I have never made the same chili twice. I always start with this standard recipe and build from there. Other things I may or may not throw in: red enchilada sauce, Rotel tomatoes, salsa, chipotle peppers, cajun sausage, ground pork, onion, bell pepper, jalapeno peppers, crushed tomatoes, and as you can see, the list can …
Mashed potatoes is a southern staple. Let your heart lead you with the amount of butter you choose. Potato disclaimer: I don’t peel potatoes. Life is short. I use yellow/gold potatoes, or Yukon potatoes because the skins are very thin and just melt into the dish. Draining the potatoes and garlic well after boiling is …
I have never met a green I didn’t like, however I was late to the kale train. But now I love it so much, I try to find ways to incorporate it into dishes. There is a simple trick to tone down the bitterness- a quick massage. Just throw your kale into a bowl and …
I wanted to level up my salmon bowls and I came up with this recipe after rummaging through cabinets and finding a can of coconut milk. After a couple of tweaks, I was able to transform my plain, bland rice into something very special. I am not a huge fan of ginger, so I use …
This is one of my favorite side dishes. I am a huge fan of Mediterranean recipes filled with fresh ingredients and lots of garlic, lemon and oregano. I discovered my love for oregano later in life when I began growing my own. I even dry my own oregano, it is so much better than the dried …
The dressing on this slaw is the bomb. I know, what does a Tennessee girl know about asian slaw? A memorable cucumber and carrot salad at Madame Butterfly in Savannah, Georgia was the inspiration for this recipe. I went down a rabbit hole and what transpired was this wonderful dressing. Sesame oil disclaimer: a little goes …
This recipe is my take on baked beans. I know many people use ground beef or bacon in beans. I find ground beef a little bland and bacon gets soft and rubbery. There are so many brands and varieties of smoked sausage- just pick your favorite. I l love to use smoked sausage in soups, …
If you aren’t from East Tennessee, chances are you have no idea about hot slaw. It is a household staple in my area and once you have it, you can never go back. It hits all the marks- savory, sweet, salty, tangy. Star-vue Drive In had a famous hot slaw recipe back in the day and …
Last year on Thanksgiving Eve, my husband casually said, “a ham would be good, too for Thanksgiving dinner”. While I am certain that no one at my house fully understands the planning and prep time that occurs for this feast, I thought about it and decided, okay, we can add ham to the menu. And full …
This beef stew is a wonderful pot of goodness that feels like home. There is nothing fancy about it, but it gives back the love you put into it. Since I like to cook stews for 2-3 hours, they are perfect for a Sunday afternoon and leftovers are a blessing on Monday. Sometimes the most difficult …
