Bucatini with Vodka Cream Sauce Makes 4 servings 1 pound bucatini pasta 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ½ medium onion, chopped 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 cup vodka 1 (28-ounces) can crushed tomatoes 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon […]
Red Beans and Rice Soup Makes 8 servings 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cut crosswise into ½-inch pieces 1 large onion, chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 1 poblano pepper, seeded and chopped 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped […]
Roasted Salmon with Peach Arugula Salad Makes 6 servings Salmon 2 pounds whole salmon fillet, skin-on 1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon coarse-ground pepper 1 lemon, thinly sliced 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon […]
Grilled Salmon Tacos with Avocado CreamMakes 6 servings 1½ to 2 pounds side of salmon filet, skin on1 tablespoons fresh lime juice1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder1 teaspoon kosher salt1 teaspoon lime zest½ teaspoon coarse-ground pepper.2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and […]
Just when I thought Shepherd’s pie couldn’t get any better, I discovered that shepherd’s pie made with short ribs is magical! Not only is it tasty and comforting, it can make husbands compliant. When I told Big Daddy that I […]
This soup is a hearty spin on classic chicken noodle soup. The recipe comes together quickly using rotisserie chicken and fresh tortellini. It’s the perfect soup for a cold winter evening. Not that I would know anything about a cold […]
Last year I was so busy. On top of baking for the Matthews Farmers Market and cooking for clients, I finally finished the companion cookbook to my novel A Second Helping . With this busy work schedule, I found myself […]
I had such big plans for my Thanksgiving dinner this year, and then my husband offered to take care of our holiday meal so I could rest on Turkey Day! It was such a thoughtful gesture, and I was all […]
Butternut squash is one of my favorite fall vegetables. The nutrient-dense vegetable is a comforting addition to any meal. It’s also easy to turn this beloved fall vegetable into a hearty dinner. I just add some meat and cheese to […]
October 29th was National Coffee Day, and instead of just jazzing up my regular morning cup of Joe for a cooking segment on WCNC, I thought it would be fun to make something inspired by coffee that would be enjoyed […]
Now that North Carolina’s second summer is finally coming to an end, I can begin to enjoy all the comforting flavors of autumn without getting overheated. When it’s over 80 degrees outside I’m not too interested in eating something that […]
October is National Chili Month, and my contribution to this 31-day food holiday is my famous Three-Bean Turkey and Pork Chili. I know there are a ton of people out there with their version of a world-famous chili, but what’s […]
Salmon is the most popular fish in my house. It’s loaded with a ton of flavor and nutrients that taste delicious and promote good health. But sometimes salmon can be a little boring. By adding a few vegetables and herbs […]
With summer winding down, now is the time to use up all that seasonal zucchini readily available. Whether from the market, local farm stand or, my neighbor’s back yard, zucchini is my favorite vegetable for stuffing. Filling fresh produce with […]
Pasta salad was one of the best ways I got vegetables into my kids when they were little. Throw any type of vegetable–except brussel sprouts–in a bowl with some noodles covered in a dressing, and they were golden. Now that […]
As the mother of two teenage boys, I feel like I live in the grocery store. All they do is eat. Sometimes groceries don’t even make it home. My darling children can devour an entire shopping bag of food before […]
Bangers and mash is classic pub grub popular in England and Ireland. It’s a super easy dish that marries delicious pork sausage with creamy mash potatoes. This union is bound together by a rich onion gravy. I always like to […]
With two boys active in school sports, some nights we don’t get home until after 8 o’clock. By the time we get home, we’re all so tired, and the last thing we want to do is wait an hour just […]
Most of us, no matter how diligent we are about our meals, have a soft spot for fast food. There’s just something about fast food that makes us happy. It’s convenient, cheap, and reminds of childhood. I must confess, my fast […]
This past week, I’ve been listening to Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes, and my desire to visit Italy has been reignited. (SPOILER ALERT: The memoir is nothing like the movie, so there’s no sexy Italian guy whisking anyone off to […]
Like many American families, the Gaskins clan eats a lot of chicken. And why not? It’s inexpensive, versatile, and most important, delicious. I do my best to keep some variety in the family meal rotation, but sometimes it seems we […]
When I decided to sell baked goods at the Matthews Community Farmers Market, I had no idea the impact being a vendor at my town market would have on my life. Not only has Queen City Kitchen been well received […]
