I love Thanksgiving. I dread Thanksgiving. There’s so much expectation with this holiday. I love going around the table and saying what we're thankful for, but before that happens, I get stuck on the food and family and the perfection of those things. Of course, I know nothing is perfect. But still. And I really, … Continue reading On Being Thankful
Carey Thommason of Dinner. in Crestline Village did the chef demo today at The Market at Pepper Place. Carey made Lady Pea Hummus, which I missed tasting because I was sweating next door at Ignite Cycle. However, I know Carey's food is great, and I couldn't resist making a batch for my family's Sunday dinner. I … Continue reading Lady Pea Hummus by Dinner.
I was at the farmers' market at Pepper Place on Saturday, wanting tomatoes and peaches and hesitating about buying anything with all the leftovers still in my fridge from our 4th of July family dinner. Then Ana Kelly, owner of Dayspring Dairy suggested quesadillas made with our leftover Full Moon Bar-B-Que pulled chicken and sliced … Continue reading (Leftover) Barbecue and Sheep Milk Fresca Quesadillas
I had the absolute honor of helping out with Alabama NewsCenter's awesome coverage of food-related stories to celebrate Black History Month and the contributions of African-American cooks and chefs to our state's rich food scene (current and past). One of my favorite pieces was about Juliette Flenoury, a name we all should know. My editor … Continue reading Celebrating an Unsung Hero of Birmingham’s Food Scene
I've looked forward all week to an afternoon of cooking. It's cold and gray outside, and I wanted to make something warm and comforting. A from-scratch stew--rich and deeply savory--is about as comforting as it gets. This recipe from the New York Times Cooking website is an exercise in the meditative process of quality time spent … Continue reading Sunday Dinner: Dijon and Cognac Beef Stew
The holidays are hectic for everyone, but entertaining doesn't really have to be hard. Here are some quick and tasty appetizers that are truly super-easy—--especially when you start with already-prepared ingredients. I made all these recipes for a Portico Mountain Brook story. It's in the Winter issue, which is out now, and you can access … Continue reading Easy Apps
I read the New York Times Cooking story last week about America's love affair with ranch dressing and immediately started craving Mississippi Roast. This Pinterest favorite dish is traditionally made in a slow cooker with chuck roast, pepperoncini peppers and a package of ranch dressing. The Times recipe by Sam Sifton calls for making your own ranch dressing, … Continue reading One Mississippi … Roast
St. George Island never disappoints. Even on a cloudy day, and those have been few, it's my favorite place to be. Life is here simple: hours and hours of reading books on the beach under a huge umbrella. We listen to Oyster Radio (100.5 WOYS) and don't turn on the television. I've had oyster dates with … Continue reading Summer Edit Part 2: More Food and Drink and Life
Sugar cookies + artists = some delicious awesomeness. On a recent rainy afternoon, my daughters and I made geode and agate cookies, and we had an absolute blast. We used a simple sugar cookie recipe from PureWow (I'll include it below), Alton Brown's royal icing (recipe below), some clear rock candy (which I bought at … Continue reading Edible Art: Geode and Agate Cookies
When my family requests something specific for dinner, I almost always comply. Cooking for my husband and kids is one of my favorite ways of showing how much I love them. Sometimes, though, the requests are bigger than other times. Melissa Clark's Black Bean Chorizo Casserole with Pickled Onions is a big ask. This recipe, … Continue reading Dinner at My House: Black Bean Chorizo Casserole with Pickled Onions
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