There’s no other soup I’d rather dip my spoon into than a bowl of homemade tomato soup. Adding a roasted red bell pepper deepens the color and brings a new dimension to the taste. Once you’ve had the cheesy croutons on top, you may never serve naked soup again. Tomato-and-Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Cheddar…
Saltines baked with butter are well known around dining rooms in a couple of Atlanta’s most prestigious country clubs. Offered as a beginning to a meal, like bread often is, they have been a mainstay for years. The chefs in the clubhouses use clarified butter, but for making at home, I use ghee. Common in…
In this soup, a mound of sweet onions takes its sweet time cooking down to caramelized goodness. Be patient, and don’t add the wine until the onions are richly colored. I like to use my biggest Le Creuset pot. If you don’t have a large enameled cast-iron Dutch oven, divide the butter and onions between…
Having a funeral reception without a beef tenderloin is close to having one without a death. I have friends that keep one in the freezer at all times just in case an emergency funeral need arises. Seriously. I like to serve mine with a choice of sauces but this impressive cut can certainly stand on…
Baking mashed potatoes makes serving them to a crowd much easier because they don’t have to be served immediately after mashing. The caramelized onions and cheese make this recipe a perfect side dish for neighborhood gatherings. Caramelized Onion-Mashed Potato Bake 4 lb russet potatoes 3 tsp table salt, divided 1¼ cups warm buttermilk ½ cup…
Tomato soup is not tomato soup when it’s made with canned tomatoes. Using fresh, ripe tomatoes doesn’t have to mean a long time at the stove. Skipping the peeling and seeding is one way to save a large amount of prep time. The soup is pureed before serving, so all the nutrition of the peel…
Adding sugar to cornbread may be a big debate, but not when the sweetness comes from a sweet potato. Thanks to a little pumpkin pie spice, a pat of butter is all it needs. Sweet Potato Cornbread 2 cups self-rising white cornmeal mix 3 TBSP sugar ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice 5 large eggs 2…
A little something salty always adds to the cocktail hour and nearly everyone loves olives. I keep these in my fridge just about all the time so they are ready when an unexpected guest drops in. Look for good quality olives on the pickle aisle or choose your own blend at the olive bar. You…
Cocktail hour always needs a little bite of something cheesy and crispy. Gorgonzola, black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne pepper make for a fun twist on a classic Southern cheese straw. Make the dough the day before and bake them the morning of the party. Two-Pepper Blue Cheese Wafers ½ cup unsalted butter,…
This hearty meatloaf is laced with caramelized onions and gooey mozzarella cheese. Lean ground beef labeled 93/7 works best in this recipe, helping the loaf hold together for slicing. If you have any slices left over, save them for Open-Faced Meatloaf Sandwiches. Stuffed Meatloaf 2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil 1 small white onion, diced…