STRIPED BASS I met a very pleasant young man earlier this week, and he told me his friend had given him a striped bass; he asked me how to cook it. Depending on where you live in the country, striped bass is known by many other names like pimpfish or rockfish.  The taste of the…

Blackened is the term that references seasoning and the cooking process. The cooking process dictates the poultry, fish, beef, lamb, or pork is dip or brush in melted butter, and the blackened seasoning then sear in a hot cast iron skillet.  Follow these directions your meat will be dark and crusty, the perfect blackened dish….

STUFFED BELL PEPPER 3 bell peppers, 2 T. butter, 1 cup chopped white onions, 1 cup chopped celery, 1/4 cup bell peppers, 1/2 tsp. salt,  1/4 tsp. pepper, 1 tsp. granulated garlic, 1 T. Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning,  1 lb. ground chicken, 1/4  ground turkey, 1 (6 oz.) can mild tomatoes and chili,…

HOT WATER CORNBREAD 1 cup yellow cornmeal, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon bacon drippings, 3/4 cup boiled water. Get out a bowl, add the cornmeal, salt, and sugar.  Add the water and bacon drippings bacon.  Stir until everything is well blended.  Get out a cast-iron skillet, add 1/2 – 3/4 inches of…

Below is a precious gift from my kitchen to your kitchen.  Here is my simple recipe for sparkling wine grape jelly.  The ideal wine is an extra dry wine with balanced sweetness with a slight hint of florals. HOMEMADE GRAPE JELLY 2 pounds seedless purple grapes, 1 (2 oz.) package dry pectin, 3/4 cups water,…

My elders told me the name hoecakes described how the slaves cooked their cornbread on their hoes’ blades while working in the field. The hoecake recipe made in the field was cornmeal, salt, and water. 2 cups cornmeal, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1 tablespoon butter flavored shortening, or bacon drippings. Melt the fat,…

My book will be published on September 7, 2021. Save the date.

CAULIFLOWER STIR FRY 1/2 cauliflower head, finely chopped, 1/2 cup frozen white corn kernels, 1/2 cup frozen peas, 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 1/4 cup white onion, chopped, 1 carrot, peeled and chopped, 3 green onions, chopped, 1/4 cup red bell pepper, cut into thin strips, 1/4 cup sugar snapped peas,…

As we age, we all become afraid of the dreaded word ALZHEIMER. The biggest question is how do we keep our brains sharp.  Here are a couple of ways you can do that: Minimize trans-fat. This can be achieved by not frying your food. Minimize saturated fat intake.  Fatty meats and full-fat dairy products contain…

SEAFOOD LASAGNA 1 pound lasagna noodles, 1/2 pound bulk hot Italian sausage, 1 pound shrimp, heads and shells peeled and deveined, tails removed, chop shrimp, 2 (8 oz.) cans lump crab meat, 3 garlic cloves, minced, 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped, 1 teaspoon crushed red peppers,3 green onions, finely chopped,…

BLACK BEAN HUMMUS 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, 2 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 1/2  Ethiopian tahini, 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander, 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, 1 tablespoon tequila Drain beans, reserve…

My brother Floyd drinks at least one beer daily.  He says drinking beer is how he contributes to the world by saving water for the rest of us. I am thanking my brother today for his charitable contributions by making BEER BREAD for him! UNCLE FLOYD BEER BREAD 3 cups self-rising flour,  1/4 tablespoon raw…