Entrées · Soups & Stews

Spicy Chicken Pho

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Growing up in rural Mississippi, pho wasn’t a meal that we had easy access to. Our little town had a few local diners, one Chinese buffet, one Mexican restaurant, and a small handful of fast food chains. I was actually oblivious to the delightfulness of pho until my 20’s, when I moved to Jackson, MS. My first experience with homemade pho came only a few summers ago, while visiting my California gal pals in the Bay area. It was a great weekend packed with lots of outdoor adventures and lots of good food!

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Appetizers · Entrées · Soups & Stews

Caramelized Onion & Shiitake Bisque

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I recently had a run in with a mean little case of the winter crud. It kicked me out of commission for a bit, but I let my body fight the bug battle while I drifted in and out of snoozeland. During this wild rollercoaster ride between feverish sleep and reality, I dreamed of eating wonderful soup made with rich shiitake mushrooms in a velvety bisque of caramelized onions. So naturally, when I regained enough strength to get back into my kitchen, I made a big batch of bisque!

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Entrées

Crawfish & Shrimp Étouffée

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January 10th is a day that will make me smile for years to come! Last year on this day, my now fiancé and I were gallivanting around New Orleans. He had never visited this favorite city of mine, so I had a grand time showing him the sites and visiting with dear friends. On the last day of the trip, before heading to the airport, we took one last stroll around the French Quarter. As we passed through Jackson Square, where street musicians filled our ears with jazz and the sweet smell of beignets lingered in the air, my darlin’ popped the question! It was the perfect day and we celebrated the memory this past weekend with a big ol’ pot of etouffée! Cajun etouffée is usually made with just crawfish, but you will find the dish with shrimp being the star of the show as well. Since we were celebrating, I decided to make it with both!

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Appetizers

Cheesy Black-Eyed Pea Dip

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I may currently live in Ohio, but I am still just as Southern as a black-eyed pea! Black-eyed peas are a common food item year round in the rich food culture of the Southern United States, but eating them on New Years day is said to bring you good luck in the upcoming year. There are many things you can do with these tasty fellas, but in the south they are traditionally slow cooked with a smoked ham hock or pork jowl. Once on your plate, you have the option to splash your peas with a pepper soaked vinegar sauce, simply referred to as “pepper sauce,” which is a common table staple.

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Entrées

Quick Brined Garlic, Lemon, & Caraway Bone In Chops

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Pork chops are one of those things that can be really hit or miss. I am usually leery of ordering them when I am dining out because I don’t want to chance it and end up with a dry piece of something that makes me feel like I am chomping on an old sneaker! That being said, I have had some delicious ones at restaurants as well. One scrumptious one that comes to mind was served at Emeril’s Delmonico in my beloved city of New Orleans. My dad makes a mean chop too and he is the one who set the bar high on pork chops for me.

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Sides

Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts with Fresh Pomegranate Seeds

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It is a fact that I was one of those weird kids who actually liked eating their veggies. I loved spinach doused with lemon juice, southern style greens with pepper sauce, and at the top of the list… sprout balls!!!! (aka Brussels sprouts). I used to run around the house ninja kicking doors shut and announcing “Mom is cooking SPROUT BALLS!!!” Yeah I know, what a wierdo right?

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Entrées

Rosemary Brown Butter Skillet Filet Mignon

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Filets are one of my go to items to prepare for friends and family on special occasions, or even when we aren’t celebrating anything other than good company! A few years ago, I lived in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to moving into my loft, my aunt took me around the city on an apartment hunt. After a long day of debating my future dwellings, she surprised me with a visit to this magical place I immediately fell in love with… the Westside Market.

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Appetizers · Sides

Southern Cornbread

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Cornbread is a southern staple. It is frequently served at lunch and supper with just about any southern dish. My grandmother even used to crumble up leftover cornbread and stuff it into a cup of buttermilk for a snack! My dad makes the best cornbread and there are very few suppers that I can remember that were not served along with a warm slice of southern goodness.

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