I grew up in the South. Some folks don’t consider Florida to be the South, but when you live in the middle of the state all your life surrounded by orange groves and muscadine vines, take vacations to state parks and the Suwanee River, and live on Publix fried chicken and church potlucks, you are definitely from the South.
For me, summer in the south meant swimming in our pool (my Mom opened the pool season April 1), playing baseball in our yard with my cousins, listening for our “school bell” to ring to tell us it was time to come home, and heading to the Circle K for ice cream (31 flavors never got old) and watching Mets baseball via WWOR.
For me now, summer is summer. Its hotter. And I love to pick fruit. Strawberries, blueberries, peaches, you name it. If it is available to me, I want to pick it. And I love to bake with it. From peach cobblers to strawberry pizza, and these strawberries and cream biscuits.
Strawberries and Cream Biscuits
Recipe Type: bread
Cuisine: southern
Author: kd316
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6-8
A mildly sweet strawberry biscuit waiting for some honey and peanut butter.
Ingredients
1 3/4 – 2 cups all-purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/5 tsp kosher salt
6 T cold, unsalted butter
6-7 strawberries (tops removed), mashed
2 T turbinado sugar
3/4 cup full fat buttermilk
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400. A cast iron pan grill pan will be a great cooking sheet!
Mix dry ingredients in a food processor.
Slice butter and put in food processor.
Pulse until small pebbles form in dry ingredients.
Mash strawberries and pour in the sugar. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
Add in buttermilk.
Pour slowly into the food processor and let it mix well with the dry ingredients.
Turn out onto a floured cutting board and kneed for 1-2 minutes, adding flour if necessary.
Form into a 3/4 inch high circle and cut into biscuits.
Put in cast iron pan and bake for about 20 minutes.
Take out and let cool on cooling rack.
Serve with butter, honey, strawberry jam, or peanut butter – or some of all.
The Atlanta Zoo is a crazy place. And we were in the petting zoo one afternoon and tons of kids were around and the smell of animals was around too. All of a sudden, I hear my name. But, I didn’t recognize anyone. So, I figured my name is pretty popular so maybe it was for someone else. But, then she was looking at me, knew my son’s name, and said “don’t worry you don’t know me.”
And that, dear readers, is how I was introduced to Jeni of Barefoot in the Kitchen. We have one friend in common – and that one friend is a pretty strong tie. Since that day in the zoo, we have had a play date, and cooked together, and I got to be in her home and her kitchen, learning from her on many fronts. You will definitely want to check out her recipes and kitchen advice, as she has had some recipes published – she’s my someone famous that I know!
Yall, meet Jeni.
Jeni is a SAHM of kiddos ranging from high school to preschool. She married a twin, lives near Athens, GA, in a small southern town, and declares it was love at first sight with her now husband. She has a bright sunny home and kids all around, and she makes healthy meals for her family. It can be done, yall! This was great encouragement to my heart as it is one of my struggles (getting things cooked and having two preschoolers).
Growing up, Jeni’s mom helped her learn all things in the kitchen. Her mom made things from scratch and encouraged Jeni to do the same. She wanted to experiment with foods and spices! When she was first pregnant, she wanted to make sure her baby got all the nutrients she needed so she wanted to make every calorie count. She then ended up making her own baby food along the way, making sure her babies got healthy food in their growing tummies. She has wanted and made a healthy family atmosphere, both in food and spiritual content. She has set her mind to something, worked hard at it, persevered, and the Lord has blessed her endeavors.
Some of Jeni’s inspiration comes from familiar names: Pioneer Woman, Sara Moulton (I love her too), Rachael Ray, Southern Living (of course, who doesn’t). She also does something that I like to do, she asks her family what food they want. Of course there is pizza, spaghetti, and tacos. But, instead of getting all of these take out, she takes the time to make these at home, making them healthier for her family.
