Posts from the “Recipes” Category

Another Life-Changing Recipe: Homesick Texan’s Carnitas, Houston-Style

Posted on January 7, 2013

I know I’ve been all “this recipe is life-changing” before and don’t get me wrong, I meant it. But let me just say something about the Homesick Texan’s Houston-Style Carnitas recipe: Not only will this recipe be life-changing, but it will also be one of the easiest recipes you’ve ever made and you will do it over and over and over again. Why? 1. It’s delicious (I’ve already said that, but trust me it’s worth saying again) 2. It’s easy (talking 4 ingredients, people) 3. It lasts a while (meaning, you can eat it all week) 4. It’s versatile (I’m talking soft tacos, on top of salads, by itself, and I’ve even thrown some over-easy eggs on top of it for breakfast) Now here’s…

Categories: Recipes

Tagged: Carnitas, Homesick Texan, Mexican

Happy New Year! How ‘Bout Some Hoppin’ John and Collard Greens?

Posted on January 2, 2013

If it is New Year’s Day in the South (and it is), then your black-eyed peas and greens should be about done, right? Well, this year our peas were added to some rice and the result? Hoppin’ John. I did a quick search and found this recipe on Garden and Gun’s website. The contributing chef? Stephen Stryjewski from the restaurants Cochon, Cochon Lafayette, Cochon Butcher in New Orleans. Overall, I was pleased with the dish, but I offer a few suggestions should you decide to make this recipe: * I am forever confused about how much liquid should or should not be in a Hoppin’ John. And even following these directions, I either had too little or too much. Nonetheless, most of the water…

Categories: Recipes

Tagged: Black Eyed Peas, Collards, Garden and Gun, greens, Hoppin' John, Luck, Maple Valley Nursery, New Orleans, New Year, South, Southern Living

Ms. Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock’s Sour Milk Cornbread

Posted on December 31, 2012

There are some recipes you find and you wonder how in the world you got along without them. This, my friends, is one of those recipes. I found it in The Gift of Southern Cooking by Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock on pages 210-211. It’s officially called “Our Favorite Sour Milk Cornbread” and has quickly become my entire family’s favorite cornbread. There are a couple of caveats so please pay close attention. You will need: Cast- Iron Skillet Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups fine-ground white cornmeal * 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder** 1 3/4 cups soured milk or buttermilk*** 2 eggs, lightly beaten 2 (ahem, or maybe 3) tablespoons unsalted butter * This cookbook calls for J.T. Pollard cornbread made in Hartford, AL.…

Categories: Recipes

Tagged: Alabama, Cornbread, Edna Lewis, J.T. Pollard Cornmeal, New Year, Scott Peacock, The Gift of Southern Cooking

Here’s what happened: Cauliflower Met Cheese

Posted on November 24, 2012

I know it looks like the only dishes I make are Barefoot Contessa recipes. Especially if you are new to the redesigned Food Revival. But here’s the thing: I have some “go to” recipes that never fail and they tend to be hers. And now that I have a one-year-old and I am usually desperate for “go to” recipes I know will work, well… you can expect to see some Barefoot Contessa recipes all up on this blog. But why am I even defending myself? I mean, LOOK at this Cauliflower Gratin. Bonus? One item (cauliflower) found in my CSA bag is dealt with this week. Double Score. But seriously, LOOK at this Cauliflower Gratin. Since I followed Ina’s recipe down the line, just…

Categories: Recipes

Tagged: Barefoot Contessa, recipes, Snow's Bend Farm

Bless Our Hearts: We Made Some English Pea Salad

Posted on November 23, 2012

My Mama and I were thinking about what we’d contribute to Thanksgiving this year (my husband and I take turns on where we spend the holidays and this year we were at the Bensons’ house). Mama and I pondered. We knew we would contribute Sweet Potato Casserole as we always do (see previous post as to why and just cover your eyes when you get to the butter part), but we wanted to take some sort of salad. That’s when Mama went waaaaaay back and offered this suggestions: English Pea Salad. Now, I grew up seeing English Pea salad at family gatherings and on the Morrison’s Cafeteria line (folks from Columbus, GA will recognize that name), but I never felt the overwhelming need to…

