Thanks to the summer blockbuster The Help, a movie based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett, there is no shortage of chocolate pie recipes floating around and, once again, Southern culture–more specifically–Southern food is at the forefront. In the movie, scandal surrounds a ‘secret ingredient’ in the chocolate pie. I…

I recently ordered a library worth of cookbooks and, while skimming through pages and pages of recipes, I was struck by a butternut squash ravioli recipe from head chef David Tanis’ book Heart of the Artichoke.  Admittedly, there is a fair amount of prep work and patience required, but the…

If I know I’m anticipating having a get-together that involves food (and, really, when doesn’t it), I like to test-drive a recipe and plan my menu.  Next week I’m hosting a small gathering–a motley group of foodies, oenophiles, bookworms, and slackers alike.  They’re as different and unique as snowflakes, but…