Kardea's Best Dishes
Best Barbecue Sides 19 Photos
Bring bold Low Country flavors to your next cookout.
Sweet Treats 34 Photos
Satisfy your sweet tooth with these delicious desserts.
About the show
About the Host
Kardea Brown
Episodes
See Episode Guide#1 Dads
Kardea Brown is planning the perfect meal to celebrate her brothers as two of the best dads she knows! She is frying up her Country Fried Steak with White Gravy over Kardea's Herby Grits with parsley and thyme, alongside Green Beans with Cherry Tomatoes and caramelized onions. Then, to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth, Kardea bakes a Banana Pudding Poke Cake.
Southern Table
Kardea Brown is cooking up the perfect Lowcountry meal for her new Southern table: Fried Chicken with hot honey sauce, Hoppin' John and Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic and Pepper. For dessert, she puts a Southern twist on a sweet Apple Raspberry Cobbler with a Biscuit Top.
Sister Supper
Kardea Brown gets her sisters together for a super Southern and special dinner. The scrumptious menu includes Fried Pork Chops with Homemade Table Gravy, Sauteed Yellow Squash and Zucchini, and Rainbow Rice Pilaf. For dessert, Kardea bakes up a treat that all the sisters love -- Red Velvet Sheet Cake!
Fresh Is Best
Kardea Brown's pal Nancy Fuller is in town, so Kardea and Nancy head to the local farmer's market to get inspired by farm-fresh goodness and grab ingredients for a delicious meal! On the menu is Lemony Herb Shrimp Scampi over Middlins Risotto and Collard Green Salad with a BBQ vinaigrette. For dessert, there's a beautiful Berries and Cream Layer Cake. As Nancy always says, "Fresh is best!"
Happy Birthday, Bryon!
Kardea Brown celebrates her boo's most recent trip around the sun by cooking up a menu chock full of his favorites, like Collard Green Stuffed Shells, Pear and Glazed Pecan Salad, Cast-Iron Garlic Parmesan Biscuits and Strawberry-Swirl Cheesecake.
Bridal Brunch Bites
Kardea Brown is getting married, and her friends and family are throwing her a bridal shower. As every cook in the family does, she brings her own bites of Open-Faced Mini Salmon BLTs, Smoked Ham Salad in Lettuce Cups, Deviled Eggs with Fried Shrimp and Chocolate Coconut Nests.
Cook with What Ya Got!
Kardea Brown puts together a seasonal Southern meal with staples from her kitchen and pantry. She's cooking up Grilled Country-Style Pork Ribs with a cola glaze, Red Beans and Rice, and Grilled Cabbage Wedges with Buttermilk Ranch. For dessert, a Cherry Cola Chocolate Cake is topped with a warm cola-fudge frosting. Sometimes, cooking with what you've got makes the best meals!
Charleston City Eats
Kardea Brown and her bestie are combining their love of food and shopping with a beautiful afternoon at the historic Charleston City Market. After grabbing a few goodies downtown, Kardea heads back home to prepare a meal that incorporates the flavors of Charleston, including Pimiento Cheese Straws, Boiled Peanut Salad, Low Country Seafood Perloo and Hummingbird Bars with Candied Pecans.
Mamas Who Lunch
Kardea Brown hosts a Mother's Day lunch for her childhood best friends. She's cooking up Scalloped Potato-Stuffed Chicken alongside her Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Roasted Grapes. Then, Kardea has the perfect dessert for these mamas, a Lemon Meringue Pie with shortbread cookie crust, tart lemon filling and pillowy meringue. Plus, every mama deserves a delicious cocktail, so Kardea treats her ladies to a Strawberry Rosé Daiquiri -- a frozen treat with sparkling rosé, rum and strawberries.
Wine and Dine
Kardea Brown and her mom sign up to compete in a grape stomp at a local vineyard. After they have a blast stomping grapes like Lucille Ball, Kardea makes a wine-inspired meal that includes Steak and Patatas Bravas, Brussels Sprouts and Kale Salad with Green Goddess Dressing, Salted Caramel Pots de Crème and Red Muscadine Sangria.
Fun Park Feast
To celebrate her friend's birthday, Kardea Brown is throwing down some of her friend's favorite Tex-Mex flavors. She's cooking up a Cheesy Birria Dip, Burger Sliders with Esquites and Summer Squash Salad with a smoky agave vinaigrette. Plus, Kardea finishes the celebration with some Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes!
Campfire Eats
Kardea Brown welcomes her nephews and nieces for a night of camping in their Auntie's backyard! Kardea is cooking up her Brisket and Bean Chili with Sweet Mini Corn Muffins, served with Vegetable Medley Sauté with garlic, cauliflower, broccoli and carrots. Plus, no camping outing is complete without s'mores, so Kardea whips up her S'mores Cereal Treats that are perfect for everyone to enjoy around the fire!
Lighter Side of Soul Food
Kardea Brown cooks up some classic Southern dishes that are mouthwatering and light. First up, Veggie Soup Bunch is a dish that was always simmering in her grandma's kitchen. Then, a flaky Pecan and Panko Crusted Baked Fish with Mashed Parsnips is followed by something sweet, Blackberry Lavender Cornmeal Cake. This meal may be light, but it does not skimp on the flavor!
Just Horsin' Around
Kardea Brown is cooking up a Derby Day-inspired lunch for an afternoon of horseback riding with her best friend Yolanda. First up, Kardea's Hot Brown Sandwiches have roast turkey topped with a beautifully cheesy sauce. Then, she makes a Cream Cheese Ball with smoked cheddar, olives, pecans and chives, and a Ginger Mint Julep is Kardea's twist on the classic derby cocktail. Last, but not least, Miss Brown's Kentucky Butter Cake is a fluffy, buttery cake that melts in your mouth!
