Encourager of simplicity, one bite at a time.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright vintage copper kettles and warm oven mittens. Brown parchment packages stuffed with fish and tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite thingggsssss.” You sang along with me right then, didn’t you? Ever since starting this blog back in 2009, I’ve always wanted to encourage anyone reading to add a little joy to his or her food-life. Whether that means using a pretty ...
Oh, hey! Excuse me if you actually ARE a master and have already learned how to use herbs in your food. I’m actually talking to myself and musing out loud. It’s something I have been pondering this question quite some time. Also, why is it that garden centers at the home improvement stores only stock basic herb plants? Is this something that you’ve noticed, too? I absolutely believe that parsley, cilantro, thyme, basil, and oregano are splendid, splendid herbs. So yes, all the ...
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I fought this habit for way too long. One of the most common complaints when it comes to cooking/baking/meal prep is the number of dishes that must be washed once you’re finished. After all, it’s common sense that we should clean the dishes as we cook, right? Right. So, why don’t we develop this habit? The fact-of-the-matter is that it’s hard. Hard isn’t fun. Hard because sometimes we just did the hard… by making the food ...
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are times when Dennis and I walk into a restaurant, step inside for a few seconds and then look at each other and say, “Nope. Not feeling it.” Yet give us a spot with dim lighting and the perfect moody music tugging at our sleeve and, oh man, we’re ALL IN. It’s no secret that music can evoke certain moods. Whether you want to get pumped up, motivated, or just want to get the right tunes for a dinner party, ...
Today I am sharing a recipe for pressure cooker crème brulee that has a wee touch of lemon. That wee touch of lemon makes all the difference. You’ll need an electric pressure cooker. First, raise your hand if you have an electric pressure cooker. Keep it up if you keep telling yourself that you need to use it more often. Keep it simple. Second, raise your hand if you want a quick and easy dessert recipe. Keep it up if you are intrigued by the idea of making ...
One of the greatest pleasures in life is strolling in nature. It can be a walk on the beach, a hike up a mountain, or a meander through the woods. Add a cuppa joe to that stroll, and now we’re talking. Airship Coffee at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve is the perfect cuppa joe stroll-walk-hike-meander-in-the-woods destination. All you have to do is plan a trip to Bentonville. This post is happily sponsored by OnlyInArk.com. Is it really a coffee shop in the woods? Yessirree ...
As a Dr. Cowan's Garden Nutritious & Organic Vegetable Powders affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases on the linked items in this post and there is no cost to you. If beet juice and salt are good enough for the road, they're good enough for a martini. Or at least that what I told myself as I whipped together a tasty martini made with beet juice and a touch of salt. In the past week, we’ve had a 90-degree weather swing from bone-chilling windy snowstorms to ...
Brrrrrr. Okay, quick question… what do you eat when it’s freezing outside and all you want to do is to stay in your jammies and watch TV? And now ask yourself… what do you reallllly want to eat that is quick to make, delicious, and suuuuuuuper easy to prepare? Ding! Ding! Ding! The correct answer is chili! This post is happily sponsored by Pure Texan Chili - championship chili mix. This is not just any ol’ ordinary chili - this is Championship Chili. This is chili that ...
All we have to do is browse our favorite social media platform and we’ll come across a plethora of trending-food-days such as #MeatlessMonday #SundaySupper and #TacoTuesday. These are all lovely, of course. However, I’d like to propose we adopt a new one… #TapasTuesday. What are tapas? The word “tapas” originated in Spain and basically means appetizer or snack. They can be hot or cold as a regular appetizer… however I like to make tapas as an entire meal occasion. Let me explain why ...
“Stop sneaking the spiced candied pecans!” I said this not once, not twice, but almost three times before Dennis beat me to say those words again. “I’m sneaking some more,” he happily declared. This post is happily sponsored by Pure Texan Chili - championship chili mix you can add to more than chili! I’m delighted that he was enjoying them! I assured him that he could have allllll that his little heart desired… he just had to allow me to take a few photos for you! You see these ...
Even when life deals us blows and it’s hard to see the joy through the fog, it’s truly amazing how a little planned happy occasion - here and there - can lift our countenance. And sometimes we just have to declare that we’re going to have a GREAT day and, above all, have a good time. Okay, I borrowed this declaration from Julia Child. Okay, okay. More specifically, I borrowed this from Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle, and Simone Beck from their wonderful and timeless ...
Probably the most stressful thing about chili is wondering if all the time and energy you spent on those spices and ingredients... will actually turn out. The last thing you want after all that effort is a wasted pot of chili. Ugh! So today, let me share how to take the stress out of veggie chili! This post is happily sponsored by Pure Texan Chili - championship chili you can make at home! Keep it fun. Think about all the times that you’ve been to someone’s home, watching the ...
Well howdy. Even though I technically share 34 recipes and/or tips below for an easy Thanksgiving, there is one tip I didn’t include that I believe is most important It’s this… make it simple and joyful! Let’s just breathe and enjoy the scenic route. Speaking of joy, last week it was summer, this past weekend it was fall, and today feels like winter. Oh wait! My chives and parsley starting shooting up microgreens, so that means it is spring now, right? I digress. Hopefully, ...
Having a healthy snack ready to go at all times makes me feel like I’m winning at life! I also get extra bonus points if they taste yummy, too. If this is something that interests you, allow me to introduce you to power bars made quick and easy! This post is happily sponsored by Think.Eat.Live. Gluten-Free SunPower Bar Mix and I receive affiliate earnings at no cost to you. Think.Eat.Live. For over a year-and-a-half now I’ve been collaborating with Caryn and Dan, founders of ...
Have you ever opened your fridge door and wondered, “What’s for dinner tonight?” Have you ever just stood there and desperately wished that something – anything - would jump out and say, “Hey! Pick me! I can help you with dinner!” Today we’re going to talk about why learning how to use mustard will help you gain kitchen confidence. Okay, admit it. Open up your refrigerator door and count how many bottles of mustards you have. Care to share? I’ll go first… ten. I have ten. Before you ...
Cherry wood cooking spoon. Protect that enamel soup pot surfacePho birthday card. Extra-credit if you include a Pho gift certificate with the card.Rustic soup mug. I mean, doesn’t this mug just beg you to sit by the fire?Classic bone china soup bowl with lid. Ditch the ceramic and go with bone china.Class soup spoon. Once you’ve splurged with a soup spoon, you can’t go back. Raise your hand if you’ve been eating more soup lately. Go on, raise them! I can honestly say that we have not been ...
How many cookbooks do you have? None? Ten? Twenty? Two hundred? Did you buy them for yourself or were they gifted to you? Most likely, you have a combination of cookbooks that you’ve personally curated and others selected for you. So it begs the question, how many cookbooks are too many? The answer? It depends. If you’ve taken your cookbook collection for granted, perhaps now is a good time to dust them off and reassess what you have and what you’re missing. What type of ...
