Meal No. 4204: Brunswick Stew for the Crew

Dateline: Sun 13 Sept. It’s my fault if by now it’s unclear to regular readers that there is unparalleled joy in the core crew gatherings, as happened back in the middle of the month. Amy and Gern and Kristen and Mookie bring all the best spirit and camaraderie to the dinner table and then to the man cave once we shift into hang-out time. That night we had hearty bowls of Brunswick stew, which has been missing from the rotation for over three years. This was one of those times that seconds were unabashedly scooped out and only a single portion was left over. I’ll assign that a designation of success.

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Brunswick Stew derived some inspiration from the following:

• "Get a Husband Brunswick Stew," by RAKESTRAW on AllRecipes.com.
• "Amelia's Slow Cooker Brunswick Stew," by Peach822 on AllRecipes.com.

Meal No. 4203: Souvlaki-Style Chicken Kebabs on Caesar Salad

Dateline: Sat 12 Sept. Long ago I left behind pretense about what constitutes a true Caesar salad, and for me it’s enough to know that I made a delicious creamy Caesar dressing and I’ll let it adorn whatever lettuce or spring mix or greens I have put in a bowl and ordained as “salad.” A couple of Saturdays ago, my Caesar-dressed spring mix was heavily laden with wonderful grilled souvlaki-style chicken kebabs (well, I de-skewered the morsels of chicken to put atop the salad). All that good marinade boosted that nicely-grilled chicken breast, and to me salad is always pleasing.

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Pulled from “Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe with Tzatziki,” from Suzy Karedsheh of The Mediterranean Dish. [Published 11 June 2018 / Updated 16 October 2020]

Meal No. 4202: Baked Thighs and Broccoli

Dateline: Fri 11 Sept. Is it a rut, or is it a groove? My happy satisfaction at meal’s end a couple of Fridays ago suggests I’m definitely not weary yet of the simple joys of baked herbed chicken thighs, along with roasted spiced broccoli florets. Deeply rewarding, perhaps all the more so in its simplicity, the plate at supper time was giddily tackled and clean-up was a breeze. That left more time for quiet reading of professional literature in the still summery evening on the driveway.

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Based on "Oven Baked Chicken Thighs," from Joanna Cismaru of JoCooks.com.

Meal No. 4201: Baby Back Ribs

Dateline: Thur 10 Sept. When the pork baby back ribs are on sale, I can’t help but toss a rack or two into the grocery cart. A couple of Thursdays ago, as the lovely afternoon quickly became summer-like, it made ribs seems suited to the weather. Ah, but I do have a fondness for slow-roasting these in the oven and tried out a different recipe for ‘em, much to my delight and satisfaction. To keep the focus on eating more ribs and not crowding up my plate or stomach, I tossed canned green beans into a pot with a few seasonings and let them serve as momentary distractors between eager bites of tender morsels of meat.

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"Tender Oven-Baked Barbecue Ribs," from Holly Nilsson of Spend with Pennies. [Published 05 May 2024]

Oatmeal Pizookie with Eggnog Ice Cream

Dateline: Wed 09 Sept. Another special evening with Amy at the house was a fine reason for a dessert that would not bore anybody. I had a few balls of oatmeal skillet cookie dough remaining, but I had to make a fresh batch of ice cream if I was going for another pizookie evening. And ice cream is a must for that. It occurred to me that maybe eggnog ice cream could still be complementary to the oatmeal and cinnamon of the ramekin-baked cookie, and it was. We rather enjoyed this treat for the brief moment it was before us...and then suddenly gone.

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"Eggnog Ice Cream," from Bi-Rite Creamery's Sweet Cream and Sugar Cones, by Kris Hoogerhyde, Anne Walker, and Dabney Gough. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press (2012), p. 186-187.

Adapted from "Mini Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookies," by Lindsay Landis of loveandoliveoil.com. [Published 21 September 2015 / Updated 22 November 2019]

Meal No. 4200: Chicken Shawarma

Dateline: Wed 09 Sept. It might be safe to say that sheet pan chicken shawarma has found a receptive audience here at the Roediger House. As we reached the milestone of the 4,200th meal since the “new” kitchen was completed in 2009, and with the dear delight of Amy on hand, that’s what the mood and moment called for. Marinated in spices and garlic, supplemented by red onion wedges, and baked to juicy perfection, these thigh fillets were graciously supplemented with herbed roasted whole green beans and cumin-coriander-spiced cauliflower florets. We operated with gusto.

