Green Beans With Diced Ham, Onions & Red Pimentos: A Simple Comfort Classic My grandmother, bless her heart, wasn’t one for fancy ingredients or complicated techniques. Her kitchen was a haven of simple, honest food made with love. This recipe for green beans with ham, onions, and pimentos instantly transports me back to her sunny … Read more
Pimento Pickles: A Taste of Nostalgia My grandmother’s kitchen always held the most intriguing smells, a symphony of sweet and savory that wrapped around you like a warm hug. Among the many jars lining her pantry shelves, the one that always caught my eye was filled with these vibrant, jewel-toned pickles. Their sweet and tangy … Read more
The Ultimate Homemade Pimento Cheese Recipe: A Southern Classic I can still picture it: sweltering summer afternoons in my grandmother’s kitchen, the air thick with humidity and the tantalizing aroma of cheese. She always had a bowl of pimento cheese tucked away in the fridge, ready to be slathered on crackers for an afternoon snack. … Read more
Veggie Medley Salad: A Symphony of Flavors and Textures I can still picture it: a vibrant, colorful bowl sitting proudly on my grandmother’s picnic table. The Veggie Medley Salad. As a child, I wasn’t always the biggest fan of vegetables, but this salad was different. The tangy-sweet dressing, the satisfying crunch of the celery and … Read more
Pickled Macaroni Salad: A Tangy Twist on a Classic My grandmother, bless her heart, was the queen of potlucks. And at every single gathering, without fail, there was her signature macaroni salad. It wasn’t the creamy, mayonnaise-laden kind you often find. No, hers was different. It was tangy, a little sweet, and bursting with the … Read more
Spanish Scrambled Eggs: A Fiesta on Your Plate The first time I tasted scrambled eggs prepared this way, I was far from Spain – it was at a potluck brunch hosted by a neighbor who had lived abroad. The aroma alone was intoxicating – a savory blend of bacon, peppers, and something subtly tangy. One … Read more
Grandma’s Corn Casserole: A Slice of Southern Comfort The aroma alone transports me back to Grandma Bessie’s kitchen. I can almost feel the warmth of her well-worn apron as she pulled this golden casserole from the oven. It wasn’t fancy, but it was always present at family gatherings—a comforting, familiar flavor that tasted like love … Read more
The Unexpected Elegance of Homemade Canned Pimentos My grandmother, bless her heart, believed in stocking up. Her pantry, a wonderland of colorful jars, was always ready for any culinary challenge. But amidst the jams, pickles, and preserves, it was the unassuming jars of ruby-red pimentos that always caught my eye. She’d use them in everything … Read more
Chicken Stretch: A Nostalgic Family Favorite I can almost smell the faint aroma of pimentos and celery just thinking about this dish. “Chicken Stretch,” as it was always affectionately called in my family, wasn’t just a meal; it was a memory. I remember summers at my grandmother’s, the cousins running wild in the yard, and … Read more
Crunchy Corn Medley: A Symphony of Summer Flavors My grandmother, bless her heart, was the queen of potlucks. She had a sixth sense for what people would love, and this Crunchy Corn Medley was always a guaranteed hit. I remember, as a kid, sneaking spoonfuls from the bowl while she wasn’t looking, loving the sweet … Read more
Black Eyed Pea and Corn Salsa: A Taste of Southern Sunshine I can still remember the first time I tasted this vibrant salsa. It was at a summer barbecue hosted by my friend Sarah, a true Southern belle. The air was thick with the scent of grilling chicken and honeysuckle, and a colorful array of … Read more
Rich & Charlie’s Salad (Copycat) There are some restaurant experiences that just stick with you. For me, one of those memories revolves around Rich & Charlie’s – an iconic St. Louis eatery. As a kid, my family would frequent the place, and I was always fascinated by the sheer size of the salad barrel they … Read more