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...
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,...
Marinated Steak Salad
Marinated Steak Salad is one of my favorite things to eat with my fingers, straight out of the refrigerator, standing in the kitchen, sometimes with the refrigerator door open. (Can somebody please get my Dad some smelling salts? After all, we don’t own the power...
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....
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,...
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...
Sweet Potato Muffins
I love making these muffins whenever I have leftover sweet potatoes of any kind. Virtually any sort of sweet potatoes will work. I’ve used spicy mashed sweet potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, even Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole. If the sweet potatoes you’re using...