Cooking with Love: Comfort Food that Hugs You Book

Introduction xi

Appetizers 1

Down-Home Deviled Eggs with Smoky Bacon 3

Sweet and Spicy Walnuts 7

Polenta Trio with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto 9

Smoked Trout Dip 13

Bacon, Blue Cheese, and Apple Stacks 15

Herb Focaccia with Ricotta and Olives 17

Curried Beef Dumplings 21

Salads 25

Arugula and Shaved Fennel Salad with Goat Cheese Croutons and Champagne Vinaigrette 26

Mixed Greens, Strawberries, Pecans, and Ricotta Salata with Chocolate Vinaigrette 29

Mixed Greens and Pan-Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette 31

Lemony Roasted Beets and Arugula with Herb Cheese 33

Roasted Carrot Salad 35

Celery and Blue Cheese Slaw 37

Fennel and Napa Cabbage Slaw with Ginger and Lemongrass 38

Sweet and Gold Potato Salad 41

Three Bean Salad 43

Hoppin' John Salad 47

Soups 49

The Saints' Gumbo with Andouille Sausage, Chicken, and Crayfish 51

Chicken Noodle Soup 53

Groundnut Stew 57

Oyster Stew 60

Watermelon Gazpacho with Cucumber, Jicama, Sweet Peppers, and Basil 63

Summer Vegetables in Green Chile Broth 66

Seersucker in Summer Corn Chowder with Tomatoes 70

Spicy Carrot-Ginger Soup 73

Tomato-Sweet Potato Bisque 76

Creamy Potato and Garlic Soup with Pumpernickel Croutons 80

Fennel and Celery Root Soup 82

Side Dishes 85

Country Greens 87

Sautéed Collard Greens with Brussels Sprout Leaves and Gremolata 88

Hoppin John Black-Eyed Pea Confit 91

Creamed Corn 95

Smashed Herbed Potatoes 97

Root Vegetable Ragout 99

Roasted Baby Carrots 101

Spicy Sweet Potato Puree 102

Creamy Goat Cheese Grits 103

Super Squashy Butternut Squash Grits 104

Fresh Corn Grits Cakes 106

Turkey Sausage and Cornbread Dressing 108

Skillet Cornbread 111

Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits 112

Golden Raisin Scones 115

Parker House Rolls 117

Basil Bacon Bread 121

Vegetarian Dishes 125

Creamy Mac and Cheese 127

Grilled Cheese Trio: Broccoli Pesto and Cheddar; Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Mozzarella; Arugula-Artichoke Pesto and Havarti 130

Goat Cheese and Leek Tart with Pink Peppercorn Crust 134

Rustic Mushroom Tart 137

Garlicky Spinach Soufflé 139

Spring Pea Flan 141

Mustard-Marinated Grilled Veggies 143

Oat and Lentil Salad 145

Pecan and Oat-Crusted Tofu 147

Black Bean Patties with Mango Relish and Tropical Vinaigrette 149

Roasted Red Pepper Risotto 151

Meat 155

Beer-Braised Pulled Barbecued Brisket 157

Roasted Filet of Beef 159

Marinated Flank Steak with Roasted Red Pepper Tapenade 161

Mama's Hamburger Help-Me Meal 164

Granny's Slow-Cooked Sunday Smothered Pork Chops 167

Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Root Vegetable Ragout 169

Cuban Pork Loin with Marinated Red Onions and Queso Blanco in Grilled Tortillas 172

Swamp Thing: Braised Pork Shoulder in Smoked Pork-Corn Broth 176

Osso Buco 180

Persian Marinated Lamb Roast with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce on Grilled Pita 183

Poultry 185

Chicken Pot Pie (with Crust on the Bottom!) 186

Creamed Chicken with Broccoli and Mushrooms 191

Chorizo Chicken 'n Raisin-Thyme Dumplings 193

Super Fast Fried Chicken 195

Sunday Roast Chicken 199

Poached Chicken with Roasted Fennel and Frisée Salad 201

Backyard BBQ Salad 203

Matthew's Chicken Curry 205

Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry 208

Buffalo Wing Burgers 211

Pan-Seared Turkey with Cranberry Pear Relish 213

Duck Ragù over Butternut Squash Grits 217

Fish and Shellfish 221

Southern Fried Catfish 223

Grilled Tuna with Tomato-Olive Relish 224

Spicy Hot Smoked Salmon 227

Crisp Salmon Cakes 229

Cod en Papillote with Roasted Tomato-Artichoke Ragout 231

Seared Cod in Spring Pea Broth with Minted Pea Pesto 233

Miso-Poached Hake with Cilantro-Orange Salt 237

Poached Halibut with Roasted Vegetables and Mint Tea Broth 240

Roasted Snapper Bouillabaisse 242

Lump Blue Crab Salad with Chilled Shiso Soup 247

Lobster Bisque 250

Lobster Rigatoni 253

Desserts 255

Flaky Butter Crust 257

Granny's Five-Flavor Pound Cake 258

Cinnamon-Raisin Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce 260

Pecan Shortbread 'Nana Puddin' 262

Pecan Shortbread 264

Double Lemon Chess Pie 266

Apple-Sweet Potato Upside-Down Pie 268

Spring Tart with Strawberry-Rhubarb Curd 270

Lime Meringues 273

A What? A Tomato Compote with Tomato-Strawberry Sangria Sauce! 277

Blackberry-Tarragon Parfait 279

Butterscotch Mousse with Vanilla Salt 281

Almond Tuiles 284

Chocolate Espresso Napoleons 286

Chocolate Decadent Bites 291

Pantry 293

Tips and Techniques 295

Acknowledgments 299

Index 301