Country@Heart Dinner Diaries
Alabama Red Beans & Rice
By Tim H. Martin
I've had a couple of friends from New Orleans ask me what made these "Alabama" red beans and rice. I reminded them that Louisiana isn't the only state with Cajun and Creole culture. Alabama has plenty of Cajuns, too, down in our own bayou ... READ MORE
Fire Grits!
By Tim H. Martin
Just the right amount of heat in this devilishly creamy dish Ingredients: • 1 cup quick grits • 2 cups half-and-half • 2 cups chicken stock • 2 (10 oz.) cans original RO*TEL diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained &bu... READ MORE
Creole Chicken & Okra
By Tim H. Martin
Sometimes I buy a cookbook just for one or two recipes. When I heard about "Cooking Up a Storm," I knew there would be dozens of recipes I'd like, which proved to be true. After Hurricane Katrina, there was risk of losing much of the old Lo... 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
Bayou Bunnies Beat the Blues
By Tim H. Martin
I always get the blues when deer season ends. It's too cold to fish in early February and my stack of unattended honeydoos has grown into a mountain since October. This season, I decided to beat the blues by taking advantage of Alabama's Fe... READ MORE