Tag Archives: make ahead

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year, and I find my emotions swinging wildly between ecstatic (my sister is coming! With nieces!! Michael’s family will be here! With oyster dressing! And rolls!!) and sad (it’s my first Thanksgiving without my mom). But mom feels like she is constantly with me over the past few days. I canContinue reading “Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad”

Meatballs and Red Gravy

Next week, high school soccer kicks off — which means between high school and junior high, we will spend every night this week shivering in a stadium somewhere watching the boys play — and I love every single minute of it. Seriously! Teaching seniors reminds me yearly how fast these days go by. Plus, itContinue reading “Meatballs and Red Gravy”

Watermelon Salad

I love the Monroe Farmer’s Market. I realize that it’s ridiculously small by big city standards — usually just three stalls. But they stock the most delicious… well, everything. I buy perfect small red potatoes for potato salad and the best cantaloupes and watermelons. My favorite Cherokee Purple tomatoes. Peaches, fresh corn, blueberries, yellow squash…Continue reading “Watermelon Salad”

Spinach Madeline

I don’t love everything about living in the South. August, for instance, is truly terrible. And every time I go over when to use “good” and when to use “well” in my ACT prep class, at least one student says “That just doesn’t sound right!” My standard answer: “You live in northeast Louisiana. You probablyContinue reading “Spinach Madeline”

Cornbread Dressing

Thanksgiving was one of my mom’s favorite holidays. No present-buying stress… just good food and all of her family around us. She hosted every year — her family, my dad’s family, neighbors, friends — everyone was always welcome and we usually had over 20 people there. My Uncle Bill always smoked the turkey and broughtContinue reading “Cornbread Dressing”

Sweet and Spicy Pecans

One of our pandemic adventures was to purchase a new rental property, this one on a lake a little over an hour from where we live. When we were looking, I was focusing on deep water and open floor plans; my husband’s main goal was finding something that required minimal repairs, since it was quiteContinue reading “Sweet and Spicy Pecans”

Bacon Jam and Greens

I did not grow up eating greens. Maybe my mom thought they were too “country” (also in this category of things my mother never cooked — cabbage, pork chops, and anything fried. She would happily enjoy fried catfish or fried chicken… elsewhere.) Or maybe we were just picky kids (I do, distinctly, remember steamed broccoliContinue reading “Bacon Jam and Greens”

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”