Modern Hospitality: Simple Recipes With Southern Charm Hardcover – July 5, 2011 (19 page)

Acknowledgments

WRITING A COOKBOOK HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM OF MINE, and I would like to thank the three people who made it all possible for me. Thank you, Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich, and Graham Elliot, for believing in me enough to name me America’s first
MasterChef,
and as a result, giving me this opportunity to write my first cookbook. I owe you all my first signed copies. Thank you, Gordon, for writing the foreword for my cookbook; it has been an honor having you taste my dishes and bestow such high compliments. Adeline Ramage Rooney, thank you for all your help and advice through the challenging process of writing my first cookbook. Thank you, Chad and Kelia from Reveille, for aiding me in meeting deadlines; all the late-night e-mails were appreciated.

I have had the pleasure of working with Julie Will, my editor, who has helped me edit, organize, and assemble my recipes for the cookbook. Thanks, Julie, for all your creative inspiration and the way you stayed true to my Southern style. I am also thankful to Brys Stephens, my food tester, for testing all my recipes. From having personally cooked and measured each dish, I know that this was a big endeavor.

I had an amazing experience at my photo shoot in New York. I had a wonderful time working with Ellen Silverman. She made me feel at ease, which allowed me to appear very natural in front of the camera. Many thanks, Kevin Norris and Kara Plikaitis for helping a girl look “skinny” in her photos, making sure my clothes were smoothed and shaped to fit. Alejandra Nerizagal, I know you had a fun time taming my long locks throughout the whole day at the photo shoot. Thank you for working your makeup magic in making my eyes “pop.”

Cyd McDowell, you did a great job preparing and styling the food for the pictures; you really made my recipes come to life. Thank you for your hospitality on set; my mom and I loved the sweet tea. For setting the stage for my food to look its best, I want to thank Natasha Louise King; I loved the southern chic décor.

Thank you, Kara, Marie Crousillat, Kate Slate, Nancy N. Bailey, and Wendy Gable at Rodale, for all your assistance in putting together this cookbook. You have all been a part of making my dream come true.

Last but not least, I would like to thank all of my hometown taste testers, Mrs. Cynthia, Mrs. Glenda, Mrs. Debra, Mrs. Lori, and all of my friends, family, and acquaintances who tasted my food and inspired me to pursue my dream.

Index

Boldfaced
page references indicate photographs.

A

Appetizers

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Brussels Sprouts,
26
,
27

BBQ Shrimp,
28

Butter Bean Hummus,
18
,
19

Collard Green Dip,
20
,
21

Crab Cakes with Sweet and Spicy Coleslaw,
34
,
35

Crawfish Étouffée Rice Balls,
32–33

Cream Cheese Ring with Cranberry Chipotle Sauce,
23–24
,
25

Fingerling Potato Skins,
29

Olive Salad,
162

Quick and Easy Cornbread Crostini,
22

Turnip Greens Pesto,
164

White Pizza with Fried Sage,
36–37

Zucchini Cups,
30
,
31

B

Bacon

Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Rosemary-Cranberry Glaze,
102
,
103

