I poached a chicken last week. And, no, I didn’t snatch up a loose bird, even though a neighbor a few blocks away has a small flock of chickens with an especially loud and early rising rooster. I would like to poach him, but I didn’t. I poached some chicken breasts for a chicken salad. Scanning through some of my recipe sources, I was looking for a different way to make chicken salad. … [Read more...]

Go to any church picnic, family reunion or funeral in the South and there will be meatballs. Beef meatballs swimming in a rich sauce. But when you leave the affair, there will be no more meatballs. They vanish like roaches when the light turns on. Meatballs are simply a southern tradition, a staple. They are often reserved for appetizers, but a big helping over some egg noodles makes a killer … [Read more...]

    There must be a million recipes for Chicken Casseroles. I’ve tried a good many and I can’t recall a bad one. I saw an interesting one recently called Creamy Chicken Casserole and decided to give it a try. It’s a keeper. Not only is it rich and creamy, but you can also put it together in no time. It starts with a Rotisserie Chicken. It doesn’t have to be.  I often cook my own … [Read more...]

  Butter beef? Really?  Sounds good, doesn’t it. It is good, it’s fairly economical, and it’s easy. I saw the recipe recently and I had to try it - with my variations, of course. The recipe called for stew beef, but you never know what you’re getting with stew beef, and it’s really not that inexpensive. I rooted around and found a couple top round steaks – a bit over a pound total, … [Read more...]

  Recently I had the opportunity to cook with a cast iron skillet. I fried some bacon and eggs for a friend, and they turned out perfectly. The pan was over 60 years old and well-seasoned. The eggs did not stick, and the bacon cooked nice and crispy. But the skillet was a different shape. It had higher sides. It was 10 ½ by 3 ½. The bottom read “Chicken Fryer”. I had to have one and … [Read more...]

  When Nancy and I find our way down to our favorite ocean front condo at Nag’s Head, we always enjoy a huge eat-in breakfast. On occasion, we’ll go out and squeeze into a booth at Sam and Omie’s. They have the best breakfasts on the beach – next to mine, that is. Nancy and I typically have a fresh melon, cheese grits, eggs over easy, toast and – yes – Spencer’s Sausage. Spicy, rich, … [Read more...]

  Eye of round roasts are one of those entrées we just don’t serve enough. They are quite inexpensive when compared to a rib roast, but unless you have a big family or company coming, I always felt that a roast like that was too much for a family of two. I now disagree with myself. They are perfect, even for just the two of us. I wanted some roast beef and saw an eye of round, about … [Read more...]

  It was the family car, and a member of the family. It was the only “car” member of the family because most Boomer families in the 1950s and 1960s only had one car. Moms stayed home as a rule and dads drove the only car to work, or if mom had some shopping or errands to run, she dropped off dad and picked him up after work. Kids either walked or rode their bikes to school. The kids in the … [Read more...]

  Like King Arthur, I’m constantly searching. But not for a Holy Grail. Rather, I am always on the lookout for Mexican sides, something to serve with Enchiladas or Burritos besides chips and salsa. I tried a new recipe this week, and I think it’s winner. I call it a Corn and Avocado Mexican Salad. If nothing else, it sounds impressive. Here’s how I put it together. Start with a can of … [Read more...]

  I have never had much luck with briskets. I have cooked them on the grill, I have smoked them, I have slow cooked them in the oven and the best I ever produced was just edible. My briskets have often turned out dry and tough. I see those barbeque shows on TV, salivate over the delicious-looking briskets, but for me, no luck – until this weekend when I decided to put the brisket in my … [Read more...]