Appetizers
Entertaining: Easy Appetizers – Guacamole
Entertaining: Easy Appetizers – Guacamole While I was compiling the recipes for our appetizer book, I knew one thing: that I had to include guacamole - for several reasons. First, guac just plain rocks. Give me a bowl of that lime green beauty and some crunchy chips to greedily scoop it
The Stock Pot: Sensational Sides - Classic Caesar Salad
The Stock Pot: Sensational Sides - Classic Caesar Salad Ah, yes! The Caesar salad. Pretty much a fixture on just about every menu in every restaurant across America. Even small coffee houses offer them with the always-predictable popular add-ons. (And, for three bucks more, you can add gr
Prep School: D.I.Y. - Apple Pie Spice
Prep School: D.I.Y. - Apple Pie Spice My sister-in-law once walked into my house and, mouth agape, slowly said as she pointed to my massive collection of alphabetized small jars and bottles, “Look at all those spices.” It’s true, my spice addiction is a liability. I love them all
The Stock Pot: Homemade Egg Rolls
The Stock Pot: Homemade Egg Rolls I have a mad crush on Chinese food. Well, good Chinese food, that is - which posed a big problem for me when we moved here from Nashville many years ago. In fact, during one of our should-we-move/should-we-not discussions, I asked Adam in mild panic, “W
Beefy Nachos with Pico de Gallo and Roasted Poblanos
Beefy Nachos with Pico de Gallo and Roasted Poblanos Nacho Ordinary Snack: “Leftover nachos aren’t good so make sure there aren’t any.”-Andrew Knowlton Unless you’re stationed in Antarctica or you’re the last person in the free world to not have cable, you and 97 million othe
Entertaining: Easy Appetizers – Chips and Salsa
Entertaining: Easy Appetizers – Chips and Salsa I know what you’re thinking. Chips and Salsa, Cheryl…really? But just wait - hear me out. I’m not talking about popping the lid off that jar of chunky stuff made in New York City and dumping it into a bowl. And, I’m not talking abo
Entertaining: Easy Appetizers – Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Entertaining: Easy Appetizers – Spinach and Artichoke Dip I wish I could remember the restaurant where I had my very first spinach and artichoke dip. I’m pretty sure it was in the late 80’s – maybe even the early 90’s - and I’m pretty sure it was the first time in my entire li
The Stock Pot: Sensational Sides – Cajun Sweet Potato Fries
The Stock Pot: Sensational Sides – Cajun Sweet Potato Fries On a recent trip to Winston-Salem, Adam and I had a nice, leisurely lunch at the perennially-packed Village Tavern. We have never had a bad meal at that busy restaurant housed among the charming shops in quaint Reynolda Village
Crab Cake Bites with Spicy Rémoulade
Crab Cake Bites with Spicy Rémoulade For Auld Lang Syne: “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and new year’s words await another voice.” – T.S. Eliot As a self-professed food magazine junkie, it is unquestionably one of my favorite pleasures and pastimes, ev
Entertaining: Easy Appetizers - Pimento Cheese
Entertaining: Easy Appetizers - Pimento Cheese Pimento (or pimiento) is a sweet pepper most familiar as the red stuffing found in green olives (much of the pimento crop is used for paprika, too). But for me - and most Southerners - they are the springboard for a sandwich spread that conju
Entertaining: Hospitality on Hand - 10 (Almost) Instant Hors d’Oeuvres
Entertaining: Hospitality on Hand - 10 (Almost) Instant Hors d’Oeuvres With the year’s ultimate entertaining season in full swing, you can avoid being a harried host and be ready for whatever hungry surprise guests the holidays may throw your way with a slew of crowd-pleasing, lip-sma
Entertaining: Easy Appetizers – Jezebel Sauce on Brie
Entertaining: Easy Appetizers – Jezebel Sauce on Brie Bette Davis received her second Academy Award for her performance in the classic 1938 movie, Jezebel: “From the picturesque glamour of the old south, a great actress draws the scarlet portrait of a gorgeous spitfire who lived by
Garlicky Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Butter, Parsley and Red Pepper Flakes
Entertaining: Easy Appetizers – Garlicky Roasted Shrimp Cocktail with Butter, Parsley and Red Pepper Flakes There are a few dishes that will never go out of style, like shrimp cocktail. This great seafood/spicy tomato-based dunking sauce combo has been an American favorite since the 19t
Cast-Iron Skillet Fondue
Cast-Iron Skillet Fondue Merry and Bright: “Christmas dreams come true when they’re dreamed by two.” -From a Hallmark Keepsake Ornament It’s pretty unusual for me to be blasé about the holidays - especially now, given that we live in the heart of Christmas Tree Country, and peop
Entertaining: Easy Appetizers - Citrus-Marinated Olives
Entertaining: Easy Appetizers - Citrus-Marinated Olives A bowl of plump and glossy marinated olives is hands-down one of my favorite hospitality gestures. And, this primo party food, perfect with wine or cocktails, couldn't be easier to throw together. Sure, you could scoop up some alread
It's really about us, my husband, Adam, and me (Cheryl), and mostly it's about the food. 
