Country@Heart Dinner Diaries
Tasso: America’s Great Unknown Secret Ingredient
By Tim H. Martin
So, what is tasso? I believe it’s the best-kept secret ingredient in all of American food culture. Unless you’re from the Cajun Country of southern Louisiana, you’ve probably never heard of it — even my spell-checker... READ MORE
Chicken & Sausage Filé Gumbo
By Tim H. Martin
With Quick Brown Roux Instructions! Ingredients (all except roux): • One whole chicken or 4 chicken breasts, skin-on • 16 oz. smoked sausage, thinly sliced, preferably Andouille • 2 cups okra, sliced (optional) • 4 quar... READ MORE
Winter-Buster Beef Soup
By Tim H. Martin
Bayou and bay flavors amp up this beefy-vegetable classic. Ingredients: • 2 to 2 1/2 lbs. ground beef or venison • 3 cups beef broth • 2 28 oz. cans diced tomatoes • 10 oz. can Ro*Tel tomatoes and diced green chili... READ MORE
Tim’s ‘Mater Gravy
By Tim H. Martin
Before you country cookin' traditionalists look at these ingredients and start throwing tomatoes at me, I confess my recipe is a bit different than what most mawmaws make. Leave out the hot sauce, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and cayenne pe... READ MORE
The Gumbo Paddle
By Tim H. Martin
Heirloom Tool For Rowing Rivers of Roux. I'm one of those cooks who's difficult to buy gifts for because I already have pretty much every kitchen gadget there is. While surfing Facebook last December, I saw a rustic hand-carved gumbo paddle... READ MORE