Lowcountry Bella

It’s warm today but wet.  I love making a big pot of soup on the weekends to enjoy for lunch or a late afternoon snack.  This soup is so healthy and comforting.  I always make enough to freeze as well, so when I have a hankering for nourishing soup but don’t have a lot of time, I can just thaw it out and enjoy! You will need: 6 garlic cloves minced Olive oil 1 lb ground turkey 2 carrots rough chopped 15 oz can of cannelloni beans, do not drain or rinse 1/2 onion chopped 2 car

There’s nothing like a pot of soup simmering on a cold winter day, filling the kitchen with the comforting aromas of garlic, onion, and sweet Italian sausage. This hearty winter soup brings together tender potatoes, creamy cannellini beans, and silky escarole in a rich chicken bone broth, creating a dish that’s both nourishing and deeply satisfying. Rustic, simple, and full of soul, it’s the kind of meal meant to be ladled into big bowls and enjoyed slowly—preferably with cru

It seems like everyone is riding the sourdough train these days, and I’m happily on board. I’ve been baking with sourdough for about five months now, and every bake is a little different…..but always delicious. One of my favorite surprises has been how amazing sourdough discard can be. These days, I use it exclusively for pizza dough, and after recently making focaccia with discard, I can confidently say that’s the only way I’ll make it from now on. That subtle tang takes the

It’s definitely going to be another inside day, not sure when the roads will clear up.  Today I am craving a light soup, and I always have some or most of these items on hand. This is a traditional dish from Rome and the Lazio region of central Italy, made by pouring a mixture of eggs, finely grated cheese, and black pepper into hot broth to create delicate shreds, a technique reflected in its name, which comes from the Italian stracciare , meaning “to tear.” Rooted in cucina

Olive oil cake has deep roots in Italian home cooking, where olive oil has long been the primary baking fat instead of butter. In rural kitchens, simple torte all’olio were made with pantry staples and often scented with lemon, orange, or a splash of wine. These everyday cakes were practical, dairy-free, and tied to religious traditions that limited animal fats, but they endured because they were moist, fragrant, and satisfying. What began as a humble Italian household desse

Golden beets are sweet, mild, and tender, a lighter, less earthy take on classic beets, with a sunny color that makes any salad pop. They’re also packed with fiber and nutrients like folate, potassium, and vitamin C. I spotted some at the store recently and grabbed them right away. I always order golden beets when I see them on a menu. Making a “fancy” restaurant-style salad at home was such a treat. If you can’t find golden beets, roasted butternut squash or sweet potato wo

Oh Marone a Mia!  My creamy vodka sauce is one of those recipes that feels a little fancy but couldn’t be easier to make. With a restaurant-style finish, it’s cozy, thick and creamy, and the kind of sauce you’ll want to keep in your back pocket for pasta nights, date nights, and everything in between. This is great on any kind of pasta, but I LOVED it over some chicken cutlets. You will need: 4 tbsp olive oil ½ large onion, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2  tsp red

This creamy topping is perfect for burgers, but it also shines as a dip alongside a crisp crudité platter or crunchy pita chips. I always suggest starting with a block of feta and crumbling it yourself — the flavor is so much fresher and more robust than the pre-crumbled kind. You will need: 1/2 cup grated cucumber 1 cup Greek yogurt 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 1/2 tbsp olive oil 1 garlic clove grated 1/4 tsp salt 1 tbsp fresh dill Cracked black pepper to taste 1/3 cup crumbled

A few months ago, I embarked on my sourdough journey, and I’ve been experimenting with every method and recipe I can get my hands on. My starter, now three months old, has been a constant companion…..bubbly, feisty, and full of personality. After lots of trial and error, I finally landed on a same-day sourdough recipe that works beautifully. No long overnight waits, no complicated timings; just a simple, reliable method that gives you a gorgeous, crusty loaf by evening. Whet

Carolina Gold Rice is so versatile. The variety is named for its dazzling color in field and is famous for its cooking qualities, aroma, flavor, and texture. The addition of the cilantro and lime make this already delicious rice more vibrant and zesty. You will need: 1 cup Carolina Gold Rice 1 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 1/2 cup finely chopped vidalia onion Juice of half a lime Bring water and rice to a boil, turn down and cover simmering for 15 minutes.   Remove f

