Ever wonder why a crackling fire draws you towards it like a moth to a flame? The fire’s warmth is more than just heat; the foods you cook on a flame add more than nourishment. One of my favorite memories as a kid growing up in the Research Triangle in North Carolina was the annual church hayride at the country home of our friends, the Barbours. We lived in a suburb of the state capital, close to physically yet far away from life on the outskirts of town filled with Tobacco fields, cotton ...
The Aftermath of a Good Meal.
Leave a CommentWhat if I told you that the relaxed, calm, and satisfied feeling you have at the end of hosting dinner could be the same feelings you have before they arrive? First, let me describe an ideal ending to a good meal with family and friends and a typical mood before they arrive. You know, when most hosts are already frazzled. I believe that both before and after can be happy and relaxed. Today, I will share the secret. An ideal ending to a good meal. Lights are dim as a candle or two ...
What IS it about a good burger?
4 CommentsThere’s a reason why it is so unbelievably pleasurable to bite into a deliciously juicy, steaming hot, and perfectly grilled burger. And there’s also a reason why we all have our personal favorites. How quickly would it take you to describe your perfect burger? Chances are it would take half a second, and you probably would explain to me where to get it, what toppings to put on it, and why it’s your favorite. My favorite chain burger is In-N-Out. Please give me a simple cheeseburger with ...
Breakfast dates are the best dates.
Leave a CommentMeeting up for drinks, coffee, or dinner was so yesterday. If you’re overlooking the morning hours, you’re missing out because breakfast dates are the best! “Hey, let’s meet up for drinks at 5:00.”“Want to grab a coffee tomorrow before lunch?”“I made reservations at 7:00, but they’re booked until 8:30. Will that work?” Technically, all of these scenarios ARE pretty awesome because who doesn’t like to get together with good friends or go on a date with the love of your life? However, ...
Whatcha’ doing for delight today?
2 CommentsIf you’ve ever wanted to stop the world for a second to get off the ride and breathe in the joy of the moment, why not do it today? What would you say if you and I sat at a coffee shop and I asked, “Whatcha’ doing for delight today?” Would your answer look like this? “I don’t have time.”“Yeah, right. Too many deadlines.”“Must be nice.”“I wouldn’t know what to do if I had a moment to breathe.” Okay, here is the right answer to my question: “I’m grabbing a few minutes today to step ...
Search Engine Optimization is ruining my joy.
8 CommentsI’ve dutifully added the “jump to recipe” widget. I don’t want you to jump. I want you to linger. Because I want to linger. I want clever titles. I want shorter, bite-sized pondering. Learnings. Sharing. Thought-provoking prose. And pretty photos. Artwork. I want images that capture what I FEEL. The thinking in words is only half the story. No one is (really) reading my blog because it turned into everyone else. But I’m not everyone ...
Cheesy Roasted Garlic Chicken Skillet Sliders
2 CommentsOh, hi there. You’re pretty busy right now, aren’t you? Okay, I will make this brief. Print, bookmark, or pin this Easy Cheesy Roasted Garlic Chicken Skillet Slider recipe. Better yet, make it for dinner! It’s 4:00, do you know what’s for dinner? We’ve all been there. Many of us are “there” right now. It goes like this: You have no idea what’s for dinner, and you’re weary. But wait, there’s more! You’re trying to eat clean and trying to go the keto route, paleo, or ...
Thanksgiving-Inspired Pot Pie.
Leave a CommentThanksgiving time is my favorite time of year! I'm not just talking about the third Thursday in November. Nope. That's too limiting. I believe that Thanksgiving "time" starts with the first day of autumn and lasts all throughout winter. So consider this Thanksgiving-inspired pot pie recipe more of a seasonal staple that can last half the year! This post is happily sponsored by Wick's Pies. They have made pie crusts and pie glazes in Indiana since 1944. #WicksPies #TrustTheCrust ...
Azure Standard is a great once-a-month source for bulk foods.
2 CommentsWhen I was a kiddo growing up in the 70s and 80s, my mom volunteered at our local food coop. Instead of paying the annual membership, she would show up at her assigned time and break down all the bulk nuts, grains, cheeses, and whatever into smaller twist-tie bags. She’d weigh them and mark the price on the tiny sticker. We’d do our monthly coop shopping when she completed her assigned duties. Well, one small note… when I said she was a volunteer, I also meant that -by default - I was also a ...
