Ann Pittman

Birmingham

Freelance Writer at Freelance

Contributor at Southern Living

Articles

These Buttery Stewed Potatoes Are The Unsung Hero Of Southern Comfort Food

1 week ago | southernliving.com | Ann Pittman

Stewed potatoes is an old-fashioned, homey side dish that is like a cross between mashed potatoes and potato soup. It should be soupy, but it is not soup. Bacon grease gives it a smoky, meaty flavor that’s delicious. This dish is meant to be very humble and simple. Some recipes use just potatoes, water, salt, and pepper, but we like to thicken the sauce slightly to make it creamier.
This Cheesy Macaroni And Beef Skillet Tastes Like Childhood—But Better

1 week ago | southernliving.com | Ann Pittman

Just like that boxed dinner we all know—but better. By Ann Taylor PittmanPublished on June 15, 2025 Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This beefy, cheesy macaroni skillet dinner is reminiscent of those boxed Hamburger Helpers we grew up eating, but this one is fresher with a cheesier, more savory flavor. The macaroni is tender and well sauced, and there’s plenty of meat to please hearty eaters.
This One-Pan Creamy Garlic Chicken Is Weeknight Comfort At Its Best

1 week ago | southernliving.com | Ann Pittman

You'll want to spoon the sauce over everything on the plate. By Ann Taylor PittmanPublished on June 14, 2025 Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Each bite of creamy garlic chicken is savory and rich—and you'll be surprised that something so simple could be this good. The chicken remains tender and moist, as it has a bit of a protective crust from the light flour coating.
This Chicken Orzo Bake Is The Creamy, Cheesy Casserole You'll Make On Repeat

2 weeks ago | southernliving.com | Ann Pittman

A dinner so good, you'll make it on repeat. By Ann Taylor PittmanPublished on June 13, 2025 Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This chicken and orzo bake is a surprisingly creamy and hearty dish. The tender orzo pasta releases starch into the liquid as it cooks, combining with the cream to create a luxuriously rich sauce that coats everything. There’s plenty of meaty chicken in the dish, and lots of bright flavor pops from the sweet sun-dried tomatoes.
This Homemade Meatloaf Sandwich Is Saucy, Hearty, And Seriously Satisfying

2 weeks ago | southernliving.com | Ann Pittman

And this isn't any sad leftover lunch situation. By Ann Taylor PittmanPublished on June 10, 2025 Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox These hefty meatloaf sandwiches are juicy, very beefy, and crowned with a sweet ketchup glaze. A hint of (optional) yellow mustard offers a little zest, while melty cheese blankets add richness, and crunchy bread-and-butter pickles lift the flavor. You could always use leftover meatloaf if you have it (and eat it cold or reheated on your sandwich).
This Warm Pepper Jelly Dip Needs Just A Few Ingredients And Disappears Fast

2 weeks ago | southernliving.com | Ann Pittman

A must-serve for any Southern gathering. By Ann Taylor PittmanPublished on June 10, 2025 Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This warm and bubbly dip is a zhuzhed-up version of the classic easiest appetizer ever—a block of cream cheese topped with pepper jelly. Here, the base is a warm, creamy dip made with cream and Cheddar cheeses and given a flavor boost from Worcestershire, Dijon, cayenne pepper, and scallions.
These Lemony Petit Fours Are Perfect For Parties, Showers, Or Just Treating Yourself

2 weeks ago | southernliving.com | Ann Pittman

These tender, pretty two-bite lemony petit fours have a rich, very moist vanilla-almond-flavored cake at their heart, with zippy lemon curd to cut through all the sweetness. Southern hosts know that almost every occasion is a good reason to serve petit fours. These are bright and zippy, a great contrast to any other sweets on the menu.
This Chicken Marsala Is Elegant Enough For Guests—And Easy Enough For Weeknights

3 weeks ago | southernliving.com | Ann Pittman

A restaurant classic that's easy and fast to make at home. By Ann Taylor PittmanPublished on June 5, 2025 Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If you think dishes like Chicken Marsala are best when made at a restaurant, this easy, weeknight version will convince you otherwise. Chicken Marsala typically features boneless, skinless chicken breasts, mushrooms, Marsala wine, chicken broth, butter, flour, and seasonings like salt and pepper.
Homemade Butter Mints Are The Party Treat Everyone Remembers—And Still Loves

3 weeks ago | southernliving.com | Ann Pittman

Homemade butter mints are little nuggets with a soft, mild mint flavor that is rounded out with a hint of creamy vanilla. They're buttery rich but have a lightness because of the cool mint flavor. Their texture is soft and literally melts in your mouth. In the South, no bridal tea or baby shower is complete without a dish of these pastel candies. While some foods may come and go, for us, butter mints have always been in style.
Banana Pudding Fluff Is Pure Southern Comfort In A Bowl

3 weeks ago | southernliving.com | Ann Pittman

Banana pudding fluff and traditional banana pudding have a lot in common: plenty of banana flavor and banana slices to bite into, nilla wafers that soften in the custard, and creamy vanilla-scented pudding. But the whipped cream that's stirred in gives it the "fluff" in its name, a mousse-like texture. Mini marshmallows also soften into squishy, fluffy bits (similar to the way they do in ambrosia or millionaire's salad).