When I was a kid, I loved watching plants grow. I always enjoyed going to my grandparents' garden and seeing all the vegetables maturing. I was fascinated by a germinating seed that ultimately produced food I would eat. One summer I wanted to take ownership of a plant that I could nurse to maturity, so my grandmother helped me plant a corn kernel in her back yard. Over the next … [Read more...]
Grilled Seafood Skewers with Tomato Basil Butter
I lived in Jacksonville, Florida for a couple of years early in my career. One of the things I remember most about those days was the access to fresh-out-of-the-water seafood. I frequented a small market where everything in the store was right off the boat, and there wasn't a trace of fish smell. The owner always had fresh jumbo shrimp, scallops, grouper, and snapper displayed beautifully on ice. … [Read more...]
Horseradish-Crusted Strip Steaks
We're just back from a marathon drive up the West Coast. We started in Los Angeles and drove along US 1 to Brookings, Oregon in 8 days, stopping somewhere different every night. Whew! Marathon is an understatement, but it was an amazing drive with lots of windy, curvy ups and downs and incredible vistas. One of our stops was the Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Built by American publishing magnate, … [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...]
Pimento Cheese-Bacon Burger
When I build a burger, I like to make it a "how wide can you open your mouth" challenge. I love fully-loaded burgers with lettuce, tomato, onion, and cheese and the messier the better. If I don't go through three or four napkins, I haven't had the full hamburger experience. Often, eating burgers with my hands becomes a hopeless situation and I'm forced to grab a fork! I've created a … [Read more...]
Tandoori Chicken
We recently went to Cardamom Hill, one of Atlanta's premier Indian restaurants, for some of the best Indian food I've had a long time. Chef Asha Gomez specializes in fried chicken of all things, and if that wasn't "southern" enough, she serves it on a waffle! Now granted it is indeed fried chicken, but I wouldn't say it's the traditionally southern version. Gomez has created the perfect marriage … [Read more...]
Lamb Chops with Mint Pesto, Roasted Golden Beets and Figs
I've never been particularly enthusiastic about figs until I read a blog post a couple of months ago about roasted figs. Greg Henry over at Sippity Sup described his version of roasted figs as "chewy and jammy. Sweet and savory." I was intrigued when he explained that the " juices will caramelize to black and form a bittersweet candy-like crunch." I frequently roast vegetables, and when I read … [Read more...]
Grilled T-bone Steak with Blue Cheese, Bacon, and Chive Butter
Do you know the music of T Bone Burnett, Grammy and Academy award winning producer and musician? We watched HBO's newest drama, True Detective, this year, and the music captivated me in every episode. After a little research, I learned that T Bone selected the music for the series, some of which was his original music. Curious about his work, I downloaded some of his music and, and I now count … [Read more...]
Grilled Asparagus and Artichoke Salad with Shrimp and Lemon Tarragon Aioli
When was the last time you had an artichoke? They sure are a lot of trouble but so worth it when you put that last bite of the heart dipped in butter or aioli into your mouth. A form of a thistle, the artichoke comes from the flower bud of the plant before the flower comes into bloom. The wild form of the plant called cardoon, traces back as a food to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Today, … [Read more...]
Grilled Peaches with Caramel Pecan Ice Cream
We just got back from a whirlwind Northeast tour: two days in New Jersey to see Jim's family; two days in D.C. to visit our friend Darryl; and two days in New York to see our friends Kevin, Matt, Judy, and Amy. It truly was a city sampler, but we had a blast visiting with old friends. Neil Patrick Harris wowed us with his performance in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway, proving to be the … [Read more...]
Stuffed Flank Steak
I'm not sure what's going on in our house, but we've been in "fixit" mode the last few weeks. Both my cameras, the oven, the dishwasher, the espresso machine, and the foil dispenser all required repairs recently. Now some people might focus on the negative and wonder why so much is going wrong, but I happen to be a "glass half full" kinda guy. I'm just glad I have the resources to get everything … [Read more...]
Smoked Baby Back Ribs
What better way to spend the Fourth of July than firing up your smoker and throwing on some baby back ribs? In the South, barbecue is synonymous with Independence Day. Outdoor cooks across the country and especially in the southern states will be dry rubbing, marinating, and barbecuing their favorite meats for the big holiday. Barbecue is ubiquitous in the South, albeit varied depending on the … [Read more...]