Its that time Y’all!  Time to lighten it up a bit and guess what? I have some delicious recipes lined up for January that are really tasty and healthy.  Let’s start with this one, thats easy! 1 can Live Ocean salmon drained and flaked 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp garlic powder 1 egg beaten 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs 1 tbsp capers 1/2 lemon 1 tbsp olive oil Mix the salmon mustard, garlic powder, egg and bread crumbs together well. Form two patties.   Heat olive oil in pan and

Hear me out, the favors are beautiful together.  Anchovies bring deep umami from fermentation,savory, meaty, almost nutty, while butter supplies richness, sweetness, and a silky mouthfeel that rounds off the fish’s intensity. Warm toast melts the butter, releasing the anchovy’s umami, while the crunch keeps it from feeling heavy. It’s rich, salty, comforting, and dangerously snackable. Simple, old-world, a little shocking, and wildly satisfying, anchovy and butter tastes like

These little bites taste like a holiday in Venice. The mascarpone gives a soft, luxurious base, while cranberry jelly mixed with Campari turns into a shimmering ruby glaze….tangy, slightly bitter, and just sweet enough. A dusting of orange zest.  This is also amazing on roast duck, pork and turkey! You will need: 8 oz mascarpone cheese 1 can (14 oz) whole cranberry sauce 1 Tbsp Campari, Aperol or Cointreau 2 Tbsp fresh orange juice 1 tsp honey 16 crostini rounds ( homemade or

Turkey bone broth is where holiday leftovers become pure luxury. With a long, gentle simmer, those humble turkey bones release collagen, minerals, and deep savory flavor, creating a broth that’s rich, silky, and beautifully gelatinous. It’s nourishing, comforting, and endlessly versatile……perfect as a soup base or enjoyed warm by the cup. But let’s face it, we don’t always have one hanging around, so in this case 2 chicken carcass’s will work too. You will need: 1 turkey or 2

There’s something magical about pouring warm, silky vanilla sauce over a freshly baked strudel…the way it pools at the edges, seeps into the flaky layers, and fills the kitchen with the scent of real vanilla. With just a handful of ingredients and a few gentle minutes over the stove, you’ll have a velvety sauce that transforms any dessert into something special. In France this would be called Crème Anglaise. You will need: 2 cups milk ¾ cup heavy cream 1 vanilla bean (or 2 ts

One of the highlights from my Viking river cruise, was cooking with the executive chef.  He taught me how to make traditional strudel with vanilla sauce and it was outstanding!! You will need: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 pinch of salt 1 tbsp neutral oil (plus more for coating) ¾ cup warm water (you may need a little more or less) 4 medium apples, peeled & thinly sliced ⅓ cup sugar (white or brown) 1–2 tsp cinnamon ½ cup raisins (optional) ½ cup breadcrumbs (to absorb juices) 2

Y’all………….let me tell you, this turned out spot on ! It tastes exactly like the country-style dishes I grew up eating in the little restaurants around Greenville, NC. Pure comfort and absolutely delicious. You will need: 2 bone in skin on chicken breast 4 cups chicken bone broth 2 cups broth from chicken 2 tbsp butter 1 small onion, finely diced and 2 carrots sliced thin 2 celery stalks chopped 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped 3 tbsp flour Store bought pie crust ( you only need

These little bites of comfort carry all the love, laughter, and Sunday memories of an Italian kitchen, where the sauce bubbles all afternoon and everyone showed up hungry. Simple ingredients, big flavor, and a whole lot of heart….. is there anything better than hand-rolled meatballs simmered low and slow in rich tomato sauce? You will need: 1 lb ground sirloin 1 lb ground pork 2 eggs 2 cups of panko bread crumbs 8 garlic cloves 1/2 onion Big handful of parsley 2 tbsp olive oi

OH LAWD HAVE MERCY!!  I made this for a baby shower this weekend and it was a huge hit.  Perfect over creamy grits ( which is how I served it at the shower,  or a fluffy biscuit, this is something you will want to serve for brunch when you have company, because this feeds a crowd.  Trust me, this is so good you will want to lick the plate! Keep this on your radar for Thanksgiving weekend. You will need: Olive oil 4 garlic cloves, minced 1/3 cup finely chopped sweet onion 6 It

Yep, another concoction made from over purchasing fruit, and watching it sit in my fridge!  My creative mind went to work and I came up with this luxurious, grown up sauce.  I served this as dessert over French vanilla ice cream for our family dinner.  But this would be terrific over grilled pork too! You will need: 2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and sliced in half 1/4 cup bourbon 1/4 cup brown sugar Place the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Turn heat down to l