"...and they ate with gladness and simplicity of heart"
I looked the other way when you switched the turkey bacon breakfast sandwich to the new one. It’s okay; I need to get better at making breakfast at home anyways. Besides, that was only an occasional indulgence. Can we talk about the new lids? They burp. Actually, they burp-burp-burp and sputter and spit. My dry cleaner is getting to know me quite well. Yes, I have double-cupped like you asked me to and have asked for one-inch less of coffee. I am trying my best to ...
Yep, I am serious. A fried egg. I think it is fun to play around with food and see what combinations work. For the record, avocado, peanut butter and tomatoes in a smoothie definitely do not work. Yikes. Last week I shared a recipe for a spring garden inspired grilled pizza over on TasteArkansas, a site bursting with recipes that celebrate the farmer’s bounty (or the aspiring farmer inside of us). That pizza layered on grilled spring sweet onions, sweet peas, and pesto. Man, ...
I just started giving more attention to my Pinterest landscaping-dreams and exterior-decorating boards. You see, this coming Memorial Weekend we are beginning the back deck remodel and it needs a lot of help. A lot. When we bought the house we could see the bones were there yet the charm (and some safety issues!) was quite lacking. Who wants to live in a house or yard without charm? Shudder. After revisiting my pins and ogling yours (I promise I am not stalking you), I remembered that I ...
Seasons are chapters in the garden of life. Each one tells a story, its own unique story, which picks up each year at the same time. We build up with excited anticipation as a new season approaches and moan with impatience at the dragging moments towards the end of it. I like seasons, the beginnings, the middle, and the ends of them. Take, for instance, all the chatter going on right now about gardens. Everywhere I look, I see your lovely photos of fresh perfect mounds of gorgeous soil. ...
Visit any flea market in town and within hosts a ghost town of cheese domes. Large ones, small ones, cheaply made ones, and elongated pretty ones. All long forgotten and abandoned and most likely snatched up by an eager dealer who knows the value of a good find. My friend Beth uses her cheese domes to display artful treasures in her home although I daresay she most likely uses them for entertaining as well. Cheese domes are not just for fancy-schmancy French aristocrats or cheese snobs. ...
I like to keep snacks on hand and ready-to-go when I leave the house. How about you? Are you taking good care of yourself when it comes to keeping grown-up snacks on hand? This article of mine about snack packs was featured on peekaboonwa today. I wish I had an entire closet full of insulated lunch bags, containers, bottles, and all-things-storage containers. Does that make me obsessed? How about you? Are you looking for inspiration on grown-up lunch bags? These are ...
Cauliflower is a cool-season crop and boy is this cool-season still going strong. Instead of fighting, whining, grumbling, complaining about our little Spring peek-a-boo party, let’s embrace what we’ve been given. Cauliflower just wants a little love. Recently I was asked to write a monthly post for Taste Arkansas, an Arkansas Farm Bureau publication, so I decided to play around with cauliflower and rice. You know why I chose cauliflower but why rice? Arkansas rice is one of the backbones ...
Don’t let that little sleet-ice episode fool you. Spring has penciled in her dance card and her number is coming up next. The daffodils don’t lie. My sister Stacey and I have a cute little give-and-take. When I get stuck on which blog picture I should post in a series of photographs, I text them to them her and let her pick. 9 times out of 10 we pick the same one. When she is stumped on what to serve for dinner with, say steak, she texts me for suggestions. 10 times out of 10 I wish I ...
Lately I’ve been thinking about starting a pepper grinder collection. Are you into that? I found out that there are about a trillion salt and pepper shaker options out there on the interweb. Here are five to get you started. 1. Go timeless. These timeless shakers are made of brass and have an antique silver patina finish. Perfect for every day shaking. 2. Go vintage. Etsy is a treasure-trove of vintage shakers spanning all periods and many times with a dash of quirky. ...
Take a hike, Tabasco. Find the door, Franks. Sashay on outta here, Sriracha. There is a new hot sauce in town and your services are no longer needed. Braggin’ Rights Hot Sauce Ingredients 3 Serrano peppers, thinly sliced 1 clove of garlic, minced 1 tablespoon distilled vinegar 1 large beefsteak tomato, quartered ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon sugar Instructions 1. Place all of the ingredients in a NutriBullet or blender and blend until ...
I received product from Bourbon & Boots for this post. The joke goes something like this, if you don’t like the weather in Arkansas today, wait for tomorrow. Or maybe it is the other way around, if you like the weather in Arkansas today, just wait a day. Either way, the weather is in a fickle mood. Sunny in the 60s one day and then wrapping us back up in her snowy blanket again. “Tuck in, tuck in,” she keeps reminding us. Is winter hibernation getting to you? Hang in there, kiddo. ...
The world around us has changed from stuffy sit-down dinners to a lifestyle of casual entertaining. Visions of friends, family, and loved ones sitting relaxed, happy, and casually comfortable in the living room talking the night away puts me in a happy-place faster than just about anything. However, if panic ensues when you hear the words “dinner will be casual, please bring an appetizer” when invited over to someone’s house for dinner, this easy and delicious recipe will put you at ...
Have you ever tasted provolone bacon? Does the idea of serving Thai turkey meatballs float your boat? These two recipes of mine were in a super flattering write up this week in the Arkansas Times online blog, Eat Arkansas. Please go check out the article and leave a comment over there. It would be awesome to have an outflowing of Northwest Arkansas love for our friends down in Little Rock. And, while you are there, stroll around in the archives. Author Michael Roberts and his posse are ...
Have you ever had a moment of realization when you realized you were wrong? Dead wrong? I am coming clean today to tell you that I was dead wrong about smoothies. Whenever I heard the word “smoothie” or someone mentioning “I had a smoothie today,” I thought that was a cover for something akin to a having a milkshake. More of a dessert drink than a nutritional one. Tied to this smoothie-denial was a deeper attitude of self-righteousness because I was a proud proponent of the juicer. You ...
Sometimes the simplest things are the best. So many times we end up complicating things and create layers of complexity that just seem to stress us out. When we are stressed, our greatest intentions flounder. If you (like me) have resolved to eat more fruits and veggies, here is a proven tip. It’s simple. Buy a bounty of colorful fruits and veggies. Wash them thoroughly. Here comes the simple part. Wait for it. Put them within snacking reach. I know, it’s ...
You guys are so cute. You look so adorable updating your facebook profile photos with beach shots, blue skies, sand-covered feet, and smiling suntanned faces. Methinks this icy snowy blanket is getting to you. While I cannot call in a sunshine prescription for you, I can lift your spirits with a little tropical drink. How does rum and a coconut flavored soda sound to you right about now? Fill a favorite pretty glass abundantly with ice. Add two ounces of your favorite ...
Football is over-rated. These bowls are super. 1. Painted enamel grey bowls. Handmade by Brazilian artisans with a 12-step process, these bowls are perfect for indoors or out. Bonus points, they are dishwasher safe. Score! 2. Dansk Kobenstyle yellow 4-quart casserole. This gorgeous sunshiny enameled steel casserole bowl with lid is so pretty that you will want to leave it out your countertop. Originally designed in 1956, this find is newly re-introduced after over ...
