Publix: A Bright Spot in the Sunshine State

For those of you who know me well, you are aware that the twenty-two months I lived and worked in central Florida in 1994-96 were NOT good times for me. (In a later post, I will share with you some of the Raggedys I adopted while living there.) Today's post is going to be about a meal I made from a favorite Publix cookbook this past Tuesday.
Public is a chain grocery store in the Southeastern United States. Getting to shop there on a weekly basis was a real treat during my dark days in the Sunshine State. For those of you who have never been to a Publix, you can always expect immaculately clean stores, good prices, outstanding store brands (Alton Brown uses many of their products on Good Eats - you can always tell a Publix brand product on his show when there's a black circle over the brand), bag boys that insist on carrying out your purchases, and lots of special services. My favorite service was the seafood cooking they provide. They will steam or deep-fry any fresh fish they offer with restaurant-like results. This was always my "pay day splurge" and to this day I feel like my seafood kitchen skills are lacking because Publix always did the cooking for me!
Twice my husband's job has required him to attend conferences in Florida in the summertime. Andy and I have been able to tag along and turn them into memorable family road trips. Getting to visit my favorite grocery store chain, while traveling through the South has always been a special bonus. It was during our 2005 trip that I discovered something new at Publix - Apron's Simple Meals. The program works like this: at the front of each Publix is a special Apron's kiosk. There is a simple dinner menu printed on a recipe card along with all the ingredients you would need to prepared it right there at the kiosk. They also have previous days' cards available. The dishes are tasty, wholesome foods - worthy of serving to company. Not "dump and bake," five-ingredients or less monstrosities that I abhor. So you had better bet this busy mom was picking up as many different cards as she could find!I happened across a hardcover Apron's cookbook in Savannah just prior to a Sand Gnats game. My snowbird parents have picked up an additional cookbook and more recipe cards. Many of these recipes have become family favorites. Don't have connections to the South - don't despair! All these tasty dishes are available to you at: http://www.publix.com/aprons/Home.do
(On rare occasions a recipe contains a Publix ingredient. If you are stumped as to what it is and/or need to know an "up North" substitution, just drop me a line in the comment section and I'll gladly help!)