Since I’m claiming this blog to be about food, family, and faith – each week I want to give you a quote regarding each of these topics.
I am a lover of Peanuts – the comic strip. Who wouldn’t love Charlie Brown and Woodstock and a beagle who is always bossing people around! I enjoyed the Christmas tribute to Schulz in Louisville when I lived there. He is so right about chocolate.
The longer you are married to your spouse, the more you begin to think like him (or her) and what the other person likes or dislikes becomes you. That is probably how the old adage got started by saying the longer a couple is married they look more and more like each other.
My Mister and I have only been married for (almost) 3 years. One of the blessings of those three years is having someone to cook (and bake) for all the time. Some women find that daunting. I find it challenging in a good way – but I also need to eat out sometimes, even if it is Chick-fil-A.
One of the things that my Mister loves is fruit desserts. So, I wanted to create a sweet fruit recipe that he could enjoy. Two of the unmistakable tastes of summer to me are lemons and bluberries. I remember picking buckets of blueberries at Huber’s Family Farm up in southern Indiana when I lived in Louisville. I could eat a lot just standing there picking in – never filling up my bucket. (To anyone from Huber’s reading this – I really didn’t, I may have snuck one or two (berries, not buckets).
So, with Italian cheeses on hand and some blueberries and lemons, I set out to create this tart. Enjoy the final days of summer!
Another week, another menu plan. Here we go! And this week, toward the end, we get visitors – my parents (Mimi and Pops) are coming for a short visit – so I will enjoy going out to dinner with them and have a food prep helper in the kitchen.
Butternut Squash, Kale, Chicken Skillet Bake (variation from this recipe that I got from a friend on Instagram)
Asparagus Ham and Mozzarella Frittata
Fig Flank Steak with an Asian Salad (an idea I got from a friend)
Easy Cinnamon Sugar Donuts with an Apple Glaze
Blueberry Italian Cheese Tart (recipe coming tomorrow)
A blank canvas.
Sundays…when you wake up, you may know your schedule, but you may not know how the day is ultimately going to go. You may wake up and do your normal thing: dress the kids, dress yourself, hop on over to church, come home to a quick meal and put the kids to bed.
Some Sundays you get to live wildly. Maybe throw in a walk or a picnic. Throw in an afternoon nap or a trip to a movie theater. You may jaunt over to a park and swing in the air with your feet out in front of you – capturing a moment on film that is as fleeting as the sun.
Whatever your Sundays bring, always think of your days as a blank canvas…just like this unbaked tart crust. Cooking is such a metaphor for life. You’ve got your ingredients – but what you choose to do with them is your decision. God’s got a great plan for our lives. For me, it might be a blueberry Italian cheese tart. For you, it might be baked lasagna and a dish of blueberries for dessert.
Live your life!
We are quickly coming to the end of summer – I mean soon Labor Day will be here then you will start to see ads for Christmas. Crazy. Fall is definitely my favorite season of the year, so I wanted to share some of my favorites I’ve found this week to celebrate the upcoming season!
The Nester’s house is always cozy but I love her glimpse into switching seasons.
Since I could eat tacos all the time – these will be perfect for cheap and Fall
And this time of year at markets or grocers there is an abundance of zucchini – why not make several of these loaves and freeze them – then you can pull one out on the chili mornings that are to come, toast it, and slather it with butter, and drink with a beverage of your choice!
The Fall is a great time for our family because there are two birthdays that we celebrate – and we have to have an amazing cake!
These blondies have almost everything I love about fall in one pan…I’m glad that I should have reasons to bake them!
What are your favorite things about Fall? And how are you celebrating the end of summer?
Fall – I think for a lot of us kitchen people its one of our favorite seasons. Pumpkin. Cinnamon. Sweet Potatoes. Apples.
But, I don’t think I had ever experienced a Fall season until I moved to North Carolina in 2000. See, I grew up in central Florida. The only two seasons we had were Summer and Christmas Day (and some years we only had one season). I loved it. I was close to Disney World though I only remember going in high school and college when I would do Night of Joy with the youth groups. I was close to the beach (though we had a pool, so my Dad couldn’t figure out why we needed to spend money going to the beach).
But, I remember moving to Wake Forest, North Carolina to start seminary right before a huge snow storm – rethinking the whole moving north thing. But, then fall came around at the start of my second semester. I adored the sound the leaves made as I walked through them on my way to class. I loved wearing jackets with my jeans (even though I would sport some flipflops usually). I loved sitting down with a warm cup of chai or steamed milk or hot chocolate to study out on the lawn. The bright blue Fall sky against the browns and yellows and reds of the leaves. Gorgeous.
