This is a great addition to a salad or charcuterie board. 1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 2 1/2 cups) 2 tablespoons kosher salt 10 sprigs fresh thyme 5 dried bay leaves 5 sliced fresh ginger 3 cups apple cider vinegar2 cups water 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 teaspoons fennel seed 1 teaspoon mustard seed 1 teaspoon black peppercorns 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper IN a large bowl, toss otgether squash and salt. Let stand at room temperature for 30 m

Of all the land-based proteins, chicken is the most healthiest. It is also the most versatile. I could easily write six months of weekly articles on chicken without duplicating a recipe. As that would get boring, I thought that I would share two new recipes this week. My first recipe is a dish that many would consider upscale, Garlic Butter Chicken. The second is a take on a regional fascination with chicken, Hot Honey Butter Roasted Chicken. Both recipes are great for family

Pot pies are pure comfort food. Here's another twist on this down home dish. 1 1/2 cups boiling water 1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms 4 tablespoons canola oil, divided 2 cups chopped carrot 2 cups chopped onion 1 1/2 cups chopped celery 3 colves garlic, minced 3 1/2 pounds boneless chuck roast, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper, divided 1 1/2 cups beef stock 1 1/2 cups dry red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon 3 tablespoons tomato paste 3 tablespoons b

Have turkey left over from last week? Here's a new way to repurpose it. 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup diced yellow onion 1/4 cup diced carrot 1/4 cup diced celery 1 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 cups chicken stock 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 1/2 cups shredded cooked turkey 1/2 cup tasso, chopped 1 teaspooon Worcestershire sauce 1/2 (14.1-ounce) package refrigerated piecrust Garnish; fresh parsley sprig Preheat oven to 400℉. In a large s

I have noticed that my local market is starting to offer various varieties of fresh fish. While you can get a good piece of fish that is frozen, I will always choose fresh. One of the first fish that I reach for is Grouper. Grouper is a fish from the Gulf. It has been a mainstay in the state of Florida for generations. Over the years, it has found its way along the coast. It is my favorite fish. With that in mine, today I will be sharing two grouper recipes. The first combine

These are great either for breakfast or dessert. 1 (17.3 ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed (2 sheets) 1 large egg, lightly beaten 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 tablespoon butter, softened 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 egg yolk, room temperature 1 teaspoon vailiia extracy 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted, plus more for drizzling Confectioners' sugar 36 small raspberries Preheat oven to 400℉. Line

This week, a couple of bite sized sweets that are perfect for holiday gatherings. 3 cups finely ground gingersnap cookies 2 1/3 cups sugar, divided 4 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted 2 tablespoons lightly packed orange zest, divided 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 5 large eggs, room temperature 1 cup sour cream, room temperature 1/3 cup heavy cream, room temperature Garnish: chopped c

Now that winter has started to appear in our rearview window, spring is upon us.  With spring comes one of my favorite seasons, crawfish season. The mudbugs have already started to appear in restaurants and food trucks. Every year, I find different recipes for crawfish tails. Today. I am sharing two recipes. They both call for packages of tails that you find frozen in your local market. You can always substitute fresh tails instead. The first recipe is a side dish, Crawfish P

Keep up the flavor of your bird with this Spice recipe. It's so much better than a store bought blend. 12-14lb. whole turkey, giblets and neck discarded 1/2 cup butter, room temperature 8 tablespoons Cajun Spice mix (recipe follows) 2 cups chopped yellow onion (about 1 large onion) 1 1/2 cups chopped celery (about 3 stalks) 1 cup chopped green bell pepper (about 1 medium bell pepper) 1/4 cup olive oil Line a large roasting pan with foil. Place a V-shaped roasting rack over fo

Let's see what we can find this week for the center of your Thanksgiving table. Let's start with something a little different. 2/3 cup finely chopped pecans 2 tablespoons bread crumbs 2 tablespoons firmly packed dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 large egg 1 tablespoon Creole mustard 1 (1 to 1/2-pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 red pears

Tuesday is Mardi Gras day. Here in Arkansas it’s just another day. In the South, it’s a day of parades, family and fun. It’s also a day filled with food. If you are fortunate to have a friend with a house on the parade route, your food will usually be more that Popeye’s Fried Chicken. With that in mind, I want to share two recipes that are perfect for Mardi Gras day. The first is an appetizer, Green Goddess Louisiana Crab dip. An entree for the gathering would be Chicken, Por

I love soups made wiht seafood. Here's one that uses crabmeat. 1/4 pound butter 1/4 cup chopped green onion 1 1/2 pounds claw claw crabmeat 1 1/2 tablespoon granulated onion 3/4 teaspoon shrimp base 1/4 cup flour 1/2 pound sliced mushrooms (optional) 1 1/2 quarts half & half 1 1/2 quarts heavy cream 1/4 cup white wine Salt and pepper to taste Dash cinnamon Dash nutmeg In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add green onions and sweat down for 2 minutes, then stir in cr

Dcooler weather is coming. How about a couple of cream soups this week? 2 1/2 ounces dried wild mushrooms 1 1/2 pounds mixed fresh mushrooms 4 tablespoons butter, or as needed, divided 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 cup chopped onion 1/4 cup chopped garlic 1/4 cup red wine or port 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon dried thyme Pinch of cayenne Salt and pepper to taste 5 cups beef stock 1 cup half & half 2 lrge egg yolks Put the dried mushrooms in a small heatproof bowl and cover

Galatoire’s is my favorite French Quarter restaurant. The food is traditional and classic. I have never had a bad meal there. But what they do on two special days of the year, makes you realize that Galatoire’s is more than just great food. Friday lunch are always very busy. For two special Fridays, the one before Christmas and Mardi Gras, they auction off the tables. This money is distributed to various local charities. There are many ways that the food industry gives back.

Walk down the grocery isle and look at the options for boxed potatoes. Do yourself a favor, bypass these and make your own. The taste is 1000 times better. 1 stick butter, in all 4 cups thinly sliced leeks, white and green parts only 6 garlic cloves, minced Kosher salt to taste 1 pound mixed mushrooms, coarsely chopped Pinch of cayenne pepper 1 generous teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed 2 cups chicken stock, in all 1 3/4 cups half & half 3 1/2 pounds waxy potatoes, peeled,

This week, I want to share a couple of recipes from years past. Let's start with a predecessor to spinach dip. 4 tablespoons butter 1 cup finely chopped onion 2 tablespoons flour 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup chicken stock 6 ounces pepper Jack cheese, cubed 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 3/4 teaspoon celery salt 3/4 teaspoon granulated garlic 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2teaspoon thyme 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg Creole seasoning to taste 20 ounces f

I am a hands on cook. I like to stand in front of my stove and add ingredients throughout the cooking process. As someone who works from...

One of my favorite way to eat potatoes are roasted. Here's a recipe using sweet potatoes. 7 cups 1-inch-cubed peeled sweet potatoes (...

With the holidays coming up, let's look at a couple of side dishes using sweet potatoes. Today, we will start with a salad. 1 1/2 pounds...

The biggest football game of the year is upon us. It’s time to plan your menu. Whether you watch because of the game, the halftime show,...