Shrimp and Grits

One of my best friends got me The Southerner’s Cookbook for Christmas. Produced by the editors of Garden and Gun magazine, the book is pretty enough for my coffee table… and it features essays by some of my favorite Southern food writers. I’ve had fun trying out some of the recipes, and will try toContinue reading “Shrimp and Grits”

Pumpkin Cheesecake

*Recipe updated with better pictures and streamlined instructions* (Also, the primary helper has switched from the oldest to the youngest!) The first time I made this cheesecake it was for an LSU game… and it was also the day I bought my first LSU shirt.  I’ve always liked the Tigers — it’s part of livingContinue reading “Pumpkin Cheesecake”

Banana Pancakes

June 24 My oldest returned from a week at Boy Scout Camp this weekend.  When I asked him what he missed, he answered “my cat” first, and “you,” second… but I suspect that really he meant, “I missed your food.”  His request for his first morning back with air-conditioning and electricity? Banana Pancakes. Of course,Continue reading “Banana Pancakes”

Bacon-Wrapped Duck Breasts

June 24 If the pick-up truck parked in your driveway has ever looked like this, then you probably already have some variation of this recipe, but just in case… I was first introduced to this appetizer over a decade ago by my husband’s then-roommate, John, who was, and is, a consummate duck hunter. But mostContinue reading “Bacon-Wrapped Duck Breasts”

Peanut Butter Cookies

June 25 My husband loves peanut butter cookies.  It’s always seemed an odd “favorite cookie” choice to me, what with all the chocolate in the world.  I used to think it had something to do with the fact that when we were newly-weds, my then-teenager brother was notorious for stopping by and devouring (as only teenage boysContinue reading “Peanut Butter Cookies”

Black Bean Corn Salsa

July 2 The Fourth of July is my favorite “eating” holiday.  Even better than Thanksgiving or Christmas — at least when it is not too hot.  All my favorite things are in season.  We start the morning off with a bike parade in Triangle Park, and then, for the past fifteen years, give or take, we’veContinue reading “Black Bean Corn Salsa”

Brownies Without The Box

July 16 For someone who has always shied away from box cakes (I can make my mom’s faster than I can go buy the box), I’ve always been deathly afraid to make brownies without a box. I was scarred (not physically, thank goodness) very early in life by brownies.  One afternoon I was babysitting my younger sistersContinue reading “Brownies Without The Box”

Smoky Eggplant Dip (“Moutabbal”)

July 16 We have apparently reached the age of the insanely busy summer.  I seem to spend my life in the car, shuttling boys from Vacation Bible School, to tennis lessons, and then to baseball camp — and my kids don’t even do travel ball!  Or even more strangely, I find myself alone for whole chunksContinue reading “Smoky Eggplant Dip (“Moutabbal”)”