It's been fun watching everyday food that I grew up with become chic over the last several years. Southern food has become mainstream in restaurants across the country where top chefs have given traditional southern fare a fresh makeover. When I was growing up in Mississippi, my grandfather tended a large garden during the summer months and every morning he dropped off a basket of whatever was … [Read more...]
Linguine with Grilled Shrimp and Peppers
Where do the weekends go? Seems like Friday rolls around and before I know it, I'm rolling out of bed on Monday morning and heading to work. Between blogging, house projects, running errands, and a little socializing, this weekend was gone in a flash. Another beautiful spring weekend provided the perfect backdrop for the Inman Park Festival. Many neighborhoods in the city of Atlanta host a … [Read more...]
Shrimp Salad with Capers and Dill in Romaine Cups
Did you ever wonder what a caper is? You'll find these pickled orbs in a variety of dishes but they're usually in the background and you've probably never thought about where they come from. I knew of their origin at some point, but I'd forgotten so I did a little research for this post. As it turns out, capers are the flower buds of the caper bush. Native to arid climates, including the … [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...]
Crab, Spinach, and Coconut Soup
I want to be somewhere warm. Every year in January, I start dreaming of sun and beaches and water. I envision a long walk on a beach, my feet sinking in the warm sand as I collect rocks and shells. I'm not sure why I'm drawn to areas where land meets water but the ocean feeds my soul in some way. I love my life in Atlanta, but I do wish our city was closer to water. Growing up in Mississippi, … [Read more...]
Pan-Seared Red Snapper with Fennel, Grape Tomatoes, and Capers
I've got two motives for this post. First, our good friend, Trace, celebrated a milestone birthday and we went to Key West to celebrate. More on that in a minute. Second, this dish is my feeble attempt at lightening up our diet between the Thanksgiving food orgy and impending holiday parties and Christmas feast. One light meal is better than none, right? Ok, I said it was a feeble attempt. A … [Read more...]
Crawfish Étouffée
I've written before in previous posts about my early exposure to Cajun food. Our family made yearly summer treks to south Louisiana to visit my Aunt Sarah and her family and it was there that I was exposed to a variety of Creole and Cajun cuisine. I developed an early appreciation for gumbo, jambalaya, étouffée, red beans, and andouille sausage. My college years were spent in south Mississippi … [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...]
Grilled Salmon and Corn Salad with Lime, Buttermilk, and Cilantro Dressing
My family arrived in Atlanta over Labor Day weekend for their annual summer visit. My 90-year-old Mom and my 86-year-old Dad are real troopers for making the road trip to visit their number two son. I'm so grateful that they're still able to visit. I purposely planned a relaxed agenda for the weekend so there was a good bit of sitting around, eating, some football watching, and a little … [Read more...]
Shrimp Kabobs with Pistachio-Tarragon Pesto
Blogging requires a lot of time and effort. If you have a career, a spouse, two dogs, and great friends and you squeeze a food blog into the mix, you’re in for some busy evenings and weekends. Recipe development, testing, cooking, food styling, staging, photographing, and writing are all separate disciplines and each requires skill, time, and patience. From start to to finish a post can take many … [Read more...]
Blackened Tilapia Tacos with Jicama Coleslaw and Avocado Aioli
Fourth of July in Atlanta was a wash. Literally! The rains moved in on Thursday and lingered throughout the day on Friday. Any plans for a cookout circled down the drain. Fortunately we didn't have big plans for the day so I decided to stay inside and make tacos along with my quick and easy version of chipotle black beans. Most of our friends were travelling for the Fourth, so our low-key … [Read more...]
Cucumber Rolls with Pesto Shrimp Salad
When I think of summer, I think of fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. A previous post features one of my very favorite salads for this season. Basil occupies a prominent place in my herb garden this summer and I'm always looking for ways to use it. For this post, I decided to make a batch of pesto and pair it with shrimp salad. The recipe will make more pesto than you need for this dish, but it … [Read more...]