We're just back from a two-week stay in Provincetown, Massachusetts at the tip of Cape Cod. We made the trek up the east coast, canine kids in tow, in two days. Following the Halloween festivities on Saturday, we made the trip back to Atlanta. Being our first long road trip with the dogs, I'm pleased to say that with a car packed to the gills, Greeley, Olive, and Milo made the trip like real … [Read more...]
Smoky and Sweet Turkey Chili {+ a Cookbook Giveaway}
It was a special weekend morning when my mother would wake us up to a breakfast of pancakes. Knowing that she had a voracious eater on her hands, she'd take out her griddle and whip up a double batch of batter, knowing that it would take at least a couple of stacks to satisfy my appetite. I'd slather my pancakes with melted butter and syrup from a brown bottle in the shape of a woman. Mrs. … [Read more...]
Black-Eyed Pea and Collard Stew with Turkey Sausage
My grandmother's screened back porch was an adjunct to the kitchen. A red and white plastic gingham tablecloth covered a wooden table that served as overflow refrigerator space during cold weather months. I'd frequently see an apple pie, coconut cake, or some such dessert stored there. A white wicker rocker with a thick cushion sat in the corner, and an antique butter churn used for fermenting … [Read more...]
Roasted Winter Squash Soup with Candied Ginger and Coconut Milk
Years ago, I spent a month in Nepal trekking around Mt. Everest, so for obvious reasons, I was excited to see Everest, the movie. Right off the bat, let me say that I can be a little bit of a ditz. About three weeks ago, I saw a blurb about the movie and thought I read that it opened that day. I promptly signed on to Fandango and bought tickets for Friday night. Jim and I made it to the theatre … [Read more...]
Mediterranean Garbanzo Bean Soup
Yesterday was one of those cool, gray, drizzly days that make you want to stay in and cook a big pot of soup, so I seized the opportunity and did just that. Being married to an Italian, I have to cater regularly to his taste buds, so what better type of soup to prepare than a Mediterranean one? Santa Claus brought me an electric pressure cooker a couple of years ago, and since then I've become … [Read more...]
Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja
Our good friend, Felix, is the first-generation child of Cuban immigrants. His parents left everything behind and fled Cuba in the 1950s during the Cuban revolution. Starting with nothing, they built a successful life in Florida and raised four children. A skillful cook, Felix has had a big influence on my love of Cuban food. I've always enjoyed the cuisine of this Caribbean island, but over … [Read more...]
Chicken Noodle Soup
Spring has arrived in Atlanta! Buds are popping out everywhere and in the next week or so the trees will burst into that vivid green that I love so much. The ornamental cherry trees are like washes of snow and the redbuds contrast the white with the most spectacular purple. Dogwood and azalea blooms are not far behind. Spring is by far my favorite season. I always feel like I'm coming back to … [Read more...]
Shrimp & Corn Chowder
Punxsutawney Phil seems to have gotten it right this year. He saw his shadow on Groundhog Day, and an early spring is nowhere to be seen in my neck of the woods. In Atlanta, February can bring the occasional spring day in the 60s or 70s. Daffodils begin poking their heads through the soil and the forsythia bursts into a wash of yellow. Well, that's not happening this year. We've had nothing but … [Read more...]
Chicken Chole
Years ago, I spent a month in Nepal trekking in the Himalayas around Mt. Everest National Park. After all this time, I still marvel at the staggering beauty of those mountains. The massive Himalayan peaks dwarf the Rockies and make them look like ant hills in comparison. This region, where yaks are the means of transporting goods and cars are nowhere to be seen, can only be reached on … [Read more...]
Creamy White Bean Soup
Our pantry is out of control. Jim, a.k.a., Mr. Organization, gives me a regular food inventory in an effort to head off my food buying tendencies. If I'm shopping and I can't remember whether we have a certain item, I'll buy another one just in case. Those duplicates have spilled out of the pantry and into other areas of the kitchen. I admit that I'm a little obsessed with keeping a "well-stocked" … [Read more...]
White Bean and Chicken Chili
Our local farmers market stocks shelves and shelves of every variety of dried beans you can imagine. I was thinking about soup on Saturday while I was shopping, so I picked up a large container of Great Northerns. Chili with white beans and chicken has been rolling around in my head for months now, and this week I took it off my to-do list and gave it a whirl. I got an electric pressure cooker … [Read more...]
Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Chicken Sausage
Black-eyed peas were a common part of my southern diet while I was growing up in Mississippi. As I've written about food over the last couple of years, I often get curious about foods that I know so well, and I always find it interesting to investigate their history. It's easy to think foods that you've eaten your entire life have been around forever, but that's not always the case. Black-eyed … [Read more...]