Breakfast
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Mid-Week Treat
This week has been rough in our house. We had some extra medical appointments, some illness and some missed school days. Originally, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to pull off a blog post this week. But, due to the aforementioned illness, I had a day off from running, so I thought I would take the time to make a yummy treat. My oldest daughter has been craving monkey bread lately. In the past, we have been able to find frozen monkey bread that you pop in the microwave and just heat and eat. After 3 attempts to find it, I surrendered and said we would simply…
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Fruit Salad – A Summer Staple
I’m not going to lie to you – it’s been a week. I have managed to make dinner every night, but something has gone amuck each evening and dinner has ended up very late. This is not my favorite scenario, but some weeks are like that. The one bright food spot in the week for me was a visit to our local fruit stand. It was one of those perfect golden moments when the last of the strawberries were in, along with the first watermelons and cantaloupes, and some elusive early season peaches – all the makings for a beautiful fruit salad. So, that’s just what I did. I made…
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A Celebration of Strawberries
It is finally here! It is officially strawberry season in North Carolina. We had to wait a couple extra weeks due to a few cold snaps. But it was worth the wait. The berries are huge, sweet and oh so delicious. Our local fields officially opened last week, and we are on our second gallon bucket of berries already. They have been eaten straight out of the bucket, some have topped oatmeal, and others went on top of ice cream. But that still leaves lots of berries waiting for other yummy recipes. Last week, we took a shopping trip to Wegman’s and bought their delicious New York bagels and a…
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Spring Delights
We have finally reached the best part of Spring here in North Carolina. The weather has warmed up, birds are nesting, everything is in full bloom and best of all, the blasted pine pollen is finally gone. We have the windows wide open and we are loving it. Along with all the sights and sounds that herald Spring, there are certain flavors that represent Spring. One of those flavor combinations is lemons and blueberries. Maybe it’s because the flavors are so bright and cheerful on their own, but together tangy lemon and sweet blueberry are amazing. As I looked through my many saved recipe files, I realized I had saved…
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Gifts Made with Love
Here we are again, at the doorstep of another holiday that will likely be very different than years before. Christmas for most of us will be more subdued. There will be no office holiday parties, and likely no cookie exchanges. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still show your love and appreciation for family, friends and neighbors with a little something. In fact, maybe this year more than any other, we should show a little extra love, even if it’s a simple gesture. I have always loved gifts handmade with love and have shared a few with you in the past. Some of my favorites to make and share include…
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A Classic Made Even Better
One of the best things about being a self-declared foodie is people know I love to hear about great places to eat and delicious recipes to try. One such person who shares ideas with me regularly is my friend, Judy. We met quite a few years ago at water aerobics class. Judy’s talents in the kitchen far exceed mine, especially when it comes to baking bread. She also has the gift of improvisation in the kitchen, which brings amazing meals into existence. She has shared many recipes and ideas with me, and this particular recipe idea comes directly from her kitchen. French toast is a classic on it’s own, but…
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Thanksgiving’s Forgotten Meal
Most families will be having a very different kind of Thanksgiving this year. Traditionally, this is our biggest family holiday, with most of my side of the family coming to town for the weekend. Sadly, this year it will just be our local family, a whopping 8 of us altogether. In years past, we are usually buzzing with activity early in the day, with family popping in and out of my front and back door, prepping food for the early afternoon main-event meal. Our family likes to eat THE meal around 2 p.m., and then a light dinner in the evening, consisting of turkey sammies in all of their glory.…
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Elevated Weeknight Sandwiches
I have a problem. Just like Oprah, I LOVE bread. I love freshly baked loaves of sourdough, French baguettes, nutty 12-grain loaves and even crumpets. I cannot resist sweet breakfast bread loaves like cinnamon swirl or cranberry nut. If I enter a grocery store and that freshly-baked-bread smell hits my nose, I am a goner. I set myself up for a failure of self-control last week. I had to give blood for a routine doctor visit, and it was a fasting blood draw. Since I was in the neighborhood, I thought I would swing by Trader Joe’s. Having not had proper breakfast, I fell hard for the bread isle. It…
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Apple Butter Magic
I am still loving the apples. I have made my second batch of applesauce already. The apple turnovers lasted about a day. But there is so much more magic to be made with these delicious humble apples, the jewel of the season. Lately, when I mention making applesauce, everyone asks, “What about Apple Butter?” Well, honestly, I have never made apple butter. I love it, and there is something ultimately comforting about it, but I guess I assumed it was really complicated. I imagined it being a complex recipe requiring canning, which still scares me too much to try. But I began to research apple butter and it turns out…
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Apple Season
The air is cooler now, and leaves are beginning to turn bright red, orange and yellow. It’s my favorite time of year. For many people, this is apple-picking season. In a way, it is for me, too – I pick them up from the farmers market. The Raleigh farmers market is a great place to find new varieties to try, and the farmers are very helpful and ready to answer any questions you may have. Sadly, because of COVID, we can no longer sample all the varieties, but it’s still a wonderful afternoon outing. We love apples and eat them raw, but it is also so satisfying to cook with…
