promo_3
Favorite Ingredients
 
 
promo_2
Favorite Recipes
 
 
promo_1
Favorite Bakeries
 
Food, Recipes

Chicken Pot Hand Pies

October 16, 2023

It is that glorious time of year when we feel a cold nip in the air, the leaves begin to turn and float to the ground, and we feel that irresistible urge to make warm foods ignite in our souls.

One of the prime cornerstones of southern cooking is creating warm, cozy comfort food, so cooking at this time of year just seems to come even more naturally. I have found that if the recipe seems like something your Grandma would have made by hand, it fits right in, here in the south.

A chicken pot pie definitely falls into the category of pure comfort. It is like a warm hug wrapped up in a puff pastry crust. Now…picture it…combining the comfort of pot pie in all of its warm, flaky goodness and making it…wait for it… portable! I don’t know why a savory pot hand pie never crossed my mind, but when this recipe came together for me, it was a life changer.

Read more
Leave a comment
Food, Recipes

Everything Bagel & Sausage Breakfast Casserole

October 12, 2023

If there is one thing that I have found all southerners love, it is a casserole. This one pot wonder is quintessential for gifting as a downright neighborly gesture. It can be presented as a meal to sick neighbors, and for celebrations, funerals, birthdays alike. You name the occasion and there is a casserole that fits. It is a catch all dish to show that you care, and there is something so endearing about that notion to me.

With the holidays upon us, we are all looking for ways to show the love to our guests. I am always thrilled to find great recipes that can be prepped ahead and don’t require too much maintenance, and can satisfy a crowd. No matter your guests, this one is always a crowd pleaser because it uses such classic comfort ingredients.

In previous posts, I have professed my deep love of bagels. Here, I am taking it to the next level with a soul warming, hearty breakfast casserole that calls for chewy, day old bagels, eggs, turkey sausage and cheese. Not only is it delicious, but it is easy to assemble and requires that you make it 24-hours in advance to allow it to set. So whip it up, pop it in the fridge and you are ready to go when company awakens, ready to eat.

Read more
Leave a comment
Food, Inspiration, Recipes

Demystifying Sourdough Starter

October 11, 2023

Due to the Covid years, I think by now we have all tried our hand at making a loaf of sourdough bread, whether it was a successful attempt or not. I was a little later to the game. My Mom was the first to join this worldwide elite club of bread artisans, and I was dually impressed that she had ventured to make her own starter as well.

I remember speaking to my Mom in one of our long-winded phone conversations where she regaled me with details on her latest loaf of this crunchy, pillowy variety of bread.

She informed me of the nuances of working the dough, allowing it to rise, kneading it with proper form, baking techniques and the tools needed to properly form a loaf worthy of a boulangerie window or San Francisco soup shop.

I like to think that perhaps it is in our DNA somehow to craft bread. Poilâne Bakery in Paris, France is a third generation boulangerie renowned for creating the best sourdough in the world by hand, since 1932.

Aside from being at the top of my destination wish list, the foodie nerd in me likes to dream and wish that our strikingly similar last names means that the owner, Apollonia, and I are somehow cousins removed somewhere back in the recesses of our lineage. I have no proof or facts to justify any connection whatsoever, but hey…a girl is allowed to dream, right?

But, I digress. Back to the breadmaking process. The one factor that I couldn’t wrap my head around that my Mom kept referencing when we spoke was “feeding the starter” every couple of weeks to “keep it strong.”

What did this mean?! Was this a living entity that resided in her refrigerator, and why was it so hungry?! I was intrigued, to say the least. I kept picturing that plant from Little Shop of Horrors and wondering if her starter would shout “feed me” in Steve Martin’s voice from the back of the refrigerator every time she opened it to grab the butter or pour a glass of iced tea. While that sounds pretty cool, it is not that dramatic. So, let me explain the science behind it.

Read more
Leave a comment
Food, Recipes

Apple-Honey Upside Down Cake

October 9, 2023

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I have been testing recipes galore that are worthy of showcasing at the turkey day table. Apple-based desserts always have a special place in my heart at this time of year and I always try to incorporate at least one dessert that features this juicy, robust fruit as it revels in its prime picking season.

One of my favorite elements drawing me to a good apple dessert is its ability to transform the sugar in the apples into sweet caramelization, and this recipe gives all those feels. This is a fluffy and flavorful cake, perched below the crunchy, chewy heft of a sugary glaze, the hearty crunch of pecans, and soft, sweet, artfully placed apples. Think pineapple upside down cake, with a fall twist.

Aside from being an absolutely delicious dessert, this one is also a real showstopper. This cake is inverted once complete, hence the upside down label, so the bottom layers of gorgeous apple and pecans glistening in a caramelized, buttery brown sugar are on full display for guests, painting an ever so beautiful picture on the serving platter.

Read more
Leave a comment
Food, Recipes

Turkey & Kielbasa Three Bean Chili

October 3, 2023

It’s chili season!! One of my favorite times of year, hands down. The days get a little shorter, the weather is a little chillier at night and it is my queue to start making giant pots of chili to eat and freeze for the cooler months.

Everyone seems to be on the hunt for a really good recipe for chili. I have always been one of those people too. Back in 2009, I finally decided to start testing different recipes to see which appealed to me most and create my very own version.