Bacon-Wrapped Sirloin Steak,
109

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Brussels Sprouts,
26
,
27

Braised Cabbage with Bacon and Onions,
64
,
65

Breakfast Grit Cakes,
8
,
9

Southern Cobb Salad,
51

Bananas

Banana Mousse Trifles,
134
,
135

Fresh Fruit and Granola Tarts,
4
,
5

Lemon-Lime Fruit Salad,
118

Basic recipes

Blackened Seasoning Rub,
158

Buttermilk Herb Dressing,
160

Miracle Marinade,
159

Olive Salad,
162

Pimiento Cheese,
163

Sun-Dried Tomato and Cranberry Ketchup,
161

Turnip Greens Pesto,
164

Beans

Butter Bean Hummus,
18
,
19

Creole Succotash,
74

Field Peas with Okra and Andouille Sausage,
76
,
77

Game-Day Chili,
46
,
47

Southern Cobb Salad,
51

Southern Zuppa,
42
,
43

Beef

Bacon-Wrapped Sirloin Steak,
109

Crispy Onion-Crusted Steak with Mushroom Cream Sauce,
108

Game-Day Chili,
46
,
47

Grandma’s Sunday Roast,
110
,
111

Mini Meat Loaves,
106
,
107

Mississippi Cheesesteak,
56
,
57

Off-the-Griddle Cheeseburger,
59

Bell peppers

Pimiento Cheese,
163

Shrimp and Sausage with Grits Soufflé and Yellow Pepper Sabayon,
90–92
,
91

Upside-Down Quiches,
10
,
11

Berries.
See also
Cranberries

Fresh Fruit and Granola Tarts,
4
,
5

Lemon-Lime Fruit Salad,
118

Not Your Grandma’s Lemon Meringue,
130
,
131–32

Strawberry Cream Cupcakes,
124
,
125

Biscuits

Biscuits and Cane Syrup,
6
,
7

Blackberries

Lemon-Lime Fruit Salad,
118

Not Your Grandma’s Lemon Meringue,
130
,
131–32

Blondies

Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Blondies,
122
,
123

Blueberries

Fresh Fruit and Granola Tarts,
4
,
5

Lemon-Lime Fruit Salad,
118

Bread-based dishes

Grandmother Adele’s Dressing with a Twist,
79
,
96

White Chocolate Bread Pudding,
133

Breads

Biscuits and Cane Syrup,
6
,
7

Jalapeño Cornbread,
82
,
83

Rosemary Focaccia,
81

Breakfast

Biscuits and Cane Syrup,
6
,
7

Breakfast Grit Cakes,
8
,
9

Cinnamon and Pecan Granola,
12

Dad’s Scrambled Eggs,
13

Fresh Fruit and Granola Tarts,
4
,
5

Upside-Down Quiches,
10
,
11

Brussels sprouts

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Brussels Sprouts,
26
,
27

Roasted Brussels Sprouts,
66

Burgers

Off-the-Griddle Cheeseburger,
59

Buttermilk

Buttermilk Herb Dressing,
160

C

Cabbage

Braised Cabbage with Bacon and Onions,
64
,
65

Sweet and Spicy Coleslaw,
34
,
78

Cakes

Molten Lava Cakes for a Crowd,
128
,
129

Strawberry Cream Cupcakes,
124
,
125

Toasted Coconut Cupcakes with Lemon Glaze,
126
,
127

Carrots

Carrot Soufflé,
68
,
69

Inside-Out Chicken Pot Pies,
100
,
101

Catfish

Blackened Catfish Salad with Cornbread Croutons,
48
,
49

Oven-Fried Catfish with Fresh Dill Tartar Sauce,
89

Cauliflower

Cauliflower “Mac ‘n’ Cheese,”
72
,
73

Loaded Cauliflower Soup,
45

Cheddar cheese

Breakfast Grit Cakes,
8
,
9

Cauliflower “Mac ‘n’ Cheese,”
72
,
73

Pimiento Cheese,
163

Southern Cobb Salad,
51

Upside-Down Quiches,
10
,
11

Cheese.
See also
Cream cheese

Breakfast Grit Cakes,
8
,
9

Cauliflower “Mac ‘n’ Cheese,”
72
,
73

Collard Green Dip,
20
,
21

Crawfish Étouffée Rice Balls,
32–33

Fingerling Potato Skins,
29

Inside-Out Chicken Pot Pies,
100
,
101

Mississippi Cheesesteak,
56
,
57

Off-the-Griddle Cheeseburger,
59

Pimiento Cheese,
163

Shrimp Bisque and Grits,
88

Southern Cobb Salad,
51

Stuffed Muffuletta Po’ Boys,
58

Summer Vegetable Pizzas,
112–13

Turnip Greens Pesto,
164

Upside-Down Quiches,
10
,
11

White Pizza with Fried Sage,
36–37

Chicken

Butter- and Herb-Roasted Chicken,
96
,
97

Buttermilk Pan-Fried Chicken,
98
,
99

Cranberry Chipotle BBQ Chicken with Potato Salad,
93–95
,
94

Inside-Out Chicken Pot Pies,
100
,
101

Lemon-Pepper Chicken Salad,
50

Southern Zuppa,
42
,
43

Chile peppers

Cranberry Chipotle BBQ Chicken with Potato Salad,
93–95
,
94