A Yankee in a Southern Kitchen

 Having missed my typical schedule of an every other day post, one of my daughters called to ask me, why aren’t you cooking? Why haven’t you written? I am getting hungry and can’t eat another sandwich. Not one for excuses, I have a good reason for the stop work order in the kitchen. The end of the week was enough Continue Reading »

The best food that comes out of a hot oven is homemade bread. Well maybe not the best, rather a tie between all my oven favorites. Choosing a favorite would be just too hard as I like bread period-they all have their place in the kitchen and at the table. I grew up eating only homemade bread. My friends thougt I was so lucky and they were amazed that my mom made it all the time. Though I never took it for granted, it was commonplace in my home. I didn’t know Continue Reading »

I don’t like Banana Pudding, never have liked it, till now that is. Hating to admit it, I think perhaps I may be somewhat of a picky eater.  Learning to cook and eat Southern has required me Continue Reading »

It is quite probable that every seafood shack or fine restaurant from the Maryland Coast headed South to the tip of Florida claims to make a GOOD crab cake or the BEST crab cake. I have been lead down the path of trusting a waiters recommendation only to be disappointed far too many times.

This is even after I whisper to him, are you sure this restaurant makes the BEST crab cake sir?

You see I make the the BEST crab cakes and know the difference between the BEST and an OKAY crab cake.

Yes, our crab cakes are the BEST trust me, the waiter often replies.

I look into the waiters eyes Continue Reading »

Hot off the press out of the oven comes three miniature Coconut Banana Breads with a Key Lime Glaze. When I get a craving it usually sticks with me for a few days till I get my fix. This is why we have had Key lime cheesecake pops with toasted coconut, Carolina coconut rice and now Coconut Banana Bread. I expect this last recipe to do the trick, which means I will move on to another food craving or desire. This recipe takes us to the Caribbean Key West part of the South. Nothing like a little tropical flavor which had a big impact on Southern cooking to grace itself in the kitchen.

This recipe is suppose to be light; as in calories.  Well seeing that I am not a nutritionist or have it in me to count the calories and substantiate this claim, I suspect it is not that light in calories after all. Especially when you don’t follow the light directions. The second line of the directions said, ” Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cup……………..”. Without thinking I poured the flour into the measuring cup. It was too late to make a change as I had mixed my wet and dry ingredients together before I caught the error that would ultimately make my banana bread a high calorie banana bread. Honestly I need to slow down and reread my directions as I am sure my oversight caused at least a 1/2 pound weight gain for not only me but anyone else who gets to eat my Coconut Banana Bread.

Coconut Banana Bread with Key Lime Glaze was too decandant Continue Reading »

My style is to tell a story eventually weaving it into a recipe or two. But today, I am breaking tradition and getting to the point right away. The featured chicken leg swimming in sweet butter in today’s post is gone. No it did not drown, even though it appears to be drowning in butter.  Nor did it fly away. I ate it for today’s lunch cold out of the ice box along with some of the leftover Carolina coconut rice.  

A proper Southern lunch was well deserved as I have been up since the crack of dawn running around, trying to assist the husband in completing our renovation. At least I think I was assisting, he on the other hand thinks I could actually drive him nuts if Continue Reading »

This is my first entry in Click the Photo Event held every month by Jai and Bee who have the fabulous blog, Jugalbandi.

I took this picture at the Charleston Farmer’s Market on their opening day. The photo is of produce I bought ( green & purple asparagus, spring onions, corn, sweet potatoes and tomatoes) which I carried in a basket my sister had given me for Christmas.

Being a new photographer it is hit or miss for me as to the quality of the images.  Along with writing about food I have become enamored with photography. So much so that I have signed up for some classes to improve my skills.
All of my images are taken with a Canon Powershot A570is and I am currently saving my money as fast as I can for a new camera. No fancy high tech camera settings from this photographer to share with you.

This image, as all of mine are; is a straight point, zoom, pray and click shot. This was taken in natural light on auto.

Click the link above and you can have the opportunity to feast your eyes on beautiful images taken by some very talented photographers.

Next up on the menu:

Chicken Baked with Delicate Herbs and Bread Crumbs

Yellow Carolina Rice

First time out of the gate, and all I can say is fun, fun, fun and some more fun! I haven’t felt this kid-like in quite some time. Yes, it is my first Daring Baker’s Challenge and the hosts Elle & Deborah picked a playful recipe. This Challenge brought me back to the days of my favorite childhood toy a cookbook titled, Mud Pies & Other Recipes.

My hat is off to the two of you, thank you ladies. These pops are from Jill O’Connor’s Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey cookbook. The idea was to use this recipe Continue Reading »

Clafoutis is such a fun word for a dessert-breakfast-snack. It is all of these in one dish. Trust me on this, as I have eaten Clafoutis for all three meals. It is fun to eat also. Ever bite is different and it is intriguing. You can make a gazillion different versions of this dish depending on what you have in the fridge or what is in season. In fact I believe you could go through life never having the same Clafoutis twice.

Part of the intrigue of a Clafoutis is that I have never eaten it till I made one. I have no clue as to how they are suppose to taste.  I also don’t have the making of one down pat. My second go around it was clear I still need to tweak the batter, a little to much of a flour taste for my liking.  

The first go around was a total flop. The dog didn’t even like it, so that says something. Scout wouldn’t even give me a one bark for my first attempt. The husband gave me a growl after his first bite. No chance I was getting a one bark vote from him either.

How hard can this be, sugar, flour, eggs, milk or cream, a little lemon juice and zest poured on top of whatever fruit you have and pop it in the oven. Here I am trying to whip up a Clafoutis for “Hay Hay- It’s Donna Day- The Clafoutis Edition” singing Continue Reading »

Food is a funny thing. Our relationship to it is well, quite telling of our relationship to the world. At least for me it is. Cooking teaches me a lot about myself. Sometimes, that means learning something or seeing something that I don’t really want to see. Sometimes though, if I watch myself from the sidelines. I get a chance to observe my comings and goings while gaining insight to myself and how I relate to life.

For instance, I was determined to make Artichokes and Onions, Creole Style this weekend. It just sounded good and I have yet to have my artichoke taste let alone artichoke fix for the spring. What started out as a simple desire for a simple meal once again turns into a simple meal with a lesson. There is no excuse as to why I haven’t had an artichoke this year, other than I am not a shopper and tend to go to the market with the same mentality. Go in, get what is on the list, stay focused and get out.

This is a great way to shop when you are on a tight schedule, or a scavenger hunt. But for someone who is trying to find their calling through the kitchen. Well let’s just say that is not a smart way to shop. It leaves out room for divine encounters with hidden herbs tucked away in the produce section. Purple garlic and rhubarb stay hidden with the root vegetables without a chance of being discovered.  Small artichokes waiting for care full preparation followed by delicate braising with fresh herbs are ignored once again by a hurried shopper. An artichoke waiting to be painted by an ardent admirer.

Sticking to a list leaves out room for the creative. And removing the creative leaves out God for me. Leave God and creativity out and I do not have a chance Continue Reading »