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"Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma," by Sam Sifton of New York Times Cooking. [Updated 23 January 2024]

Meal No. 4199: Spiced Chicken Tenders on Caesar Greens

Dateline: Tue 08 Sept. September in general is a rewarding time of year to reach, with its gradual easing back into the routines of work and travel, while the weather often serves up gorgeous days and a release from the oppressive heat and humidity of summertime. Mind you: I still note with dismay that it signals the approach of winter, and I do not like that. While the front end of the month still found me at home, rather than on the road, I was focused on mostly healthy meals. The Tuesday following Labor Day gives us one of those examples: a handful of spiced chicken tenders, pan-seared and then diced, to adorn a spring mix of greens, topped generously with homemade creamy Caesar dressing.

That morning brought me face-to-face with another spotted lantern fly, perched on the Toyota badge on my trunk. We have not yet been inundated with these invasive hellions—at that point I was probably spotting one about every 3 or 4 weeks. And killing every one of ‘em that I can. This one met a speedy demise. (Since that day, there's been an uptick in finding smaller ones already dead out on the driveway near the tree line.)

That evening was lovely for another intense downtown stroll, this time clocking in at 5.7 miles in a wide southside circuit that took advantage, in part, of the Salem Creek Greenway.

Meal No. 4198: Chicken Caesar Wraps

Dateline: Mon 07 Sept. The grand evening with Kristen and Mookie over Labor Day weekend offered us a great time to visit and a promise of hearty portions when supper was served...but enough of that rotisserie-style whole chicken was left over to be perfect for another round of chicken Caesar wraps. That’s what occurred back on Labor Day itself, a gorgeous partly sunny day with temps topping out at a most delightful 81°F. Well-packed with wrap fixings, tightly rolled, toasted on three sides in a skillet, and handily consumed without the need or bother of utensils. After settling in for an evening movie via streaming, it was time for the blast of an evening walk, topping out at 5.5 miles at a healthy pace.

Meal No. 4197: Caesar-Dressed Greens with Spiced Chicken Tenderloins

Dateline: Sun 06 Sept. As our early September heatwave broke at last by Sunday of Labor Day weekend, it felt like a good night for a light supper. I made some fresh creamy Caesar dressing and spiced and pan-seared chicken tenders. They were especially perfect on the salad once the bowls were filled and set before us.

That evening was another good one for a fast-paced extended downtown stroll! But boy howdy was I pretty sweat-soaked by the end.

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Based on "Easy Lemon Caesar Salad Dressing," by Kim Hardesty of lowcarbmaven.com. [Published 05 January 2016]

Cinnamon Oatmeal Pizookie with Brown Sugar Cinnamon Ice Cream

Dateline: Sat 05 Sept. The Labor Day Weekend evening with dear friends Kristen and Mookie allowed for time upstairs after dinner, a mix of music and tv and a bit of pool playing. We took a break for sampling a new dessert option: a baked ramekin with a cinnamon oatmeal pizookie, topped with a generous scoop of brown sugar cinnamon ice cream. I could see a reason to repeat that treat, easily.

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Adapted from "Mini Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookies," by Lindsay Landis of loveandoliveoil.com. [Published 21 September 2015 / Updated 22 November 2019]

"Brown Sugar Cinnamon Ice Cream," from Heather Tullos of SugarDishMe.com. [Published 11 September 2015 / Updated 14 June 2019]

Meal No. 4196: Rotisserie-Style Chicken

Dateline: Sat 05 Sept. It’s a fun night when Kristen and Mookie come over for dinner and hang time, as happened on the Saturday evening of Labor Day weekend. We had us a proper good meal, too: rotisserie-style whole chicken made easily in the Instant Pot, plus herbed roasted haricots verts and stovetop stuffing. I also whipped up a little batch of Alabama white sauce, which pairs exceptionally well with that tender juicy chicken. We didn’t leave much behind, that’s for sure. Which is why a brisk walk on a long loop around town was needed before bedtime.

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Guidance from "How to Cook Instant Pot Whole Chicken - Rotisserie Style," by Sheena Strain from noshtastic.com (formerly glutenfreepressurecooker.com). [Printed 08 January 2018 / Updated Online 21 January 2023]

"Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning," by Judith Hannemann, The Midnight Baker. [Published 22 March 2017]

"Alabama Great White Sauce" (p. 362), in Smoke & Spice, by Cheryl and Bill Jamison. Boston: The Harvard Common Press, 2003.

