Talking with the White House’s former executive pastry chef Roland Mesnier was among the most exhilarating interviews I have had in a long time. I felt like I was chatting with an old friend, even though I had never met him. Having served five administrations and handled everything from small teas to state dinners for 800, his road to the …
Cantaloupe & Ice Cream — An Easy Summer Treat
When I was a child we would take summer trips to my grandparents’ farm. They always had glorious vegetable and fruit gardens, and one of my favorite things was the fresh cantaloupe. Back then, in the golden days, cantaloupe was seasonal and not available year-round as it is today. So the summer harvest of melons was a great time for …
How to Make Scones with Clotted Cream
I love having afternoon tea, especially when a wonderful scone is served as an added bonus. Making scones and a mock Devonshire or clotted cream is really fun. These simple steps will show you how you can create your own delicacies right in your own kitchen. Enjoy, and be creative as you serve delicious tea delights. A Scones Classic Recipe …
An Easy Deviled Egg Recipe for Easter
Whether you call them deviled or stuffed, they’re one of the South’s quintessential dishes, particularly for springtime gatherings. The best thing about a deviled egg is its versatility. The humble egg is just a vessel for so much more. To Southerners, deviled eggs are the ultimate comfort food. We eat them in al fresco picnic lunches with the family or take …
An Easy Recipe for Pi Day
3.1415 is the numerical value of pi. March 14 this year, 3.14.15, is as close to pi as possible for a mathematic celebration. But on pi day at our house, we will be celebrating by having a “pie” day. One of my favorite pie recipes is one that Barbara Cockerham serves. It is an apple pie made by a recipe …
Get Creative With Potato Soup
The most requested dish at my house during these cold winter days is Potato Soup. My mother used to make it for me when I was sick and missing school. In fact, it was almost worth being sick to get a hot, steamy bowl as a treat. Everyone has their version of this soup, and it can be made in …
Chicken Pot Pie Mac and Cheese Recipe
Cold weather makes me crave comfort food. And after the recent cold snap in Birmingham, I’m ready to whip up something hot, golden, and bubbly. The Extra-Cheesy Mac and Cheese Recipe I posted a few weeks ago was such a hit, I thought I’d share another from Taste of the South‘s Southern Classic Mac & Cheese special issue. This one combines …
Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Quiche
“Real men don’t eat quiche.” I am sure you have heard that many times, but the truth is that real men in my life love quiche, especially my grandson Hays. We have a favorite café that has become our family’s gathering spot when we have good news to tell. Katie announced both the forthcoming grandchildren there, and we go there …
Extra-Cheesy Macaroni and Cheese
I wish I could recall the number of boxes of macaroni and cheese that I purchased as Eric and Brian grew up. It was the blue box with powdered cheese—you know. And they ate it like it was filet mignon and requested it every day. It was comfort food then, and it is still comfort food. I decided that since …
Miss Ginny’s English Toffee
Right after Thanksgiving is over and we begin the holiday season, our thoughts turn to gifts that will be enjoyed by the recipients on our lists. And when I run across something that turns my head, I have to share it with you. Miss Ginny’s English Toffee from Chattanooga, Tennessee, is my new find. I met Ginny at a local …