Lemon Icebox Pie Squares
This rich frozen lemon pie is made in a rectangular baking dish, making it easy to cut into squares. It has a thick and wonderful graham cracker crust. Lining the dish with foil makes for super-easy cutting.
Heirloom Tomato Salad
Heirloom tomatoes are grown from seeds that have been saved from year to year. Their flavor is worlds away from the sort typically found in the produce department.
Brazilian Fried Chicken
Supposedly the first ruler of Brazil often requested this peasant fried chicken dish, frango á passarinho, instead of the royal dishes he was usually offered. Walk into a bar in Brazil for happy hour and the menu will likely include a version of frango á passarinho, still popular today. It is time-consuming to cut a…
Blackberry Mint Julep
Blackberries, mint, and bourbon make this the Triple Crown of juleps. It’s a sweet, refreshing cocktail that’s powerful yet approachable. The muddled mint and fruit nestle comfortably under the ice for added flavor and color.
Cornmeal-Crusted Chicken with White Barbecue Sauce
While living in Birmingham, Alabama, I had my first and eye-opening taste of white barbecue sauce. To first see a barbecue sauce that’s on the opposite end of the color spectrum from the typical red varieties is intriguing. Its tart, peppery creaminess is simply wonderful. Common throughout North Alabama, the tangy pale sauce is at…
Lady Pea Summer Salad
Having a friend who knows where to get the best field peas is a blessing. Brooke Stortz is a friend of mine who also grew up in a small town and had a grandmother who taught her the value of cooking. She lets me know when lady peas are arriving in town and helps me…
Puffed Chicken Pot Pie
You can make this classic comfort food in one large baking dish, but putting it in miniature skillets raises it to a level fit for company. Either way, make sure the filling is hot and the pastry is cold when it goes in the oven.
Ginger-Pecan Pancakes with Raisin Pear Compote
Lazy Saturday mornings can still be relaxed when homemade pancakes are in the works. Making the batter up to 4 days in advance and storing in the refrigerator lets the alarm clock stay on snooze. The compote can be made up to 2 days ahead too and chilled, covered, and reheated just before serving.
Pineapple Chicken with Pineapple Salsa
This tropically inspired dish elicits remarks rarely heard about fried chicken; for example, I’ve heard it called “refreshing,” “light,” and “delightful.” Brining the chicken in pineapple juice delivers a surprising burst of sweetness with each bite. It’s one of my favorite recipes in this book.
Herbed Buttermilk Biscuits
I grew up eating biscuits several times a week. My grandmothers, Tom and Sa, made very different biscuits, each sort divine in its own right. Thanks to Tom, I learned to appreciate the taste of raw biscuit dough as a child, and I still snack on the last little bit of dough scraps. I think…