Springtime is, by far, my favorite season. I'm sure that there aren't any more beautiful cities in the spring than Atlanta, Georgia. Ornamental cherry trees, dogwood trees, and azaleas abound! I love seeing things bud and bloom and show signs of life after the cold days of winter. I, along with all the flora, seem to come back to life in the spring. In Mississippi, where I was raised, my … [Read more...]
Vietnamese Summer Rolls
We're back from an amazing vacation to Asia and finally, a week later I'm over the jet lag! Stops in Thailand, Vietnam, and Hong Kong proved every bit the adventure that I had hoped for. There were many facets to the trip, but of course food was at the top of my list. This southern boy has always loved Asian food, but after visiting this part of the world, I have a renewed appreciation for Thai … [Read more...]
Cedar Plank Salmon with Lemon Dill Aioli
Spring is finally making an appearance in Atlanta. We usually enjoy 70 degree days staring in February, but this year we've been stuck in the 50s for weeks. The last several days have given me hope that spring is in fact coming and we can start cooking and eating outside. During the spring and summer months, my grill or Big Green Egg becomes my primary cooking device. We consume a fair amount … [Read more...]
Spaghetti Squash with Shrimp, Broccoli, and Red Pepper
If you're wanting to limit carbohydrates in your diet, spaghetti squash is a great way to go. I've been making this dish for years and I always circle back to it if I'm craving pasta but trying to lose a few pounds. If you've never seen spaghetti squash, it is an oblong, hard, and yellow winter squash. When cooked, the flesh of the squash separates into strands and resembles spaghetti. This … [Read more...]
Crab Stuffed Shrimp
We're fortunate enough to live in a large city with a fantastic farmer's market where we have access to an wide array of fresh seafood. I'm always up for seafood and considering that we're going on a cruise to Asia in a month, and we'll be in bathing suits, and we're still fighting to lose those 10 pounds we gained this winter, shrimp and fish are making regular appearances on our table. I don't … [Read more...]
Pan Fried Catfish with Edamame Succotash and Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Most towns in Mississippi are home to at least one "catfish house", a restaurant which specializes in fried catfish and steaks. Saturday night social life in small town Mississippi centers around these restaurants. If you want to see your friends, you go to the catfish house and mostly likely they'll be there. Whenever we visit my parents in Mississippi, we always make an appearance at the … [Read more...]
Salmon in Crazy Water (Acqua Pazza)
I realize that I just posted a fish dish, but it's January and we gained several pounds through the holidays, so this is my attempt to pull back the reins a bit. My "go to" meal when I'm trying to drop a few pounds usually revolves around chicken or fish. So, bear with me as I try to lighten things up before our cruise vacation in April. This and the last post are not "southern" dishes as some … [Read more...]
Tilapia en Papillote
En papillote, a French term meaning "in parchment", is a method of cooking in which the food is put into a folded pouch and then baked. The pouch is typically made from folded parchment paper, but other material, such as a paper bag or aluminium foil, may be used. The parcel seals in moisture to steam the food. I have cooked fish and chicken this way for years and on weeknights, it's an easy … [Read more...]
Pecan Encrusted Salmon with Delicata Squash Risotto and Sauteed Spinach
I've been wanting to make something with winter squash this fall and have just gotten around to it with this post. Most of the winter squash can be a bit of a pain to prepare. They are usually very hard and difficult to peel and cut. Recently, I read that delicata squash can be cooked without peeling and that got my attention. I decided to try a risotto made with this variety of squash. Cutting … [Read more...]
Seared Scallops on Parmesan Polenta Cakes with Tomato Butter Sauce
Every summer, we make our annual trek to Provincetown, MA on Cape Cod. P'town rates as our absolute favorite vacation destination. I can't explain it's specialness, but a feeling of "coming home" washes over us as the high-speed ferry rounds the end of the Cape and pulls into P'town Harbor. Our trips always pass much too quickly and we start thinking about our next trip as the ferry leaves the … [Read more...]
Seafood Gumbo
My Mom's sister, Aunt Sarah and her family lived in south Louisiana. We visited them in Cajun country every summer when we were growing up. It was on those summer visits that I first experienced Cajun cuisine. Being the adventurous eater that I was even at a young age, I fell in love with this style of food. My first exposure to crawfish was at a local restaurant in Lake Charles. I ordered the … [Read more...]
Parmesan Crusted Tilapia with Remoulade Sauce
Being from the south, I love all things fried. Fried fare was a regular part of my diet as a young man. As I've gotten older, I moderate how much fried food I ingest. This recipe gives me the sensation of eating fried fish, but it's not actually fried. My friend Felix suggested that I include a Healthful Dishes category and I think it's a great idea. We all like to indulge occasionally, but as … [Read more...]