I asked Jeni what her favorite kitchen tools are (and I agree with these, and I’ve already bought some of the towels she recommended and I love them):
Five Kitchen Tools:
1. Every cook needs a good all-purpose knife! Wustof and Henckels are both solid choices for price and quality.
2. Stand Mixer – I’m not sure how I truly lived before my sweetie pie surprised me with a Kitchen Aid for Christmas one year. Cookie dough, whipped cream, pizza dough, bread/rolls … life changing, I tell you.
3. Blender/Food Processor – With picky children, this is an invaluable tool to use for hiding fruits and veggies. Homemade marinara, soups, smoothies … I use mine all the time.
4. Silicone Spatulas – The best all-purpose tool aside from your hands. They’re heat-proof and super durable for use on the stovetop or for just mixing together ingredients.
5. Flour Sack Towels – I bought a huge package of them and use them for everything! Drying dishes or produce or hands, mopping up spills, covering yeast dough, whatever. Wash and bleach ’em and they’re ready to go again!
These are some of her favorite recipes:
Jeni’s Summer Cake (this would be fabulous at any summer bbq with friends)
Italian Heritage Casserole – One of my mom’s favorite go-to special occasion meals. (Note, I made this recently and it is super yummy and easily whole30 compliant and perfect for meat and potato eaters)
Lasagna Rolls – I made this dish for Leah when Georgie Girl was born. My mom made a podcast recording of me making it for a project when earning her Master’s Degree.
Here are the two she has had published by Taste of Home:
This post was sponsored by The Women Bloggers, LLC and #SoapBoxInfluence. Special thanks to the Kendal King Group, creators of Bush’s #HummusMadeEasy Campaign. All opinions are my own.
I love sandwiches. I mean, what’s not to love?
I grew up on white, butter, potato, or onion roll bread. Now I’m on to wheat, harvest grain, sourdough, or focaccia – or a baguette, garlic bread, cornbread. Is there really a bad bread – and we haven’t even touched the sweet breads yet!
Then, you add peanut butter and honey, banana and mayo, tomato and mayo and bacon, pimiento cheese, 5 cheese grilled cheese, peanut butter and jelly. Or turkey and provolone, ham and swiss, blt, avocado and bacon to just about anything.
Then you have mayonnaise, mustard, relish, pickles, chips (especially bbq or doritos), salt and pepper…all the condiments. And enter hummus. Oh, yes, hummus.
I may have grown up on a simple grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly – not organic or natural – just plain old peanut butter and jelly. But, as I’ve matured, my taste in sandwiches have matured as well. Don’t get me wrong, when I want a taste of my childhood, I still grab a tomato and mayo or peanut butter and honey with banana sandwich and it takes me right back to the orange groves and muscadines and strawberry fields of central Florida.
But, I do like to kick my sandwiches up a little, and as a mom, I need them still to be quick. And healthy. Bush’s Hummus Made Easy helps me be quick, easy, and a killer sandwich maker.
You may know Bush’s for their baked beans, and believe me, they are stellar for bbqs. But, now, Bush’s makes a hummus that is super quick, cheap, and healthy – and adds a pack of flavor to any sandwich.
I used all three of their flavor profiles to add great touches to my sandwiches.
Perfectly gooey grilled cheese
I used the southwest black bean hummus to add protein and spice to a Mexican grilled cheese. Just spread some of the hummus on the inside piece of bread (I used a good sourdough), then top with any mexican cheeses that you want – grill your grilled cheese as normal.
Simple and cool pita perfect for summer months
I used the roasted red pepper to make a vegetarian Greek pita. Just spread on the hummus on the inside of a warmed pita: and stack it full of cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes, and feta – all marinated in a greek dressing of your choice. Super good, and light – perfect for the summer months.
Bacon and hummus make a great pair
And I used the classic hummus for a tasty turkey and bacon sandwich. I used a regular whole wheat, added hummus, cheese, turkey and of course bacon.
This hummus, found at Wal-Mart next to the Bush’s Beans, is made with simple ingredients and absolutely no artificial preservatives. And while I love to make my own hummus, this is a simple, quick, and healthy alternative when I need a quick sandwich spread, appetizer, or snack
This post is written on behalf of Nestle’s Gerber Lil’ Beanies, led by Kendal King Group through The Women Bloggers. All opinions are our own.
