When I used to think about the kinds of people who make fresh strawberry preserves, what came to mind was not me. I thought of craft-centric women who can make beautiful furniture from leftover scraps of material, and patient grandmothers with wrinkled but steel strong hands. Definitely not a sometimes clumsy twenty-something who only learned to cook 4 years ago. But that was a misconception on my part, because it is not as meticulous as it seems, but it is more delicious. We visited Florida a few weeks ago, and found the new Fresh Market they built in Panama City … [Read more...]
Meal Planning 101
Meal planning. It sounds daunting and scary and definitely not something else you can possibly fit into your hectic schedule, right? WRONG. First of all, I believe in you, and you want to know why? Because if I, the queen of taking the easy road, can do it...so can you! I remember when Grant & I first moved out on our own, I would seriously stop by the store EVERYDAY after work to pick up dinner for that night. You can imagine by the end of it all, I had reserved parking at Kroger's and a monthly grocery bill for a family of 5. Obviously, this couldn't continue … [Read more...]
The Best Eats in Nashville (and Where to Find Them)
Having lived in Nashville my whole life, I'm a little biased when I say that it is truly awesome. However, in the last few years, we have really made our way up in the world and are a bit...dare I say, trendy. The economy here is booming, and with that comes some truly amazing restaurants making Nashville their home. You may have heard that we're known for our hot chicken, and that is 100% true. But Nashville's food scene is so much more than that! To find the true gems of the city, you need to ask a local, and because we love ya'll so much, we're not even going to … [Read more...]
Thyme Roasted Marcona Almonds
Ever heard of Marcona Almonds? I know I hadn't until they popped up in my local grocery store a few years ago. At first, I just ate them plain (they were already tossed in oil and a little salt). But then my favorite, Ina Garten, took things to a whole other level. She roasted them, which is one of my favorite ways to prepare food, and seasoned them with fresh thyme. While they are very yummy just as they are, this preparation transforms them into highly addictive little morsels of goodness, and like a potato chip, you definitely cannot eat just one! Start by … [Read more...]
Peanut Butter Ice Cream
On my list of favorite things to eat, Peanut Butter + Ice Cream rank pretty highly on the list. So when I received my TWO ice cream makers for Christmas, I knew it was a sign of delicious things to come. Never having made ice cream before, I truly thought it would be a complicated (though worthy) venture. Boy, was I wrong! I snagged a great recipe from Epicurious that makes the most delicious ice cream in only 6 ordinary ingredients! For this recipe, I used my KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment for the first time. The bowl required leaving in the freezer … [Read more...]
