Carol Ann Kates

If you shop at your local farmers’ market, you will find eggplants are in season and come in several different varieties. The most common type of eggplant found in supermarkets is the deep purple Black Beauty, also called the American or globe eggplant. The Black Beauty is also sold at farmers’ markets as well as some unusual varieties you may not have seen before. For example, the Italian eggplant is similar in appearance to the Black Beauty, but it is smaller, and its flesh

What happened to the price of beef? When we go to the supermarket or out to eat at a restaurant, the price of a good steak can cause our heads to spin. Beef prices continue to rise, and depending upon the cut of beef we purchase, August 2026 prices are 17 to 24 percent higher than they were in January 2025. In the past when we dined at a nice restaurant, I ordered filet mignon; but, anymore, when I see the $50 or higher price tag, I opt for something less expensive. And the

Blue Cheese Stuffed Hamburgers Labor Day is the last official summer celebration, and in our house we like to end the summer with a bang. My husband loves my blue-cheese stuffed burgers so they are always on the menu, but these days we have vegetarians, vegans, and pescatarians on the guest list. I have had to expand my burger repertoire to accommodate my non-beef-eating guests and keep everyone happy. If you are freaking out because you are expecting vegetarian, vegan, or pe

A few years ago my husband and I took a driving trip through the South, following Southern Living’s guide, “Drives and Dives.” I fell in love with the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, and had to visit the Whistle Stop Café in Juliette, Georgia. Yes, it really does exist and does serve Fried Green Tomatoes. I adore fried green tomatoes and sampled this delicacy at every dive we visited. Whistle Stop Cafe, Juliette, Georgia My or

My husband, our oldest daughter, and I took our granddaughter and her boyfriend couch shopping for their new townhome last week. The day was sizzling hot. Afterwards, we went to eat at a Mexican restaurant called Maria Bonita, and although I love Mexican food, I wanted something light and refreshing. I had the shrimp ceviche. I found it to be the perfect meal when the weather is unbearable. I had to re-create it at home and learn more about ceviche. Ceviche is a popular Latin

Lettuce wraps originated in China thousands of years ago and have migrated through Southeast Asia, being especially popular in Laos and Thailand. They were well received in the US when restaurants, like PF Chang’s, added them to their appetizer menu. Recent trends towards low-carb and gluten-free options make this dish even more attractive. If you are cutting calories or avoiding bread, this recipe is perfect. Bonus, Chicken Lettuce Wraps are nutritious, low in calories, and

Where I live, it has been really hot. During midday temperatures can rise over triple digits. During these dog days of summer, the last thing I want to do is slave over a hot stove or a fiery grill. While a steaming bowl of soup may be comforting on a cold, snowy day, when the weather sizzles, I crave something cool and refreshing. In my house, a cold bowl of gazpacho will satisfy even the most wilted appetite. Gazpacho is considered the king of cold soups and is one of my fa

I watched a segment on the news where an Italian restauranteur had his Nonna on making gnocchi. It made me hungry for this Italian icon. Yes, gnocchi is Italian, but it is not a pasta. Gnocchi are soft, pillowy dumplings made from either mashed potatoes, flour, and eggs or ricotta cheese. I watched as Nonna rolled the dough into thin ropes and cut the ropes into small “pillows”. Nonna never cooked the gnocchi on the segment, but her son kept saying how difficult it is to make

Spicy shrimp, crisp cabbage, and a zesty sauce wrapped in a warmed flour tortilla and drizzled with fresh lime. Irresistible! The origin of shrimp tacos can be traced back to Ensenada, a town located in the Baja California region of Mexico. This area is known for its magnificent beaches, vibrant fishing villages, and delicious seafood. Just like the fish taco, fishermen brought their shrimp catch-of-the-day to street vendors and cooks in Ensenada, who grilled or fried the shr

Pork chops are one of the more reasonably priced proteins these days. Three ounces of a cooked pork chop contains 23 to 26 grams of protein, or about half the protein we should be consuming daily. If you are looking for a different way to prepare pork chops, my husband ranked my recipe for Spicy Thai Citrus Grilled Pork Chops as a 10. I have been making this recipe for over a decade now. It contains lemongrass, ginger, fish sauce, rice vinegar, and a minced habanero chile pe

