NWAFOODIE

Try Fish City Grill next time you’re in Rogers (even if you’re not in the mood for fish).

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While the Pinnacle Promenade Mall in Rogers, Arkansas may have grossly missed the boat with their food court options in my opinion; they definitely make up for it with their restaurant anchors. One restaurant in particular is Fish City Grill, sandwiched between Pottery Barn and Solstice on the Southside of the mall entrance.  Once you enter, the ambiance of part-diner, part-bar, and part-family-style décor greets you comfortably. There are a plethora of seafood options on the menu and a daily ...

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meal planning

Why buy pesto when it is so easy to make?

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In my opinion, pesto is delicious on just about everything.  From the obvious to the sublime, it is always handy to have this trusty little foodie condiment within reach. Ever wanted to make it instead of buying it?  It’s easy and I’ll tell you how. Thought it was too expensive to purchase all that basil?  If you are not growing basil yourself, check out your local oriental grocery store.  Chances are they will have an inexpensive option for, just like Hong Sun Oriental Market in Rogers has ...

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kitchen basics

Ever wonder how to keep your asparagus fresh?

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It is helpful to store asparagus in your fridge with the bottom stalks standing in water.  Similar to a flower arrangement, doing this will help prolong the freshness of your asparagus. If you are looking for thick asparagus (like the ones in the photo), go to Sams Club.  Looking for thin and delicate?  Check out Walmart, Harps, or Allens Market. Happy eating! ...

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salads

Add a touch of Spring to your salad with edible flowers.

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Recently I shared that Allen’s Food Market in Bella Vista is stocking $0.99 fresh herbs.  To my delight, Harp’s Food is carrying the same line in the Produce Center AND they have a slightly broader selection as well as different offerings such as $0.99 sun-dried tomatoes and chili peppers. And guess what else they have? Edible Flowers for yes - $0.99! So, if you want to add a touch of Spring to your salad, pick up these little delights.  They taste fresh, clean, and slightly sweet and gave my ...

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soups

Easy, creamy, satisfying shitake mushroom soup with thyme.

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Recently I received eleven fresh shitake mushrooms in my organic vegetable delivery from Old Soul Organics in Fayetteville.  Since I had no idea what organic vegetables would arrive that day, it was fun to decide what I would do with these little gems. So, I made a soup.  An easy, creamy, satisfying shitake mushroom soup.  With a sprig of thyme. Yep, you’re going to want to make this yourself.  And yes, dried shitake mushrooms work fine.  However, fresh shitake mushrooms are available now in ...

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kitchen basics

What are leavening agents?

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There are a lot of folks right now who are getting ready to observe the Days of Unleavened Bread. This is an annual religious observance in the spring when leavening products (symbolic of sin) are removed from the home and observers refrain from eating for one week. So exactly what are leavening agents? · Ammonium Bicarbonate · Baking Powder · Saleratus (Baking Soda) · Baking Soda · Hartshorn · Carbonate of Ammonia · Powdered Baking Ammonia · Yeast · Single-acting Tartrate (European) · ...

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foodie finds

Might I propose a toast? Or perhaps a sip?

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Several years ago Samantha Brown, of Travel Channel fame, was in France. She was sharing her experience of what I can only describe as a wine-crawl. One of the wine bars she entered had the cutest wine glasses that were more like miniature pint glasses. Think of an espresso cup in wine glass form. No stem. Those glasses made the wine seem so enticing and added a fun flair to the atmosphere. Forget the countryside of France, I wanted to be there at that wine bar! I have been searching for years ...

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meal planning

Here’s how to release the full flavor of fresh basil.

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So you are making pesto and are just about ready to drop in a handful of basil leaves into the pesto. Wait! Stop! There is one more step you must do! Slip the basil in a Ziploc bag, and pound gently to bruise the leaves, ever so slightly. This releases the full flavor of basil. Now, continue on with what you were doing. You’re welcome. ...

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live happily

Here’s how to do a Tim-Tam-Slam.

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We did something really fun as a team last week. We had a potluck for lunch. Not just any old potluck… this one had a theme. Where is your favorite vacation spot and bring a dish that represents your favorite vacation spot.”   What a blast! As expected in the middle of the coolest winter that Northwest Arkansas has had in years, there were a plethora of tropical themes, photos, and dishes. It was a thrill to get to know my work-friends in a new way and their favorite vacation spots spanned ...

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foodie finds

Working on a healthy food lifestyle? Might I suggest “Food Rules” by Michael Pollan?

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Last summer I read an amazing book by Michael Pollan titled In Defense of Food, An Eater’s Manifesto, a number one New York Times bestseller. This book explains three main areas we should concentrate on when it comes to healthy eating: Eat food.  Mostly plants.  Not too much. Pollan goes on to explain, in great detail, just why he recommends we live our lives in this manner. It is simple and to the point and it may change your life for the better simply by getting you to THINK about your ...

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meal planning

I know where you can get Alaskan Halibut… and next day delivery, too!

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Hooray for the Internet and FedEx! Why? Because now we ALL have access to Alaskan Halibut, fished fresh from the icy-cold Kenai waters of Southern Alaska. As you may remember, Dennis and I went to Alaska this summer and found ourselves in fabulous fresh fish heaven. Forget the scenery… the food was out of this world! During our trip, we visited with friends from college who live on the Kenai Peninsula who treated us to a smorgasbord of fresh pan-fried halibut and grilled succulent salmon. ...

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live happily

Sharing makes life special.

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I started this blog because it is such a thrill to sleuth-around for secret ingredients, to locate a hole-in-the-wall market that has that extra special product that I cannot find anywhere else, or to discover a better way to prepare a dish. And then there is the heart-warming pleasure of sharing these discoveries with you. The other motivating reason why I started this blog was for selfish reasons. I figured with the limited time I have to go exploring around town, my hopes were that all of you ...

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breakfast

Granola is easy to make! Here’s how!

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My husband Dennis has become obsessed with granola lately. Obsessed with shopping for ingredients, obsessed with experimenting with different variations, obsessed with eating it. I am not sure what switch was flipped that caused this recent adoration of the concoction, but I do know that he is obsessed with granola. The best part is his exclamations “look how inexpensive this is to make!” And now I am going to share with you his base granola recipe that his mom gave to him. Feel free to make ...

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desserts

Who knew baked bananas could be so satisfying!

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Don’t you just love old cookbooks? One of the many treasures I inherited from my Aunt Peggy was her vast collection of cookbooks. Not the traditional hardbound cookbooks mind you. No, her collections were more like cookbook pamphlets. Short on pages, small on height, and softbound. These cookbook pamphlets are an awesome treat to browse through.It's like an archeological excavation of eating patterns and trends in America. So I got to thinking… why not try some of these recipes out? Where ...

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live happily

“She brings her food from afar.”

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There is a passage in the book of Proverbs that I have always found fascinating. It is the chapter about the virtuous woman who is physically and mentally strong. She capably runs her household and is full of wisdom and gets things done. The verse that I have always found fascinating is verse 14: “She is like the merchants’ ships; she brings her food from afar.” Love that. The verse is talking about carefully planning and purchasing food. That is inspiring to me because I am not always 100% ...

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inspiration

“Just like becoming an expert in wine–you learn by drinking it, the best you can afford–you learn about great food by finding the best there is, whether simply or luxurious. Then you savor it, analyze it, and discuss it with your companions, and you compare it with other experiences.” – Julia Child