This dish is perfect for Thanksgiving because it frees up oven space and travels well. Shred your own cheese, using a food processor or hand grater. There won’t be any leftovers!
Continue reading “Slow Cooker Bacon Mac & Cheese”
Thanksgiving is upon us, and whether you’re team canned cranberry or fresh, you’ve got to have this classic accompaniment on turkey day. I grew up eating the canned cranberry sauce and I must admit, I love the little ridges and all. The fresh stuff is good too, but it’s a different experience all together.
The lemon juice is the star ingredient in this recipe, inspired by the one and only Ina Garten. I use cranberry juice instead of water to reinforce the flavors. The cranberries simmering on the stovetop perfumes the whole home and really sets the mood for the holidays.
Gobble, gobble!
I’m already experiencing a fantastic Thanksgiving week! We celebrated turkey day at the office on Monday, and yours truly handled the piece de resistance. Today I’m sharing my recipe for Herb Roasted Turkey with you. Make this for the most moist, tender meat with the crispiest skin out there. Continue reading “Turkey Tips + How To Prep the Bird for Roasting”
Growing up, Thanksgiving was always an exciting holiday. Both my parents’ families are large, and each year we would alternate which side to spend it with – the Faulks in Macon (my dad’s family) or the Coopers in Augusta (my mom’s family). No matter where we were, two things were always constant: lots of good food and togetherness. Continue reading “Thanksgiving Traditions: A Celebration of Family and Food”
People arrive at thankfulness in a myriad of different ways. We’re not naturally born with a heart of gratitude or a spirit of thanksgiving; it’s our life experiences and influences that teach us to understand the true meaning of being thankful. Continue reading “A Spirit of Thanksgiving”
With the biggest food holiday of the year just days away, I’ve got three side dishes to enliven your family feast. Each recipe offers something unique: 1) a family tradition, 2) a restaurant-inspired side dish and 3) an original. From sweet to savory, I’ve got you covered! Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving at home or traveling, cook up one of these Southern sides, and you’ll have everyone chowing down with gratitude. Continue reading “Three Thanksgiving Side Dishes For Your Family Table”
I’m very excited to share with you our new episode of Statesboro Cooks, highlighting my Holiday Inspired Menu Featuring Pastured Pork Tenderloin. In the 30-minute program, I host and serve as an executive producer with my friend, Tyson Davis. If you’re in the Statesboro area, you can catch the show on local cable, Channel 99, at 7:30 p.m. 7-days-a-week throughout the holidays. If not, check it out on YouTube at the link below! I hope you’ll make these recipes, and thank you for watching.
Statesboro Cooks is a Georgia Southern University multimedia communications team production. To see the previous episode I hosted, watch here.
Fall baking is one of my favorite past times, and whether you’re baking this cake for fun or for Thanksgiving, it’s sure to please. My Glazed Double-Chocolate Pumpkin Bundt Cake starts with a boxed cake mix and is filled with classic fall spices. Continue reading “Easy Glazed Double-Chocolate Pumpkin Bundt Cake”
It’s officially holiday season. Let the menu and party planning begin! I’ve put together a holiday inspired meal including a classic combination of flavors, along with some of my family’s traditional recipes that are impressive on the table but simple to execute. These dishes are special enough for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, but delicious year ’round. Here’s what’s cookin’: Herb-Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Sautéed Cinnamon Apples, Mama’s Sweet Potato Casserole, Farm-Raised Green Beans and Grandma’s Made-from-Scratch Buttermilk Biscuits. We couldn’t celebrate the holidays without incorporating pumpkin, so for dessert, the Pumpkin Spice Trifle will make its debut appearance.
The star of this show is the Herb-Roasted Pork Tenderloin. This time of year, I think folks get ham and turkey’d out. So, now is a great time to allow pork to step into the limelight. To accomplish that gorgeous golden brown exterior and moist meat, I use a combination of dried and fresh herbs and Georgia olive oil. Season the meat liberally with kosher salt and black pepper. Drizzle it with olive oil, then massage in a healthy amount of fresh basil, fresh rosemary and about a two teaspoons of dried oregano. Here’s a tip: Cook the tenderloin in a 9 x 13 dish, and just before putting it in the oven, add about an inch of water to the pan. Roast the meat at 425 degrees for 25 minutes per pound. Another reason this tenderloin tastes amazing, is because it’s pasture-raised. This little piggie wasn’t given any antibiotics or steroids, and was free to roam and eat Georgia grass. The result is a much more nutritious animal that’s healthier to eat and healthier for our environment. Thanks to my friends at Hunter Cattle Company for raising it.
Nothing compliments pork like a side of delicious cinnamon apples sautéed in butter. This is as simple as it gets. Slice 5 to 6 medium apples about a 1/4 inch thick and saute in four tablespoons of unsalted butter. Allow them to cook down, then season with cinnamon and keep them warm. You don’t even have to peel them!
Green beans may be a popular side item, but served this way you can’t go wrong. My Farm-raised Green Beans also feature Hunter Cattle’s smoked bacon and sweet Vidalia onions and homegrown tomatoes from the Statesboro Mainstreet Farmers’ Market. Cook the bacon and set aside to drain on paper towels. Saute diced onion and tomato in the remaining bacon fat, season with salt & pepper and add to cooked green beans with a pat or two of butter. Top with crumbled bacon. On the left above, Mama’s Sweet Potato Casserole is a regular at every family function. It adds a wonderful pop of color to the plate. The topping, made of chopped pecans, brown sugar, flour and butter–is like candy.
Finally, no meal would be complete without Southern, made-from-scratch Buttermilk Biscuits. With a dollop of blackberry jam, bread never tasted so good.
After a mouth-watering meal, a 14-layer cake or heavy pie is overwhelming. My Pumpkin Spice Trifle hits the spot. Complimented by soft spice cake and crunchy gingersnap cookies, it’s like a pillow-y cloud of light fresh whipped cream and vanilla pudding bursting with fall flavors. Plus, it makes a stunning presentation.
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