Top 10 Posts of 2014

Here's a quick look back at my most popular posts of the past year:

10. Chicken & Dumplings

9. Beer-steamed Mussels with Chorizo

8. Honey-Oat Muffins

7. Lobster Rolls

6. Lemon Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache

5. Zucchini Dip with Mint & Za'atar

4. Mole Carnitas with Strawberry Salsa

3. Mussels with Lemon-Saffron Sauce

2. Coq au Riesling

1. Pasta al Pomodoro with Slow-Poached Eggs

Hoppin' John

2015. Finally. FINALLY. I couldn't wait to get through the holidays, for the past year to end. I was ready for a fresh start. And, so far, the new year hasn't disappointed. 

After 3 months of heartache, depression, anxiety & anger, December ended up being a pretty great month. I started dating a new guy. Nick is simply amazing...kind, funny, understanding, generous, handsome, and dead sexy. See?

I'm a goon, but he's cute.

And another...because WE are cute together.

I'm seriously smitten with him. Like whoa. 

We spent Christmas evening and New Year's together. We ate caviar with champagne and had a shrimp boil for Christmas, we had charcuterie and more champagne for New Year's Eve, and I made Hoppin' John for dinner last night. I love cooking for him. He loves hanging out in the kitchen with me. 

Did I mention that I'm smitten? Seriously.

Anyway...I'd been wanting to make a recipe from Chef Sean Brock's beautiful new cookbook Heritage ever since I met him in October at a book signing/tasting dinner in St. Louis. I've said it before: He is just so damn adorable. See?

There's that silly fangirl look again.

I figured this recipe, the first in the book, was the perfect way to begin my new year...one that promises to be full of love, fun, adventure, and hope.

Lowcountry Hoppin' John

slightly adapted from Sean Brock's Heritage