Welcome to my new series: Unconventional Cooks! Shout-out to my friend Jaleesa for the name. This series will delve into quirky ingredients (think: bulgur, rutabaga, and sorghum) that aren't found in many recipes anymore. I'll also post recipes using traditional ingredients in non-traditional ways. This first recipe does just that. When you eat a sugar… Continue reading Sugar Snap Pea Salad
Category: vegetable
Pea Salad with Bacon, Dill and Shallot
It's salad season! Celebrate with this classic pea salad. Bring out the pasta, potato, and fruit salads. I can't wait to eat salad for the next six months. There's nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than a burger with a side of potato salad. A lesser-known but still wonderfully refreshing side salad is… Continue reading Pea Salad with Bacon, Dill and Shallot
Mexican Bean Salad
There are bean salads out there, then there's this Mexican Bean Salad. The only similarities this recipe has with a basic bean salad is that it's served cold and contains a variety of different beans. Otherwise, this is a fairly unique dish. Everything else about this bean salad is different. It's almost like a mix… Continue reading Mexican Bean Salad
Roasted Carrots with Walnuts and Goat Cheese
I hereby declare a food Commandment: vegetables taste better roasted. I have never found a vegetable that didn't taste better once roasted. Roasting, especially when you get a little char on the outside, brings out all the best flavors of a vegetable. Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower all get this intense, deep flavor once roasted.… Continue reading Roasted Carrots with Walnuts and Goat Cheese
Pork-Free Red Beans and Rice
I have a friend who doesn't eat pork but makes some of the best soul food I've ever had. Instead of using ham hocks or bacon in her greens and beans, she uses smoked turkey wings or legs. I started doing this as well and was amazed at the flavor. You get all of the… Continue reading Pork-Free Red Beans and Rice
Classic Creamed Spinach
There are some old school, mid-century recipes out there that just do not look appealing to me. Anything jello is one of them. Jello salads look putrid to me. I also used to hate carrot salads, pea salad, and creamed spinach. All of those recipes have fallen out of favor over the last few decades.… Continue reading Classic Creamed Spinach
Zucchini, Yellow Squash & Corn Casserole
The corn is poppin' in Oklahoma right now. Corn harvest typically starts the first week of July, and there are some big-time sweet corn farmers here in the state. Some of the best corn can be found in Webbers Falls and McLoud. I was lucky enough to get my hands on both. The corn is… Continue reading Zucchini, Yellow Squash & Corn Casserole
Mustard Green Pesto
My garden is booming right now. May and June are some of the busiest months when it comes to my outdoor plants. My moon flowers are taking over the back flower gardens. My knockout rose bushes are blooming in record numbers. And my little vegetable garden continues to produce. I've found that I'm really good… Continue reading Mustard Green Pesto
Mustard Greens with Smoked Turkey
Goodness, I love a little garden. I started a small vegetable garden last year that ended with mixed results. For instance, all six of my zucchini plants succumbed to squash bugs last year. I just couldn't keep up with those absolutely vile creatures. But, all of my chard plants produced a bunch of foliage throughout… Continue reading Mustard Greens with Smoked Turkey
Cheddar Bacon Ranch Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad has been around for a while. It really rose to prominence in the midwest and south around the 60's and 70's. For people wanting a "healthier" barbecue side dish, broccoli salad was the best bet. Your aunt or mom probably makes a variation of broccoli salad that includes dried cranberries, raisins, and/or sunflower… Continue reading Cheddar Bacon Ranch Broccoli Salad