September 17, 2021 We made it through Ida relatively unscathed-- no wind damage, no water damage, and we were able to get a generator on the refrigerator and freezer, so we didn't lose too much. Thank you to all who emailed and checked in. We are slowly getting back to a normal routine so I will keep my letter short. There are many south of us still without power and who are still suffering. Please keep them in mind and if you can help where you can. Enjoy the recipes below, stay safe and healthy, and, ...Continue Reading

September 10, 2021 We made it through Ida relatively unscathed-- no wind damage, no water damage, and we were able to get a generator on the refrigerator and freezer, so we didn't lose too much. We had two full propane tanks for the BBQ, and by then end of the day Wednesday had three large ice chests full of ice, so we were also able to save a lot of neighbor's food. We cooked dinner every night for more than a week, made coffee every morning, and did what we all could to help each other out. Our power came back o ...Continue Reading

August 27, 2021 If you live along the Louisiana coast, keep an eye on what is likely to be Tropical Storm Ida by the time you read this. Right now, it's likely to make landfall as a major hurricane somewhere along our coast. So, today's note is short. The recipes I selected for the week show that I'm really ready for some cooler weather. The Sausage and White Bean Gratin comes together quickly and is one I love; I generally make the substitutions I describe below. Beans, sausage, and greens are one of my favorite ...Continue Reading

August 20, 2021 With the Delta variant of COVID-19 surging in my area, we've pretty much battened the hatches back down. I'm deep into producing the upcoming 2021 Holiday Food Guide, always a bit disconcerting to be testing and cooking fabulous feast food when it's August-hot outside, but the results are VERY tasty. For the recipes this week, I selected two from the newly-released cookbook Five Ingredient Dinners by America's Test Kitchen. They sent me a copy of it earlier this week, and it is loaded with recipes ...Continue Reading

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August 13, 2021 Tammany Taste of Summer is going on on the beautiful Northshore--there are so many wonderful restaurants participating this year, it's hard to choose. If you find yourself in that part of the state, though, you should spend some serious time perusing the list, and pick something delicious. For the recipes this week, I decided to ignore the fact that it is monsooning most afternoons, and go ahead and include one of my favorite ways to cook fish outdoors, the delicious blackened redfish. You can use ...Continue Reading

August 6, 2021 I wrapped up the fall edition of the magazine earlier this week and am looking forward to a brief respite before plunging headlong into the annual Holiday Food Guide, one of my absolute favorites. I'd love to hear from you if you have some family favorites you always make and serve over the holiday season, particularly if you're willing to share a recipe with me! Drop me a note any time. For this week's recipes, I'm keeping it really simple. The Devil Crab recipe is an old favorite, and one you don ...Continue Reading

July 23, 2021 I'm on deadline for the next print edition of the magazine, and have things pretty well in hand. We have some great food slated, lots appropriate for tailgating and other social gatherings. I passed off leftover pasta salad and quinoa and black bean salad to a friend earlier this week, and she's reporting back that they're both delicious. They both pair well with anything off the grill. For this week's recipes, I dug into the archives for any easy recipe with catfish--much as I love fried catfish, t ...Continue Reading

July 16, 2021 I'm on deadline for the next print edition of the magazine, and have things pretty well in hand. We have some great food slated, lots appropriate for tailgating and other social gatherings. I passed off leftover pasta salad and quinoa and black bean salad to a friend earlier this week, and she's reporting back that they're both delicious. They both pair well with anything off the grill. For this week's recipes, I dug into my cookbook collection and selected a recipe with a new way to cook a perfect, ...Continue Reading

July 9, 2021 It's been a week for dining out. Jim's birthday was Wednesday and he wanted to get out of the house; we went to El Gato Negro in Lakeview for an excellent meal and a great pineapple margarita. If you go, don't miss out on the El Gato Soup, grandma's secret pinto bean and pulled pork delicious concoction. I ordered a bowlful to go and will probably have it tonight for dinner. Then yesterday, I had lunch at Susan Spicer's wonderful Mid City restaurant Rosedale with my friend Karen (after more ...Continue Reading