Creamy Shakshuka Recipe with Labne.
Leave a CommentTo me, travel is all about the food. Months before the unforgettable year of 2020, Dennis and I spent eight glorious days traveling the peaks and valleys of Israel and Palestine. Every moment was overflowing with exposure to historical places we had read about our entire lives as well as an introduction to unbelievable culinary delights. Today I’m tickled pink to introduce you to two of these delights: Shakshuka and Labne. This post is happily sponsored by Karoun Dairies ...
Chicken of the Woods.
1 CommentClick here for my video of how to find, prepare, and dehydrate Chicken of the Woods! There is an old tattered book on my library shelf that was written in the 1960s. Every time I pick it up, a distant memory stirs within me. A memory that is partly true and mostly wishful. The book is called Stalking the Wild Asparagus and is written by Euell Gibbons. Here’s a little ditty from the book cover: “A delightful book on the recognition, gathering, preparation and use of the ...
2 simple tips for a perfectly tender steak.
1 CommentI’ve wanted to write this post for a long time and share simple tips for a perfectly tender steak. If we focus on these two easy things, our steaks will be of the highest quality and deliciously tender. But first, let’s get real. The last few years have been pretty hard on our pocketbooks, haven't they? Meat prices fluctuated all over the place, and frequently beef was hard to buy. And finally, when we could buy steaks at the grocery store, the last thing we wanted to worry about was ...
Garlicky Maple-Ginger Chicken Wings
Leave a CommentHowdy! It’s just me, interrupting your day to share a yummy appetizer recipe for garlicky maple ginger chicken wings. Remember when there was a shortage of chicken wings a while back? And, of course, all I could think about at the time was: CHICKEN WINGS! CHICKEN WINGS! CHICKEN WINGS! I WANT CHICKEN WINGS! And now it’s opposite day! It’s hard to find chicken breasts because all you can find are CHICKEN WINGS! CHICKEN WINGS! CHICKEN WINGS! And yes, I (still) WANT CHICKEN ...
Getting Back to the Basics in the Kitchen
3 CommentsWow. When did February happen? And – for that matter – what happened to January, December, November, and October? Is time going at warp speed right now? When life goes too fast, I slow it down by getting back to the basics in the kitchen. We’ll talk about that in a minute. Wait, isn’t life always going fast? I don’t know if it is just because I am getting older or is life - for everyone - going too fast? I suspect it’s a little of both, honestly. And for those who are ...
Lion’s Mane Mushroom Hash on Toasted Baguette
Leave a CommentThis post is happily sponsored by Big Mountain Foods #BigMountainFoodsRecipeChallenge #bigMountainFoods #Veganrecipes One of my favorite movies is Last Holiday, with Queen Latifah and L.L. Cool J. In it, she is a budding chef and the appetizers and entrees she creates throughout the movie are swoon-worthy! This mushroom hash on a toasted baguette is inspired by one of the beginning scenes where she makes a duck hash on toast. You can mentally taste the crunch and imagine how incredibly ...
Spud Doctors Food Truck in Bentonville
Leave a CommentIf I had to choose between a cake and French fries, the answer will always be fries. If you’re in the Northwest Arkansas area, Spud Doctors Food Truck in Bentonville has the answer to all our potato yearnings. For the rest who are not from these neck-of-the-woods, stay put because I share an insider tip on how to prepare the perfect potato wedge. See? I take care of everybody! Because… potatoes. This post is happily sponsored by OnlyInArk.com A food truck entirely focused on ...
Cornish Game Hens with Sweet and Spicy Rub
Leave a CommentThis post is happily sponsored by Serious Foodie #SeriousFoodieRecipeChallenge #SeriousFoodie #BitesAroundTheWorld As a home cook, I think it is important to make cooking simple and interesting and this recipe for roasted Cornish game hens with sweet and spicy rub does just that. I love how it incorporates food cultures from around the world for focusing on a key ingredient. The secret ingredient is Serious Foodie’s Asian Fusion Sweet/Spicy Rub mixed with oh-so-wonderfully melted ...