I’m on week 3 of working 7 days in a row, so I’ll be quick. Luckily, Lemon Chicken Pasta is the perfect thing for this situation, plus it’s really good. Welcome to your new family favorite! This is one of those one-pot pasta recipes. You don’t cook the noodles before...
Family Friendly
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...
Strawberry Salsa
You know it’s spring when the farmer’s markets and local grocery stores start putting out big, fat, beautiful strawberries. I picked some up the other day, and found that they were a little tart for my taste. Luckily, I have a quick and easy remedy for that:...
Orange Ground Chicken
I’m on a mission to use up everything in my chest freezer. For one thing, it sorely needs to be organized. I’m a nicer person when things are organized. For another thing, I’m the kind of weirdo that keeps an inventory posted on the front of my freezer so I know what...
The Very Best Braised Pork Chops
Truth be told, my mom’s Braised Pork Chops are the best I’ve ever had. I’ve had fried pork chops with gravy. I’ve had pork chops stuffed with things like pancetta and sage, or andouille sausage dressing. I’ve even had fancy pork chops in a fancy restaurant that cost...
Chicken and Dumplings
You’ll see some Chicken and Dumplings topped with dropped dumplings that are steamed on top of a brothy chicken and vegetable base. Others have kneaded dough dumplings that have been rolled out and cut, then simmered in a flavorful broth with chicken and vegetables....
Jambalaya Fried Rice
Please don’t call, email, text, tweet, or message me to say this recipe is straight-up heresy. I already know. My very favorite jambalaya comes from the cookbook La Bouche Creole by Leon Soniat. Mr. Soniat was an old-school Louisiana chef, and he wrote a food column...
Cauliflower au Gratin
I’ve been told that Cauliflower au Gratin is a southern thing. Does anybody know if that’s true? Can somebody from the Midwest or someplace like that weigh in here? Did y’all have Cauliflower au Gratin growing up? (EDIT: An English friend says they have it in England,...
Creole Chicken Fettuccine
This is exactly the sort of dinner I like whenever my week and To Do list are nuts. It’s a tried and true recipe, widely accepted and acceptable, and it doesn’t trash the kitchen. It's the holiday season as I write this--y'all know the fun doesn't let up until Lent...
Black Eyed Pea and Cabbage Soup (AKA, New Year’s Soup)
This recipe is going into my upcoming soup cookbook, but y’all need it now. New Year’s Day is just around the corner, and I bet none of us can afford to miss out on either money or luck. Black Eyed Pea and Cabbage Soup is a delightful way to cover your (ahem) bases....
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas with Lime Crema
I’m a child of the South--Baldwin County, Alabama, to be exact--and as such, I’m a big fan of sweet potatoes. We grow them here. Well, not me personally, but the sweet potato growers grow them. In the fall you’ll see big, happy, beautiful, piles of them in local...
Italian Meatballs
Every once in a while, I head over to my all-time favorite pizza place--The Ravenite Pizzeria, though we usually just call it Ravenite--and I don’t order a pizza. Instead I get an order of meatballs and a Greek salad. It makes a great dinner! The hand-rolled Italian...