Southern-style cornbread is a controversial topic, and it’s guaranteed that I’ll have a few rocks thrown at me for my take on it. There’s an almost puritanical point of view that says cornbread never has sugar or flour in it. My grandparents that were descended from migrants from Tennessee made that kind of cornbread. The […]
Southern Food
White Beans and Tasso
Being a West Texan, I’m about as close to an authority on what a bean should taste like as you can find. Sometimes, though, a pot of pinto beans just won’t do it for you. You need something different. White beans and tasso is an excellent alternative. In fact, secretly, cannellini beans (white kidney beans) are […]
Texas-Style Shrimp and Cheese Grits
Texas-Style Shrimp and Cheese Grits are probably one of the most popular dishes in my household. The savory cheese grits, the giant flavor of the trinity, and the crisp, clean bite of jumbo-sized Gulf shrimp are incomparable. The smoky flavor of the poblano takes the traditional to a whole new level. Top it with some Texas-Style […]
Homemade Tasso Ham Recipe
Tasso ham is a Cajun-style cured meat that resembles small, spicy country hams. You can dice it up and mix it into eggs, red beans and rice, jambalaya, or throw a few chunks into a pot of beans or collard greens to add a nice smoky Cajun kick. One really nice thing about it is […]
Green Beans with New Potatoes
Green Beans (or “snap-beans”) and new potatoes were a staple in my home growing up. Green beans were easy to grow when my family lived out in East Texas, and potatoes are about the cheapest thing you can buy at the grocery store. Add a little bacon and onion, then splash a little vinegar on […]
East Texas Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
I call it East Texas Jambalaya, but it’s really Louisiana Cajun Jambalaya with German sausage instead of Andouille sausage. It’s what was available to me when I lived in the German belt in Central Texas. It’s also my favorite style of sausage, so I step away from tradition a little bit here, but not that […]
Bacon and Onion Jam
Bacon and onion jam is a sweet and savory treat that’s popular in the American South. It adds a salty, smoky, and sweet punch to everything from breakfast toast to grilled cheeseburgers. In this version of bacon and onion jam, I’ve dialed the onion flavor back a bit and amped up the bacon flavor. The […]
Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuits
Jalapeno cheddar biscuits may not be the prettiest biscuits you’ve ever seen, but they might be the tastiest. They are super soft and explode with flavor. They go perfectly with the bold flavors of Southern or Southwestern fare. Use High-Quality Cornmeal Cornmeal is an ingredient that I feel should be bought based on quality more […]
Braised Collard Greens – Southern Style
To me, braised collard greens are as Tex-Mex as anything else. A pile of braised greens was standard fare in my house growing up. They were cheap and healthy. It was a common occurrence to have a big pile of braised greens next to some stacked enchiladas. This was probably more of a West Tex-Mex […]
Hot Water Cornbread
Hot water cornbread is an older cousin to the cornbread that most people are accustomed to today. Maybe it could be considered a distant great-granduncle to the typical stuff since according to Sean Brock, the professor of all things Southern Cooking, it predates regular cornbread quite a bit. Hot water cornbread is a treat not too […]