I feel that a “good chili” is personal and really lies in the eye of the beholder. We all have our own likes and tastes, but I feel that this recipe is one that will please chili novices and connoisseurs alike. Not to brag (brushes shoulders), but this recipe has won more than one inter-office chili cookoff against some fierce and worthy competitors.

Ingredients & Tips

As I mentioned, I tried out several recipes and flavors to land on this concoction. It has been my tried and true go to chili for over a decade and is a true one pot wonder. This is the perfect excuse to break out that Dutch Oven and put it to good use, or a nice big stock pot will do. Make sure that whichever vessel you choose, it has a heavy bottom on it to avoid burning your chili over the continuous heat you will be applying in the cooking process. Once you complete minimal prep and throw it into your pot of choice, it will sit on the stove and meld flavors, doing its magic without much supervision.

Jump to Recipe Read more
Leave a comment
Food, Recipes

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

September 28, 2023

Aside from the infamous pumpkin spice flavor, nothing screams “Fall is HERE!!” like apple cider, and anything apple flavored really. I think there is good reason for the craze that hits us all at this time of year.

I know here in the Lowcountry, our summer spans from late March to right around the end of September with 80-90 degree temps hitting their peak, so we yearn for that brief moment where the seasons turn. We may not be able to bundle in our sweaters, but the air is a little crisper and we are all ready for those Autumn flavors and cozy baking projects.

I just finally invested in my very own donut pans, because…I mean…who are we kidding. This girl is bound to make some donuts. I love baking and have been dying to try this recipe and several others out. I am surprised it took me this long to finally give in and order these baking pans to add to my growing collection, but boy am I glad I did.

Read more
Leave a comment
Food, Recipes

Bennigan’s Style Ultimate Baked Potato Soup

September 25, 2023

As soon as the cooler weather rolls around, I start to crave all of the fall foods. In particular, chili (which we will get to later) and this recipe for the Ultimate Baked Potato Soup.

Recently, I had a comment pop up asking for recipe ideas for a Dutch Oven. This one piece of equipment is an absolute kitchen staple in my book, and a perfect vessel for soups, stews and frying. I use mine for just about everything and anything.

The enamel coating is perfect for all kinds of cooking, as it is naturally non-stick. That said, I cook with a lot of butter whenever I use mine, so I suppose that helps it to be more resistant to sticking. Plus, they deglaze like a champion once you add a little liquid to them, leaving you with those flavorful brown bits in soups and stews that build flavor.

If you have a Dutch Oven, or have been gifted one and aren’t sure what to do with it, the sky is the limit. Any soup recipe, stew, sauce…use this vessel for building your recipes and allowing them to develop with even heat. The cast iron holds and conducts heat steadily and beautifully for slow simmering. Once you are done prepping, you can just about set it and forget it on a low heat.

Jump to Recipe Read more
Leave a comment
Food, Recipes

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer

September 20, 2023

I know it’s basic Betty territory, but I really do love it when pumpkin spice latte season rolls around each year. I think for me, it signifies the turn of the seasons and signals the official end to summer. Nothing against summer, but fall, and the months leading into the holidays, equal my wheelhouse for joy.

In my defense, I have always loved the coffee portion of this craze the most for this seasonal treat. I will admit it has gotten a bit out of hand with pumpkin spice eeeeverything, but if you are like me and go cuckoo for that creamy flavor mixed with your morning java, you have to give this a whirl.

It is super easy to make your own pumpkin spice creamer at home. You can mix this with your own choice of coffee, and nowadays, you can get a fairly priced espresso maker and get down to the business of making your very own legit lattes.

Jump to Recipe Read more
Leave a comment
Food, Recipes

Autumn Apple Bundt Cake

September 19, 2023

Ahhh the beginning of fall. That magical time of year when the air feels crisper, giving us that first little shiver in the morning to tell us that the end of summer is drawing near. The leaves begin to turn and shimmy from the trees to the ground and we have that first inkling to reach for an extra sweater to ease the chill in our bones.

It brings me a thrilling sensation. I am a lover of baking. This is the time of year when all things come to life in this realm of my life. Warm, hearty pies, spongy cakes to accompany an evening tea. There is something that is so lovely and comforting about it all.

The stars of the autumn show when it comes to the baking game are obvi pumpkin and apple, accompanied by their spicy cousins, cinnamon and nutmeg. Naturally, as soon as the first cool breeze hits me, I am off and running to the store for my first batch of fresh, seasonal apples. This is their prime time to shine.

Jump to Recipe Read more
Leave a comment
Featured

The Healing Power of a Sound Bath

September 12, 2023

I recently had the opportunity to partake in a sound bath, a meditative exercise that I have been wanting to try for some time now. I would dare to say that the sound bath has become trendy, as it has appeared recently on many television shows and in yoga studios around the country, but it is actually an ancient art, dating back over 40,000 years.

Ancient Greeks used flutes and lyres to treat digestion and mental health, Tibetans used singing bowls for over 2,000 years for meditation purposes, and Australian aboriginal tribes played the didgeridoo to heal the sick.

I admittedly discovered the experience through one of my guilty pleasure shows on Bravo Network that I frequently view (don’t judge me too harshly!). A group of ladies on the show ventured on a retreat to a desert resort, where they relaxed and took in the sounds and vibes of this healing art.

Read more
Leave a comment