Meal No. 4195: Chicken Shawarma Caesar Wraps

Dateline: Fri 04 Sept. The very last of the sheet pan chicken shawarma I’d made at the start of September was just what I needed once we reached the first Friday night of the month: with chopped Romaine, shaved parmesan, homemade creamy Caesar dressing, and a couple of burrito-sized flour tortilla wraps, it sure made for a delicious dinner.

Meal No. 4194: Mushroom and Shallot Salisbury Steak

Dateline: Thur 03 Sept. Events over on the campus of the University of North Carolina during the opening days of September waylaid a planned get-together for UNC chums back on the first Thursday of the month. I was certainly disappointed that we had to postpone but it was an excuse to pivot to a fun meal that I've only made twice before: mushroom and shallot Salisbury steak. Elevated well beyond anything you'd get at a roadside diner in a rural enclave, pushed to a dreamy fine-dining experience, this hearty take on a basic main item was a glorious scene-stealer on the plates that night. Of course, the roasted haricots verts were nothing to sneer at, and some leftover cumin-coriander cauliflower florets were welcomed guests, too. It was a scrumptious meal with all the right feels.

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”Mushroom and Shallot Salisbury Steak,” by Jesse Szewczyk. In Bon Appétit, October 2024, p. 18.

Meal No. 4193: Chicken Shawarma on Caesar-Topped Greens

Dateline: Wed 02 Sept. The bigger better idea I had for dinner on the first Wednesday of the new month was too much prep and too much food once I could find my way to the kitchen that afternoon. An easy fallback revealed itself in the tucked-away leftovers of the previous evening: chicken shawarma. A fresh batch of homemade creamy Caesar dressing and a new tub of crunchy greens were the waiting bed bowl for those baked and spiced thighs. This alternative was not a runner up nor second best.

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Based on "Easy Lemon Caesar Salad Dressing," by Kim Hardesty of lowcarbmaven.com. [Published 05 January 2016]

Meal No. 4192: Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma

Dateline: Tue 01 Sept. As a new month rolled over and signaled that summer was on its way out, the punched-up heat reminded us that some gasps are hot even when they are aren't the last. The treks outside with the house pooches were less extended. And when suppertime approached, I really liked the idea of leaning in on a delicious chicken shawarma recipe shared with me by my college buddy Kelly. The chicken was abundant and wonderful, so all that was needed with it was spiced roasted cauliflower florets. Freely adding to my plate a third piece of that tasty dark meat was a happy indulgence.

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"Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma," by Sam Sifton of New York Times Cooking. [Updated 23 January 2024]

Sweet Treats for the Chi Psi Meet

Dateline: Mon 31 Aug. I’ve gotten myself elected to the alumni advisory board for my college fraternity, and on the final day of August there was a gathering of board members together with a huge crew of the current active brotherhood. Another alum lives near The Lodge and was the exceptionally generous host for the affair. I figured I might as well show up with some goodies to go along with the other foodstuffs, so I made Ina Garten’s lemon bars on shortbread crust.

But wait: there’s more! As long as I was in the mode, I also baked a heaping pile of DoubleTree-style chocolate chip cookies, full of semisweet morsels and chopped walnuts. I had to have a hot one as they came out of the oven, of course, and the rest went with me to Chapel Hill.

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"Lemon Bars," by Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa. Published in Barefoot Contessa Parties!, Clarkson Potter Publishers, 2001.

"DoubleTree Hotel's Chocolate Chip Cookies," by Ayşegül Sanford and her blog, Foolproof Living. [Published December 29, 2013 / Updated 07 December 2020] Official DoubleTree recipe from Hilton.com was released to the public on 09 April 2020.

Meal No. 4191: Simple Beef Chili

Dateline: Mon 31 Aug. The final day of August had me tackling the happy obligation to run over to Chapel Hill to a meeting at my college fraternity, followed by a gathering at a nearby alum’s house of about 30 active undergraduate brothers and a number of alumni advisory board members. So the main meal of the day was at lunchtime, and took the form of a half recipe of simple beef chili...this time without the beans. It’s such a dependable recipe that I’ve been using for about 20 years now, and all it needs is the shredded cheddar on top for me to tackle the bowlful...and then some.

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Adapted from “Simple Beef Chili with Kidney Beans," from Cook's Illustrated, Number Sixty-One [March-April 2003], p. 10-11.

Meal No. 4190: Baked Chicken Thighs

Dateline: Sun 30 Aug. It’s been a little too easy to make baked chicken thighs that are too good, and on the final Sunday of August that was what made me happy, along with some pretty perfect roasted herbed broccoli florets. I was hoping it would be sufficient as a slightly lighter meal, especially since I knew I’d be back in the kitchen later that night working on some goodies for a road trip to Chapel Hill. More on that later.

