While making the crust for my Pumpkin Pie I decided to take step-by-step pictures to help you make perfect pie crust, too!  It is so easy and way better than any frozen or refrigerated pie crust you can buy.

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Thanksgiving is my most favorite Holiday of the year.  I love to cook the entire dinner by myself.  I love setting a beautiful table using all my special things that were handed down through my family and those that are cherished Wedding gifts.

I LOVE this holiday because it is all about sharing a special meal with loved ones and a chance to reflect on all of God’s Richest Blessings HE has bestowed on each and every one of us.  No presents to buy and wrap, no too tired or over stimulated little ones wishing they were still home with their new toys…..just the family gathered to eat, have meaningful conversations and to watch FOOTBALL, of course. Continue reading →

Every year I look forward to reading all the great Cooking Magazines to see what new recipes are trending for that year or what chefs come up with to put their spin on old traditional dishes.  I get excited and try to decide on something new to put on my Thanksgiving dinner table.   But every time I would change a recipe or try something new, I got very negative reactions, like the year I decided to make homemade cranberry sauce….the kids had a fit “What happened to our cranberry sauce with the lines on it???  What’s this stuff????”  Or “What happened to your Parker House Rolls?”  “We don’t like those grocery store Brown & Serve ones!”

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Bourbon Pecan Pie or if you prefer….just leave out the Bourbon!

Taught this Bourbon Pecan pie in a recent cooking class.  The guests wanted me to add more Bourbon than the recipe called for….I thought it had just enough but you can eliminate it all together.  The crust is perfect.  Years ago when I was catering lots of Thanksgiving pies..I was always so nervous when taking pies out of the oven.  I was always scared I would ruin the pie by accidently knocking off a bit of the fluted crust.  I solved that problem by using a removable bottom Quiche pan!  Comes out beautiful every time!  It takes 3/4 of this Perfect Pie Crust recipe.

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One of my favorite dishes I turn to when the weather finally brings a chill to our Southern skies is definitely, hands down, without question…… Chicken and Dumplings.  I always make a huge pot so I have plenty to share and lots to have for myself.

I always start with a rich Chicken Stock and if you research classic Southern cookbooks for Chicken and Dumplings you will find a truly simple recipe containing little more than a raw chicken, maybe a little onion and salt and pepper.  You boil the chicken until the meat falls off the bones, strain it and reserve the meat to add later.  The dumplings usually are just flour, water, and maybe an egg salt and pepper.  They are mixed, rolled out, cut into squares or strips and dropped into the boiling broth.  More black pepper is added and that’s about it! Continue reading →