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    About

    Photo of Saron Rigsby standing in front of a fried chicken dinner with potato salad, green beans and cornbread.

    Hello, I’m Sharon Rigsby, the digital creator, cook, recipe developer, photographer, and videographer for Grits and Pinecones®, a southern cooking and hospitality blog.

    I live in Tallahassee, Florida, with my husband Terry, and I’m all about creating delicious recipes with a Southern flair that are quick, easy, and PERFECT to share with family and friends. Nothing fussy or complicated, just “go-to” dishes with everyday ingredients for the home cook.

    Jump to:
    • Culinary experience:
    • What you will find here:
    • Frequently asked questions:
    • Sample reader comments: 
    • Recipes featured in: 
    • My favorite recipes:

    Culinary experience:

    As the oldest of six, I started cooking at a very young age and have over 50 years of experience in the kitchen. I like nothing better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family and friends, and I love to share my culinary creations with others.

    Ten years ago, I started this blog to share some of my favorite recipes with family members. Now, with over 500 recipes, I‘m excited to share them with you, along with expert tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way. 

    What you will find here:

    If you’re looking for Southern recipes, you’re in the right place. My Southern recipes run the gamut from main dishes, desserts, and appetizers to side dishes and are precisely what you need when you’re craving comfort food from the South. 

    • Cornbread in a cast iron skillet.
      Best Southern Cornbread Recipe
    • A large grey bowl full of peas with snaps.
      Southern Field Peas
    • Six hoecakes or fried cornbread on a white plate.
      Quick and Easy Hoe Cakes (Fried Cornbread)
    • A white bowl full of creamy potato salad topped with paprika.
      Classic Southern Potato Salad
    • A white baking dish full of cornbread dressing.
      Traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing
    • Four pieces of fried chicken on a plate.
      Southern Fried Chicken
    • A bowl of cocktail sauce next to fried oysters on a plate.
      Southern Crispy Fried Oysters Recipe
    • An oven-baked Cheese Grits Casserole in a white baking dish.
      Easy Southern Cheese Grits Casserole

    Frequently asked questions:

    How did you come up with the name of your blog?

    I knew that I wanted to focus on southern foods and the kinds of dishes I grew up eating, so “grits” was an obvious choice as one of my favorite foods.

    I also wanted to include hospitality and entertaining topics. In the South, “pinecones” are at the center of everything related to hospitality, including decorations, table settings, and more.

    What’s the best way to find recipes or menu ideas on this site?

    Every page has a small magnifying glass 🔎 at the top right of the page. Just click on this magnifying glass, and you can search for a particular recipe by name or ingredient.

    In addition, you can search my recipe index by category such as appetizers, bread, breakfast, condiments, chicken, game-day, and desserts. Additional categories include lunch, main dishes, seafood, side dishes, snacks, soup, and salads.

    I also have classic recipes for holidays and special occasions, including Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween, the 4th of July, Mardi Gras, and more.

    Besides recipes, what else can I find on your site?

    *Expert cooking tips and tricks,
    *Ideas for substitutions to help you avoid an extra trip to the grocery store,
    *Recipe variations and serving suggestions,
    *Storage and reheating suggestions for leftovers,
    *Step-by-step tutorials and videos, and
    *Step-by-step process photos with each recipe.

    Sample reader comments: 

    1. Marie says: “This is an excellent recipe. I love the rub, glaze, and peach salsa. Very clear steps, and it has turned out great twice. I just ate it for supper tonight. Thank you for teaching me how to grill pork tenderloin.” Grilled Pork Tenderloin
    2. Susan says: “This recipe is AWESOME! I’ve never cooked fresh-picked white acre peas before and was a little nervous. I’ve followed several of your recipes before and have had great success, so I figured I’d give this one a try. SUCCESS! You make this recipe so easy and so good. Thanks for the tips too. I’m now blanching the rest of the white acre peas so I can freeze them and have this awesome dish again and again. Much appreciation to you!”Southern Field Peas
    3. Cindy says: “I made this cake last night. I brought it to work today; OMG, this cake is awesome! I have gotten so many compliments from my co-workers on this one!!! Sharon, Thanks so much for the yummy, yummy cake recipe. I will be making this one again real soon.” Southern Pecan Praline Cake
    4. Martha says: “I recently made the quick and easy creamy shrimp creole. Loved it! So did my guests. Can’t wait to make it again when family visits in July.” Creamy Shrimp Creole Recipe
    5. Jim says: “This pork tenderloin w mustard sauce was AMAZING! We modified the cooking instructions to do it on the grill, and both the marinade and mustard sauce were incredible. Thanks for your blog- we are never disappointed when we try one of your recipes….” Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin

    Recipes featured in: 

    The weekly TLC Life section of the Tallahassee Democrat-USA Today Network-Florida newspaper. 

