A mighty fine oyster from the Indian Pass Raw Bar.
I’ve been a bit lazy and out of touch for a week now, and with good reason…I was on vacation with little to no cell or data service! In my Reflections on Fall post, I mentioned that one of my most favorite things about this season is experiencing Fall at the beach, and therefore, weekend before last, we headed to the coast for a family vacation to enjoy the autumnal peace and majesty of the Gulf of Mexico. Continue reading
I’ve said it before: Fall is my favorite season of the year. It’s a busy time, with holidays each month and the preparation of the home and garden for winter, but such a lovely time for those reasons and so many more. I can’t let this season go by without a moment to reflect on a few of the things that I love about it, so I’ve compiled some thoughts and a little list to share with you.
But before I continue my fall-ish thoughts, one thing I’d like to share is that I’ve just been honored with my first blog award…sweet! Many gracious thanks to Eva from Kitchen Inspirations, who kindly nominated me for the Liebster Blog award. She’s a fellow in the graphic design field, a food lover, cook, and brave croissant maker(!!!) from Canada, whose blog I recently discovered and have really enjoyed following. Do take the time to check her out! And please scroll down to see more details about this award…as well as find out who my own nominees are, as I pass along the baton!
The Liebster Blog Award is given to recognize your favorite up-and-coming bloggers who have fewer than 200 subscribers, and that you feel deserve more. It’s a cool way to meet more folks and learn some new things…and generally expand your horizons, in my opinion. Continue reading
This delicious chili starts off with a multi-colored fiesta of bell and chipotle peppers.
The fact that the first touch of cool weather turns my thoughts immediately to chili is one of the reasons I love the fall season so very much. I crave chili, and I happen to make a really mean chili—if I do say so myself! It’s deceptively healthier than most, being filled with veggies and two kinds of fiber-loaded beans. It’s also made with ground turkey breast instead of beef.
I can hear some of the groans out there…”oh, no,” you’re saying out loud, “not another turkey substitution for a traditional meat dish! Can’t this girl leave a good thing alone and just use beef in her chili?”
Well, yes…I can, but this particular recipe is REALLY better with turkey, and I know this because I first concocted the recipe with beef. Continue reading
You know you want one of these!
This is what you'll look like if you eat too many of these babies in one sitting!
Okay, so maybe they’re not really Italian, but they are inspired by Italian flavors…a mixture of a little flat leaf Italian parsley, fresh garlic, some Pecorino Romano, Lea&Perrins Worcestershire sauce—not Italian, but it’s good—salt and pepper. Then just shape the meat into slider-sized patties—or regular burger-sized patties if you prefer—bring some grilled balsamic glazed onions, a little Parmigiano Reggiano and tomato sauce to the party, and put it all on the appropriate sized bun. Delicioso! Continue reading
The minute it gets cool and fall-ish like last weekend, my mind switches over to soup mode, and although it’s warming up again here where we live, it’s never too early to make a great soup…especially one that’s just as good warm as it is hot.
This spicy peanut and sweet potato soup checks a lot of boxes for me: 1. it’s savory, 2. it’s spicy, 3. it’s a teensy bit sweet, but in a savory sort of way (does that make sense?), 4. it has a teensy bit of Asian flair to it, too 5. also a teensy bit of an African flair to it, 6. I’ve used the word “teensy” too many times, haven’t I?, 7. leftovers freeze and reheat well, if you have any leftover, 8. it’s healthy, but it doesn’t necessarily taste “healthy,” 9. it’s easy to make, 10. it’s great for a light lunch or dinner, 11. it uses up a lot of items I have in my pantry and from my CSA box.
Need I say more? Continue reading
First I will say that Saturday was my birthday and my dear husband gave me a new camera, so you can evolve with me as I figure out how to use it and (hopefully) make better pictures than we’ve seen thus far. Yes, I confess it…all my photos were taken with a phone up to this point!
So, back to my birthday…we live within 2 hours of a gorgeous mountain area called Highlands, North Carolina, and since the first day of October was a stunningly beautiful fall day in the south—complete with very cool fall temps—we decided to go there to celebrate. (Lucky me!) Continue reading
Pizza before cooking and ready to eat...yummy!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I really do love pizza. Whoever invented it has my eternal gratitude. It’s so versatile, easy and fun to make. Whether savory or sweet, fully cooked in the oven, or a cooked crust with “raw” toppings, it’s all good. I mean, what’s better for a quick and tasty meal than concocting a sauce—or no sauce at all—customizing your toppings to taste and cheese…must….have….cheese—then popping it into the oven and only minutes later, pulling out the finished product? Okay, eating it…eating it is better. Continue reading
A Pineapple-Orange-Banana Smoothie made by the King.
My husband is usually the grill master and sous chef around here, but in addition to that he does make some mean breakfast items on his own, and amongst the best of the best are his smoothies. There’s been a strawberry-banana-orange, a blueberry-orange with cinnamon, and a peach with cinnamon, just to name a few. But he’s outdone himself with the latest one: Pineapple-Orange-Banana. All hail to the King of Smoothies! Continue reading
bits and breadcrumbs 