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Four Favorites in March

April 5, 2016

Favorites in March include a granola that takes me back to my days in Kentucky and some excellent literary guidance for travel writing. My four favorites posts are where I share a brand, book, blog and break that I enjoyed throughout the month and want to share with you.

I’m backtracking just a few days to share my four favorites post for March. I had every intention of publising this post up last week. I have it written all over my calendar to prove it. But life got in the way. And by life, I mean our new house! I haven’t said much about it so far, but we’ve finally purchased a home in California. Things aren’t quite as crazy as they could be, but we are still juggling a few projects like working with painters and having some new flooring installed. It has me way off schedule with new posts. Just a few more weeks and hopefully we’ll be back to smooth sailing.

Fortunately all that has been going on hasn’t kept me from exploring some new foods, books and blogs in March. I have a lot of good stuff to share so read on!

Grass Fed Sirloin Steaks with Spinach Horseradish Pesto

March 23, 2016

These grass fed steaks are perfect for a special occasion, but they are also simple enough for a quick weeknight meal. Both the pesto and steak pair well with Cabernet Sauvignon, like the 2013 Leaky Lake Cabernet Sauvignon sent to me by Cultivar Wine.

I try to stay aware of my environment. It’s something that I find easier to do after living in several places across the country. I realize that my food seasons and local selection aren’t always the same as yours. So I try to highlight what is so great about living in California without causing you to say, “Great, thanks for another post about a rare citrus I can’t get.”

I may not show it here often enough, but I still remember the days I couldn’t get good strawberries in early March or 10 varieties of greens in January.

I also want to keep you from thinking things like, “There’s another grilling recipe in the dead of winter.” Or in early spring, for that matter. I mean, did you see the snow in Colorado this week. My goodness. It made me well aware that you might not be able to dig out your grill as easily as I can.

So I like to make sure I throw in a standard in-the-kitchen recipe that everyone can make.

These steaks are it.

Four Favorites in February

March 1, 2016

I’m back with my monthly Four Favorites posts! February was full of fun stuff including a great plant-based Mexican cookbook and nutritious power smoothies sent to me for review, a design blog I can’t get enough of and a beautiful trip to the Channel Islands!

Way back last July, I introduced my monthly post series Four Favorites where I share my four favorite B’s for the month — a book, blog, brand and break.

Guess how many posts are currently in that series. Yep, one. I introduced it in July and that was the last time I did a monthly recap despite everyone telling me how they liked the idea.

I have no valid excuses for why I didn’t follow through. The end of the month would come and I’d forget to do a recap. It certainly hasn’t been because I’ve had a shortage of the four Bs.

I’m constantly discovering great books, amazing blogs, fun brands and our travel gives us plenty of exciting breaks to share. So I’m recommitting myself to the four favorites. Fortunately, this month I had an extra day to squeeze in the post!

Braised Boneless Short Ribs with Citrus Garlic Slaw

December 16, 2015

These boneless short ribs make the best winter comfort food when braised in white wine and served with a seasonal cabbage slaw. The short ribs were among several cuts of high-quality grass-fed beef that I recently received from Butcher Box.

Beyond burgers, I don’t claim to be an expert at cooking beef. That’s why I like it when I receive a little something that makes me step out of my comfort zone. This time is was grass-fed boneless beef short ribs.

Last minute gift idea alert. If you have a beef lover in your life or someone who loves to cook it, Butcher Box is the answer.

A little while back, I was sent a Butcher Box full of high-quality grass-fed beef. Sirloin tips, steaks, short ribs, ground and bacon. It was loaded with good stuff.

Book Gift Guide

December 14, 2015

I love the idea of a cozy room lined with book shelves and a reading nook in the corner next to a roaring fireplace. On those shelves would be everything from classic and modern cookbooks, mystery novels and non-fiction cooking and agriculture resources to coffee table books with stunning photography.

I’ve always loved to read, but I think my real book passion started when my interests grew in cookbooks and photography. The organization of my collection isn’t quite up to par with that cozy room I described, but that doesn’t stop me from adding books to my gift list, both to give and receive.

I’ve come across some lovely cookbooks, fun photography and inspiring stories this year. If you have a bookworm on your gift list, grab a few of these great books and finish up your holiday shopping.

Nashville Hot Chicken

November 28, 2015

Traditional Nashville Hot Chicken Recipe from The Hot Chicken Cookbook | Fake Food Free

We were at the wedding reception of a friend, chatting over a drink with the cousin of the groom. The conversation turned to our upcoming trip to Nashville. It would be a quick weekend trip from Lexington, our home at the time.

“You need to try Hot Chicken,” he said. My husband and I must have had confused looks on our faces, and he must have been used to that kind of response, because he went on to explain. He lived in East Nashville and said that few people had heard of it, but it was a favorite among locals.

Wellingtons Cookies from Home Baked

November 20, 2015

I’m a fan of seasonal eating. I like asparagus in the spring, berries in the summer and apples in fall. You get the idea.

I always associate seasonal with fresh foods until the holidays come along. When we start creeping up to Thanksgiving and especially when December hits, it’s 100 percent cookie season! Sure I’ll throw some kale and sweet potatoes into my meals for good measure, but cookies and baking take center stage.

Every year it’s a battle between making old favorites or experimenting with new recipes. When you throw an outstanding new cookbook into the mix, the old favorites start to take the back seat.

Skillet Mushrooms in Rosemary Gravy and Smoked Ham and Olive Spread

November 18, 2015

These savory snacks make a great start to holiday meals. Their rich, earthy flavors are an ideal match for the Cabernet Franc I received from Cultivar Wine.

The idea of snacks for Thanksgiving day seems a little absurd. It’s not like we really need to include more food in the celebration. And having snacks around certainly isn’t because we need to satisfy hunger. If you are like me, hungry won’t even be a part of your vocabulary for at least 36 hours.

Yet there is something about little bites to kick off the celebration that feels like a necessity. All that cooking makes you want to eat. Why not take things over the top? It is Thanksgiving after all.

Club Sandwich with Duck Breast, Cambozola, Applewood Smoked Bacon and Roasted Garlic

November 2, 2015

This recipe takes an ordinary sandwich and makes it worthy of an excellent wine pairing! It comes from Chad Hendrickson, Executive Chef for The Hess Collection. A special thank you to The Hess Collection for sponsoring this post.

Sandwiches are casual. When we don’t want to have a fancy meal or invest too much time in the kitchen, we go for a sandwich.

They are convenient and familiar, but many lean a little towards boring and monotonous. That is, until you start considering whether the lowly sandwich could possibly pair with wine. Not just any wine, but a syrah that boasts black and blue fruits with a subtle touch of spiced vanilla and cedar. Before you know it, you have a duck breast sandwich on your hands that also happens to be layered with bacon and Cambozola cheese.