Author: brycooks

Southern Greens – Just Like Mama Used To Make!

Southern Greens – Just Like Mama Used To Make!

A staple in many Southern homes, this side dish is packed full of nutrition – assuming you don’t overcook it, as is the traditional Southern way. I prefer to cook the greens for about 30 minutes, to retain the nutrients and flavor. Trader Joe’s sells 

St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef & Cabbage

St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef & Cabbage

Like turkey on Thanksgiving, it’s the one day of the year when everyone gets to enjoy corned beef and cabbage. Some people refuse to eat it, claiming a dislike for the taste of boiled cabbage, but I found the solution to the REAL reason: I 

Tex Mex Turkey Chili With Beans

Tex Mex Turkey Chili With Beans

Years ago, I discovered this recipe by chance on the inside of the ground turkey cardboard wrapper.  I’ve made it many times as a winter comfort food, and it can be ready in as little as 30 minutes. It’s great reheated, and leftovers can be 

Tasty Lip-Smackin’ Fried Chicken

Tasty Lip-Smackin’ Fried Chicken

Having grown up in Maryland, with not one but two moms who were also from the South, you’d think I’d enjoyed a lifetime’s worth of delicious, home-made fried chicken. Somehow, that quintessential Southern staple never made it to our dinner, or picnic, table. My second 

Meyer Lemon Bars

Meyer Lemon Bars

In Northern California, we are fortunate to have Meyer lemons available to us most of the year. They have a different flavor than regular lemons – less tart and sweeter – and have a slightly darker color, with a smooth rind. I decided to try 

Hearty Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Hearty Slow Cooker Pot Roast

There are many slow cooker pot roast recipes out there. Based on what I’ve tried, I’ve come up with this one – I love the thick, tasty gravy that develops, along with just the right combination of vegetables. You can adjust the quantities according to 

Dad’s Favorite Linguini in Lemon Clam Sauce

Dad’s Favorite Linguini in Lemon Clam Sauce

My Dad LOVES this dish! He asks my second mom to make it whenever he’s in need of some good, hearty comfort food. It’s quick, easy, and heart-warming! 1/3 cup chopped onion 2 cloves minced garlic 3 Tbsp. butter 3 Tbsp. olive oil 2 tsp. 

Embarrassingly Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Embarrassingly Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Perhaps a better title would be “Semi-Homemade Chicken Pot Pie,” but it really is embarrassing how easy it is to make this hearty dish that will make your kitchen smell wonderful and generate enthusiastic requests for seconds! This is the basic recipe, and you can 

Two Options For Dry Rub Marinated Baby Back Ribs

Two Options For Dry Rub Marinated Baby Back Ribs

While I have always made “country style pork ribs” (which are, in fact, not ribs at all, but are from the pork shoulder), I recently decided to try this recipe for baby back ribs (also known as loin back ribs). It’s from a Paula Deen 

Hearty Blue Cheese And Bacon Burgers

Hearty Blue Cheese And Bacon Burgers

I almost misspelled hearty as “healthy” – NOT!  Ah, but remember my Dad’s wise advice: Anything in moderation is fine. This is a great, hearty way to mix up your everyday burger recipe. The ingredients I use yield 6 thick n juicy burgers. In a 

Meatloaf {sorta} Just Like Mom Used To Make

Meatloaf {sorta} Just Like Mom Used To Make

I say SORTA because I took my Mom’s original recipe and made several changes – so many, in fact, that my version is but a distant cousin to hers. Maybe the title should be “Definitely NOT Mom’s Meatloaf!” The most significant change is that I 

{Insert clever name} Chicken in Sherry Cream Sauce

{Insert clever name} Chicken in Sherry Cream Sauce

I love love LOVE this chicken dish, its balance of tanginess provided by the lemon juice and sour cream coupled with the sweet, distinctive flavor of the sherry.  My second mom came up with this recipe a long time ago (when I was in high