in my yard and beyond

some cool things in my yard......

peppers....kung pao......LOTS

doe......or.....buck

basil......

pesto....actually in my kitchen

grilled Lebanese flat bread.......made in the kitchen....cooked outside

some randoms

last week we had an awesome supper.....roasted chickpeas...i had read about preparing them but never tried....krista was doing an indian dinner....roasted chickpeas was a side....i thought i'd give it a twirl....i put....cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, chili pepper, cumin,salt, pepper.......actually alot from the spice cupboard.....a little evoo.....roasted about 30 minutes....bet you can't eat just 1!!!!!

then........i made skillet hamburgers....i have been so into my iron skillet......any way Baucoms Best grass fed beef is unbelievable!!!!!!! i will never go back......

another roman night

to continue with my "roman" obsession, i made another italian dinner......we had friends visiting from ny....they love good food and good wine like us......so we started with the caponata like i made last week i think it was better too....served some charcuterie and italian cheeses......then the star was.....MAIALE IN AGRODOLCE.....in english (sweet and sour pork chops)....i also did the CACIO E PEPE (cheese and pepper pasta).....mixed green salad....dessert....lemon sorbet w/ limoncello.

nice italian sangiovese.......good drizzle chops w/ oil...S&P let sit 30 mi

nutes..heat vinegar,honey,butter and

recipe (april Saveur magazine) rosemary....baste and grill....5 min

4 bone in chops grateful growers......the best per side.....fantastic

3 T evoo

salt and pepper

1/3 c balsamic vinegar

2 T honey

4 T butter 1 sprig rosemary

lake night brats

last weekend at the lake, jason decided to throw some brats (grateful growers) on the grill!!!!!!!

we slathered buns w/ mustard and mayo.....the brats lots of sauerkraut.....and sauteed onions and peppers....man they were delicious......i made a pasta salad w/ the BEST EVER heirloom cherry tomatoes.....

MY ROMAN DINNER

i was so inspired after watching Anthony Bourdain in Rome, i decided to tackle a couple of Roman dishes. If you missed his show (travel channel) try to see it.....it is fantastic. it's all in black and white and his suits are great,,,,my oh my ....the FOOD!!!!! here goes....i made caponato....eggplant, green olives, onion, garlic, tomatoes capers, simmered til done.....added sherry vinegar, basil, toasted pine nuts......delish...served on baquette slices...

we also had CACIO E PEPE (cheese and pepper pasta) i used only pecorina romano (it calls for grated CACIO de ROMA also) put LOTS of freshly groung black pepper into evoo in skillet...heat until fragrant....have pasta cooking meantime then add 3/4 cup pasta water to skillet.....drain and add pasta to skillet.....add cheese....stir vigorously until sauce forms ...add more water if dry.......serve immediately......sprinkle with more cheese and black pepper......very yummy......wish i could have been in rome

greek chicken

a quick recipe for a dish i really loved and will make over and over!

i used baucom's best chicken leg quarters.....dredge in flour...salt and pepper.....brown in large skillet w/ lid (it needs to go in oven later)........after chicken is good and brown......add 1 cup white wine, couple sprigs rosemary and 3 fresh bay leaves (2 if dry) reduce......5-8 minutes.....add

1 1/2 cups water....cover...put in oven...bake 45 minutes......400degrees....uncover 5 minutes to crisp up.........magic ingredient.....squeeze juice 1 lemon....or 2....if you are a lemon lover.....that heavenly lemon aroma......serve w/ rice to sop all the goodness.....we loved it

kool summer suppers

i want to share some of my families wonderful summer suppers. one of my favorites was a lemony greek chicken dish (greek issue Saveur magazine) the lemon gave it a lightness, but it will also be a great fall dish.....make sure to serve w/ rice to sop up the fabulous sauce!

we have a new ethnic market.....super G mart......i went and got fresh whole red snapper....stuffed w/ rosemary, thyme and lemon......roasted 25 minutes.....yummy ........trying to lighten up a little.....i made a chopped salad,garlic croutons......proscuitto...lemon,evoo dressing

summer magic

what a wonderful family vacation we had this year @ isle of palms, sc........from my 83 yr. old mother (who did sit in the beach everyday and get in the ocean) to husbands.wives, and a 2 ten year olds and an 8 year old. we had lot's of fun playing games and cards and lot's....lot's and lot's of fun eating great seafood.......we had a fabulous shrimp scampi......low country boil w/ blue crab......grilled sheephead.....pan fried flounder.....and sizzling summer drinks...peach daiquiries and lillet.....we already made our reservation for next summer!

Whole Roasted Chicken

My husband suprised me Sunday with a true Hillbilly meal. We had a whole roasted chicken from Baucom's Best, roasted red potatoes and fresh green beans. He stuffed the chicken with plenty of fresh herbs and let it roast for awhile. Then we added the potatoes right into the pan(bathing in chicken fat) and cooked them on 425 for about 30 mins. That were SOOOO good. Lovely Sunday night dinner. Best of all, I have been eating leftover chicken on a salad all week long!

NC Mountain Trout

I had an amazing dinner of NC Mountain Trout several weekends ago in Saluda, NC. I wanted to drive back up there just to eat it again! But instead I found it here in Charlotte. Unfortunately, not at Hillbilly. So last weekend we cooked it with a side of succotash. The succotash we did with butter beans, fresh corn, and cherry tomatoes sprinkled with fresh basil. Such a light, summer dish.