Move over, plain sour cream. You've got some competition! Cool and creamy TexMex Ranch Dressing is the salad dressing you didn't know you needed. TexMex Ranch Dressing 1 cup sour cream½ cup full-fat buttermilk2 t. parsley flakes1 t. each dried dill and dried chives½...
Cornbread Croutons
Next time you make cornbread, make a double batch! You’ll want leftovers for cornbread croutons! Cornbread croutons are good on all sorts of salads. They are particularly wonderful on Caesar salads and southwestern-type salads, like our Loaded TexMex Salad. ...
Asian Chicken Thighs
This is one of those quick-prep recipes you toss into the oven, and then don’t have to worry about for a while. Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are very forgiving, and if they cook for 10 or 15 minutes longer than directed, it’s really not a big deal. Also, Asian...
Cucumber and Carrot Salad with Ginger Dressing
Cucumber and Carrot Salad with Ginger Dressing is a staple in our house. It’s one of our go-to salads year-round, and we’re especially fond of having it with all sorts of Asian-American dishes. Princess Persnickety is a sushi fan, and Cucumber and Carrot Salad with...
Basil Chimichurri
A couple of days ago my dear friend AC showed up to Party on the Porch with a particularly thoughtful hostess gift: a gallon bag of gorgeous fresh basil. I used some for garnish on some pasta the next day and I still had a ton left. I certainly didn’t need more...
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
It has come to my attention that I don’t post anywhere near enough recipes for sweets. There are reasons for that. First, I’m not really a baker, and what little baking I do is usually bread-type things rather than dessert-type things. Second, I’m not much of a...
Summer Squash Gratin
I love summer squash, and if you've clicked in here on purpose, I suspect you do, too. I like it sautéed, roasted, breaded and fried. I also REALLY like squash casserole. It's squashy and cheesy with a lovely crunchy cracker crust. I don't make squash casserole...
Fresh Tomato Tart
I was at my parents’ house recently, and my mom was making me take home tomatoes from their garden. (That makes it sound like a bad thing--it’s not.) I guess we were talking about what to do with tomatoes when she announced that a gentleman they know has the best...
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...
Stuffed Figs Wrapped in Bacon
If Leslie Anne Tarabella isn’t your personal friend, I’m so sorry. But chin up! Leslie Anne writes these terrific collections of stories that help the rest of the universe understand the Deep South. She’s a hoot, and very insightful. Is there a word for that? In any...
Balsamic Glaze
I absolutely adore balsamic vinegar. Balsamic vinegar and I met in the 1980s and have been best friends ever since. Balsamic vinaigrette is a staple at my house, and I’m a threat to drizzle it on anything at all. (I’m not kidding, I often have it on tomato cheese...
Baked Shrimp Scampi
As long as we’re cooking quick and easy summer food, you need to know about delicious Baked Shrimp Scampi. (You’ll note that this is also a quick and easy blog post.) This recipe is based on the typical North American version of Shrimp Scampi, specifically the one...