Found 23 blog entries tagged as cooking.


GULF COAST POMPANO: FROM SURF TO SKILLET ON THE ALABAMA SHORE


Orange Beach Alabama Pompano Fish


On a clear afternoon along the sugar-white beaches of Orange Beach, I watched a neighbor ease a silver pompano from the surf and slide it into the cooler. That evening, we grilled those fillets with lemon and herbs, and the fish practically melted on the fork. Since then, pompano has become one of my favorite ways to taste the Gulf at home, whether I am cooking in a waterfront condo kitchen or a quiet canal-side home.

In this article, I want to share three things I am constantly asked about: how to say “pompano,” when and where we target them along the Gulf Coast, what kinds of boats work well for chasing them, and a simple, elegant recipe you can recreate in your own…

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Gulf Coast White Fish With Lemon-Caper Butter: Seasonal Cooking From Orange Beach, Alabama



Gulf Coast Fish Recipes

One of my favorite parts of living and working in Orange Beach is how often someone shows up at the door with a cooler in hand and a proud smile. This winter, a neighbor knocked one evening after an inshore trip near Perdido Pass, lifted the lid, and said, “We had a good sheepshead day. Do you want some for dinner tonight”

My answer was yes. I seasoned a few fillets, heated a skillet, and whisked together a quick lemon-caper butter while we talked about their day on the water. By the time the stories of dolphins, jetties, and a surprise bull red were finished, dinner was on the table and the whole house smelled like browned butter and citrus.…

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SUNDAY SKILLET FRIED CHICKEN, GULF COAST STYLE




There are recipes that taste like a place, and then there are recipes that taste like a time. For me, the best Southern fried chicken starts on the Georgia farm where I was raised, with Sunday clothes still crisp from church, and the steady rhythm of my Aunt Gladys and my grandmother working the kitchen like it was second nature. On the Gulf Coast, I still make it the same way: patient, cast-iron, and confident, with a little coastal edge that fits life down here.

"If you keep the oil steady and your hands dry, the crust will sing. That sound is how you know you did it right."

My grandmother, every Sunday

Why this is my best Southern Gulf Coast fried chicken

Back in…

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BABS’ HOMEMADE SOUTHERN MAC AND CHEESE

 

 


Every family on the Gulf Coast has a dish that shows up at every holiday, funeral spread, and baby shower. For my family, this is it. My mom, Babs, has been making this homemade Southern mac and cheese for as long as I can remember, and it has become my go-to soul food dish when I need something warm and steady at the end of a long real estate day.

The recipe is simple, comforting, and forgiving, with a creamy onion-and-garlic cheese sauce, a whisper of Worcestershire for depth, and a buttery breadcrumb and Parmesan crust that bakes up beautifully golden. When I pull this out of the oven, it smells like my childhood kitchen and every holiday table we ever gathered around.

Why I Love This…

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Gulf Coast Shrimp Butter: A Simple Luxury From Our Waters

Some of the best shrimp to eat are those that are boiled for one minute in sea water on the shrimp boat, cooked within minutes of being pulled out of ocean. On the Gulf Coast, we are sometimes fortunate to have this rare opportunity.

When neighbors tell me stories of heading out before sunrise, following the shrimp boats, and eating those just-caught shrimp on deck, seasoned only with salt and sea air, I know exactly what they mean. There is a sweetness to truly fresh Gulf shrimp that no sauce can improve on, only complement.

At home in Orange Beach, I like to take that same idea of simple, briny luxury and translate it into something I can keep in the refrigerator or freezer: Gulf…

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ONO ISLAND MEDITERRANEAN FISH & ANGEL HAIR PASTA

A Gulf Coast–Inspired Italian Dish with Fresh Gulf Fish

 

Ono Island Cooking and Recipes Fish and Seafood Dishes

There was once a beloved restaurant on Walnut Street in Boulder, Colorado called The Med. It served simple Mediterranean dishes that let good ingredients shine. One dish that has always stayed with me was a bowl of delicate white fish simmered in a light tomato sauce and served over angel hair pasta. It was rustic, elegant, and effortless.

Over the years I have recreated a version of that dish at home, but with what I like to call a little Ono Island influence. Living along the Gulf Coast means we are spoiled with beautiful seafood. Tilefish, snapper, and grouper arrive fresh from the water, and dishes like this become a…

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Hot Gulf Coast Seafood Casserole (Ono Island-Style)

This is my go-to “dock-to-dinner” comfort recipe when I want something bubbling, coastal, and just spicy enough to make the whole house smell like a Friday night on Ono Island. It leans rich, bright, and a little bold, with fresh crab and Gulf shrimp folded into a creamy, peppery base and finished with a buttery cracker topping.

What makes it Ono Island-style

  • Fresh lump crab, folded in gently so the bites stay “real.”
  • Gulf shrimp, quickly sautéed first so they stay plump, not rubbery.
  • A subtle heat (Creole seasoning + a pinch of cayenne) with lemon to keep it bright.
  • A crisp, buttery topping that gives you that satisfying crackle over a creamy center.
Tip…

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Ono Island Bone-In Ribeye Steaks: Sear-Pan to Oven, Compound Butter, and Classic Sauces

When I’m on Ono Island and want a dinner that feels polished without being fussy, I go straight to a thick, bone-in ribeye. The method is simple: a hard sear for that crust, a gentle oven finish for control, and a generous swipe of compound butter that melts into every slice.

My rule for ribeye is steady heat, a real rest, and butter with intention.

What Makes a Bone-In Ribeye Worth It

Flavor and texture

Ribeye has the right marbling to stay juicy, and the bone helps the steak cook a little more evenly near the center.

Best thickness

Look for 1.5 to 2 inches thick. Thin ribeyes can overcook before the crust is where you…

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Simple Italian Gulf Coast Fresh-Caught Fish

I love cooking Gulf Coast fish in a way that lets the fish stay the star. When something fresh has just come in, whether it is snapper, grouper, triggerfish, flounder, or another beautiful local catch, I do not think it needs to be buried under heavy breading or too many ingredients. I like to cook it in a simple Italian way with olive oil, garlic, lemon, white wine, sweet tomatoes, a few capers, and fresh herbs. To me, that kind of preparation feels light, elegant, and honest.

This is the sort of supper I would make after a beautiful day around Orange Beach or back home on Ono Island. It feels polished enough to serve to guests, but simple enough to make on a weeknight. The sauce is…

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Ono Island Fish Fillets with Cherry Tomatoes, Garlic, Lemon, and White Wine

A simple coastal recipe I love for fresh fish on the Gulf Coast Ono Island

When I want a fish dish that feels elegant but does not ask me to stand over the stove all evening, this is one of my favorite ways to prepare it. It is light, bright, and full of that fresh coastal flavor I love so much here on Ono Island. The cherry tomatoes soften into a beautiful base, the sliced garlic perfumes the pan, and the lemon, wine, thyme, and parsley come together into a delicate sauce that feels both refined and comforting.

I especially like this recipe for fresh Gulf fish fillets such as snapper, grouper, flounder, or another mild white fish. It is the kind of meal that…

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