Tag Archives: Food

Chilled Cucumber and Dill Soup

Posted on May 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

It’s official.  I’m in summer-mode when it comes to the kitchen.  The thought of turning on my oven makes me pull back in disgust.  Heat?  In this heat?  Not a chance.

Surprisingly I found relief from the heat in this chilled cucumber and dill soup.  I tend to struggle with cold soup.  Gazpacho, with its chunks of vegetables, I’m ok with, but when it comes to pureed soups I sometimes feel like I’m eating spoonfuls of flavored milk or yogurt.  After a bowl of the stuff, I typically find myself agreeing with lactose expert Ron Burgundy.

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Grilled Vegetable Pizza with Basil Pesto

Posted on May 21, 2012 | 2 Comments

We rarely go out to eat, but when we do we’re picky.   In my opinion, the number one reason to go out to eat is to order something that you can’t do as well at home.   Pizza was my favorite example.  I don’t have a wood fired oven, pizza peels drive me crazy (my pizza dough always seems to stick while I’m trying to get it on the pizza stone), and my crust never gets as crisp as I would like it.  Pizza at home is just not as good.  Or it wasn’t.

I’ve experimented over the past couple of months.  I’ve let dough rise overnight, for several hours, and for no time at all.  I’ve messed with the heat and cooked pizzas at 450 degrees, 550 degrees, and finally just under the broiler.   I’ve grilled pizzas on the grill and baked them on a stone.   I’ve preheated that stone from 30 minutes to more than 1 hour.  In short, I’ve made and eaten a lot of pizza and I think I’ve found one I like.  I’ve included the recipe at the end of this post, but to truly get praiseworthy results read on for some tips to making a great pie in your home.

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S’more Cupcakes

Posted on May 16, 2012 | 1 Comment

I’ve never understood the desire to slow-roast marshmallows.  Those people who turn their marshmallows methodically at a safe distance from the flames are enigmas to me.  Where is the urgency?  While you dally near danger in the hopes of getting a perfect toast, I’ve eaten four s’mores.

Marshmallows are meant to be plunged into the heart of a fire.  They should burst into flames immediately and when flaming, instead of cries of dismay, one should proudly hold them aloft and only blow them out when one’s fiery mallow is in imminent peril of falling off the stick.   Although, for the record, any kid who has experienced summer and the glories of a marshmallow roast will tell you that the marshmallow lost to the flames is still awesome and one marshmallow should probably be sacrificed for this purpose anyway.  Kinda of like pouring out a little of your beer for your homies, it’s good karma.

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Farro Salad with Bell Peppers and Olives

Posted on May 8, 2012 | 3 Comments

Tis the season for outdoor entertaining and with it that dreaded request to “please bring a side dish.”  Maybe it’s just me, but I find being a guest in the winter is far easier than being a guest in the summer.  In the winter, a bouquet of flowers or a bottle of wine, makes any host happy.  In the summer, when I’d rather be reading a book in the hammock, it seems that hosts have the same idea and consequently, ask guests to get a little more involved.

I share this observation not to get myself scratched off from every guest list this summer (although after reading my first paragraph, I’m starting to get a little nervous), but instead to advise you to start thinking about a recipe or two that will be your go-to side dish over the next couple of months.

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Fried Coconut Shrimp with Sweet and Spicy Dipping Sauce

Posted on March 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

As promised, my thoughts have turned to spring this week.   I’m particularly excited for outdoor entertaining.  Now, before the heat and bugs of summer, is the perfect time to roll out the grill and invite some friends over for dinner under the stars.

This recipe for fried coconut shrimp with sweet and spicy dipping sauce is an ideal first bite for such an evening.  Our gas grill has a side burner on it that is great for warming sauces.  It’s also my preferred place to fry as oil splattering around our back patio does not cause the same dismay as it does in our house.

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Arepas de Queso

Posted on March 13, 2012 | 7 Comments

Raised on “Georgia ice cream,” I’d say I know a thing or two about grits.  For those who hail from other parts of the country or the world, grits are a porridge-like food made of ground cornmeal that is a staple on Southern tables.  They can be served for breakfast with chipped beef or red-eye gravy, cooked with cheese to make a savory side, or even topped with sautéed shrimp and sausage to make the Charleston favorite shrimp and grits.

While creamy, buttery grits are delicious, they certainly don’t fall into the eat-on-the-go category of foods.  Requiring a spoon to eat, grits are more suited to a  sit down meal and they certainly wouldn’t be your first choice for something to eat as you run out the door.  Or at least that’s what I thought…

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Sweet Potato Biscuits with Country Ham and Honey Mustard

Posted on February 27, 2012 | 3 Comments

Flaky, tender and buttery, biscuits with a bit of country ham make a filling breakfast and a tasty appetizer. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Southern delicacy known as country ham, please let me educate you.  Country ham is dry cured for several days, before being smoked and then aged for up to a year.   While country ham is easy to come by and relatively inexpensive in most Southern supermarkets,  several artisanal producers have taken the stuff I grew up on to the next level.

While my favorite way to eat country ham is with a little red-eye gray, this recipe doesn’t disappoint.  The sweetness of the sweet potato biscuit and honey mustard paired with the salty country ham is a pleasure that’s worth the effort.    For those of you that have read enough to know this is something you must make, please jump ahead to the recipe.  For those souls aspiring to biscuit greatness, please read on.  For my visual learners, click here.  Everyone happy?

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Baked Egg with Spinach, Mushrooms, and Leek

Posted on February 21, 2012 | 6 Comments

Cooking for one is a funny thing.  I love the idea of making a delicious dinner just for me.  It seems wonderfully indulgent.  Yet every time the opportunity arises, I lose motivation.  Thoughts of ingredients that need to be prepped, dirty pans, and the final clean-up leave me feeling exhausted.  As if on cue, I’m mysteriously pulled to the pantry where cereal is lurking and before I realize it, I’m seated on the couch eating breakfast.

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Poached Pear Tart with Mascarpone

Posted on February 1, 2012 | 1 Comment

I ♥ pastry dough. Yes, it’s a little intimidating at first, but once you master the basics it will become one of the most versatile things in your culinary repertoire. Butter, flour, salt, and ice-cold water are all you need to make an irresistible flaky crust for sweet and savory dishes.

Inspiration for this tart came from my one of my favorite summer desserts: berry tart with mascarpone filling. I wanted to make a cold weather version that could (a) satisfy a mean craving for mascarpone (a sweet Italian cheese that is similar to cream cheese) and (b) satisfy an even greater craving for pastry dough. Have I mentioned that I adore the stuff?

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Bouillabaisse

Posted on January 27, 2012 | Leave a comment

I made this classic French stew back in December. My parents and grandmother were coming into town and I wanted to make a special dinner to celebrate the occasion. I also had to work the day that they were coming for dinner and as such, didn’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.

Bouillabaisse fit the bill. I spent a little over an hour on the fish stock and broth the day before and on Saturday night, while everyone sipped cocktails, chunks of fish, jumbo scallops, tiny clams, juicy shrimp, and lobster went into the pot to cook. A memorable and delicious dinner was ready in minutes.

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