This post is sponsored by the Georgia Watermelon Association. All opinions are completely my own. At least once every summer when I was a child, my Grandma would invite us over to her house for watermelon. On a scorching August afternoon, there was nothing better than gorging on slices of the ice-cold melon. The contrasting smells of newsprint that she would spread on the table and the … [Read more...]
Crabmeat Ceviche + a $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway
Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know about my ties to South Louisiana. My Mom's sister and her family lived in the Lake Charles area, and road trips to that part of the country were an annual summer occurrence for our family. Years later, I attended college in South Mississippi, which is a hop, skip, and a jump from New Orleans. I made many trips to The Big Easy during those … [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...]
Peach Pandowdy
In the 1970s, Aberdeen, Mississippi, population 6,000, was fairly slim on eating establishments. Ernie's Fountain Grill enticed idle high school kids to hang out. Adam's Dairy Bar served the best burgers and milkshakes in town. But, Shelaine Restaurant cornered the market on the lunch crowd. On Sundays, the line of churchgoers waiting for the buffet snaked out the door. The Robinson family … [Read more...]
Lemon Icebox Cupcakes
Jim loves lemon desserts. So, being the good partner that I am, I have to gratify his sweet tooth sometimes with some lemony confection. We typically can't have sweets around the house, lest we overindulge. However, every once in a while, boys need some cupcakes. A little overindulgence never hurt anybody, right? Lemon Icebox Pie is the quintessential Southern dessert. Everyone who grew up in … [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...]
Biscuits with Grandma
Grandma's house was very familiar. Perhaps it was because I spent so much time there as a youngster. My grandparents built the family home at 703 South Meridian Street in the 1920s. The quaint bungalow had a large front and side porch, both outfitted with swings and rocking chairs, where the family spent countless hours visiting and watching traffic pass. During the summer, I often took respite … [Read more...]
Crab Cake Club Sandwich
I've been an East Coast guy for a good part of my life, but the West Coast has always had a subtle pull for me. Perhaps part of the draw has something to do with my love of the 60s music scene in California. The Bay Area was the epicenter of 60s rock music with the likes of Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, and the Grateful Dead. Down the coast in Los Angeles, the music scene was hot as well. The … [Read more...]
Shallot Dill Salmon with Potato Webs
Do you ever feel like a salmon swimming against the current? The last couple of weeks have felt like that to me. I've been only moderately successful at managing my to-do list as life continues flying by. I'm not complaining, mind you. My life is quite wonderful in most respects, but I have been somewhat remiss in attending to the blog. My day job has been busier than usual, and two out-of-town … [Read more...]
Cinco de Mayo Southern Boy Style
I sometimes feel like we celebrate Cinco de Mayo all summer long. Mexican food and margaritas become a regular part of our diet during the summer months. Our favorite Mexican restaurant has a rooftop deck and weekends often find us there with friends. Cinco de Mayo, often confused in the States as Mexican Independence Day, is actually a celebration of the Mexican army's triumph over French … [Read more...]
Spring Dishin’ Southern Boy Style
Just so you'll know, I'm a total geek. I admit it. So...I'm celebrating spring with a new tech toy. My Apple Watch arrived on Friday and not a minute too soon. For those of you who don't know, my days are spent at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a Systems Architect. My passion for technology runs a close second to my passion for food. I'm not only a gadget freak, but I'm an … [Read more...]