It took me 30 minutes to break into my car this morning. Not actually break in. Break through. My car was encapsulated in a thick sheet of ice. I couldn't even get the door open! I was locked out by mother nature. I finally was able to yank my door open and get my ice… Continue reading Edamame Succotash
New Year's Day wouldn't be a holiday without these four things: Pork Greens Cornbread Black eyed peas Ever since I was little, my mom has been making pork & black eyed peas for the holiday. It's a tradition held by many kitchens across the country, and most importantly the south. There's something inherently nostalgic about… Continue reading Chicken & Black Eyed Pea Chili
Stuffing or dressing? That was the big debate we all had at work on Thanksgiving. Half of my coworkers proclaimed the savory side dish as stuffing, the other half as dressing. It didn't matter where you were raised, either. I'm from Texas and I call it stuffing, while other Texan coworkers called it dressing. A… Continue reading Pork Chops with Jalapeno-Pecan Stuffing
"It's not what's on the inside that counts, but what's on top." -The Muffin Man Muffins. The word strikes dismay in children around the globe. Muffins are the red-headed stepchild of the baking world. They are perceived as "lesser than" compared to their dessert cousin: cupcakes. Muffins aren't topped with thick frosting, or shiny nonpareils,… Continue reading Sweet Potato Muffin Tops
Ah, banana pudding. The quintessential Southern dessert of summer. The elitist pudding that takes up its own shrine at the picnic table. The creamy confection that your Aunt brings tubs of to family barbecues. Banana pudding is the ultimate summer fare. It's so refreshing to dip your spoon in the banana-Nilla wafer-whipped cream concoction after… Continue reading Banana Pudding Bread
There's something in the air. I don't know if it is just Oklahoma, or if my allergies are just really that bad. My eyes are all puffy and I can't stop sneezing. Great. Just another strike against this state. You know what's good for allergies? Not going outside. Ever. I would say I'm okay with that,… Continue reading Southern Corn Pudding
I made this recipe last week before the unbearable heat struck Oklahoma. I mean, it was still hot, but it wasn't as hot as it is now. I like the warmth and homeyness of casseroles. You can credit my growing up in a Southern household to my unabashed love for the baking dish dinner. They're simple,… Continue reading Chicken Tortilla Bake
