
Can you start and operate a food business from your home kitchen in North Carolina?
Are you in North Carolina? Do you have the “best” cake recipe from your grandma? or baked goods? or folks say “you need to put that in a bottle and sell it?” Perhaps your home kitchen meets criteria for a home-based food permit. There ARE limitations. Read all about them here…

…simply tomato soup
There are few things as comforting as a bowl of “simply tomato soup.” Recipes can be found of assorted varieties. All over the tomato soup map. For me, I don’t care for anything fancy… and many are too heavy on the basil for me. It’s ok, but not a big fan, and a little basil goes a longggg way. Tomato soup need not be fussy… just tomato soup.

Brunswick Stew by the gallon… a NC culinary adventure!
I love Brunswick Stew. Not all of them, but most. Come along with me on my most recent culinary adventure here in North Carolina… Brunswick Stew cook’n!

Wendy’s Tummy Tingling Brunswick Stew
Who doesn’t love some good Brunswick Stew? I surely do, and recently set out on a fun culinary adventure penned to paper for Carolina Country Magazine. Read all about it.

Buttery Cinnamon Bun Popovers
How long has it been since you’ve made popovers? These light and puffy pastries are so good, and can be sweet or savory to suit your fancy. Enjoy these lightly sweet popovers as a side for my rustic mushroom soup. Nice and buttery too…

Rustic Creamy Mushroom Soup with crispy mushroom croutons! (also a luscious pot pie filling)
Tis the season… when it’s dark soon after lunchtime. Chill is in the air and we can’t wait to nestle in for a comforting supper, and if in our pajamas, all the better. With a mug of this rustic creamy mushroom soup!

K&W Cafeteria Turkey Dressing & Gravy Recipe (copycat)
Who doesn’t love a good cafeteria? Come with me on a visit to a favorite… K&W Cafeteria Turkey and Dressing. You’ll think you’re sitting right there with this copycat delight.

Sweet Corn Ice Cream With browned butter and salted popcorn
An outside-the-box way to enjoy summer corn… the kernels are like little bits of “candy,” yet are simply caramelized nuggets of a vegetable in this luscious ice cream! Who knew corn could be dessert too?

Carolina Cajun Shrimp Boil Packets
Foil packets are perfect for camp cooking on the grill or in hot coals. Make ahead at home and throw in your cooler, or have fun making on site. They come in their own serving “dish” too!

Grandma’s Cranberry Congealed Salad With Krispy Kreme crullers
Growing up, I can never remember a time my Grandma didn’t have a dish of this in her refrigerator. She loved cruller doughnuts and hated waste, breaking up the stale ones into her Jell-O salad. This dish would shine at a summer picnic — don’t forget the Cool Whip!

Creamy Fried Chicken Salad Rolls
What’s a southern picnic without fried chicken? Or chicken salad? I’ve combined the two and offer you these stuffed rolls to make and take with our time-saving tip. The salad can be a bit messy, and although you can serve on mini rolls as sliders, I like stuffing into top-split dog rolls so the goodness doesn’t fall out!

Steak with Mongolian Beef Gravy
A favorite at many Asian restaurants, I’ve switched up Mongolian Beef with a little bit of “Southern” by making the sauce into … gravy!


Crispy Girl Scout Cookie Butter Mint Fudge
Each January, we look forward to the appearance of our annual treats … Girl Scout cookies! We all have our favorites, but their biggest seller remains the thin mint. Set aside a few to make this crispy, fudgy treat. During off season, substitute thin mint “grasshopper” cookies from your grocery store.