a real pop. I think sauces do the same thing for food. A sauce can dress up an … [Read more...]
Shrimp & Corn Chowder
Punxsutawney Phil seems to have gotten it right this year. He saw his shadow on Groundhog Day, and an early spring is nowhere to be seen in my neck of the woods. In Atlanta, February can bring the occasional spring day in the 60s or 70s. Daffodils begin poking their heads through the soil and the forsythia bursts into a wash of yellow. Well, that's not happening this year. We've had nothing but … [Read more...]
Hong Kong-Style Sea Bass
Hong Kong is one of the most vibrant cities I've ever visited. A couple of years ago, we took an Asian cruise beginning in Singapore and culminating with a 3-day stay in Hong Kong. The bustling metropolis combines East and West in a fascinating way. A shopper's paradise, this city offers fantastic deals on everything from electronics to jewelry to custom made clothes. The topography of this … [Read more...]