We had a gorgeous 75 degrees sunny, Carolina blue sky day in Charlotte today. That alone begged me to get outside rather than spending time in my favorite place, the kitchen, But the reality is that it is December and a time of year during which more people than ever are sick, overwhelmingly busy, and [...]

(Polenta cakes served with goat cheese, roasted veggies and hot sauce.) Polenta, which originated in Europe, is similar to grits as both are made from stoneground corn. The type of corn for each varies as does the coarser texture of the cornmeal used to make polenta. I consider polenta to be a great vessel for [...]

Given Mexican food is my favorite cuisine (but do I really have to pick?), we eat a good deal of it around here. You name it: tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, bowls of rice and beans. On this night, we fancied burritos. But we like them smothered in a sauce. A really, really good sauce. This one [...]