    Better Homes and Gardens, Good Housekeeping, Taste of Home, TODAY.com, Country Living, Country Cooking, Tallahassee.com Community Blogs, Des Moines Register, FoodGawker, Shari’s Berries, Buzzfeed, Red Tricycle, Muckrack, YouTube, Cosmopolitan and MSN

    Also, my recipes have been showcased in Tailgater and Cowgirl, both print magazines.

    In addition, I have been a guest presenter on the ABC affiliate WTXL-TV Sunrise Morning Show cooking segment.

    Tallahassee Democrat Newspaper article featuring Red White and Blue Icebox Cake and Smoked Ribs. Images and text.

    My favorite recipes:

    I’m taking a risk in including this section because I wouldn’t include a recipe on my blog unless I have made it several times and thoroughly tested it.

    However, just as in life, it’s only natural to have favorites, and besides my Southern Potato Salad Recipe, which is my all-time favorite, as well as the other southern recipes listed above, here are eight more favorites:

    • Fried shrimp and a bowl of cocktail sauce on a white plate.
      Pan-Fried Shrimp Recipe
    • Pecan crusted fish fillets garnished with lemon slices.
      Quick and Easy Pecan-Crusted Fish Fillets
    • A large bowl of cheese grits.
      Cheese Grits – Easy, Creamy, and Cheesy
    • A spoonful of Broccoli Cheese Casserole topped with crushed Ritz crackers and cheese.
      Easy Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Ritz Crackers
    • Roasted Pecans in two wooden bowls on a wooden board.
      Roasted Pecans Recipe
    • Easy Classic Southern Tomato Pie ready to serve
      Easy Southern Tomato Pie
    • Rich and cheesy Easy Au Gratin Potatoes and Ham ready to serve
      Easy Au Gratin Potatoes and Ham
    • Close up shot of a bourbon pecan brie bite appetizer.
      Bourbon Pecan Brie Bites in Phyllo Cups
    Sharon Rigsby holding a large cast iron skillet with baked cornbread.

    I am so happy that you are here! Please don’t be shy; feel free to ask questions or leave a comment to let me know what you think or how you liked a recipe.

    I would also love it if you introduced yourself and let me know what recipes you want to see.

    You can reach me by sending an email to sharon@gritsandpinecones.com.

    Psst… I’ve launched a new blog called Practical Southern Cooking! You’ll find simple, flavorful Southern meals made with pantry staples, perfect for smaller households, retirees, and busy folks who still want dinner to taste like it took all day and new ways to reimagine leftovers.

    💌 I’d love for you to stop by, take a peek, and maybe even subscribe if it sounds like your kind of cooking. 👉 Practical Southern Cooking

    Primary Sidebar

    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, content creator, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and I like nothing better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

    Quick and Easy Summer Favorites

    • A white bowl full of Southern Pea Salad made with white acre peas, chopped tomatoes, cucumber, and corn, plus a bowl of buttermilk dressing.
      Southern Pea Salad with Herb Buttermilk Dressing
    • Smoked Baked Beans in a cast-iron skillet.
      Best Smoked Baked Beans
    • Sliced cucumbers, tomatoes and onion in a white bowl.
      Old Fashioned Cucumbers, Tomatoes and Onions in Vinegar
    • Chicken on the grill with corn.
      Easy Grilled Half Chicken Recipe with Dry Rub
    • A large bowl of American Coleslaw containing shredded green cabbage and carrots.
      Old Fashioned American Coleslaw Recipe (Creamy)
    • A scoop of strawberry sherbet on a container of ice cream.
      Easy Homemade Strawberry Sherbet

    Fan Favorites - Most Loved Recipes

    • A white bowl full of creamy potato salad topped with paprika.
      Classic Southern Potato Salad
    • Six hoecakes or fried cornbread on a white plate.
      Quick and Easy Hoe Cakes (Fried Cornbread)
    • A blackened grouper filet on a plate with grits, garnished with a lemon slice.
      Blackened Grouper
    • Cornbread in a cast iron skillet.
      Best Southern Cornbread Recipe
    • A white bowl full of cooked purple hull peans.
      Purple Hull Peas Recipe
    • A clear glass trifle dish with layers of angel food cake, strawberries and whipped cream.
      Strawberry Trifle with Angel Food Cake

    Browse more recipes:

    Featured in Parade, The Today Show, Better Homes & Gardens, Greatist, and more.

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