Blogs

Hello, foodies…

Meet Sunday’s recipe, my Chicken Patty Melt Sliders. A few weeks ago I was feeling creative, went to the kitchen, and thought…what if I make an old-fashioned hamburger patty…with chicken. The result was something like the recipe we’re making this Sunday on In the Kitchen with David, but even better. Chef Lynn, on the ITKWD team, added a few special touches—like rye bread and an avocado spread—to make this sandwich even better than my creation. We loved the flavor the gouda added to the sandwich, but Pepper Jack, Swiss, American, or Cheddar—or a combination thereof—would taste terrific. Click to get the recipe for my Chicken Patty Melt Sliders on QVC.com…you can print it and access it along with all of my other recipes…we’re over 500 now!

Guess where I am, foodies!?

It's great to be back on my college campus in Chapel Hill…this building is home to UNC’s Chemistry Department. It was named for a former chemistry professor who also became president of the university…I’m very, very, very distantly related to that Venable family...the chemistry genes didn’t make it to me! Luckily, I don’t have to spend any time in Venable Hall. Instead, I’ll be host the UNC Clef Hangers spring concert tomorrow night! So yesterday and today I’ve been familiarizing myself with the campus once again.

This is Graham Hall and I lived in that dorm—and the same room, in fact, for all 4 years. I loved campus life and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere but on campus. It was 28 years ago next month that I graduated. UNC is the oldest public university in the country and it first opened its doors over 221 years ago. Being back on campus is almost surreal because as much as things have stayed the same, there are so many changes and new buildings. The campus didn’t get bigger, they just found grass and built buildings. It’s been amazing to walk campus…I remember names of buildings before I see the sign on the door. Suddenly I’m a student again, so excited about my future.

Jonathan and Wes are here with me and we three have been eating our way through Chapel Hill and today we visited Mama Dip's, one of my favorite restaurants now, and when I was a student here.

Mama Dip has run the restaurant for over 40 years and treated us to a smorgasbord. We had fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, sweet potato biscuits, squash, mac and cheese, collard greens, and oh my goodness—she brought out homemade blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream for dessert. It was out of this world. Off the hook. I took a picture of everything and I’m going to post it later tonight on Facebook!

There’s never a wrong time to do some baking—okay, some days are better than others. BUT—who doesn’t want a homemade chocolate chip cookie or cupcake now and then? Here are a few of the baking essentials you’ll find in my home. Take advantage of the special offers on these.

Temp-tations(R) Old World 5-Piece Concentric Bowl Set

Temp-tations(R) Old World Bamboo Top Folding Kitchen Cart

KitchenAid 4.5-Quart 300-Watt Tilt-Head Stand Mixer with Flex Edge

Lock & Lock 5-Piece Nestable Square Storage Set

OXO Good Grips 4-Piece Angled Measuring Cup Set

Foodies, this Sunday we’re bringing a brand-new item to QVC…a cooking system and fryer from home-shopping legend Ron Popeil. Ron has worked on this item for over 10 years and I’m really excited for its debut this weekend. See you Sunday at Noon ET.

Keep it flavorful!
—David