Here in the South it's shrimp season pretty much all year long.  I'm ashamed to admit, though, that despite my years growing up here, shrimp and I never really had a chance to get  acquainted.

That is, until I met a certain Southern gentleman and he and I decided to get married and settle down.

I remember one summer visit with our families when the aforementioned Southern gentleman and I were just engaged.

How does one have a garden without tomatoes?  Tomatoes are a staple in every garden's summer bounty, right?

Well, not ours.

I may be queen in my kitchen, but the garden is one area that is outside my domain.  It's not that I have a "black thumb."  Or that I don't enjoy gardening. It's just that my husband has taken complete ownership of it.  The garden is his realm.  And it happens to be one of his favorite hobbies.

Raw, unrefined, virgin coconut oil is a staple at my house.  As my constant companion in the kitchen, it emerges from my pantry numerous times a day.

Since coconut oil does not produce free radicals when heated or go rancid like olive oil (which is prone to oxidative damage by heat), I use it almost exclusively when cooking, baking, and sauteing. It is my all-purpose oil, and I typically buy it in five-gallon buckets.

'Tis the summer season for grilled, juicy burgers and dinner out on the back porch.

Well, unfortunately, we don't have a back porch.  Or a decent grill.  So when it came time to make burgers this week, I pulled out my trusty old cast iron grill pan, set it on my stovetop to heat up, and proceeded to set the kitchen table.

That magnificent grill and picture-perfect patio would have to wait yet another year.

Growing up one of my favorite meals was salmon patties with a side of steamed broccoli (dripping with butter) and a large serving of creamy mac n' cheese.

No one could make this meal as well as my grandma could! I so looked forward to a sleep-over at my grandparent's house because I knew the arrangement always would include the question: "What do you want to have for dinner?"

Why, salmon patties of course!

Did you all have a wonderful 4th of July? We found ourselves doing the family potluck thing, but with a little spin this year. Instead of just gathering for the grub, we met together early in the morning to redo the landscaping at the family patriarch's home.

Who knew that holiday family time could be more than just casual conversation and random food?