Some fun facts about zucchini: Zucchini is in season, so if you have a garden, you are no doubt harvesting zucchini or perhaps you have a neighbor that is growing zucchini and giving it away. Zucchini is easy to grow, and if it isn’t picked when it should be, can become quite large. Yes, zucchini is quite prolific. We want to pick it and use it before it gets too big. Zucchinis will be the most flavorful when they are small to medium sized. According to Ripley’s Believe It Or

America’s 250th Birthday is just around the corner. In this blog, I share my favorite backyard recipes: Blue-Cheese Stuffed Hamburgers (also known as Fourth of July Hamburgers), Grilled Artichoke Hearts with a Remoulade Sauce, Mexican Street Corn, Pauline’s Potato Salad, Watermelon Granita, which can be serves as a dessert or add an adult beverage for a delicious cocktail, and my Red, White, and Blue Parfait’s, which can be served in either wine glasses or mason jars, adding

I made this recipe for my husband, and as I sat it down in front of him, he smiled and his face said, “Oh my!” Then he said, “That’s really pretty.” This is the perfect meal for two on a hot summer evening—easy to prepare and simply delicious. The sauce is flavored with my new favorite ingredient to cook with, Calabrian chiles, and it’s topped with my favorite cheese, burrata. I like serving it with crusty bread and a Caesar salad. Burrata is a soft, fresh Italian cheese that

Featuring Brie Lover’s Picnic Sandwiches and Carol Ann’s Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad How are you honoring that special father in your life this coming Father’s Day? It took some coaxing to get my husband to tell me how he wanted to spend Father’s Day. He hemmed and hawed for several days and finally decided, “I want to go on a picnic in the mountains.” I was so happy that was his “final answer.” Years ago, my son gave me a lovely picnic basket for Christmas, and there is nothing

I don’t know about you, but what we cook during the summer is different than fall or winter. We like lighter fare and lots of fresh veggies, and, of course, we like heating up the grill. Tomatoes, avocados, and corn are some of our top summer veggies. The following is one of our favorite summer suppers because it is super simple to prepare and contains our favorite veggies. My husband loves grilled corn. We shuck the ears, spray them with cooking spray, and throw them on the

Last week I shared that my son and daughter gave me cookbooks for Mother’s Day. In my last blog I shared my adventures with Shaq, the book Leelee gave me. This week I share my adventures with Samin Nosrat, the author of Good Things. Samin Nosrat is also the author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, awarded the James Beard general cookbook of the year in 2017. Pretty impressive! This book shifted the focus from following rigid recipes to understanding the four foundational elements of

My son and daughter gave me cookbooks for Mother’s Day. Leelee gave me Shaquille O’Neill’s Family Style, and my son Brian picked Good Things by Samin Nosrat, the author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. Since my PEO sister, Lori, told me her husband gave her Shaq’s cookbook for Christmas, I dug into it first. I am a cookbook collector, but I have never counted the exact number I have because if I had a number I’d have to quit collecting. My husband estimated 1,000, then changed his g

Pasta Salad with Smoked Mozzarella and Sun-Dried Tomatoes is one of my favorite pasta salad recipes. It is too die for and perfect for May—light, yet filling. I like to make it the day before and let the dressing absorb into the pasta overnight. It is just like potato salad—it has the most flavor after it sits in the fridge for 24 hours. I add the spinach and red bell pepper strips right before serving so they are crisp and fresh. Pasta Salad with Smoked Mozzarella and Sun-Dr

Treat Your Favorite Mother to Crab Cakes If you are cooking for someone this Mother’s Day and searching for recipe ideas, consider making crab cakes. Tom Douglas once said, “Who doesn’t love digging into a plate of crab cakes or going after a chilled cracked crab with a crab cracker, cocktail fork, and a plastic bib for protection?” I love digging into chilled cracked crab and proudly wear a bib for protection. I also love crab cakes. Because crab has gotten a bit pricey,

Just What Is Cinco de Mayo? Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner. What are you making? I’m serving Tequila Marinated Chicken Fajitas and margaritas, of course. I like giving a bit of history in my blog, and I must admit I always believed Cinco de Mayo was Mexican Independence Day. “Better double check this, Carol,” I said to myself. Boy, am I glad I did. Mexican Independence Day is actually celebrated on September 16. I learned this is the date Miguel Hidalgo and “Grito de