We had a gorgeous 75 degrees sunny, Carolina blue sky day in Charlotte today. That alone begged me to get outside rather than spending time in my favorite place, the kitchen, But the reality is that it is December and a time of year during which more people than ever are sick, overwhelmingly busy, and [...]

I hope everyone is having a good holiday season enjoying good food, family, and friends! Pictured above is our Christmas Day dinner: Tuscan White Bean & Swiss Chard soup, decadent truffle macaroni and cheese, maple pecan Brussels sprouts, and a kale pomegranate garden salad. Over the last month, I have been trying really hard to focus on [...]

(Polenta cakes served with goat cheese, roasted veggies and hot sauce.) Polenta, which originated in Europe, is similar to grits as both are made from stoneground corn. The type of corn for each varies as does the coarser texture of the cornmeal used to make polenta. I consider polenta to be a great vessel for [...]