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Thanksgiving Prep–Let’s Talk Turkey

16 Nov

If you’re hosting the holiday meal, it‘s time to give serious thought to prep and cooking of the turkey if you’re dishing up a menu of turkey plus the fixins’. One of the biggest snafus that can come with the signature meal is failure to completely thaw the turkey. To avoid facing the icy challenge […]

Pasta for Dinner? Make Robust Tomato Sauce

17 Oct

According to the food calendar, we are in the midst of National Pasta Month. In my book pasta is always good from mac ‘n cheese, to ravioli to spaghetti with meat sauce, you can’t go wrong with pasta. This robust red sauce is one to keep on hand– I usually make a double batch keeping […]

Herb-Roasted Lamb Makes the Cut for Easter

24 Mar

I get a lot of questions about food –how to cook, what to cook, what’s for dinner and what’s on my family menu for the holiday of the month. One of the most consistent threads in these chats is the cook’s time. Keeping an eye on the cook’s time management I often look for dishes, […]

Make Dessert Indulgent & Heart-Healthy

13 Feb

It’s all about hearts, the symbol of love. I ♥ you, you’re my sweetheart, my heart beats for you, you’re my heartthrob, and without you I’m heartbroken. Celebrate loving and being loved with this mouthwatering heart-healthy dessert. I know it looks indulgent, but it isn’t. Lemon Pound Cake 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking […]

Party? Add Flava’ & Flair with Jerk Bites

5 Feb

Whether it is the Big Game, the book club or poker, good food will flavor your gathering for success. This weekend my menu includes Jerk Appetizer Bites with Mango. The recipe is inspired by one that I developed for a Black History Month recipe brochure for the National Pork Board. This made-from-scratch jerk marinade is […]

Slow-Cooker Candied Sweets

22 Dec

I’ve written a few posts about my grandmothers and some of the wonderful dishes they would make. From weekday dinners to holiday meals with all the fixins’ they were talented cooks. As far as we were concerned my maternal grandmother Gonga, was the maven of candied sweets. This was one of the dishes she made […]

Prize-Winning Chili is a Souper Bowl

26 Jan

I love chili and have stirred more than a few gallons of it. The family recipe was typically ground beef served Cincinnati-style over spaghetti with Delta tamales. Then there was white bean chili with chicken created by my friend at Southern Living magazine. These days the Drapers’ chili of choice starts with a beef chuck […]

Mommy & Me . . . Baking Apple Pie

15 Dec

There are so many good things to sample during this season of good eating. And some of those are well-loved dishes that hold special memories when they appear. I come from a family of really really good cooks—it’s in my genes. I enjoy cooking. Sharing food info and our family’s food heritage are the reasons […]

Spatchcock Your Turkey

20 Nov

Holiday cooking can take many forms, and without a doubt turkey is the superstar. It can be brined, roasted, fried, grilled, slow-cooked, smoked or spatchcocked. Last week I shared my timeline to help holiday cooks organize for the Thanksgiving meal. Today I’m talking turkey and sharing how to cook a spatchcock or butterflied bird. Spatchcock […]

Add Grilled Meals to Autumn Menu

14 Oct

You still have time to fire up the grill if you’re living in an area where cold wind and the polar vortex will make outdoor cooking just about mission impossible in a few months. Whether it’s tailgating, week-end entertaining or family dinner, grill seasoned turkey filets. They’re cooked over medium-low heat and make a quick and […]