Green Tomato and Almond Tart
A Nutty and Buttery Crust is Filled with Green Tomato Jam for a Show Stopping Dessert. I’ve long wanted to make a green tomato jam tart ever since I first read about it in Rosetta Costantino’s wonderful cookbook, My Calabria. When I ran into a load of green tomatoes last week, I decided now was […]
Focaccia/Pizza with Lemon Ricotta, Strawberries, and Peas
I Can’t Resist Fresh Cool Toppings on a Warm and Chewy Crust. Is this recipe best labeled as a pizza or a focaccia? Or neither? I honestly don’t know. It’s a cross between both things. The crust is chewy, but lightly crisp. And it’s topped with ricotta, greens, onions, strawberries, and peas. Whatever you wish […]
Beans with Salty Orange Cream and Croutons
A Bowl of Beans Unlike Any You’ve Ever Tasted. Here I am, back with another bowl-of-beans recipe. And this one is a beauty. The day before I cook my beans is when I get to really thinking about how I’m going to serve them. I always soak them overnight in salted water. I’m a believer […]
Purée of Beets with Roasted Carrots and Dukkah (Duqqa)
A Glorious Combination of Color, Texture, and Flavors. Well, there are a few things going on here that warrant an explanation. I’ll start with the dukkah first. It’s an Egyptian nut, seed, and herb blend that’s been around a very long time. It’s used as a dip for flatbreads, amongst other things. I love it […]
Pork Patties with ‘Nduja Roasted Fennel and Potato Wedges
Nothing Dull About These Flavors. Here’s a very tasty meal I put together after thinking about what to do with the ground pork sitting in my freezer and a couple of fresh fennel bulbs. Pork patties, seasoned with garlic, fresh oregano, and pecorino seemed like a good thing. I soaked fresh bread crumbs in milk […]
Muscadine Pie
One of the Best Pies I’ve Ever Tasted. Well, this is a first for me. I had never made a muscadine pie. Nor had I ever tasted one. I always buy muscadines when they show up in my market because I’m nuts about their flavor. I’ve sliced them in half and roasted them, as well […]
Black Rice, Plum, and Cherry Salad
And It’s Topped with Crispy Breadcrumbs! If you’ve never eaten black rice, this is a great place to start. I love it because it’s chewy and a little nutty in flavor, which makes it great for salads. When it cooks it ends up being a beautiful deep purple color that I thought would lend itself […]
Plum and Sage Pie
When it comes to desserts, pies reign supreme in my home. It may have something to do with coming from the south and watching my mother and grandmother make pies when I was growing up, but a well made pie is at the very top of the dessert food chain, as far as I’m concerned.
Ravioli with Easy Uncooked Lemon Cream Sauce
Uncooked Cream and Lemon Juice Make a Beautiful Silky Sauce. As much as I appreciate and enjoy making homemade ravioli, I keep a bag of supermarket frozen cheese ravioli in my freezer for those moments when a quick and easy meal is needed. I can usually count on the quality being pretty good and sometimes […]