Meal No. 4189: Spiced Roasted Salmon

Dateline: Sat 29 Aug. A concluding Saturday of the third “summer” month was a fine day for cutting the grass, weeding, digging out some crab grass, pulling some nasty invasive wire grass, and also mowing the lawn. Those concentrated thunderstorm systems that rolled through as August unwound brought plenty of rain for keeping the grass and lots of invasive growth stimulated and invigorated. Roasting spiced salmon, and roasting herbed broccoli florets, sure looked nearly perfect on the dinner plate that night.

Meal No. 4188: Skillet Beef Stroganoff

Dateline: Fri 28 Aug. After a brief excursion out of town for professional endeavors, ’twas a joyful return to my kitchen as we approached the end of August. Without having to make a grocery run, I realized I could bring out one of the house staples for supper: Emeril’s skillet beef stroganoff. Its advantage lies not only in the ease with which it can be assembled; it is also a most rewarding bowl of vittles when the late afternoon hunger comes a-knocking. (Also: I’m too ignorant to have known that “vittles” emerges from “victuals,” but that’s the price of taking French in high school instead of Latin.)

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Based on "Beef Stroganoff Hamburger Dinner in a Skillet," by Emeril Lagasse. Found online at The Food Network and also on Emerils.com.

Meal No. 4187: Soy Sauce Ramen Noodles

Dateline: Thu 27 Aug. While I won’t call my summer vacation completely over, the schedule of work is beginning to slowly kick into gear. That had me on a wild ride down to Georgia for a day, and then immediately back up to Northern Virginia for two days. Once I returned home late on the final Thursday of August, a quick dinner was needed. Now that I’ve found Brian Gerwig’s viral ramen recipe, I’m happy if the occasion calls for its reappearance.

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Based on "Viral Ramen Noodles," from Brian Gerwig [NC]. Instagram Profile: g_bque. [Posted 15 May 2024]

Meal No. 4186: Caesar Salads with Filet Mignon

Dateline: Sun 23 Aug. Once the stationary system finally moved out and took its storms with it, we were left with an amazing perfect late summer Sunday a couple of weeks ago. It was ideal for me to walk across town to grab a prescription at the CVS, which led to a hearty appetite best remedied by a hunk of beef that was carved into morsels for crowning Caesar-dressed Romaine. I’m not the one to ever believe there can be too much meat but this may have approached an outer limit.

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

Dateline: Sat 22 Aug. It was a Saturday night special a couple of weeks ago to have Amy on hand, and I was ready to celebrate her return with a tempting dessert offering. This time around, I was nudged into nostalgia and reached for one of my Hershey’s cookbooks, wherein might be found a recipe for a hot fudge pudding cake. We’re pretty fond of pudding cakes around here, mind you. And it was all the better and a bit on the overwhelming side that I had homemade vanilla ice cream to go with it.

That probably spurred the delightful 4-mile stroll that night, around a very lively and happening downtown, outdoor music at a number of venues, and tons of people enjoying these last days of summer. And as if it sensed the need to let it all ride long enough, but then send people home to bed at a decent hour, in rolled a storm system of tight-packed intensity with quite a lightning show and a moderate amount of rain, in and out in a flash (or two or twelve), we might say.

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Hershey's Hot Fudge Pudding Cake," from 100 Years of Hershey's Favorites. Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International, Ltd (1994), p. 8.

Meal No. 4185: Baked Chicken Thighs and Two Sides

Dateline: Sat 22 Aug. Poor dear Amy, the customary character who brightens us midweek each Wednesday: she got tackled by shingles and hadn’t been able to make her regular visits. We made up for that a couple of weeks ago, as that weekend afternoon turned sunny at last and people began gathering for the summer music series around the corner on Fourth Street. We were happy to stay within the Roediger House, sitting down to an early supper of baked chicken thighs, roasted herbed haricots verts, and simple stovetop stuffing. It’s an easy and comforting plate to serve up, and we had our happy fill of it.

Meal No. 4184: Simple Cheeseburgers

Dateline: Fri 21 Aug. You gotta love a Friday night in late summer, when most folks seem either to have tired of summer shenanigans or have simply decided to get serious again. It lays upon the start of the weekend a chill groove that makes the cicada song sweeter to listen to. And when suppertime rolled around a couple of Fridays ago, and we’d been either experiencing or were under threat of thunderstorms all day, we kept it simple and easy with prepped burgers from the freezer dropped into the sous vide and then pan-seared in a skillet. A slice of cheese on top and the last of my homemade burger sauce was all it took for a quick supper.