Categories: Recipes

Tagged: recipes, Salad, Southern, Thanksgiving

Celebrate Thanksgiving with Mrs. Hughes Sweet Potato Casserole

Posted on November 22, 2012

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I would share a special recipe with you: Mrs. Hughes Sweet Potato Casserole. My Mom’s colleague, Ken, brought his mother’s Sweet Potato Casserole to some work gathering long ago and I’m here to tell you that our Thanksgivings have been transformed because you are sure to find Mrs. Hughes’ Sweet Potato Casserole at our table. To celebrate and keep with tradition, I’m making it again this year. Thank you Hughes’ family for passing along your delicious recipe as it has made our holidays so very special each and every year. Mrs. Hughes Famous Sweet Potato Casserole 3 cups of cooked sweet potatoes (thank you West End Community Garden Market and Snow’s Bend CSA for the potatoes) 1…

Categories: Recipes

Tagged: After School Markets, CSA, recipes, Snow's Bend Farm, Sweet Potatoes, Thanksgiving, West End Community Garden

More Barefoot Contessa Meatballs. This time in a soup. Yes, I have a problem.

Posted on November 20, 2012

We love love love Barefoot Contessa’s Italian Wedding Soup at our house. How could you not? Delicious meatballs and CSA veggies all in one bite. Trust me, this dish is definitely worth making. And what’s even cooler is the recipe calls for carrots (CSA box), dill (CSA), swiss chard (CSA), and celery (after school market), which means I’m also putting my weekly purchases to good use! Bonus: my one-year-old ate quite a bit tonight, which is a major victory since we are having some challenges in the food area. So? Kid? Check Family? Check Lunch and/or Dinner? Check Clearly, I’m having a meatballpalooza these days (see previous post). You have to understand, I didn’t grow up eating meatballs. My mom never made them. I’m…

Categories: Family, Recipes

Tagged: Barefoot Contessa, CSA, Ina Garten, Italian Wedding Soup, Snow's Bend Farm, Soup

Barefoot Contessa Meatballs TWO Ways: On Spaghetti and in a Hoagie. Holla.

Posted on November 18, 2012

A friend of mine is “all laid up” in the hospital and I’m taking her and her family a meal today. A couple of years ago, I discovered Barefoot Contessa’s Real Meatballs and Spaghetti recipe. This is the PERFECT dish to make for other folks. Why? 1. This recipe makes A LOT of meatballs. I can give some away and reserve some for my family to eat during the week. dingdingding 2. The meal can work for all ages! For example, I plan to pack hoagie rolls, provolone cheese slices, meatballs with sauce, and some elbow noodles (cooked). This way, the little one can have some spaghetti and the grownups can have meatball sandwiches. dingdingding 3. Final reason that meatballs are a great idea?…

Categories: Family, Recipes

Tagged: Barefoot Contessa, Meatball Sub, Meatballs, recipes

Celebrating WE Community Gardens, Ama’s Marinated Greens, and Collard Green Cook-Off Winning Recipes

Posted on November 10, 2012

I’ve said it before and I will say it again: We Community Gardens Collard Green Cook Off is one of my all time favorite events of the year. There are many reasons why, but my top two reasons include the minute you walk through the doors you are greeted with L-O-V-E and the smell of greens/cornbread cooking in kitchen. But then there’s also the friends you see, the health messaging you receive, and (of course) Tommy Fluker’s music. So to celebrate my friends and community partners, I wanted to do two things: 1) post a “throwback” Food Revival story from last year highlighting Ama Shambulia’s (WE Community Garden Director) Marinated Greens recipe 2) link you to this year’s winning Collard Green Cook-Off recipes! First,…

Categories: Recipes, Work

Tagged: Birmingham, Collard Green Cook-Off, Collard Greens, Community Garden, Marinated Greens, recipes, Urban Garden, West End, West End Community Garden

CSA Challenge: Poached Chicken With Bok Choy in Ginger Broth

Posted on November 5, 2012

Last week, my Snow’s Bend Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) had Bok Choy, Ginger and Garlic in it. The week before, it included a bunch of dill. Wait…what is a CSA, you ask? According to Local Harvest, ” a CSA is a way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. A farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a “membership” or a “subscription”) and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.” So, when Snow’s Bend emailed our newsletter with THIS recipe (pasted below), you can imagine…

Categories: Recipes

Tagged: CSA, CSA Challenge, Martha Steward, recipes, Snow's Bend Farm, Soup, Whole Living