I always loved the spiced shrimp in Ocean City, Maryland or at a restaurant called Dancing Crab in Washington, DC. Serve them with Spicy Cocktail Sauce and corn on the cob. Totally delicious!
Izetta's Southern Cooking
I was born on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. My mom, Izetta, was born in Tennessee and raised in Waterford, Virginia. My dad, Charles Irving, was born in a small town outside of Leesburg, Virginia. Most of my aunts and uncles remained in Virginia. We would drive to the country every Sunday and had wonderful Sunday dinners with relatives. My mom would help cook in their big country kitchens. Nothing says comfort like southern food and. . .good ole' hospitality is truly a southern tradition.
Thursday, January 21, 2021
MARYLAND SPICED SHRIMP
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
NORTH CAROLINA-STYLE PULLED PORK BBQ SANDWICHES
There are generally two types of barbecue in the state of North Carolina. The farther west you go, the sauce contains more ketchup. I prefer a 'middle of the state' sauce, which contain some ketchup. I also added a recipe for Eastern barbecue sauce, which has a vinegar base and no ketchup at all. Either way, there is nothing like a good North Carolina pulled pork BBQ sandwich. My recipe for Izetta's Southern Coleslaw is in another post.
Lee's Kitchen Tips:
Here is the difference between a pork butt/Boston butt and a pork shoulder/pork picnic.
The pork butt and Boston butt are the same cut of meat from the top portion of the ‘whole shoulder’ of the hog. It is sold boneless or bone-in.
The pork shoulder and pork picnic are the same cut of meat from the lower portion of the shoulder below the joint and above the shank or leg. It is sold boneless or bone-in. A pork shoulder is perfect for pulled pork that is cooked long and slow and is less expensive than a Boston butt.
If using a gas grill, you can place soaked wood chips in a packet or two of aluminum foil and poke holes in the top.
1 (6 to 7 lb) bone-in pork shoulder or Boston butt
¼ cup pork barbecue rub (of your choice)
Rub pork with barbecue rub and let sit in the refrigerator, covered, 12 to 24 hours.
Place about 4 cups hickory wood chips in water and soak for 12 to 24 hours.
Mopping Sauce
2 T avocado oil
Combine ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer 3 minutes.
Sunday, January 10, 2021
CASA OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER
Thursday, January 7, 2021
EASY & DELICIOUS CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
I make chicken noodle soup two or three times during the autumn and winter, and I make it with boneless chicken breasts. Chicken wings are first cooked to make the extra rich stock. You can also pull off some of the meat from the chicken wings and add to the soup or give that meat to your pet.
1 quart water
2 sprigs thyme
2 T minced fresh parsley
3 cups egg noodles, or pasta of your choice
Simmer, partially covered for 15 minutes.
Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Serves 6 to 8
Thursday, December 31, 2020
SOUTHERN HOPPIN' JOHN
When you cook your black-eyed peas with rice, it is known as Hoppin' John. The southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas for luck on New Year's day is believed to have started after the Civil War. It was first planted as food for livestock and the fields of black-eyed peas were ignored as General Sherman's Union troops destroyed other crops. It became a nourishing food source for the surviving Confederates who considered themselves lucky. Serve them with either, collards, mustard greens, or turnip greens, which represents paper money, and cornbread, which represents gold. Adding a shiny impeccably clean penny to the pot of greens or Hoppin' John just before serving will bring extra luck to the one who finds it. Let everyone know to look for the penny so they don't choke. Flavor the peas with ham and bacon and the tradition is complete. These legumes are a good source of calcium, folate, fiber, and vitamin A.
1 cup dried black-eyed peas
3 slices bacon, diced
1 T unsalted butter
2 stalks celery, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ t red pepper flakes
3 cups chicken stock
1 t dried thyme or 1 sprig of fresh thyme
1 cup white rice
½ cup diced ham (preferably Virginia ham, optional)
Minced parsley, for garnish (optional)
Cover and simmer slowly for 15 minutes, add a little more chicken stock or water, if too dry.
Sunday, December 20, 2020
RASPBERRY FILLED STAR COOKIES
These cookies are wonderful at Christmas and if you use heart cookie cutters, they make great little cookies for Valentine's Day.
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
Sunday, December 13, 2020
HEARTY BEEF STEW
Wine has been used in stews for hundreds of years. My Cheddar-Garlic Drop Biscuits or country rolls are a perfect accompaniment to this hearty stew.
3 lbs boneless beef chuck, cut into bite size chunks