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”

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”

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

For various reasons, my boys are out of the house a lot during lunch time this summer. When they are at work or camps, I find myself doing solo lunch instead of feeding the crowd. I keep a big bowl of this in the fridge and scoop it out for one of my favorite summerContinue reading “Cucumber and Tomato 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”

Penne a la Vodka

Today, our yearbook sponsor photographed the class favorites. This day always makes me smile because there is so much overlap between the categories. Most atheletic is also a valedictorian. Most school spirit has awesome style and is also brilliant. And so many of my students not there today show so many of these traits, tooContinue reading “Penne a la Vodka”

Hot Cheese Puffs

Happy Friday, y’all! It has been a week! I’m still in the midst of grading my last big set of papers for my seniors. I’ve been grading 8-10 hours a day, without seeing students except on Zoom, and I’m tired. But, it is Friday! And these little hot cheese puffs are the perfect accompaniment toContinue reading “Hot Cheese Puffs”