And then in rolled another set of storms!

Meal No. 4183: Chicken over Caesar-Dressed Spring Mix

Dateline: Thu 20 Aug. As local schools were heading back into their new academic year, with the different school systems cranking up at different times, I found myself in the delightful position of getting to talk with the faculty of Western Alamance High School a couple of weeks ago. I reckon that affair signals the true end of my summer, and it was a nice way to head back into work mode, because they were great to work with that morning. Since it’s only an hour away, I was home again just after 1 pm and that meant I could toss some frozen prepped chicken breasts into the sous vide and be ready for a healthy salad supper late afternoon. Homemade Caesar dressing and a bounteous pile of spring mix was all I needed that night.

Skillet Peach Cobbler and Sweet Milk Vanilla Ice Cream

Dateline: Tue 18 Aug. A terrific gathering of fellow Tar Heels back on August 18th was a fine evening all to itself, although I’d like to hope that the dessert contributed to the ambiance and good vibes of our fellowship. It seemed fitting to serve up skillet peach cobbler, since I had a nice batch of sweet milk vanilla ice cream to go with it. They might have thought the cobbler was passable but that ice cream was a definite hit.

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"Old-Fashioned Peach Cobbler in an Iron Skillet," from Laura Scalone, who blogs at Elle Jay at Home. [Published 04 May 2020]

Based on "Sweet Milk Ice Cream," published in the King Arthur Flour catalogue some years ago, but the recipe is no longer available on their website.

Meal No. 4182: Grilled Teriyaki Chicken on Ramen

Dateline: Tue 18 Aug. The latest UNC confab for dinner happened a couple of Tuesdays ago, when fellow Tar Heel Chris was back for dinner. The occasion was particularly fortuitous, as joining us as well were fellow Golden Fleece Argonauts Camille and Samuel. We had great conversation long into the night as we lingered around the dinner table. As for our menu that night, the crew was willing for me to experiment with a different take on teriyaki chicken, marinated overnight and glazed with sauce while it grilled. This was served over soy sauce garlic ramen noodles, with roasted spiced broccoli. I didn’t think the chicken was stellar, but the rest of the plate was pretty satisfactory. The good news? They’ve agreed to return in early September!

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Based on "Teriyaki on a Stick," from Jose Xiloj. Instagram Profile: jose.elcook. [Posted 16 August 2026]

Based on "Viral Ramen Noodles," from Brian Gerwig [NC]. Instagram Profile: g_bque. [Posted 15 May 2024]

Meal No. 4181: Arroz con Pollo

Dateline: Mon 17 Aug. My longtime friend and fellow Wake Forest University compatriot Matt came through town a couple of weeks ago and was a delightful overnight guest. With his arrival timed in consideration of the old men’s dinner hour, we were able to gather at the table for nice-and-spicy arroz con pollo. It’s been just barely over a year since I made this dish, and it always proves pleasing. The addition of Mexican white cheese dip feels indispensable, and it was the dairy, not the cherry, on top.

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"Mexican Chicken & Rice," in Cuisine at Home, Issue No. 115 (January/February 2016), p. 10-11.

"The Best Mexican White Cheese Dip," from Carrie Barnard of eatingonadime.com. [Updated 10 January 2025]

Much-Loved Butter Toffee Cookies

Dateline: Sun 16 Aug. A favorite cookie of mine that is not universally loved (unfortunately) is called butter toffee cookies. After our mini meatloafs dinner a couple of Sundays ago, it’s what sounded just right to me for our sweet evening treat. And this seemed like the night to make ‘em grander-sized, so I pulled out the red scoop and tried to space them properly on the cookie sheets. With a splash of butter toffee flavoring, an abundance of dark brown sugar, and the full slate of mix-ins including cappuccino morsels, chocolate toffee pieces, and chopped pecans, these cookies manage their weighty lift with aplomb. I ate three.

Which is why I really needed to get in a hardcore walk that night, thinking all was clear...and then getting caught in a most unexpected pop-up storm that seemed designed specifically for the expanse of city we call Winston-Salem.

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"Butter Toffee Cookies," originally from King Arthur Flour. The catalog that comes periodically from KAF has recipes in it, which is where I first snagged it. But, as sometimes happens, it is no longer available on their website. I'm glad someone posted it to Food.com.