I'm a firm believer that if it had not been for Southern Living magazines and cookbooks, the dinner party never would have existed in the South. Oh, we cooked.. we literally drug our collective titties through it - but the concept of the dinner party would have been relegated to those of finer standing in the community... with "help".I've seen enough - Take me to The RecipeSouthern Living came to life in 1966. They wrote of events, houses, decorating ideas - and to the adoration of housewives across the deep south - about food and entertaining. Even today, they are the most...
Plate Fodder
A collection of family stories, personal adventures, culinary explorations and my deep seated love for food.
Latest Food Blogs from Plate Fodder
Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Bread... and the resulting pudding.
If I close my eyes and avoid every mirror - I'm 35, Svelte, and athletic.I'd embrace every new food trend and be an ambassador for healthy eating.I'd be a bastion of good will and charity... and I'd like whole wheat bread....none of those things are particularly true.I'm no spring chicken, and haven't been an an inordinate amount of time... I'm 50 - plus (ish). And while I'm quite possibly in the best physical shape of my life, I...
Dont make me smack you with this salad bowl...
I also like a great Caesar salad with anchovies, although I don't know why some places say 'with anchovies.' If you're making a proper Caesar salad, it's going to have anchovies. - Paula PoundstoneLike everyone from time to time... I guess, I seem to forget the little things in life...Where I left my car keysMy ATM pin numberDid I take my vitamins this morning?The name of the guy... that did that thing...Do I have a cat?Why do I have 12...
Keeping Tradition - The Turtle Creek Method
When my parents were still building the cabin at the rear of the property where Turtle Creek now resides, it was time divided between two lives. The house in Marietta - where jobs and obligations lived. And the cabin in Dahlonega - where their new life as retirees would one day begin.They would pack up the vehicles on Fridays and make the long back roads trip to spend every free moment of the weekend hanging drywall, painting and...
Questionable Parenting & Crispy Smashed Taters
I've said it a million times...The powers that be knew what they were doing when they left me out of the procreating pool, I just wouldn't make a very good parent. My insane phobia around children not withstanding, I would probably spend more time in family court than at work for my views on discipline and punishment, acceptable public behavior, and just things in general that I'd consider... fun.I mean, I'd have...
Baleful Bounty - Chopping Broccoli
Typically, the garden year for me ends with the chili - picking festival as I strip even the most minuscule nub of a pepper off the plants just before fall. Don't get excited... there are no invites - and the peppers just barely fill a mason jar.It's a little ritual. The plants are uprooted and dug under, the garden is tidied up, the bales are raked apart so the harsh winter can continue to break down the straw mulch to build the...
Bread Whore
I've just eaten my third loaf of no knead bread in something under 2 weeks....okay, it's more like eight days...But, I'm a bread whore.... it's what I do.No Knead breads? You're right... they're nothing new. All are based (or out-right stolen) from Jim Lahey's four ingredient procedure. You can find his original recipe and procedures for it HERE.But, this is my show and you know I just can't leave something alone.The real appeal of this...
Cat Heads and a road less traveled
"Cat Heads & Gravy / 5 Miles"The sign read.I used to travel a lot on my off days. Occasionally, when you could do such a thing and the airlines were more concerned with filling every seat, I would throw together a light packed bag and park myself in the airport - waiting for that thrilling last minute cheap seat to ... where ever. It didn't matter where, it was just away. I flew to Corpus Christi for $15 once; San Fran for $25; I...
Simple Dinner Sunday - Country Pork Ribs
Okay... a "Country-Style Rib" is really a misnomer - they really aren't ribs ... at all. While ribs come from ..well, the rib-ish back and belly areas - Country Style ribs are actually from the shoulder roast (also known as a Boston Butt) area of the pig. And the little bits of bone? Shoulder blade. So, with that in mind - the "rib" is meatier and more tender since it's coming from the shoulder end of the loin - with none of the...
Weekday Meals - Down & Dirty Paella
In a perfect world, I could prioritize my time so there'd be enough time to rake the leaves, re-organize the studio, sweep, mop, dust, make 3 trips to the local home improvement (take all my money) mart, design and trench out the drainage system for the summer rental - with enough time left over to whip up a tasty paella... all before lunch.I don't even live next-door to that world. I marvel.. yes, marvel at these do-it-all...
Get Your Pudding On...
If this were a perfect world, I'd probably publish this recipe on Christmas Eve. You would get all kinds of unreasonably giddy with thoughts of Christmases long past. You'd conjure up memories of diving into that mammoth matriarchal pudding by the fading light of the brandy flame and claiming the little sterling prize. You'd then jump up, run to the kitchen and whip your own Christmas pudding in fifteen minutes - just in time to...
