Fresh ingredients. Simple entertaining. Meals from the heart.
Life is busy, especially when you have young kids, and making the time to invite friends over can seem overwhelming and stressful.
The Speckled Palate is here to help you, you busy person you, reconnect with the people you love. How do we do this? Through easy recipes and drinks — often with a Southern or Louisiana accent — that call for simple, fresh ingredients.
I like to call this low-key (or suuuuuuuper easy) entertaining.
Because nothing is better than a homemade meal to bring together the people you adore. Add in some fresh ingredients and some easy entertaining tips, and you’re good to go.
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At The Speckled Palate, we value….
Fresh Recipes. We’ve all been stuck in a dinner rut. I create recipes that are flavorful and familiar, often leaning into Southern and Louisiana flavor profiles, while also sometimes taking creative twists to make them a little more interesting.
Seasonal Ingredients. In-season produce tastes better, plus it’s oftentimes more affordable. Win-win, friends!
Simple Entertaining. Hosting dinner doesn’t have to be a Big Deal. (In fact, I’d argue that it’s better when dinner is not hoity toity because we can all let our hair down.) My recipes include the steps you need to feel confident so you can focus on being with your people.
Community and Connection. I host the Sweetest Season Cookie Exchange every winter, which has brought together hundreds of food bloggers. We share cookie recipes and raise money for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. It’s one of my favorite weeks of the year.
But why is it called
The Speckled Palate?
Back in the 2010s, our blog names were nonsensical and unique. (Before, I wrote a blog titled Stylish Handwriting. It was not about handwriting.) So I named my site after the black-white-pink spots inside our dog Lucy’s mouth, and all these years later, here we are…
Howdy! I’m Erin Parker.
The Speckled Palate is written, photographed, and run by me, Erin Parker, a self-taught recipe developer and former photojournalist who started this site in 2011.
I’m big on low-key entertaining and connection over perfection.
I especially love seasonal cuisine, playing in the kitchen and sharing my love for food.
I’m from Tennessee and spent many years living in Louisiana (and a few in Southern Mississippi) before my husband and I migrated to Texas. Here, you’ll find a lot of Southern and Louisiana-inspired recipes.
People are saying…
“I made this for dinner tonight and we loved it!! The mustard gravy is soooo good! Will definitely make it again soon and keep it in the rotation! Thanks, Erin!”
“I made this for our Friday night game night and it was perfect! Love snacks that are easy to make, delicious and not messy. Definitely going into our rotation.”
“I have been baking a Thanksgiving turkey every year for over 40 years. I have brined, bagged, flipped and wrapped. I will tell you this was the best turkey ever and so easy. This will be my turkey go to now. Thanks so much! Merry Christmas!”
“Hi there! I just made the hand pies, and they are totally delicious! I’m making my pie crust your way from now on! It made so easily! I had to add about another quarter cup of milk, but I live in Arizona and it’s really hot here! Thank you so much for all of your brilliant recipes and ideals! These are so good!”
“This was the first king cake I ever made and it was great! We had a Father’s Day crawfish boil party (in Dallas, run by a bunch of Arizona needy engineers) and I decided we needed a king cake to finish the party off with style. This one was great! Tasty, not bland, moist, and gobbled up!”
“This is a great recipe I have made it many times, I think it’s a great balance of cream cheese, vanilla, and sweetness. None over power the other. I would definitely recommend giving this recipe a try. I’ve taken it to work functions and it has been a hit.”
Disclaimer
All photography was created by Erin Parker for The Speckled Palate, unless stated otherwise. My work should never be repurposed without expressed written permission. Should you share my work, please link back to this site and credit my work appropriately. If you notice something that is not properly credited on my website, please contact me so that I can fix it immediately.
The Speckled Palate is a for-profit blog, which means I may share affiliate links or post sponsored content.
- If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but The Speckled Palate will automatically receive a small commission.
- Sponsored content is only shared on my site after careful thought and consideration. I work with brands that align with the needs of my readers, as well as my values and will only share this content with my own thoughts and opinions. Additionally, I will always disclose sponsored work. I would never advertise anything I wouldn’t use in my own home or recommend to my friends and family.
The Speckled Palate is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I earn from qualifying purchases.
Alcohol content
The content featuring alcoholic beverages on The Speckled Palate is meant to be enjoyed responsibly and in moderation. Cocktail recipes are intended for adults who are 21+ years of age.
Statements & policies:
- Privacy Policy
- Disclosure Policy
- Accessibility Policy
- Refund Policy
Keep in touch!
I love hearing from readers! Feel free to shoot me an e-mail at erin [at] thespeckledpalate.com.
If you have a specific question, check out my FAQs. I do my best to respond to every e-mail and comment in a timely manner, but sometimes, comments and e-mails get lost. The best chance of me responding to you, especially if you have a question about a recipe, is commenting on the post.
If you’re a brand and would like to work together, check out my Work With Me page.
Site Credits
Branding by Susannah Brinkley Henry.
Theme by Restored316. Customizations by Melissa Belanger.
Branding photography and headshots by Victoria Saperstein Photography.