Food & Drink

Justice, Faith, Power

For some people, February means king-cake season. In the South, a king cake is like a cake-sized cinnamon roll, usually with purple, green and gold icing. Traditionally, a king cake has a small trinket inside (usually a baby), but due to choking hazards, some bakeries put the trinket on the side.

Divine, Delicious, Decadent

The table is set, candles are lit, and music is playing softly in the background. It's Valentine's Day, time for a romantic dinner for two. But what's on the menu?

Time Warp on a Platter

"Hail! Hail! The gang's all heeere! What the heck do we care? What the heck do we care?" I smile thinking about where I've heard that tune so many times over the years--comfortably ensconced in a vinyl booth at Crechale's (3107 U.S. Highway 80 W., 601-355-1840), taking in the jukebox, the furniture that looks as if it's been there for decades (and probably has), the recessed red-neon lighting along the ceiling. I'd like to say I've tried most everything on the menu, but I usually order the stuffed flounder or stuffed shrimp. I just can't get past those two items. They are too consistently good for me to stray.

Food for Lovers

The following local restaurants are featuring special menus for Valentine's Day.

Savory Morsels

For me, few things cause a dietary downfall as quickly as the presence of hors d'oeurves and appetizers. There's just something appealing about small morsels. I have been known to make a meal of dips, starters and tiny treats.

Short'nin' Bread

Soul food includes mouth-watering dishes such as collard greens, fried chicken, barbecued spare ribs and corn bread, as well as less well-known but just as sumptuous recipes such as cheese grits, fish and grits, fish and rice, and the recipe below--short'nin' bread--or the more correct version, shortening bread.

The Land of Milk and Garlic Bread

I have tried a few diets in my lifetime, and I find that I always struggle with the same roadblocks.

Kitchen Essentials

On any given Saturday or Sunday, you will most likely find me in front of the television watching a marathon of cooking shows on the Food Network.

Help for the Culinary Coward

I have only recently discovered that the room housing my coffee pot and takeout menus is a kitchen. A few years ago, I was one of those people who actually bragged that I had no idea how to correctly boil an egg and had no intentions of learning in the near future. In the past year, however, I've been driven by sheer serendipity and financial woes to seek solace over the stove.

So Much Tea

My sisters decided to start drinking tea in an attempt to stop drinking soda pop. We realized there were different types and flavors as we shopped for one that would be satisfying. Experimenting with something new doesn't always turn out so great, but finding out the differences and importance of this healthy alternative became a fun research project.

Lagniappe To Your Health

Many folks jerk their Christmas décor down as soon as the turkey stupor wears off. Others, though, think it's bad luck to take it down before the evening of Jan. 5, also known as Twelfth Night in Christian traditions derived from the Old English.

A Part of the Community

Kismet's (315 Crossgates Blvd., Brandon, 601-825-8380) is more than just a place to eat. At some point the simple gyro shop became a part of the community.

Fixing a Salty, Spicy Mess

Cooking with salt and other seasonings can be dangerous. Too much of certain seasonings can lead to health problems. Using the wrong amounts or eyeballing an amount can lead to over-salted, over-spiced and inedible food.

Cocktail Parties Made Easy

The effort involved in planning a cocktail party is can be daunting. For a small, intimate—and even middle-of-the week—cocktail party for friends and family, consider a simple but impressive wine and cheese gathering.

Cooking 101: A Glossary

Maybe, like me, you're not that great of a cook, but you want to improve your skills. As you watch cooking shows and read cooking magazines, you may found that some words are unfamiliar. Below are a few cooking terms that might be new to any novice in the kitchen, or they may be a refresher course for the foodie pro.

Ellington