Sun's Out, Grill's Out!
Kardea Brown loves to grill just as much as she loves feeding her fiancé, Bryon, and she is firing up the grill for everything from dinner to dessert. She's serving Sweet and Sour Short Ribs with a Loaded Grilled Potato and Grilled Brussels Sprouts Salad. For dessert, Bryon's Mini Peach Dump Cakes are made on the grill too. It's a beautiful day, and there's no better way to spend an afternoon than hanging outside and grilling up delicious dishes for the one you love!
Puppy Play Date
Kardea Brown is packing up a Mediterranean-inspired lunch to meet with her friend for a puppy play date at the dog park! She's grilling up a Chicken Shawarma Gyro and serving it with a delicious Couscous and Chickpea Salad. For dessert, Kardea adds a twist to her Bundt Pan Baklava and creates a refreshing Raspberry Ouzo Fizz. She even whips up Peanut Butter Pup Cakes for the doggies to enjoy!
Cooking Through History
Kardea Brown gets a personal tour of the International African American Museum in Charleston, and she cooks up traditional dishes for the staff. To start, she's serving sweet Charleston shrimp with her Low Country Pickled Shrimp Salad. Then, the main course is Braised Oxtails served over Rice and Sea Island Red Peas. For dessert, Kardea makes Puff Puff with Mango-Papaya Sauce. The food celebrates the flavors from across the African diaspora and how that heritage inspired Low Country cooking!
Friday, Fish and Friends
Kardea Brown's Grandma Josephine and her girls, Miss Carolyn and Miss Evelyn, never miss the chance to gather on a Friday night for a traditional Southern fish fry. Kardea is giving them a week off by joining the fun and bringing their classic Friday meal of Fried Whole Red Snapper with Creole Gravy, Oyster Rice, Citrus Pound Cake with Blood Orange Curd and Hurricane Punch.
Couples Date Night In
Kardea Brown forgoes the expensive restaurant with a fun date night in! She and her boo invite their favorite couples over for a delicious dinner of Braised Chicken with Onion Gravy, Maple-Roasted Root Vegetables, a Hot Toddy and Fried Rice Pudding Balls.
Heavenly Wings
Kardea Brown makes a meal with her aunt TC to treat TC's fellow church volunteers to a low-country feast. First, Kardea cooks up her delicious BBQ Smoked Turkey Wings. Then, Kardea whips up her Skillet Lima Beans, pan fried with bacon and tomatoes, and a Creamed Corn Casserole. For dessert, Kardea bakes a Lemon Pudding Pound Cake that'll have everyone singing her praises!
Ribs and Pretzels and Tailgating!
Kardea Brown is meeting up with family and friends at the high school stadium for a proper tailgate, and her menu is a cut above the average burgers and hot dogs. She grills St. Louis-Style Ribs and sets out Beer Cheese and Soft Pretzel Bites to nibble on. She gives boring coleslaw a makeover into Collard and Red Cabbage Slaw, and she layers coconut and chocolate in a graham cracker crust for Momma Pat's Goodie Bars.
Mom's Birthday
Kardea Brown is celebrating her momma Pat's big day with her mom's favorite Tex-Mex meal, and Aunt TC joins her in the kitchen to help! The stars of this birthday menu are Carne Asada Chimichangas, deep-fried burritos stuffed with braised short ribs and cheese sauce. On the side, Kardea has Spicy Rice, and the birthday girl is getting an extra special cake to celebrate -- Brown Butter Cake with Spiced Chocolate Ganache and Dulce de Leche.
Grandma's Special Supper
For her grandma's birthday, Kardea Brown is throwing a beautiful dinner at one of her grandma's favorite spots, the historic Angel Oak Tree, which is estimated to be 400-500 years old. Kardea starts off with Crab Stuffed Lobster Tails and a Blender Bearnaise, a quick kitchen hack to make a sauce with shallots, wine and tarragon -- the perfect complement to the lobster. Then, she makes a cheesy Tomato Pie with Cornmeal Crust and Kardea's Easy Entremet, a layered dessert that looks fancy but is easy to whip up.
Mom's Comfort Cooking
Kardea Brown invites her mom, Pat, to come visit for the weekend, and they cook up dishes together that Kardea craves most from growing up. They make Mom's Seafood Lasagna, a creamy and cheesy pasta bake with low-country shrimp and crab meat, and Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Bread. Then, Kardea mixes up Pat's Brambleberry, a delicious bourbon cocktail muddled with sweet blackberries, and whips up No-Bake Raspberry Pretzel Cups for Miss Pat's sweet tooth. There really is no place like home ... with your mom!
Mamas Who Lunch
Kardea Brown hosts a Mother's Day lunch for her childhood best friends. She's cooking up Scalloped Potato-Stuffed Chicken alongside her Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Roasted Grapes. Then, Kardea has the perfect dessert for these mamas, a Lemon Meringue Pie with shortbread cookie crust, tart lemon filling and pillowy meringue. Plus, every mama deserves a delicious cocktail, so Kardea treats her ladies to a Strawberry Rosé Daiquiri -- a frozen treat with sparkling rosé, rum and strawberries.
Aunt TC's Sammich Shop
Kardea Brown's Aunt TC is opening a sandwich shop (or "sammich," as she says), and she wants Kardea to help her develop the menu. Kardea has some delicious ideas for them to cook and taste test, like Grilled Shrimp Po' Boys, Fried Peanut-Crusted Chicken Sandwiches, Twice Fried Sweet Potatoes Fries with a variety of sauces and, for dessert, Lemon Sugar Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches.
