I've stated before that I'm not Catholic so I don't really observe Mardi Gras or Ash Wednesday for religious reasons. However, I'll take any excuse to eat Cajun inspired cuisine. It's so delicious. And, if you do it right, it can be decently good for you a well. The trickiest part of Cajun food for… Continue reading Red Beans and Rice
February is Black History Month. I think we are all aware of traditional Southern United States dishes that get mentioned this month. But it is interesting to look further into the roots of those dishes and the origins of African Americans. Most of us haven't been to Africa or an African themed restaurant, with the… Continue reading African Hominy and Beans
Quick apologies for my absence. I recently moved. Just a few miles, but into a house. A grown-up house. It is amazing and stressful and overwhelming and fun. Not only did that take a bunch of time, but I was cooking out of a microwave and electric skillet for several days. Sadly, this photo was… Continue reading Beans and Cornbread
Recently, we were having a chili dinner fundraiser at my church. The person in charge of the food asked if I had a good, basic chili recipe, and I suddenly realized that I didn't. They used a recipe from someone else, but I did help cook some of the chili. It turned out tasty, but… Continue reading Chili
Right after I got married, I got my first real job. I actually needed to cook dinner consistently for the first time AND didn't have a lot of time to cook. I found myself turning to my slow cooker a lot. But we could only eat so many meals doused in cream of chicken or… Continue reading Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
I have a confession to make: I don't make chili very often. I make soup all the time. But not really traditional chili. Why? Because I always find myself somewhat underwhelmed no matter what recipe I try and resort to adding all sorts of mix-ins. If you have to add a million ingredients at the… Continue reading White Chicken Chili
Fall is my favorite season. I love the colors, the cooler weather, the flavors, the football and bands, and my birthday. But this year, I find myself wishing summer would linger a little longer. We had a very full summer of fun activities. But I want just one more grilled hamburger, one more picnic, one… Continue reading Fiesta Pasta Salad
I hated shepherd's pie when I was a kid. I have never liked canned green beans, and my mom always used those for the layer between the meat and the potatoes. When I tried it with different vegetables, I liked it a little better. Then I found this recipe, which blows regular shepherd's pie completely… Continue reading Southwestern Shepherd’s Pie
