Author: Debbi Covington

I always gain weight in the summer. It has happened every single summer for as long as I can remember. It’s so hard to be active in 95 degree weather when you’re a non-athlete, like me.

If variety is the spice of life, then feta is the cheese – at least in this week’s recipes! Feta is a brined curd cheese that’s traditionally made in Greece. It’s an aged crumbly cheese, commonly produced in blocks and has a slightly grainy texture.

We all have friends that deserve a special “thank you.” I must admit, as I write this, I’m thinking about wedding party hosts that need reciprocating, but a thank you party for any reason is a good thing. Wouldn’t it be fun to host a small party for the people who celebrate with you when you’re happy and lift you up when you’re down – just to say “thank you?”

The words fresh and light perfectly describe the kind of innovative, delicious food that so many of us want to cook and eat today. We like peak-of-the season ingredients prepared in simple ways that best enhance their flavors.

You know it’s tomato season in the South Carolina Lowcountry when you can’t find one single frozen pie crust in the freezer at Publix. Everyone’s making tomato pies. It’s a Beaufort thing.

The spring catering season has been a whirlwind of annual meetings, cocktail parties and weddings. Even though I’m around food almost all of the time, I often get sidetracked and skip lunch. I recently discovered flatbreads in the deli section at Publix. They’ve been lifesavers for me!

I love salads! I honestly believe that you can put almost any fruit or vegetable on a bed of lettuces and make a fabulous salad. The five salads this week have no measurements, just a list of ingredients. Mix and match the salad toppings, cheeses and nuts to your taste and top with one of these delicious vinaigrettes. Simple, beautiful and delicious!

Don’t you just love a good salad? I know I do! Salads are kind of my “thing.” I often use whatever fresh fruits and vegetables we have in the refrigerator to come up with new concoctions. The thing is, I don’t particularly care for bottled vinaigrettes and dressings. It’s so easy to whip up a fresh, homemade dressing!

One of the advantages of having a lot of friends is celebrating a lot of birthdays! The past couple of months have been a whirlwind of birthday soirees – many of them commemorated at one of our favorite local hot spots, The Old Bull Tavern on West Street. As is custom with the best of friendships, someone unfailingly volunteers to bring a home-baked birthday cake.  

Weddings are so much fun and offer a zillion reasons for pre-nuptial parties. Do you like to dress up in pearls and heels? If so, then this menu has been tailored just for you. A tea party is a great function for a bridesmaid’s event, a wedding shower or even a thank you to the people who have helped you plan and organize your wedding. Very simple to prepare and execute, an afternoon tea can be as casual or as elegant as you desire.