It’s that time of year when people gather in droves. Sweaters, Bing Crosby, bubbly drinks, and twinkly lights fill center stage. In the background, the haggard hostess dances around the kitchen for hours, prepping a meal for many—the ones she loves most. Near meal time, it’s inevitable. She questions the depth of her love due to the stress, sweat, and need for another shower. Read more
I’ll never forget my first married Thanksgiving. We were young and poor and far away from family. I was determined to make my first Thanksgiving entirely from scratch. I took the liberty to nix certain staples off the menu and add some new ones. I cleaned, brined, and cooked the turkey all by myself. I was proud, so proud, until Kev saw the final spread. Read more
A couple weeks ago when it was still warm enough to make you sweat, we stopped by a lemonade stand on the corner of the street. We chatted with and met new neighbors. I was juggling a cup of lemonade and a nap-ready, wiggly baby while trying to keep four new names straight. (I’m abnormally good with faces but adversely awful with names.) A homeless woman walked up, put her change down on the table without hesitation, and walked away with a cup of lemonade in hand and a smile on her face. My mind was a thousand different places, but present enough to absorb that brief moment.
I like round food. Pizza, baked donuts, biscuits. I guess I should clarify, I like round food with flour. Wheat flour if possible. I’ve passed this trait on to Hal (along with my stubbornness). Couldn’t some of my better qualities seep through to her? The good news—meal times are rarely, if ever, a fight, as long as I get food on the table fast enough. In that case, she’s exactly like her dad. Food. Now. You can see how this is a problem for someone who likes to make everything from scratch, especially Baked Apple Cider Donuts. Read more
If you’ve been around here long enough, you know I like my donuts baked not fried. I know, I’m an anomaly (apart from the fried donuts I recently found at the farmer’s market that nearly made me forget about these). I also like one solid recipe per baked treat. And when it’s all-natural too, my heart goes pitter patter. Read more
It’s been one of those weeks where I’ve had more of these than the things that grow out of the ground. My poor body. To combat “those weeks”, which are becoming my new norm, I’ve started roasting a sheet of veggies in a balsamic vinaigrette at the start of the week. Roasting vegetables is a magical thing. They caramelize and turn to candy in the oven. I could eat the whole sheet in one sitting. But instead, I ration them out throughout the week, stuff them in a wrap, and call it lunch. Life lunch saver. Read more
If I had to choose one cuisine to eat for the rest of my life, minus breakfast, I’d choose Mexican food. Though, my version might fall closer to Tex-Mex (Mexican food Texas style). By the way, have I ever told you about how we do one massive grocery trip every 3-4 weeks? Read more
I’m calling my Easter eggs frittata eggs this year. Hallie isn’t wise enough to know these eggs should be boiled, dyed, and decorated. And I’m fine with that. They’re actually quite beautiful just as they are. Read more
