Plump, ripe tomatoes are one of the surest signs of summer. The Forsyth Farmers market here in Savannah has had vendors with all manner of multi-colored orbs ranging from small single-bite tomatoes to those the size of soft balls. Friends of mine recently visited a u-pick farm where they could pick 5 gallon buckets for just $8/bucket. Their offer to … Read More
Yogurt Panna Cotta with Orange-Scented Strawberries
Strawberries are in full swing! Sure, strawberries are available in the grocery store year round but if you want sweet juicy berries you’d better make the most of them now. Anything in season will always be better than those shipped from further afield, even if it’s in season where it’s being shipped from. The closer to the grower the food … Read More
It’s Fast, It’s Simple, It’s Focaccia!
After the last post on “Tips for Making Yeast Dough” I thought it might be helpful to share a recipe for homemade focaccia bread. What has become one of the most popular styles of breads in restaurants, is also easily made at home! Essentially a pizza-style dough, it is easily made at home in a fraction of the time of … Read More
Tips for Making Yeast Dough
While one cannot live on bread alone, it certainly makes life more enjoyable. Who doesn’t love biting through a crunchy crust and sinking your teeth into a nice tender interior crumb? How about that tug and resistance you get when you bite into a pizza or tear off a piece of baguette? Lately, a friend of mine has been playing with … Read More
Food & Love
In 1996, two twenty-somethings shortly out of college decided out of the blue to publish a book. Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge were college friends from Baylor University. Post-college Martha moved back to her hometown of Memphis assuming that her degree and a high GPA were what she needed for happiness in the post-collegiate world. Much to her dismay and … Read More
Sometimes it’s Good to Have a Quickie! (Hors d’ ouevre, that is)
The Superbowl is upon us and I’m sure most people who are having parties have already placed their orders for wing trays and veggie platters and have stocked up on chips, salsa, and onion dip. Perhaps you want something just a little different? Maybe you’ve had more people show up than you expected or they came with a bigger appetite … Read More
Osso Buco
One of the more popular hands-on classes that I’ve taught both here in Savannah as well as other places around the country, has involved the cuisine of northern Italy. Just like the United States, regional cuisines of other countries vary with the climate and geography. In the U.S. the concept of “Italian Food” is born from the eating styles of … Read More
Banoffee Trifle
With just a couple of days until Christmas and currently being in the middle of Chanukkah celebrations, I thought perhaps you could use a simple but delicious party dessert. “Banoffee” is an English contraction of Bananas & Toffee, a combination of flavors and ingredients commonly enjoyed together in England. The inspiration for this shows how one recipe or idea can … Read More
The Well-Equipped Kitchen
I’ve enjoyed cooking as far back as I can remember. One of my earliest memories was that of standing on a small step-stool at the kitchen sink after church on Sunday afternoon. While mom was busy finishing up Sunday dinner I was occupying myself with the lettuce core, cucumber trimmings, carrot peels, and any other vegetable scraps mom may have … Read More
Thanksgiving Dinner with Better Mornings Atlanta
While you wouldn’t know it by looking at the retail stores already decked out for Christmas, Thanksgiving is just over a week away! Chances are that your menu is molded by tradition or expectation….whether it’s the fond memories of grandma’s stuffing, or the dread of aunt Tillie’s JELLO mold of lemon gelatin with shredded cabbage, sliced green olives, and crushed … Read More