Adventures with Edna

Before we start talking tomatoes, I had a few great days with my Mississippi Mama visiting me, just us girls.  Sir Struesel was out of town and we had girls week.  There is nothing like “Mama Time” in my book.  We had lunch on the beach and laughed for one complete hour….about nothing! Don’t you [...]

Insalata Caprese (salad in the style of Capri) is a simple salad from the Italian region of Campania, made of sliced fresh buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes and basil, seasoned with salt, pepper, and olive oil.  In Italy, unlike most salads, it is usually served as an antipasto (starter), not a contorno (side dish). Ballerina Baby and [...]

It has everything I require:  little spice, little creaminess, little bit of veggies, and it makes me smile.  I’m good to go. This pasta is meant to be enjoyed over great table conversation and to be eaten very s-l-o-w-l-y to truly enjoy all it has to offer.  Well, it has cream in it, luscious cream.  [...]

I love to bake.  I mean really really love to bake.  I can forget about everything going on in my little world when I pull out flour, butter, sugar, and milk.  But I stink at cupcakes!! I have made a personal goal to try and improve this situation.  I think the one area that will [...]

I am a potato addict.  I like them roasted, pan fried, french fried, baked, boiled, however I can get them.  I could never, never, never, go on a carb free diet.  Sir Struesel often says to me, “You really, really like potatoes”.  I say, “You got a problem with that? If you do, look away.”  [...]

I love to try new recipes or try my hand at throwing things together and see if magic happens.  I would imagine 5 out of 7 nights in our home is a “never been served before” meal.  The rotation of dishes is virtually non- existent.  Sir Struesel says he lives in a diner but is [...]

My Saturday addiction….Farmer’s Market.  Sir Struesel, my two male blessings, and my little bit of cuteness (my Pomeranian…Paloma), head to the Farmer’s Market every Saturday morning to stock up on everything that is good in this world.  Well, everything that is good with the exception of bacon and chocolate.  I found some beautiful eggplant this [...]

Cornbread:  Yellow bread made from cornmeal in a cast iron skillet that is ubiquitous in Southern cuisine.  It is usually served with butter. We tend to think that our children are the BEST at whatever they do.  However, many many of us tend to think the very same thing about our cornbread.  How many times [...]

There is an affection in the South for over the top sweetness.  We like, correction–love, our sweets.  We also love our Banana Puddin’.  It will show up at every covered dish meal we ever attend.  A true Southern cook will always have a recipe, in her head, for Banana Puddin’.  Notice I say Puddin‘, not [...]

I love this time of year. The  farmer’s market, fresh veggies, fresh fruit, did I mention fresh veggies?  I love love love to roast vegetables.  I also love to oven-fry them. Nothing beats a little crunch at the table. Oven fried veggies are so much lower in fat than deep frying, although I have absolutely [...]