The Southern Yankee Kitchen

January 1, 1985. Caswell Beach, North Carolina. On this first day of 1985, we were contemplating the idea of taking our 4-year-old across the street for a walk on the beach. “The wind is pretty calm.” I said. “Do we even need a sweater?” The absurd irony of that question had us laughing. Just one year ago, living in Massachusetts, the idea of taking a walk ANYWHERE on New Year’s Day would involve so much more than a sweater! There would be boots and hats and mittens and a goo

I just love a good, hearty stew. Don’t you? Whether it is simmering away on the stove top or bubbling all day in the slow cooker, a stew just seems to say, “Relax”. Can you remember the feeling of coming home from school and being greeted with a warm, inviting kitchen and the delicious aromas of beef stew in the air? It makes you feel like someone has been thinking about you, and you can drop your cares and worries at the door. A stew is “stick-to-your-ribs” food and just per