Author: Debbi Covington

“I well remember that last meal on the Titanic. We had a big vase of beautiful daffodils on the table, as fresh as if they had just been picked. Everybody was gay, and people were making bets on the probable time of this record-breaking voyage.” —First-class passenger Lady Duff-Gordon

Warm spring weather fills me with added appreciation for the beautiful place in which we live. The air is fresher, the grass is greener, the azaleas are in full bloom – even the water seems bluer! I’m reminded of a time when I hadn’t even heard of Tomato Pie or Red Rice, back before I learned how to peel shrimp, before I had ever eaten an oyster –  let alone shucked one!

You’d have to have been living under a rock the last year or so to avoid hearing references to the...

Corned beef is a long-standing American St. Patrick’s Day tradition.  In Ireland, the St. Patrick’s Day meal would most likely be ham and cabbage. Corned beef is a beef brisket or round roast cured in brine, which leaves the beef bright red and flavorful.  The meat remains pink when cooked, and because the beef is a tough cut of meat, requires longer cooking to render it tender.

Who doesn’t love a grilled cheese sandwich? The most basic recipe requires only three ingredients — cheese, butter and bread.  There are zillions of variations on the classic. You’re limited only by your imagination and whatever you happen to have in your pantry.

Mardi Gras is forty-seven days before Easter, and this year Fat Tuesday falls on February 21st. The people of New Orleans are planning a grand celebration! Let’s join in the fun right here in Beaufort.

Believe it or not, when Vince and I have a rare weekend off we almost always invite friends to our house for dinner or hors d’oeuvres. Even though in most cases, our unsuspecting pals are guinea pigs for tasting my new recipes, it’s always a lot of fun!

Bowl food? What’s bowl food? Bowl food is the new comfort food for people on the move. In a nutshell, bowl food is relaxed eating. Depending on your mood, you can slow simmer a fiery curry, put together a luscious pasta or simply toss together a few fresh ingredients in a wok. All that remains is to lift your fork and eat with pleasure.

Just because Christmas is over and the decorations are all packed away doesn’t mean the parties have to stop! January is a great month to host an intimate dinner party.  This week’s menu features some perfect January supper foods. Invite a few of your favorite people over, crack open a bottle of wine and enjoy. Celebrate every moment of your life!

Come on over, the drinks are on the house! Festive beverages — hot or cold, spirited or nonalcoholic – will enliven any holiday gathering of friends and family! What brings merriment better than a frothy glass of Southern Eggnog? What wards off Jack Frost quicker than a mug of Praline Coffee?