Oh, summer nights. You are ending soon, and I will be so sad...but, don't get me wrong, I do welcome cooler temps and fall fashion. During the dog days of summer in Texas, evenings are really the only time we can get out of the air conditioned house for a meal. Our family loves to grill and eat fresh sides...and drink crisp vino...al fresco during the summer. A few weeks ago, I decided to grill some shrimp skewered on rosemary sprigs. And since I am still on a cajun . . .
Peach and Prosciutto Salad
I told you I was on a salad kick, and this one uses one of my favorite summer seasonal ingredients: peaches. Here in the Texas Hill Country, the peach reigns supreme in summer months. I challenge you to drive down any Farm to Market road and not see at least three peach stands. Do other states still have Farm to Market roads? As I typed that, it seemed a bit strange. Well, in Texas, we still do. A few weekends ago, a dear friend of mine and her mother-in-law . . .
Spicy Creamy Tomato Sauce
To be honest, we don't eat a ton of pasta in our house. Okay, well, I don't eat a ton of pasta in our house. Mat, however, would eat pasta with just butter, salt, and grated parmesan cheese almost every night of the week. Truth be told, I don't love red sauce. I do enjoy lasagna and dishes like baked ziti, but when it come to just red sauce -- even a good, meaty bolognese -- over noodles, it just doesn't excite me very much. However, a cream sauce over pasta...sign me . . .
Asian Salad with Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
Ah, summer is officially here. To the Hodges family, that means dining al fresco, lots of pool time, and crisp summer salads. Today, I bring you one that is definitely going to be a regular weeknight recipe in our house this season. This Asian Salad is of the chopped variety, and contains 7 different vegetables. It is as colorful as it is healthy! Since this is a weeknight meal, I used a local pre-made sesame ginger salad dressing; however, I will link up to a great . . .
Recipe: Honey Mustard Roasted Carrots
I am a huge fan of roasted vegetables, especially root vegetables. Carrots, potatoes, beets, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, turnips, and the list goes on. Roasting highlights almost every dimension in root vegetables' flavor profile, but this cooking method really pulls out the rich sweetness hidden inside. As you can probably tell by the recipe posts on Fig + Cotton, I love side dishes. When I cook a meal for family and friends, I tend to go a bit overboard on the amount of . . .
Quick Recipe: Pesto Drumsticks
This recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or even for your upcoming Halloween soiree! Recipe: Pesto Drumsticks 6 - 8 chicken drumsticks with the skin on 2 - 3 TB of softened butter 1 cup of pesto (store-bought or homemade) Non-stick cooking spray Directions Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash drumsticks under running water and make sure you pat dry with paper towels. Slide your fingers underneath the skin to loosen it up a bit without tearing it . . .
Recipe: Slowcooker Pot Roast
I feel like I have a very volatile relationship with my Crock Pot. I go on long streaks of usage, then I quit on him for a while. Regardless, I have found that he is my working mom/wife savior for busy weeknights…IF you find the right recipes. I am actually making this one for my in-laws tonight. Now, I understand why the Crock Pot gets a bad rap. One-pot meals can be less than appetizing (to be nice), but there are so many wonderful ideas around the Internet to . . .
Beef + Broccoli Stir-fry
I adore asian food. All of it. Besides sushi, chinese fast food is my favorite. I am almost embarrased to admit it. It is one of my guilty pleasures, and I am always drawn to recipes where I can recreate my favorites at home. Unfortunately, I am usually unsuccessful. Don't get me wrong. It isn't bad, per se, but it isn't a recreation of my beloved chinese fast food. As I was flipping through the new Houston Junior League Cookbook (which is quite beautiful), I was . . .
Recipe: Individual Meatloafs
We love meatloaf for dinner. It almost sounds silly to say, but it is not your typical meatloaf. First it is packed with vegetables. I use a healthy amount of carrots, onion, bell peppers, and garlic to make this meatloaf very special. I actually made this just last night for wonderful friends who just welcomed their very special baby girl into the world. That little lady makes me want another baby...like now. Okay, back to meatloaf. Another reason mine is . . .
Recipe: The Columbia’s 1905 Salad
If you follow me here or on Instagram, you know that our family spent the July 4th holiday in Florida, Indian Rocks Beach to be exact. My husband, Mat, vacationed there as a child...as did his mother. Needless to say, the quiet beach town holds a special place in our hearts. We love taking Rex there every summer and watch him play on the same beaches as his daddy did at the same age. Our entire family comes in from Tampa, Los Angeles, Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Fort . . .