New Year’s Day Dinner Are you planning to dine on black-eyed peas and greens this New Year’s Day? Tradition tells us it will bring good luck and prosperity in the New Year. I cannot speak to the efficacy of this practice, though I admit that when I consider the events […]
Month: December 2013
Black-Eyed Pea Croquettes with Avocado Corn Salsa
After a season of feasting on rich foods and nibbling on elaborate cookies I’m ready to get back to basics. In my kitchen that often begins with the tradition of cooking black-eyed peas and greens to inspire luck in the coming year. The origins of this southern tradition are debatable […]
A Christmas Dinner – 1945
My father-in-law celebrated his 90th birthday in October. The preparation for his party involved looking through a lot of his old memorabilia. That part was a special treat! I find historic detail fascinating and enjoyed getting to know my father-in-law better. At 90 his memory is still sharp. Our digging […]
Easy Pecan Bars
The recipe for these Pecan Bars is easier than most. The crust does not need to be rolled out and no candy thermometer is required. Even better, the addition of lemon zest adds a refreshing note to the rich honey and brown sugar sweetened flavor of this holiday favorite.
Dressing the Perfect Soft-Boiled Egg
We set out on a quest for the Perfect Soft-Boiled Egg, one where the white is firmly set while the yolk is thick, soft and golden. While it may seem silly, as with many simple things, the details matter.
Spicy Molasses Crinkles
I used my small cookie scoop to form the dough for these half-sized ginger cookies, before dropping the balls into a pan of sugar to coat. The result was my idea of perfect Molasses Crinkles: small, fragrant, spicy, a bit crispy on the outside while still soft on the inside. These spicy gems offer a little taste of Christmas in every delicious bite.
Chestnut Roasting
The Christmas Song “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose….” ~ Torme and Wells My knowledge of chestnuts is forever colored by the work of two men: my grandfather and Johnny Mathis. Johnny Mathis provides the atmosphere. When I was small my mother had a […]