Hello, again

It’s been quite a while since I’ve blogged. Two months, by my account. I guess work, kids and life got in the way.
It’s not that I haven’t been trying new recipes and ingredients … I just haven’t been writing about them here.
I’m excited about the Piggly Wiggly that’s set to open in Saltillo in a [...]

Food tour of NeMiss?

A variety of barbecue and side orders awaits a group of four Birmingham-Southern College students at Byron’s Smokehouse in Auburn, Ala., Wednesday. The students, self-named the “Southern BBQ Boys,” have spent January visiting some of the South’s finest barbecue restaurants for course credit in an unusual writing class that combines eating barbeque with academics. (AP [...]

Gumbo for Super Bowl Sunday

I was on a radio program this morning with Bill Cossett and Russ Wilson, talking about Super Bowl foods. I mentioned that we were going to have Chicken Gumbo in our home on Sunday, along with some appetizers, and I’ve had a couple of listeners call and ask for the recipe.
So here it is. It’s [...]

Birthday cake time

This morning, I began the process of making my daughter a birthday cake. She’ll be 15 tomorrow (Jan. 8 … yes, she was born in Tupelo on Elvis’ birthday). I’ll admit I used a Duncan Hines butter cake mix for the layers, but I’m making a homemade chocolate frosting for it.
I can’t remember the last [...]

Tony’s Market has closed

I am in mourning.
My husband and I bopped into Tony’s Market Saturday  morning only to be told by an employee at La  Vino (next door) that Tony’s closed on New Year’s Eve. The employee said there just wasn’t enough traffic to keep the doors open.  (I don’t know how this could be true. I’ve told [...]

Hoppin’ John for New Year

Four years ago, I published my mother-in-law’s recipe for Hoppin’ John a couple of days before the new year was to begin. Every year, I get requests for the recipe from folks who have misplaced it or thrown it out. Here it is again, just in time for New Year’s Day.
Happy New Year!
Hoppin’ John
1 (16-ounce) [...]

Thanksgiving Day Strata

I mentioned in my column this week that I’d made two different breakfast dishes on Thanksgiving morning. One was Easy Orange Rolls, which is in the Food section of the paper today (12/3). The other is this Strata, which is a fancy word for a breakfast casserole.
This turned out well, although it could have baked [...]

IV’s sets re-opening date

I talked to Al Wallace at IV’s restaurant in Tupelo earlier today and he said he was re-opening his restaurant on Monday, Dec. 1, at its new location on West Main Street across from Ballard Park.
The lunch and dinner menus will change – no more white tablecloths, just good food prepared simply.
Read more about Al’s [...]

Restaurants open on Thanksgiving?

I’ve had a call from a reader wanting to know if any restaurants (outside of fast food restaurants) will be serving Thanksgiving dinner, either a buffet, or a meal with all the trimmings (turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, etc.)
If anyone knows of one in Tupelo or nearby, please give me a holler.

Thanksgiving memories and traditions

Have you got a Thanksgiving tradition in your family you’d like to tell us about or a special memory from Turkey Day you’d like to share? If so, let us hear from you.
In 250 words or less, regale us with a tale about Grandmaw falling asleep in her plate or Uncle Henry carving the turkey [...]