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
I love to cook. I enjoy chopping what needs to be chopped with my favorite knife. I delight in putting all my ingredients into little bowls so they are ready when I'm ready for them. And I like to pour a glass of wine to sip while I stir. But sometimes I just want to … Continue reading Dinner at My House: Weeknight Fancy Chicken and Rice
My neighbor makes cheese straws for Christmas each year, and they always take me right back to my childhood. Cameron's classic Southern recipe--crisp-crunchy, mouthwateringly savory and just spicy enough--calls for a cookie press and a star tip and some real skill. The result is perfect, wavy strips pretty enough for gift-giving and so good I … Continue reading Everyday Cheese Straws (that are not straws)
So far this flu season I've braved three buffet dinners, two track meets and one gala, armed with I don't know how many little bottles of hand sanitizer and the new habit of eating finger foods with my left hand. I also happen to have a not-so-secret weapon: Medicine Soup. Think chicken soup ... and … Continue reading Dinner at My House: Medicine Soup
Few foods draw as many different opinions as chili. Maybe pizza might with its toppings and crust and sauce back and forth. But maybe not. With chili, you can do chicken, turkey, pork, beef or a combination of those. You can go with ground meats or nice, bite-size, browned morsels. You can skip the meat … Continue reading Dinner at My House: Chili Your Way
I am no baker. My grandmother, one of the most intuitive and clever cooks I've known, was no baker. She did make great biscuits, but those were biscuits. That's different. In fact, whenever Grandmother needed a cake made, she would call Aunt Mayretta and have her do it. Aunt Mayretta was known for her cakes, … Continue reading Pound Cake: It’s Good Enough, and It Tastes Great
savor 