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...]
Steak Oscar
Sometimes a steak needs a little crabmeat, asparagus, and Béarnaise sauce to dress it up for Christmas. Christmas dinner deserves to be special, and this dish is just the ticket. I've eaten a lot of steaks in my day, and I don't think there's anything better than a filet. Low in fat but almost fork tender, this steak is one of the most healthful cuts of beef. Steak Oscar allegedly acquired its … [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...]
Banana, Walnut, and Chocolate Focaccia
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...]
Braised Red Cabbage with Apples
Have you ever noticed that Thanksgiving menus frequently feature a whole lot of brown and beige food? Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes topped with pecans and brown sugar, casseroles, and so on make for a monotone menu. I'm all for those holiday dishes, but I like to highlight the table with some color. Even in the midst of engorging on the holiday feast, I still crave some healthy stuff in the … [Read more...]
Potatoes au Gratin
So Thanksgiving is over, and I'm on to my Christmas menu. Many cooks make a Thanksgiving redux for their Christmas dinner, but I prefer making something completely different for this holiday meal. In the past, I've made a stuffed pork loin roast, Beef Wellington, and surf and turf with filet and lobster. I haven't finalized my main course for Christmas this year, but I'm definitely making … [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...]
Cranberry-Glazed Stuffed Turkey Breast
Let's talk turkey! Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and cooks across the country are preparing their holiday menus. If you're like me, you look forward to planning and cooking this meal all year long. I don't even mind the chaos at my local farmer's market a day or so before the holiday where throngs of people are filling their carts to capacity with all the fixings. I have a small … [Read more...]
Collard Greens Gratin
If you grow up in the South, you've undoubtedly come across collard greens at some point in your life. In my small Mississippi hometown, a variety of greens regularly made it to our supper table. I've written before about my grandparents' garden where greens always occupied several rows. If I had a dollar for every serving of collard, mustard, or turnip greens I've eaten in my life, I'd be a rich … [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...]
Cranberry Pistachio Shortbreads
If I had to pick two cookies that are perfect for the Christmas holiday, it would be wedding cookies and these cranberry pistachio shortbreads. Both use the same basic dough, so you can double the recipe and make both cookies. I really like these cookies because they're not overly sweet. However, I wouldn't put these cookies in the health food category! I think referring to these cookies as … [Read more...]