Every summer my wife and I pack up the dogs, Blondie, Muffin and Jolie and head off to Payne Farm and Produce to pick all the fresh blueberries we can handle. We spend the next couple of days making jams, jellies and of course our favorite blueberries and cream gelato. The layers of blueberry sorbet and vanilla bean gelato are so creamy and rich they melt away in your mouth. Payne Farm is located on Salem road off of highway 41 in Calhoun, Georgia The farm is owned by Sam Payne and his wife Ann and managed by Sam and his daughter Carla. For years they raised and produced hogs, cattle,...

I am always fascinated by things that rise in the oven and wanting to surprise my wife with dinner and dessert for our anniversary I decided to look through some old recipes and came across this recipe for souffle. Long ago, I happened to get this recipe from a  French chef who opened 103 West in Atlanta many years ago. The kitchen would turn out some of the most beautiful souffles I had ever seen. This recipe is almost fool proof and allows a little more stabilization by adding a little cornstarch to the egg whites. I broke down the recipe and made a souffle to test before my wife got home...

My friend and former co-worker, Lynn Patti always reminds me of how delicious and memorable these truffles are. When we worked together in Jacksonville, Florida at the University club, I had to hide the truffles from her in order to keep her sneaky little hands out of them. I swear she would put the truffles on banquet menus just for her own pleasure. I have decided to share this simple chocolate truffle recipe in hopes many of you will indulge in this delightful confection.       Use a good chocolate such as a European chocolate, Valrhona, Lindt or Callebaut. These chocolates are available  at...

When I was young my mother would take us to the local farm to pick strawberries and blueberries. Just can’t beat the natural flavor and sweetness of sun ripened strawberries. I think I will add this new recipe to our dessert menu at http://www.mckendricks.com/. Start by macerating fresh strawberries by sprinkling some sugar over the washed strawberries and let sit to release their own juices. Slice one vanilla bean in half lengthwise. Then scrape the center out. Save the shell and the center. Zest 4 lemons. 3 pinches of salt 7 ounces of butter or 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon 1/2 cup sugar. 10...