Do you ever wonder how humans came to ingest certain foods? Who first thought about eating an egg? Who came up with the idea that spoiled milk in the form of yogurt was a good idea? Why would someone risk their life to eat a fungus that could potentially kill them? How did they figure out which ones were safe to eat and which ones were lethal? I'm not sure who figured out the mushroom thing, but … [Read more...]
Roasted Acorn Squash and Brussels Sprouts Salad
When we remodeled our house four years ago, I dedicated a large kitchen cabinet for cookbooks. At the time, my collection all but filled the space. Over the last few years, my obsession with buying cookbooks and food magazines has the cabinet bulging at the seams. Many of the books get a quick look and become lost in the collection. Others keep my attention and end up with dog-eared pages and … [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...]
Kale-Sweet Potato Salad with Cornbread Croutons and Crispy Shallots
I usually associate salads with summer and warm weather. After all, a salad can be very cooling on a hot, sweltering Atlanta day, and there have been plenty of those days this year. We're finally getting a break from 90+ degree days with mornings in the high 50s and highs of low 80s. Those crystal clear days with low humidity always signal the start of fall. I eat salads all year round, and as … [Read more...]
Creamy Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
Have you ever read the labels on popular store-bought salad dressings? I always look at ingredients in the products that I buy, and I find it a little scary to read the long list of unnatural ingredients I see on salad dressing labels. I always go for brands that only include all natural ingredients, but those dressings are usually pretty pricey. Today, I'm making the case for preparing your … [Read more...]
Pumpkin Biscuit Cinnamon Rolls
I may be jumping the gun a bit with this post. I know fall hasn't officially arrived yet, but I'm ready for some fall flavors. It's always interesting to observe how my cravings follow the change of seasons. During warm weather seasons, I'm drawn to lighter fare, like salads, veggies, chicken, and fish. Cooler weather finds me craving soups, stews, and casseroles. … [Read more...]
Pizza Margherita
The end of summer is closing in, and I'm desperately trying to ingest as many local, organic tomatoes as I possibly can. I eat tomatoes all year round, but supermarket tomatoes pale in comparison to the ones I get at my neighborhood farmer's market. One of the farmers grows at least seven or eight varieties, and he can tell you details about the flavor profile of each one and offer the perfect use … [Read more...]
Grilled Corn with Chipotle Lime Butter and Cotija
When I was a kid, I loved watching plants grow. I always enjoyed going to my grandparents' garden and seeing all the vegetables maturing. I was fascinated by a germinating seed that ultimately produced food I would eat. One summer I wanted to take ownership of a plant that I could nurse to maturity, so my grandmother helped me plant a corn kernel in her back yard. Over the next … [Read more...]
Blueberry Lemon Buttermilk Sorbet
The Deep South heatwave has hit! We've been in the mid- to upper-90s for a couple of weeks now. I spend my days at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doing technology consulting. This health-promoting agency practices what it preaches and encourages healthy lifestyles for its employees. I'm fortunate in that I can take a couple of 15-minute walks during the day. It's amazing how much … [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...]