
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…

Warm Fireside Butterscotch Milk
Snuggle up with your sweeties with mugs of this caramelly, buttery deliciousness. Make scrumptious snow cream too.

No Fry “Fried” Banana Pudding Ice Cream
Remember when Chi-Chi’s introduced us to fried ice cream long ago. Simply scrumptious. Enjoy my version with a twist… no frying fried ice cream! The crispy cereal is crunchy like fried without all that… and a banana pudding version on a puddle of dulce de leche… just because!

Winter Broccoli and Dried Cherry Salad dressed with balsamic dijon
This vibrant fresh salad is a nice side with a pot of soup on a chilly winter’s day. You might want to double up on the tasty dressing… it keeps well refrigerated for several weeks. It’s quick to make but if you have a favorite, you can easily substitute that as well.

Rotisserie Chicken French Onion Soup… and a life lesson in cultivating a refined palate!
Few things are as delicious as a bowl of flavorful French Onion Soup… topped with the cheesiest toasted bread. I thought the world needs a new variation… and hope you will make this rotisserie chicken version… perfect for when you’ll be nestled at home on a cold day this winter.

Clementine Shortbread Cornbread
Little bags of clementines appear in stores come fall and winter — an early sign that the holiday season is upon us. Some remember having them tucked into our stockings with nuts and other fruits back in simpler times. If you like something not quite as sweet as most, you’ll enjoy this shortbread. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Light n’ Crispy Glazed Doughnuts
Do you want to “WoW” your family and guests with a sweet treat that is sure to please? If you’ve never made these quick and oh-so-easy doughnuts, the time has come. They can be “dressed” in a variety of ways for any occasion… including with fun sprinkles.

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.