Fried okra

Fried okra

Late summer at the Mayfield house would almost guarantee fried okra was on the table. Okra is as commonplace in the South as grits. You don’t have to give up any flavor or texture to enjoy this classic adapted in this manner. If you’re going to go to the trouble,...
Grilled veggies

Grilled veggies

These go well with just about anything, and are a great way to use all the fresh vegetables from our garden in the summertime. If you have a large crowd coming over, double or triple your recipe and consider serving the veggies whole. These keep extremely well in the...
Brussels sprouts slaw

Brussels sprouts slaw

As a child, and on into adulthood, I thought Brussels sprouts were vile food items that were only served soggy and overcooked with that nasty sulfuric smell. And then, a miracle happened: one Thanksgiving, my friend Peter made a Brussels sprouts dish that was simply...
Crawfish étouffée

Crawfish étouffée

Down on the Bayou, étouffée is pretty synonymous with comfort food. You’ll have a hard time waiting to eat this one. Your kitchen will smell so very delicious. Two things to consider are how to get your crawfish tails and what stock you will use. The good news is that...
Paleo gumbo

Paleo gumbo

Shortly before Charles popped the big question, he brought me down to Mobile, Alabama for a few days with his family. There are two things about that trip that stood out to me: me catching a really big speck trout (and Charles saying that’s why he asked me to marry...