In an online article, author Ossiana Tepfenhart explains that there are lots of foods we now consider “fancy” that were once “poor man’s food.” Dishes that fit the bill include lobster, oysters and even caviar. Another dish that she could have included? Ratatouille. The summer stew, native to Nice, France, was once considered a humble …
Continue reading “Want to be a French chef? You can d’ouille’ it!”
Joey and I tied the knot back in 2010, which meant our 10-year anniversary was pretty anticlimactic last summer with COVID in our backyard. No date night out on the town. No restaurant dinner. We still enjoyed one another’s company (I mean, it’s not like we could be apart while quarantined in the same house.), …
Continue reading “Sweet peppers are the stuff of dreams”
When it comes to cooking indoors, Joey and I share the load pretty evenly. We each take on lunch or dinner regularly, with both of us having our specialties. But when it comes to cooking outside, I definitely fall far behind. Joey has really perfected the use of his kamado-style grill, mostly opting to create …
Continue reading “Grilling cheese is more than just o’queso’”
As the extremely proud aunt of a fantastic three-year-old, I have been around for quite a few meals of macaroni and cheese the past several years. I definitely can’t argue with her taste in good food. Joey makes fun of me for ordering mac and cheese regularly, and while my niece’s dish of choice is …
Continue reading “Huge casserole will make you say, ‘Cheese, Louise!’”
While I have always thought of collard greens as something eaten mainly by southerners, an article from the website “What’s Cooking America” notes that even the ancient Greeks and Romans enjoyed the leafy greens. For the U.S., the tradition of cooking collard greens with pork—often using a ham hock to simmer in the broth—came from …
Continue reading “Tasty collards will ‘leaf’ you wanting more”
Until the Chiefs became a part of the post-season, the best part of Super Bowl Sunday for me over the years has been the snack table. From the days when our church youth group would watch the games while playing a football-themed bingo game to ones with friends gathered in our living room, there has …
Continue reading “Dip into something awesome for game day”
Often, I launch this column by telling you a story that ties into whatever the week’s recipe is going to be. This week, however, I wanted to talk ingredients, because if you’re like me, this recipe is going to be a bit of a scavenger hunt through your local grocery store. My sister-in-law makes amazing …
Continue reading “Yummy Puerto Rican food will help you have a ‘rice’ day”
I’ve heard a lot of folks complain over the years that they never know how many spaghetti noodles to cook when making pasta. A friend of mine literally just throws in an entire box every time she makes spaghetti and ends up with leftovers that last forever. That hasn’t been an issue for me, now …
Continue reading “Don’t get cheesed by too many leftovers”
I managed to hit the local grocery store at just the right time a few nights ago to score a couple huge steaks on a great sale. I was pumped about my luck, and I decided to grab a few sweet potatoes for a side dish to go along with them for a killer meal. …
Continue reading “How ‘yam’ I still surprised at this point?”
For the last few years, some dear friends of ours invited us over for “Friendsgiving” at their home around Thanksgiving time. It’s always been a great time to get to know new folks and share in a huge potluck meal. Of course, this year, that meal couldn’t happen, but instead, Joey and I might have …
Continue reading “Candied pecan casserole makes for sweet memories”