Mariner's Cookbook

Seafood Cocktail Sauce by Mariner, posted Sep 01, 2019

We don't use a lot of cocktail sauce; in fact we've probably used less than four or five tablespoons of commercial cocktail sauce in our home in all 48 years of our marriage. Once in a great while, however, we buy or make something (usually a seafood dish) that just demands to be complemented by that piquant combination of flavors.

Low-Country Boil by Mariner, posted Mar 14, 2019

Some years ago, my Honey and I decided to be spontaneous, and on the spur of the moment hit the road to spend the weekend in Savannah, Georgia - without having made hotel reservations! Big mistake...

Bread-N-Butter Pickles by Mariner, posted Jul 01, 2018

So this past Friday I started another (40 lb) batch of my fermented dill pickles. Most of my relatives seem to like my pickles (at least that's what they say!) but my Mom is not a big fan them... in fact, Mom isn't particularly fond of dill at all, nor does she particularly like most sour foods, . In discussing that fact yesterday, she allowed as how she does like what she calls (and my Grandma used to call) bread-n-butter pickles.

Beef Stew by Mariner, posted May 13, 2018

There is a well-known and revered brand of shelf-stable (canned) beef stew, recognized by its red plaid label. Many people like it, and on occasion, I've enjoyed it myself. The problem is, like most other ready-to-eat canned meals, I find it to be expensive for the amount of food you get, and a single can doesn't usually go very far.

Slow Cooker Boiled Peanuts! by Mariner, posted Dec 02, 2017

Well, our fabulous Thanksgiving Day feast and Family Reunion is well past, and I have almost a year to recover. Good thing... I'm getting pretty old now, and the preparation for that event is becoming real work!

Mom's Pound Cake by Mariner, posted Nov 01, 2017

Pound cake is widely-known for both its taste and its simplicity. I think Mom began making her own version of this cake about the time of my senior year in highschool.

Mom's Chocolate-Iced Layer Cake by Mariner, posted Oct 28, 2017

Following the passing of my father, in 1989, my Mom asked that the family begin celebrating Thanksgiving Day together regularly, in remembrance of him. She held that Thanksgiving was Dad's favorite holiday, and that it would be appropriate for the family to meet together at that time. We agreed to her request, and for nearly 28 years now - with only one exception - we have held our family reunion on Thanksgiving Day, in memory of our Dad.

Home-style Vegetable-Beef Soup by Mariner, posted Oct 28, 2017

I've been making this soup, on rare occasion, ever since I retired, at which time I temporarily assumed some of the cooking chores for which my Honey would otherwise have been responsible. I don't know why I haven't already posted it, because we really like it, and so has everyone who has had any of it. Anyway, I had a need to make some today, so I decided it was time to share my recipé.

Brunswick (Whatchagot) Stew by Mariner, posted Oct 25, 2017

For quite some time, my brother Lonnie has been making his version of Brunswick Stew. This is a favorite dish of mine, and he traditionally brings it to our Family Reunion, after which I try to make off with all of the leftovers.

Mom's Old Fashioned Dark Fruitcake by Mariner, posted Oct 21, 2017

Most of the time, when someone mentions fruitcake, it's a joke. I have to tell you though, my Mom has made a tradition of baking fruitcake for many years, and I think it's wonderful! I'm not particularly fond of any of the commercial fruitcake products - they're all too dry or doughy - but Mom's cake is very different.