If there’s one thing my mama taught me, it was to love good Southern food. There are so many foods that we in the American South claim as our own…some of them, many northern folks haven’t even tried. That’s ok, of course, as they have their specialties, too; regional cooking is wonderful. But I digress.… Continue reading Mama Steph’s Southern grits and greens casserole
There aren’t many simple foods that have the same level of cult status as grilled cheese sandwiches. And it’s with good reason; they a warm, crispy and buttery on the outside, and melty, cheesy and decadent on the inside. Add to that the fact that it takes about ten minutes to prepare them, and you… Continue reading Grilled cheese for every craving + the soup to dunk it in!
I think the reason I love butter is that I was denied it for so many years. Not maliciously, of course. You see, I grew up in the 1970s, and in those days, every housewife used margarine. They were told it was better for their families, and it was less expensive than… Continue reading Cooking basics: Making fresh butter
Are you ready for a decadent sweet treat that is easy to make, sturdy enough to travel well, and completely chewy and delicious? Then today is your lucky day! Here is a simple version of turtle bars…no candy thermometer needed, just bake up the crust, pour over it the easy filling and yummy toppings, and… Continue reading Easy-to-make and deliciously decadent turtle bars
I was grumping recently (yeah, I grump sometimes) about how pumpkin companies need to make their cans of pureed pumpkin two full cups, not 1 3/4 cups. Â Most recipes I have for pumpkin baked goods ask for a full cup. My pumpkin blondies, for example…and oh goodness, they are so very good! I made them… Continue reading Practically perfect cranberry-pumpkin bread
Where do you fall in the “breakfast vs. no breakfast” debate? Some of us can’t imagine a day without a good breakfast, while some can’t be bothered to stop to eat before heading out the door to their busy, nonstop days. Happily, that’s why weekends are so great! (Well, one of many reasons…) You can… Continue reading Three nearly-perfect weekend breakfast ideas
It’s finally happened, y’all; cool autumn air has finally arrived at my house! Some of you have had it for awhile; I’ve tried not to be envious. I’ve been buying quilts over the last few months, just preparing for the arrival of winter; I’ve been doing canning and freezing, when I could, Â with the delicious… Continue reading Roasted sweet potatoes with brown butter-sage sauce
My maternal grandmother’s name was Martha Stephenson Hardin (I’m named Stephanie in honor of the Stephenson surname) and she was an orphan. The very fact that she and her sisters, Agnes and Helen, were orphaned when they were young makes me extra proud of her as a woman when I think of the things she… Continue reading Grammy’s perfect fig preserves
My friend Mark lost his mom this week. What a sad thing it is to lose one’s mother. The very woman who God used to give us life suddenly has no more life in her own body. It’s hard to wrap one’s mind around. Hearing what my friend was going through in his time of… Continue reading Memories of mom
I have weird dreams. They say that’s a sign of a creative mind, right? Last night I actually dreamed that I did so much decluttering in my kitchen that I had some empty cabinets. I mean, who dreams that? Anyone who knows me well knows that dreaming about organizing is somewhat out of character for… Continue reading The grilled peach salad of my dreams
In Mama Steph's Kitchen 