And of course, Fall brings pumpkin! I could eat pumpkin goodies year round, but yesterday when I stepped outside for an early morning out, and felt the slightly cooler Atlanta air, I knew I was ready for Fall. So, I whipped up these pumpkin butter muffins for my mister. They were a winner. (This recipe was inspired by Joy the Baker)
Summer food should be pretty. The sun is shining. The gardens are bursting with fragrant herbs and brightly hued fruits the way God imagined and created them.
While I didn’t grow the items found in this summer salad, I did buy them at the Whole Foods in Buckhead (a delightful shopping, eating, and living area of Atlanta). This Whole Foods takes the cake on any one I’ve been in. The produce alone would be reason to keep coming back to it again and again. I remember the first time I took our older son in there. He exclaimed “watermelon” while looking at the sample containter of beautiful red, completely juicy, delicious watermelon. (And that was the first time he had said it!)
And another favorite thing I love about this salad is the dressing. I do love to make my own, but when you’ve found a simple summer vinaigrette such as this one: Brianna’s Real French – why waste the time in making my own? It is slightly tangy and fragrant and rests lightly on any food you put it on (this salad and our pink grapefruit salad are our two favorites). And if you want to know where to get the delicious Yard Blend that I use in this side dish, contact my friend Jayme over at Holly and Flora.
So, without further ado – here is a perfectly simple summer side dish that would be a great accompaniement to your next light summer affair. Get some crusty bread, cheese, wine, berries, and this – night well made.
This recipe was inspired by Laura’s.
Later this week, I’ll give you a “state of the blog” address. After a long discussion earlier this week, I will be narrowing my focus here on the blog and in life – and be able to really master one area and serve my family, those who come into my home, and our church well during this season of life.
Here’s what I’m making this week:
BBQ Pork Chops (recipe forth coming)
Roasted Chicken with a Dill Aoli on Sourdough (Sandwich of the Week)
Pretzel No Bakes (Two Peas just had a little baby this past week – congrats!)
Squash Salad with Grilled Chicken
Migas and Bacon
Pink Grapefruit Salad
Pumpkin Muffins (bring on the fall)
Green Smoothie for breakfast (my husband drank one the other day and said he felt amazing all morning. Its a wonder what healthy foods will do for your body!)
The picture above is of a queso quiche I made late last week and I am eager to share the recipe with yall – since we certainly ate it all quickly.
Enjoy. Please tell me what foods you are cooking this week!
It is just starting to drizzle here in the ATL metro area. I love it when it rains here. We’ve had several days this week of thunder and lightning and pouring down rain. I’ve loved it.
Our older son loves to stand at his window and look out at the rain and explain “whoa” or “wow” or “oh” every 10 seconds. He must be fascinated at the creation of God. I love how God is so in charge of the weather! Every rain drop falls at his bidding. Amazing.
And, in God’s amazingness – He gives us chocolate and marshmallows and heavy whipping cream.
For pies such as the one you see up top.
Happy Sunday!
Don’t you love how life teaches you lessons? We all have days where we learn valuable lessons that will profit us to use them in the future.
Like don’t go out without an umbrella if skies are threatening rain.
Don’t date guys who don’t love Jesus first and foremost.
Always wear the same shoes – vital.
Love above all else.
When you get hurt (and you will), don’t hurt in return because it doesn’t do anyone any good.
Leave your heart open for new relationships and friendships.
And this S’mores Pie.
I found out on Instagram yesterday that today is National S’mores Day (who is in charge of making these things up, anyway?). So, all I had to do was get a few things from the store and this pie is all set for when we get home from church tonight. It is dark, fudge, not too sweet, and topped with fluffy, sugary goodness. Slightly burnt edges – just like the perfect campfire marshmallow before you smush it between some chocolate and graham crackers.
The lesson I learned in making this pie? Buy a culinary torch. It will just do you wonders and save bunches of time (because my life as a full-time mommy comes first to my adventures in The Charming South Kitchen, so I’ve gotta use those nap times wisely). At least I was able to sip on my McDonald’s diet coke while I was waiting for my lighter to slightly burn the edges of the marshmallows. (I adapted this recipe from Brown Eyed Baker)
