Homemade pizza has been a favorite in our home for a long time.  The kids always request cheese and I try to come up with unique ways to either use leftovers in the fridge on a pizza, or make up our own varieties.  My first ever blog post that I shared with the world was a recipe for a Potato Pizza.  I still like that one, and recently made a similar kind using up produce before going on vacation. Bradley took a work trip to Italy in May, and one of the things he raved about was the pizza.  Of course!  So, I had to ‘up’ my pizza making skills.  Enter,…

Our meals lately have been kind of lacking in creativity and often I’m putting together just whatever is left in the fridge.  This is not my favorite way to cook, but we’ve sort of been in survival mode lately.  The other week I made a quiche, and I didn’t have any meat for it, so I knew I needed something to fill in the gap.  (Does anyone else have a family member who requires meat at every meal??) Of course, coffee cake.  Bradley came home at lunch and asked why I had made a coffee cake. Me: “It’s for dinner.” Bradley: “Just cake?” Me: “Pretty much.” Why not?  Everyone likes…

With the Super Bowl approaching this weekend, I thought I’d share with you our current favorite appetizer.  Sunday nights are “Eat Whatever You Want” night in our home, which basically means I don’t cook.  It’s been a great way for Sunday to feel more restful for all of us, and specifically giving me a break from the kitchen.  The kids generally request popcorn, a sandwich, fruit, or something else that is simple to prepare.  It’s their favorite meal and they frequently ask for other nights to be the same. During football season, we eat dinner while watching the game, and the kids have gotten into cheering for whichever team happens to be…

In many ways it doesn’t quite feel like November.  The temperature is still in the 70’s here most days, and yet Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away!  I look out my window everyday, willing our maple tree to turn a bright red and the birch tree leaves to become yellow, but it’s not working. We have been moving into colder weather foods, though, because I can’t resist soup season.  It’s my favorite way to cook:  throw things into a pot and have a delicious meal in little to no time. There are a few items that I keep on hand during colder months so that we can have soup night…

    Blueberry season is just around the corner, and you may have noticed the price for a pint of blueberries has gone down considerably in the grocery store recently. I noticed this when I walked into the store on Saturday morning and decided that I needed a blueberry pie.  The only problem is that no one else in my family appreciates this kind of dessert.  I couldn’t quite justify making an entire pie that would most likely be eaten by one person, so I opted for one of my favorite ways to make a pie:  rustic.   This method is my favorite because there’s no pressure to have beautifully…

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a recipe here, so I thought I’d share an easy favorite with you.  You probably have everything in your pantry/fridge/freezer, so if you’re looking for a new chicken dish, I’ve got one for you today! Growing up we had company for dinner on a regular basis.  My mom had a few meals that typically ended up being served to company, and I loved it when she made them.  (I loved the company, too, of course).  Cranberry Brisket with twice baked potatoes and Honey Mustard Chicken, rice and broccoli yum yum, are two that I distinctly remember. Honey Mustard Chicken has always been one of my…

Winter calls for lots of soup and homemade biscuits.  There’s something comforting about a pot of soup simmering on the stove all day, and the warmth that it brings when you finally get to taste it.  For the most part, soups are simple to make, so with a little bit of effort you can have a delicious hearty meal–all in one pot. This bisque (a rich creamy soup, typically made with shellfish) is my absolute favorite winter soup.  It’s a bit of an indulgence, with the shrimp, and the cream, but definitely worth it!  While we lived in Pensacola, we were able to buy fresh, local shrimp practically right off…

If you know me, or followed me previously on my blog Only from Scratch, then you know that cooking is one of my favorite hobbies.  It helps that I have a husband who enjoys eating and allows me to be creative in the kitchen. Over the past six years or so, I’ve discovered that I absolutely love Southern cuisine.  Even though I grew up in Virginia, my parents were both from the North, so foods like grits, fried chicken, pimento cheese, Creole, and even sweet tea, weren’t generally found on our table.  My husband’s family, and most of his friends, are from South Carolina.  Trips to Charleston, living in Georgia…