Mom life is much quicker than I ever thought it would be. As a mom of two young boys, both under 4, my life is always at warp speed. While one is at school in the morning, the younger and I tackle the errand list and climb everything imaginable at the park.
So, naturally, I always have snacks in the car. Yes, I still hit the drive thru several times a week (mostly for dinner because I need something quick), but I have started keeping snacks in the car. And for my energetic boys, I want something healthy!
When I was growing up those snacks were all sorts of chips and snack cakes. I don’t want my boys to have a steady diet of those. I love to bake so that already doesn’t help their waistlines and sugar intake, so if I’m going to have a ready-made, portable, clean, crunchy snack: its going to be a healthy one.
Gerber rules the toddler and baby aisle. They’ve been around for generations. And now they have come out with a totally healthy toddler and preschooler snack. My two boys devoured 4 cans in 2 days (and maybe I helped a little – but can you blame me?) I put them in my preschooler’s lunch box, we had them while watching Netflix, we even had them as a side for lunch and dinner.
Here’s why I like them and why they will be on the grocery list all the time when I’m shopping at Walmart (they should be in your local Walmart now):
My kids eat them. They kept saying “more in my mouth”! I loved it.
They are healthy. Made out of navy beans, they have protein their little tummies need to stay full! There are no preservatives – and you find preservatives in everything these days.
They aren’t messy. I’ve already taught my sons how to lick their fingers from the cheese puffs – but these are mess free. Since they have no artificial colors or flavors, you don’t have orange fingers (and clothes, couches, and car seats) for days!
They are in our tight food budget. Healthy foods are generally more expensive then convenience food. Gerber Lil Beanies is both inexpensive and convenient!
I love them (personally) because I love sea salt and crunchy snacks. But, there is also a white cheddar and broccoli – and what mom doesn’t want their kids eating more broccoli!
What are some go-to healthy snacks for your toddlers and preschoolers. I hope you stock up on Lil Beanies the next time you are at Wal-Mart. My boys give two empty snack bowl thumbs up!
Tuna salad can be a go-to lunch any day of the week!
One of the pieces of marital advice I give every newly engaged girl I know is simply this: Love God, Love your mister, and study both.
When you love God first, loving others becomes easier (not easy, just easier).
Love your mister – I’m assuming if you are going to marry him you already do.
Study both. The more you get to know God’s character and dwelling on the Gospel, the more you will actively live our the gospel. Which every marriage needs. And then when you study your mister – not memorizing every book and trying to make your mister into that person in the marriage book – you are well on your way to success in marriage.
Now, how does that marriage advice apply to tuna salad?
Well, my mister loves tuna melts and getting his tuna salad perfect has taken me almost 5 years. So, when he tasted this the other day – I got a two thumbs up and don’t change a thing look – and he ate it all!
This tuna salad is also vertatile. You can have a low carb lunch by putting it into a avocado half. This is a delicious combination. You can toast some bread, melt some cheese on top, and have a traditional tuna melt. You can put it atop some greens for a salad. You can eat it with whole grain crackers for a lighter lunch. Or just eat it with a spoon.
The Perfect Tuna Salad
Recipe Type: Seafood
Cuisine: Southern
Author: kd316
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4-6
A perfect tuna salad is great for parties, light lunches, or salads.
Ingredients
2 cans whole chunk white albacore tuna in water (the quality of tuna is so important)
1/4 cup Duke’s mayo and 1 T
1 tsp dijon mustard
3 hardboiled eggs (the cooking time for the recipe is all in the boiling of the eggs)
I’ve learned this weekend that when it is cold outside – I want warmth to eat – and I’m doing a juice/smoothie fast – for the most part – and all I want is warm anything. But, pressing on! Until tomorrow night!
The other exciting thing for the home is coming this week for 7 days. The boys and her son will love that. So, I’m cooking a bit for that. I’m taking a little trip so I like to leave my family well-stocked with what they will love while I’m gone.
Baked Ziti PW style. I’m actually doing this in two batches so I can freeze one of them.
