It is crazy hot. It's so hot that the mere thought of going outside makes the sweat start to bead on my forehead. I can't tell you the last time I was cold. But one of the many characteristics of having children is that no matter what the weather, they must be entertained. The best place to entertain is outside. So, for the last couple of days we have been enjoying the ...
Recipes
Make your own cheese!
First, I would like to thank all of you for your condolences and comforting in the loss of my beloved tomatoes. I am doing my best to move on from such a tragedy. I have been trying lots of new things, many of which take several days to make. I bought my first ever fresh figs at the farmer's market and made some spectacular Spiced Fig Preserves. I also have been ...
Kid Friendly Baked Zucchini Fries
I remember when my kids were a little over a year old. They had finally gotten enough teeth in their precious little heads to make the big jump from baby food to "big people" food and I was so excited. I could almost hear my monthly grocery bill dropping. No more tiny little jars, no more cans of Wagon Wheels, no more rice cereal! Then as I got a few days in to feeding them a ...
Roasted Chicken and Tomatoes
So, back in the spring, I bought a couple tomato plants at KMart and planted those tomato plants in the 3 square foot sunny spot in my yard. ( Really, that's all the sunny space I have) Well, they have become quite prolific. In the last week I have picked 7 or 8 tomatoes and I have probably another 10 or 15 that are still on the bush. So, for the last week I have been eating ...
Stuffed Artichokes
Stuffed Artichokes are a delicious side dish treat. They take a little prep but your effort is rewarded with a delicious side dish that everyone will rave about! My dream is to one day move out of suburbia and back into the country. I would like to have a few acres of land for the kids to run around on freely, I would like some chickens, maybe a goat, a clothes line to hang ...
BBQ Stuffed Potato
Do you remember when Wendy's had a potato and chili bar? I think there was probably a small salad bar mixed in there too, but the potato bar was my favorite. You could throw all kinds of stuff on your potato; chili, cheese, bacon, you name it. Granted, this was probably not the healthiest way to eat a baked potato, nor was it the best chili in the world, but the price ...
Watermelon Strawberry Granita AND a Cocktail
As Summer reaches it's highest peak, Mother Nature offers man a slight reprieve in the form of watermelon. Is there anything better than cold watermelon on a hot summer day? Watermelon is really hitting it's stride right now. They are everywhere and it's hard for me to resist. I bought this fantastic Sugar Baby Watermelon at the farmer's market the other day. It's the best ...
Strawberry Muffins…no, Cupcakes…no, Muffins…okay, Bread
I'm not very girl-y. I never have been. As a child I refused to wear anything even remotely pink and a dress was the equivalent to being put in the stockade, but I have always loved strawberries. My great-grandmother used to have a strawberry patch behind her house ( wait...have I told you this before?) and it was our job to pick them all so she could make jam. I'm not sure how ...
BBQ Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
I'm going to give all you single ladies out there a little advice on what to look for in a husband. First, he has to have a job or at least a marketable skill. No free-loaders. Second, he's gotta be good with kids, even if you don't plan on having any. Why? Because accidents happen and you don't want to be with a guy who doesn't like kids. Third, and most importantly, ...
Lemon-Lime Sun Tea
Lemon-Lime Sun Tea is a simple Southern specialty. Take advantage of the summer sun and brew yourself a nice jug of fresh tea outside. When I was a little girl, my parent's house was much smaller than it is today. The back of the kitchen was the laundry room which was directly in front of the east facing back door. There were black iron steps that connected the ...
Peaches, Peaches, Peaches!
Peaches are a summertime favorite in the South. Nothing beats that sweet fruit with the fuzzy skin. Every roadside stand seems to be brimming over these days with a plentiful supply. Luckily, peaches are just as versatile as they are delicious. Peaches can be poached in white wine, grilled over hot coals, diced into chutneys, or made into ice cream. But the best way to serve ...
Meatcicles
That's right I said meatcicles. Like popcicles, but with meat instead of...um...pop. The inspiration came from Top Chef. (Do you watch it? If you do, let me just tell you that I'm not seeing a whole lot of creativity so far this season. Angelo and Kenny. That's all I'm seeing. Discuss ...) One of the chef's on the last episode, Arnold I think, made some lamb kebabs on the ...
A little piece of Americana – Blackberry Cobbler
Our nation's Independence Day is coming up this weekend and Americans around the country will be headed to backyard barbeque's, pool parties, and fireworks displays. It's a time for all of us to remember the past and the present and to look forward to the future of our nation. It's a time for us to swell with pride at the great things this country has to offer. Because even ...
Giveaway Winner and Roasted Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken
Wow. What a crazy month this has been! I finally got back into town on Sunday after almost an entire month away from home. I have driven about 2000 miles in the last 28 days which is a feat that I never thought could be accomplished with two 3 year olds in the back seat. Thanks to the DVD player and copious amounts of ring pops, juice boxes, and crayons, we made it there and ...
Pizza on the Grill
I'm here in Tennessee once again visiting with my family. My days have been full of wine, jelly, kids, creeks, and some great Blues music.It has also been full of heat. It's hotter 'an a match! - that's what my brother would tell you. It's been in the upper 90's all week and other than a couple hot dogs or grilled cheese sandwiches, we have not wanted to heat up the kitchen ...