
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…

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?

Ambrosia Shortcakes
Many of us will recognize this southern Christmas dish. Our grandmothers made it and their mamas did too, served in a pretty glass bowl. We turned this fruity favorite into a fun little dessert to enjoy anytime. Can be made a day ahead.

Butter Swim Cornbread Biscuits with blueberries and rosemary
These baked beauties are a little bit cornbread and a little bit biscuit. If you’ve never made butter swim biscuits, they are just what they sound like: biscuits, swimming in butter as they bake.

Ma Perry’s Stewed Tomatoes
Fix my Ma Perry’s Stewed Tomatoes to serve over field peas and navy beans… or just all by themselves!

Fall Fruitcake
Some things just “are” fall. Like apples. And pears. And spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and others. And this cake!

Good Damn Cocktail Saulsa… a little bit sauce, a little bit salsa!
When serving fresh local fish and seafood, spend a few short minutes stirring up fresh cocktail sauce. Like this one. You’ll be glad you did!

Farmers’ Market Spicy Seafood Chowder Base
This Manhattan-style chowder base is chock full of tomatoes, summer vegetables and herbs — keep it on hand for fast, fresh fish or seafood chowder. Freeze in quarts and then add any combination of oysters, shrimp, crab, clams, scallops or fish at serving time. We topped ours with crispy fried oysters.

Crispy Dilled Cucumber Sammies
How many of us were introduced to cucumber sandwiches growing up at showers and church receptions? They’re such simple little snacks with vibrant flavor and opposing textures, soft and crispy. Pair these with our chowder or salted nuts as a light snack after working in the yard on a hot day. The spread works well on crackers or as a veggie dip.

Run For The Roses Country Ham Meatballs in Maple Bourbon Gravy (and a “Wendy Discount!” too.)
Your Kentucky Derby party table won’t be complete without a few specific things… and this one checks a few boxes… country ham, meatballs and bourbon!

Porky-Licious Country Ham Tacos with Strawberry Pineapple Pico
With the arrival of fresh local strawberries all around us now, it’s time to celebrate! Celebrate all the fresh produce coming our way with our country ham tacos at your Cinco de Mayo gatherings!

Frothy Brazilian Lemonade
Traditional Brazilian Lemonade is made with limes (limes are more plentiful there). As delicious as that is, I’ve added lemon with the lime for an extra robust citrus flavor. Skip the seltzer if you like but we’re fond of the additional froth. This also makes a nice mixer for adult cocktails.

Open Faced Chicken Cordon Bleu over savory French toast
Cordon Bleu is such a crowd pleaser but can be a bit intimidating for some. Make my sheet pan recipe in short order for something to be enjoyed by most everyone (the young ones, too). Nice for supper or a holiday brunch gathering!

Tex-Mex TacoBellas over Ranch Salad
Make a quick trip through your grocer’s deli and produce departments along with their salad bar to grab what you