My dad knocked on the back door a few days ago and handed me a bag of seven or eight cucumbers from my parents’ garden. I cut some up for Princess Persnickety to take with lunch, I made a batch of Tzatziki Sauce, and then I threw together a batch of Refrigerator...
Quick and Easy
Antipasto Salad
Antipasto. The literal translation from Italian is “before the meal.” In Italy antipasto can be any number of things served at the table before the main dishes: cheeses, meats, olives, artichokes, marinated vegetables, fried or grilled vegetables, bruschetta,...
Spicy Shrimp and Pineapple
I’ve heard the cuisine popular along the southernmost coast of the Gulf called “Mexi-ribbean”. That term works for me, and it’s perfect for Spicy Shrimp and Pineapple. This is a fantastic dinner recipe that you can have on the table in 25 minutes including cooking...
Mini Kentucky Hot Browns
A few years back, I had a sweet friend call to say she needed a favor. Dot was in her 80s, smart as a whip, funny as could be, and I loved chatting with her. Dot was from Hattiesburg. She had moved here in the late 1990s I think, and we knew a lot of the same...
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Yesterday I did a small water bath canning class at my house. We had a good time and everyone went home with a jar of strawberry preserves. Of course I’d bought more fruit than I needed because just in case and you never know. (Old catering habits die hard.) So...
Apricot Pork Chops
These delightfully tangy Apricot Pork Chops are simple enough and quick enough to become your new weeknight favorite. The sauce ingredients are all pantry staples, with the possible exception of apricot preserves. If you don’t have apricot preserves, pick up a jar...
Lemon and Honey Mustard Sheet Pan Salmon with Vegetables
Good news! I’ve given up long-winded blog posts for Lent. Hahahahaha! I’m kidding, of course. Lent or not, we all need a goodly number of easy and delicious seafood recipes, and I have a few words to say about that. Let’s dive right in, shall we?...
Pasta al Limone
For those days when you just can’t even think anymore, the answer to dinner is Pasta al Limone. Pasta al Limone translates to Lemon-Scented Pasta. It hails from the Naples/Amalfi Coast area of Italy, where they grow the finest lemons in the world. It’s...
L.A. Caviar
L.A. (Lower Alabama) Caviar is a regional treat I’ve probably made a thousand times. It’s simple to toss together. It’s inexpensive to make. You probably have everything you need to make it in your kitchen right now. And all those are good things because L.A....
Make-Ahead Marinated Shrimp
When I planned this post, I tried to remember when I first made this recipe. It was one of the first keeper party recipes I found. Working backwards, my best guess is a party when the Princess OG was in nursery school. Let’s just say that’s been a minute. What I...
Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls
When I told my friend Jamie I was going to test out a pimento cheese version of sausage balls, here’s what she said: “Holy s%$#! OMG! Yes, please!” (We’re pretty enthusiastic about sausage balls around here.) This recipe is exactly what it sounds like. I...
Weeknight Chicken Carnitas
If you’ve ever had Mexican carnitas you already know they’re delicious. The name “carnitas” means “little meats”. Traditionally, carnitas are made by slowly braising a pork shoulder in lard or a highly seasoned broth, then shredding the meat, and frying it in its own...













