I was reading an article recently about foods that have gone out of fashion. Savory Jell-O salads, liver and onions, tv dinners, spray cheese, olive loaf--I can happily wave goodbye to all of these. But some of the things on the list were just silly. Who are...
Deviled Eggs
I'm not going to play coy: I make awesome deviled eggs. I don’t make the kind with smoked salmon or caviar on top. I don’t make the kind with butter in the filling. I don’t make deviled eggs that involve bacon, shrimp, or Sriracha, ever. I make old-fashioned...
Buffalo Wings
I expect we’ve all heard the origin story of the Buffalo wing by now. You know, the one where Buffalo wings were invented by Teressa Bellissimo at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York? Several versions of that story circulate, pinning the inception to either 1964 or...
Mushrooms Bienville
Several years ago it seemed I was making stuffed mushrooms every time I turned around. Nearly every party I catered had somebody asking for them. I made sausage and cream cheese stuffed mushrooms, French onion stuffed mushrooms, crab stuffed mushrooms, bacon and...
Sweet Potato Hummus
I haven’t made Sweet Potato Hummus in a while, and I made it last weekend for a party. It’s one of those things I forget about, and then when I do make it I think, “Why am I not making this all the time?!?” There’s nothing authentic about it, and I don’t care. ...
Bloody Mary Shrimp
I know y’all like detailed history lessons and such, but I’m busy this week and you’re just going to have to make do with the condensed version. Here it is: bloody marys have been around since the 1920s; they were probably invented by Fernand Petiot at Harry’s Bar in...
Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches with Orange Mustard
A while back I was in a mixed-age group of local cooks and we were talking about food. I know that’s difficult to imagine, but I swear it’s true. Anyway, the subject of party food came up. Every single one of us agreed that our favorite culinary genre was Southern...
Ham and Swiss Party Sandwiches
Dorothy Parker famously observed, “Eternity is a ham and two people.” As much as I admire Dorothy Parker and her wit, that’s nonsense. I--and I know I’m not the only one--love having ham leftovers, and they’re certainly not a burden as long as you plan ahead just a...
Roasted Cocktail Shrimp
I’m sure we all know the easy way to cook a pile of raw shrimp. First you fill a big pot with water, salt, and crab boil and throw in a cut up lemon or two. Bring that to a boil and add a whole bunch of shrimp. Put a big colander in the sink. Watch the shrimp like a...
Marinated Cheese
Of course you’ll need to take an easy, affordable, and festive hors d'oeuvre someplace this holiday season. I’ve got a really, really good one for you. I’ll be quick. I know you’re busy, and so am I. I first stumbled upon this Marinated Cheese recipe in a magazine,...
Chili for a Crowd (plus Indoor Hotdogs)
***HALLOWEEN EDITION*** Chili for a Crowd is an easy but delicious classic ground beef and bean chili. It’s pleasantly lively but not too spicy, so it works well for all ages. Chili for a Crowd regularly accompanies important football games and Christmas parade...
Homemade Guacamole
Homemade Guacamole is a thousand times better than the store-bought kind. And it’s easy. And fast. And super good for you! Fair warning: My Homemade Guacamole is mainly unadulterated avocado, lightly seasoned, doused with lime juice, and left a little chunky....