Carla Hall 
I still remember the first time I tasted a Southern tomato pie -it was a sweltering July afternoon, the kind where the garden is bursting with fat, sun-ripened tomatoes and you can’t possibly eat them fast enough. A neighbor brought one over in a deep-dish crust, warm from the oven, bubbling with melted cheese and … Read more
I still remember the first time I watched Brenda Gantt spoon that golden, steaming dressing right out of the pan -soft, savory, and absolutely loaded with the kind of homey flavor that makes you close your eyes for a second. It wasn’t crispy. It wasn’t sliced into squares. It was the real deal: a deep, … Read more
The first time I made this Brenda Gantt hamburger steak and gravy recipe, my kitchen smelled exactly like my grandmother’s on a Sunday afternoon. That rich, pan-dripping gravy bubbling around tender beef patties -it’s the kind of meal that slows you down in the best way possible. Brenda Gantt has a gift for making old-fashioned … Read more
The first time I visited Texas de Brazil, I made a rookie mistake -I filled my plate entirely with meat and barely glanced at the salad bar. It wasn’t until my third visit that someone nudged me toward a small bowl of thinly sliced cucumbers glistening in a sweet, tangy dressing. One bite, and I … Read more
I still remember the first time I grabbed an oatmeal raisin cookie from the Subway cookie bin on impulse -and completely forgot about the sandwich in my hand. That thick, golden, cinnamon-spiced cookie had a chew that was almost impossible to put down. Soft in the center, just barely crisp at the edges, with plump, … Read more
I still remember the first time I dunked a Pizza Hut breadstick into that creamy, herb-flecked ranch cup. It was unmistakably different from every other ranch dressing I had ever tasted -thicker, tangier, with a subtle smokiness that lingered just long enough to make you reach for another dip. For years I assumed the flavor … Read more