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
Albondigas! The Mysterious Mexican Soup
By Tim H. Martin
Trout Quest Leads to Mysterious Soup. I’d never even heard of Albondigas soup until I saw it on the appetizer menu at Ed’s Cantina in Estes Park, Colorado. This discovery came in the autumn of 2017 after three rugged days of fly... READ MORE
Buckmasters Big Red Chili
By Tim H. Martin
Winner of 2010 Buckmasters Cook-off has layers of sausage, beef, spices and one not-so-secret ingredient. Ingredients: • 2 lbs. ground pork sausage (I use 1 lb. Jimmy Dean Sage & 1 lb. Jimmy Dean Hot) • 1 1/2 lbs. beef stew m... 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
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