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Kara's Recipe Column

Gulf Coast visit on emotional anniversary brought renewed hope; restaurant and hotel finds

By Kara Kimbrough Visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina proved to be an emotional journey. Highlights were moving commemorative ceremonies and candlelight vigils; riveting documentaries and personal stories from those who lost everything but never considered not rebuilding. I discovered a hidden gem hotel as well as restaurants serving…

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Cheeseballs deserve equal billing with dips

By Kara Kimbrough     After sharing my favorite dip recipes last week as inspiration for fall football season, I was asked if I had any “new and different” recipes for cheeseballs. If it appeared that I was slighting cheeseballs in any way, I promise that’s not the case. I’ve never met a cheeseball I didn’t…

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Gulf Coast continues legacy of delicious dining 20 years after Katrina

By Kara Kimbrough It can’t possibly be 10 years since I wrote about the revival of Gulf Coast restaurants on the 10th anniversary of the worst natural disaster ever experienced in Mississippi and neighboring states- Hurricane Katrina. I was trying to put a positive spin on the state of the Coast’s culinary scene after interviewing…

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‘Grab and go’ breakfasts needed for morning rush hour

By Kara Kimbrough    Whether you’re getting kids off to school, hurrying out the door to work or simply not in the mood to spend a lot of time cooking in the morning, finding easy-to-make, grab-and-go breakfast items are an ongoing dilemma for many. Don’t get me wrong, a stack of fluffy pancakes or crispy…

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Time to start planning for Labor Day

By Kara Kimbrough It’s August, which means Labor Day weekend can’t be far behind. “Summer” as we know it is officially over for those who are either in school or have children/grandchildren in attendance, but a long Labor Day weekend offers “one last chance” to host friends or simply prepare a special meal. As summer’s…

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Cool off at Dunn’s Falls, then enjoy a world-famous dessert

By Kara Kimbrough Dunn’s Falls Water Park in Enterprise, MS, is one of the most scenic (and coolest!) places to visit during the summer. No matter how positively you (or the weatherman) spin it, there’s only one way to describe the south this time of year…it’s hot. If you’re looking for an escape route from…

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Follow George Washington’s lead: make your own ice cream

By Kara Kimbrough Ever wonder how Americans in the old days made it through a long, hot summer without central air conditioning? According to historical records, they made ice cream. That’s right, making homemade ice cream is one of the most popular – and oldest – ways to beat the heat. President George Washington owned…

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Summer mission: finding shortcut versions of tempting dishes

By Kara Kimbrough We’ve all done it…scrolled the internet late at night and watched videos of chefs of all skill levels cooking dishes that look SO delicious that we wanted to taste them at that exact moment. Obviously, that’s not always possible due to a number of factors. 1. We don’t have the items on…

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3 no-cook dinners that’ll keep your kitchen cool this summer

I know what you’re thinking…how do you serve dinner without cooking…at least a little? I deliberately omitted the word “salad” from the headline so you’d keep reading. Believe it or not, there are salads that are substantial enough to satisfy even the pickiest (and heartiest) eaters. Salads filled with lots of crunch, a little meat…

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Things I’m obsessed with…so far

Kara Kimbrough We’re only a little over halfway through 2025 and I’m already obsessed with a few things. I’m referring to new supermarket products I’ve discovered; restaurant meals I can’t stop dreaming about, destinations to which I must return and travel products that made my life easier during the first half of the year. In…

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