Sips of Summer By Chef Judi Gallagher - Ah, summer. Relaxing on the pool deck with a pitcher of summer cocktails. Summer brunch that starts with a fresh mimosa or bloody Mary. Or a full-fledged cocktail party at a friend’s beachside garden at sunset. Summer and refreshing cocktails seem made for each other. Every host should know how make at least three or four summer cocktails. Lately, craft cocktails and infused cocktails have become popular, and I have the utmost...

GOURMET HIGHWAY: A Magnolia at Andalusia By Doc Lawrence - MILLEDGEVILLE, GA.- Her home is called Andalusia, a name often associated with Spain and gypsies. Visitors flock to place where Flannery O’Connor, one of the more gifted American authors lived and worked. The grounds are lovely, part of the bucolic landscape in this middle-Georgia town that was once Georgia’s capital. There’s still a peacock out back but no sign of her famous rooster alleged to have been trained to walk backwards....

Summer Veggie Dishes From a Famous Family By Anna Dantoni - Don’t be fooled into thinking that Food: Vegetarian Home Cooking by Mary McCartney, is just another book by a celebrity offspring cashing in on a famous pedigree (her parents being Paul and Linda McCartney and her younger sister, the fashion designer Stella McCartney) because this easy-to-use cookbook is the real deal whether you are a vegetarian or not. It’s just delicious food. Mary McCartney is both an accomplished professional...

When Men Decide to Cook By Steven V. Philips - Eyeing me lunching on pita chips, Chef Judi slid a book under my chin. I thought it was to catch the crumbs but no, it’s a cookbook. It’s titled No Girls Allowed. It’s subtitled A Cookbook For Men. Manly as I am, and an expert in all things, she still suspects that if it weren’t for the existence of Mrs. Philips I would starve. To further check, Chef Judi quizzes me about my cooking skills. Guessing she means...

Summer Desserts Acknowledge The Famous By Marsha Fottler - Need some inspiration to come up with a delicious summer dessert that will win you culinary fame – at least through the last bite? Why not put together a summer dessert repertoire based on custom creations named after famous people. You master both culinary techniques and a bit of world history at the same time. Here are four to get you started. Bet you can come up with others. Strawberries Romanov is a light summer dessert named...

Proven Winners for a Potluck Summer Picnic By Marsha Fottler - Casual neighborhood summer picnics in the backyard or on the pool deck or down by the lake are a traditional feature of summer. And they are always more fun if you’re prepared with a dish to make when the invitation arrives. This time of year it’s a fine idea to have three or four crowd-pleasing dishes in your repertoire that you can put together the day before or the morning of a picnic. Ideally, your recipes should take advantage of...

How to Throw the Best Grilling Party Ever By Chef Judi Gallagher - With the summer season in high gear and grills firing up all across America, I thought I’d share some of my favorite chef tips for how to throw a great grilling party at home. First rule is to be smart and let the grill do the work. Make all your food – from appetizers to dessert – grill friendly. Next, prep in advance so you can enjoy your own party. Buy your ingredients ahead of time, make sure to read your recipes thoroughly...

Culinary Rubs You’ll Love All Summer Long By Eric Williams - A rub is a blend of coarsely ground spices that are mixed together and rubbed on meat using your hands. The rub is applied to the outside of the meat or poultry creating a light coating that flavors the meat while it cooks. Rubs are common in nearly all cuisines but especially those in which cooking over open fire is popular. Rubs are especially popular during grilling season. Many cooks develop their own signature rubs and guard them...