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....
Quick and Easy
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...
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...
The Lazy Chef’s (Almost) Homemade Pizza
A week or two ago I was supposed to be working. Football was on and it wasn’t going especially well. I was listening to the game, scrolling Facebook, and mostly goofing off, when I saw my friend Staci had posted a photo that looked like this: That's an oldfangled...
French Onion Chicken
Although French Onion Chicken is delicious and has the best sauce/gravy known to man or beast, it isn't very photogenic. Beige and brown foods are notoriously difficult to photograph. But don't let the homeliness fool you. This recipe is swoon-worthy,...
TexMex Ranch Dressing
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. It's a must on Loaded TexMex Salad! TexMex Ranch Dressing 1 cup sour cream½ cup full-fat buttermilk2 t. parsley flakes1...
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...
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...













