September 2, 2022 *Hi We've made it to* Labor Day weekend without a "thing that shall not be named" threatening the US and I think we all have appendages crossed that it remains that way. Last Labor Day we were still without power in the wake of Hurricane Ida. We've finally had a few days without rain, and yesterday it was 94F when I started out to the grocery store at 4:30; much more typical weather for this time of year. We're planning a barbecue for Monday; Jim has requested ribs, I'm going to m ...Continue Reading

August 25, 2022 *At 8:30 this morning* I checked the weather and it read, "85F, feels like 95F, 100% chance of rain", so my earworm today has been that phrase sung to the tune of "Sixteen, Going on Seventeen", from The Sound of Music. Thankfully, we've not had the devastating flooding others have experienced in the last few weeks, but it's rained every day since early July, often torrential rain, so the ground is soaked. I'm sick of it, and ready for a break. For the recipes this week, I ...Continue Reading

August 19, 2022 *Cursory note* from me this week; I'm working long hours to get the next issue of the magazine out the door. Sorry for the brevity, but there are some very good recipes below.  Kevin Temple's recipe for mild fish with lemon butter shrimp is a keeper, the stuffed eggplant and the Creole meatballs are for days you don't mind heating up your kitchen. Enjoy the recipes, stay safe, cool, and healthy, and, as always, let me know what's on your mind.  Laissez les bon temps& ...Continue Reading

August 11, 2022 Most of the rest of the country is suffering through heat wave and drought, here in New Orleans, it's endless rain. Makes it difficult to get outside and grill things, which is one of my favorite ways of preparing dinner during the summer. At least it's not hot, and the cooler weather seems to have kept the tropical storms at bay, at least so far. For the recipes this week: First up,  another one from Virginia Willis,this time a spicy mac & cheese perfect for any summer gathering. Next, a ...Continue Reading

August 5, 2022 The food I cooked this week! We tested several recipes for the September/October edition of the magazine this week, and I'm still passing off food to friends. They're all for the Weeknight section of the magazine, so all fairly simple, but oh so tasty. One I was quite sceptical about all through the cooking process, because it involves cooking a can of coconut milk down to almost nothing. BUT, we were left with an intensely flavored sauce that was perfect for half a pound of pasta. It also involved ...Continue Reading

July 29, 2022 With family in town over the weekend, we cooked a lot, but finished out the visit with a trip out to dinner. It was dry Monday night and really cooled off after the sun went down, so we sat outside on the upstairs balcony at Gris Gris. The food was excellent. Swordfish, shrimp and grits, chicken maque choux, and a double cut porkchop for our entrées, and a selection of appetizers. The food was all delicious, the service was flawless; highly recommend if you're looking for a neighborhood restau ...Continue Reading

July 22, 2022 Hi Jim's cousin and his wife are coming in for the weekend and I'm really looking forward to it. We've not seen them since before the pandemic, so it'll be good to catch up. A neighbor has been catching redfish like nobody's business this summer, and he's promised me a big batch, so we'll be feasting on that one night; I haven't decided yet how I'm going to prepare it. Maybe blackened if the weather's nice; that'll have to be outside on the propane burner because of the smoke. For the recipes t ...Continue Reading

July 14, 2022 I am hard at work on the September/October edition of the magazine, and I always try to include some comfort food dishes for those of you who live in climates that cool down after August. I have to say, it's hard to motivate myself to develop the heavier recipes, but today I'm salivating over the pot of chili I'm working on. It'll come with a skillet of crusty buttermilk cornbread. When I'm satisfied with it, I'll turn the A/C down a few notches, invite some friends over, and we'll feast. For the re ...Continue Reading

July 9, 2022 Thankfully, the heat wave seems to have broken here in New Orleans, if you classify high 80s with higher humidity "not a heatwave". We had people over for a potluck on the 4th, and were able to sit outside comfortably. The food was delicious, the company enjoyable, and the fireworks show too far down the river to completely terrify the pets. For this week's recipes, I turned first to an old Southern cookbook I've had for years for a smothered porkchop and rice dish. (The book linked here is ...Continue Reading

June 24, 2022 Here in New Orleans it's sunny with a 99% chance of heatwave for the weekend, the kind of heat that is dangerous if you don't take care. I am grateful for air conditioning. I intend to stay inside, and spend some quality time in the kitchen. Not sure yet what I'm going to cook, but there will definitely be summer vegetables on the menu. The markets are bursting with them. Maybe I'll do a pot of my mom's vegetable beef soup, something she always made as soon as the vegetable garden started produc ...Continue Reading