There is no rhyme or reason to the recipes I select for my cooking segments on Charlotte Today. Inspiration can come from anywhere. I’ve been inspired while watching Food Network or PBS, sitting in car line, reading a book, folding laundry. […]
Sometimes it seems like I make the same thing for dinner every week. Roast chicken, tacos, spaghetti and meatballs, and pizza always seem to be in the weekly rotation. The only time there’s a real change-up in the menu is […]
For New Years Eve, we had a few friends and their kids over for dinner and Spades. It had been a while since we were all together, and I thought good food and spirited competition would be fun. When I […]
Shrimp and grits is a staple on the menu of many Southern restaurants. Each restaurant offers its own spin on the popular low-country dish. Some places just top a bowl of grits with sauteed shrimp, while other establishments smother the […]
My dad was an MP in the Air Force, and one of the carry-overs he brought to his civilian life after leaving the military was a craving for creamed chipped beef, or as he referred to it, s#&t on a […]
It’s taken a while for the weather to change this year. We have yet to feel the crisp air associated with autumn, and my kids are still wearing shorts to school. Sure, we’ve been teased a little bit with a […]
I will be turning 47-years-old in about three weeks, and lately I’ve been nostalgic about the food I enjoyed in my youth. I’m not upset about getting older, I welcome it. With each passing year, I have great experiences, and […]
I was born and raised in South Jersey. And whenever I feel nostalgic for my home state, I crave Italian food. Cheesy, saucy, Nona-inspired Italian food. No chain restaurants, please. I’m talking a mom and pop corner trattoria, where the […]
Recipe re-post from April 4, 2013. Macaroni and cheese is the ultimate in comfort food. Homemade macaroni and cheese has this way of making me feel all warm and gooey on the inside, which is basically how I want my […]
Last week I was flipping through a bunch of food magazines in search of inspiration for a recipe I needed to come up with for my next cooking segment on Charlotte Today. I eventually came across an article about the history of […]
I made baked spaghetti the other night, and it was so good that I just had to share. I typically make baked spaghetti when we have leftover spaghetti. I love leftovers, and my motto is cook once and eat twice. […]
This post is sponsored by Ms. C’s Soppin’ Good BBQ Sauce. Since the 1800s there’s been an ongoing feud between Eastern Carolina and Western Carolina for barbecue sauce supremacy, with each region possessing its own distinct style and flavor. Your sauce of […]
This week really got away from me. I am currently in the process of writing my second novel and my first cookbook. On top of that I do cooking demonstrations on a few local news and entertainment programs in Charlotte. […]
When I think about a romantic dinner for two, my mind immediately drifts to that famous Bella Notte scene in Lady and the Tramp. I just love how those two infatuated pooches interact with each other. She flutters her eyes at […]
I’m one week into the Daniel Fast, and I have to say that it hasn’t been that bad. It’s actually been quite inspiring and definitely necessary. I ate so much food from my birthday on November 4 through the holidays. […]
Fra diavolo translates to “brother devil.” It’s an old-school Italian sauce that didn’t originate in Italy. It was actually created at a restaurant in Little Italy, New York in the early 20th century. Lobster was the seafood of choice for […]
After consuming all that rich, heavy food on Thanksgiving, followed by consuming several days of holiday leftovers, I am pretty much tired of eating. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed every delicious moment and every delectable bite, but there comes […]
Three months ago, Big Mony Merchandice turned thirteen. Ever since his birthday, I find myself getting misty eyed whenever I look at him. He’s growing up too fast, and I’m not prepared. Five years ago, he was this little boy giggling […]
Risotto has a reputation for being fussy and time-consuming. It requires patience and about 30 minutes standing at the stove, stirring almost constantly. When I need a moment to decompress and enjoy a glass of wine in peace, this is […]
Friday is potluck night at my house. I pretty much cook dinner every night, and there is always a little something left over from each meal. By the time the end of the week rolls around, a bunch of little […]
Two weeks ago, I came across an email from my sister while cleaning out my inbox. She’d sent it earlier in the summer, and I forgot all about it–even though the subject line read: Chopped Contest! You should enter this! […]
Every year I anxiously wait for watermelon season to roll around. Watermelon is one of the few fruits I won’t buy out of season. I can’t risk it, I’ve been burned before. About eleven years ago, I bought a wedge […]
Last week, my cousin passed away after a long battle with lung disease. This post is in honor of her and a little on the long side. Evelyn “Bootsie” Bell was one of a kind, and she meant the world […]
With Father’s Day coming up soon, I thought it would be fun to dedicate my first blog post on the new website to the man, the myth and the legend—Big Daddy. For those of you who’ve been around for my […]
