I would like someone to tell me why it is 38 degrees in May. This crazy weather has been reeking havoc on my allergies and my garden. Just the other night I had to make a mad dash to get everything covered up because of a frost warning. My tomato plants don't like frost. The silver lining is that we have woken up to a fog filled landscape for the last couple of mornings that ...
misc.
Makin’ Bacon (Part 2)
As you may recall, my hubby Blaine has joined the blogging team. Here is the thrilling conclusion to the journey into making our own bacon. So you've spent the better part of a week staring into your refrigerator and obsessing over what you have done wrong to ruin your hard won pork belly. You have flipped it every other day just like you were supposed to, but you think there ...
Food Blog Forum Atlanta – Day 2!!
Ladies and Gentleman. I have seen the blogging promised land. I have chatted with it's leaders. I have hob-nobbed with it's blogging nobles. I have had my eyes opened and my mind widened to all the wonders that blogging can be. And I got some really awesome swag to boot. Day 2 of Atlanta Food Blog Forum was ...awesome. I can't think of a better word than awesome. I ...
Day One of Atlanta Food Blog Forum!
The Friday night meet-and-greet for the Atlanta Food Blog Forum was awesome! First, I would like to say that I could live forever in a Viking Cooking Store. Forever. What a great location to have a party. Maybe I'll have the kids' birthday party there. At least I would enjoy it. Second, the people were awesome. I talked to so many bloggers! Indian Simmer, Bread Experience, ...
George and the Chipmunks
I'm pretty sure I have told you about everyone in our family. You have met; the kids, my husband, my mother, my Aunt Patsy and you have heard about my grandmothers time and time again. I don't think I have ever told you about our cat, George. George is named after George Costanza ( you know...Seinfeld). We also have another cat Laney ( after Elaine) but I'm mad at ...
What to feed a Picky Eater
If there is one phrase I hear all the time, it has to be "I would love to cook that, but my kids are such picky eaters". And I have to tell you that "picky eaters" are kind of my hot button issue. I often hold my tongue about my opinions on picky eaters, but I feel today is a good day to let them loose. So, if you are a parent of a picky eater, I apologize if this makes you ...
Controlling the Chaos
At 3:15 PM yesterday afternoon I had had enough. I had had enough of not being able to find what I was looking for; of having to look in twelve different places for the one thing I had lost. I am speaking, of course, about my spices and herbs. I am sure that I have mentioned to you before about my slight obsession with herbs and spices. I have quite a few. The problem was that ...
The Money is in the Mixes – Part II
I have been astonished by the amount of interest in the "Money in the Mixes" post. There have been lots and lots of you out there who have found those mixes very helpful in your daily dinner dash. Thank you! So, I thought I would follow up with 3 more mixes that I find handy to have around. I don't have the prices for this batch since I already had everything I needed on ...
The Money is in the Mixes – Homemade Mixes
When I go shopping, I shop mostly for items that are versatile and can be used in a variety of different recipes for a variety of different dishes ( except for the training pants I still buy, which are only good for one thing). I also try to spend as little as possible while still being reasonably healthy. But like most people in the world I am also busy ( or lazy on occasion) ...
Ah…Sweet Revenge
I think anyone who has children has sacrificed countless hours of sleep, suffered immeasurable amounts of pain, and generally kept their sanity together with a shoelace. And all of those people would say that it was worth every minute. But even the most saintly of those parents have exacted some kind of revenge for the sacrifices they have made. That was me yesterday. As I ...
How to Peel a Tomato
Should you ever try to can tomatoes or make salsa or spaghetti sauce from fresh tomatoes, you will have to peel your tomatoes first. Just the thought of having to tediously peel tomatoes with a knife is enough to deter anyone from the task. Lucky for us, some genius discovered this very easy method to peeling tomatoes. This also works for peaches, grapes and those tiny little ...
Under Pressure: Canning Part 2
Okay, you have collected all of your items on the canning checklist and you have a bushel of vegetables washed and prepped. Many vegetables require pressure canning in order to be stored safely. These foods are low in acid and have to be processed at higher temperatures in order to kill any harmful bacteria such as botulism. These vegetables include green beans, squash, ...
You Can Can-Can Too!!! Part 1
This post contains affiliate links I'm sure you have all been desperately worried about where I have been ( can you detect the sarcasm?), but I assure you that I am perfectly fine. I have been out of town for a while hanging out with my parents in Tennessee and learning a very valuable life skill; how to can food. We country folk like to call it "puttin' up" and it was ...