It happened again. I went to my neighborhood grocery yesterday for milk, coffee, and anything else we might need for the next three days. (It’s Coldmageddon 2026 on the Gulf Coast as I write this.) I had to walk past the meat case on my way to the checkout. And...
Amazing Swiss Steak
This braised Swiss Steak smothered in its savory onion and tomato gravy is a cool weather favorite at my house. It’s familiar, comforting, and the flavorful beef is wonderfully tender. I always serve it with some sort of starchy vehicle to transport every last bit...
Chicken Souvlaki
Yum--Chicken Souvlaki. I make it frequently in the summer. If you’re not familiar with it, souvlaki is Greek street food. I first tasted it in college at an international food fair. When I had my own kitchen, I checked a Greek cookbook out of the library and...
Herb Roasted Pork
When I was a teenager, my mom made a delicious pork roast that I loved. I only recall her making a few times, and I also remember coming home from school to the tantalizing aroma of that pork roast cooking. I’ve pestered my mother about it for years, but she swears...
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....
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...
Ultimate Nachos Casserole
Y’all know how we are about TexMex food around here. We LOVE it. We love it so much that we keep lots of TexMex ingredients around at all times. We love it so much that we need lots of easy recipes to use all that stuff up. We love it so much that at my house TexMex...
Creole Pot Roast with Tomato and Onion Gravy
Not all Creole food is spicy hot, but you can count on it to be well-seasoned and full of flavor, and this insanely easy pot roast is no exception. Laced with Italian seasoning, marjoram, and a hint of ground cloves, I promise you’ll wonder where this pot roast has...
Boiled Peanuts
I adore boiled peanuts. They’re salty, spicy, delicious, and a bit of a litmus test. You say you don't like them? Then you must not be from around here. I can accept that boiled peanuts aren't a universal favorite, I guess, but why are some people so dismissive...
Balsamic Onion Burgers
Growing up we had a terrific restaurant in town called The Saratoga Trunk. They had pastas, salads, steaks, and some seafood, but in my mind the real standouts were the burgers. The menu itself wasn’t huge, and I don’t know how many burgers were on the menu, but it...
Drip Beef, Plus a Quick and Easy Ragù
Drip beef, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love the way I can fling a measly few ingredients into the slow cooker and then wander off, oblivious. I love the way you cook yourself--with absolutely no help from me--for hours and hours on end. I love the way...
Birthday Brunch Potatoes
It’s January, and even though I don’t make New Year’s resolutions I’ve been eating lighter overall. A boiled egg is breakfast most days, cottage cheese or salad is fine for lunch, fruit or a handful of pecans makes an easy snack. We’ve even had light dinners most...













