I've been racking my brain for the last few days about what to cook that has pumpkin in it. I mean it's Fall for cryin' out loud! I should be covered up with pumpkin everything!! So, after much turmoil and contemplation I decided pumpkin cupcakes were in order. But how to make them different? How to make them stand out from the crowd? It was then that I remembered my Great Aunt ...
spices
Pizza Pasta and the Incredible Shrinking Woman
Happy New Year! I'm only about 2 weeks late on that one. I hope 2012 has gotten off to as good a start for you as it has for me. For the first time...ever I think...I have stuck to my resolutions so far. The most exciting part? I've lost 5 pounds. WooHoo! Five down, 25 to go. I've been putting a lot of focus on not eating like a pig and not drinking like a fish, both of which ...
Spicy Black Eye Pea Salad
I consider myself a good Southerner and I tend to stick to tradition as much as anyone when it comes to welcoming in a new year. I never hang up my new calendar for the new year until January 1st ( much to my daughter's chagrin) and I always eat my black eye peas on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. That's not to say that I get up and particularly look forward to eating a big ...
Green Tomato Salsa Verde
My tomato plants have been good to me this year. While everyone else in town has been complaining about a horrible year for tomatoes, my 3 tomato plants have kept me and my family knee deep in juicy ripe tomatoes all Summer. So, now here it is October and the first frost is expected to come tonight and that means the end of my hard working tomato plants. It took me two trips to ...
Classic Beef Chili
It's cold and wet and dreary way down here in Georgia. Weather like this just makes me want to put on my sweatpants and curl up on the couch with a good book. And I would if my sweatpants were clean and my kids could entertain themselves for an hour or two. I guess laundry is high on the list of things to do today. At least the dryer will keep the house warm. Cold, wet, and ...
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) ...
Tandoori Inspired Chicken with Spiced Saffron Rice and Roasted Asparagus
Sometimes I get a wild hair and feel the need to really do something different. I get sick of Southern cooking or typical Meatloaf Monday fare and I really just want to branch out and experiment. It usually comes during a long week ( or month) when my stress level is high and I just want to get away. I think a week of potty training twins and trying to get ready for this craft ...
Spice Rubbed Pork Loin
Have you ever had one of those months where you feel like you just can't catch up? Boy have I had one of those months. I have had so much stuff to do and so little time to do it in. The fact that February has 3 less days than every other month doesn't help anything either.I don't know about you, but when I'm rushed I just want to find the easiest thing for me to throw together ...