A Southern Grace: 2015

December 31, 2015

frannie's faves

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As soon as I showed any interest in helping out in the kitchen, I spent a few days leading up to each Christmas celebration helping my grandma make batch after batch of candy.

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December 28, 2015

favorite five

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Now that you know what everyone else loved this year, I'll share with you what I deem to be my personal favorites for 2015.

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hit six

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In researching my top posts for the year, I learned that my most-viewed posts were actually old ones from previous years. Either my blogging skills are deteriorating or everyone else is just putting out better content. My bet is that it's a little of the former and a lot of the latter.

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December 18, 2015

experience the myth

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My beau has undeniably broadened my dining and cooking horizons (it's hard to believe I'd never eaten a scallop or baked a chicken wing before he came around!). The latest thing that he's made me realize is really truly awesome is Greek yogurt.

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December 15, 2015

chili out!

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I love soup.

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December 10, 2015

maximum productivity (and a novica giveaway!)

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When it's time to buckle down and get serious about cookie production (and by that, I mean simply that December begins), I like to set myself up so that my cookie-making is as efficient as possible.

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December 8, 2015

what berry?

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First impressions are undeniably important, whether or not we fully realize it at the time.

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December 3, 2015

cookie duty

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Even though cookies are more often the main focus of the Christmas dessert table (and a foolproof and always appreciated gift!), they ended up being the most convenient and best option for me to provide for all of our Thanksgiving festivities.

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November 30, 2015

thanksgiving ninja

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Mark this year, 2015, as the year I finally came to appreciate cranberry sauce.

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November 23, 2015

gratins are great.

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How do you define a gratin? Wikipedia says it's an ingredient topped with a browned crust, often using breadcrumbs, grated cheese, and butter, usually prepared in a shallow dish of some kind. That covers a lot of ground, I'd say.

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November 19, 2015

jumping through hoops for a coop

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While it's legal to have backyard chickens in my city, there are restrictions and requirements out the wazoo.

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November 13, 2015

cookies and kongs (and a krusteaz #giveaway)

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I wish I could say I was the kind of person who was so serious about cooking that she never took shortcuts in the kitchen, but that would be a lie. Sometimes, nay, most of the time, I appreciate a quick fix.

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November 10, 2015

brussels sprouted out

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I have a definite tipping point when it comes to any given foodstuff.

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November 6, 2015

enough is enough!

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I'm slightly ashamed to admit it, but if I don't see another tomato for 6-12 months, that would be fine with me.

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November 3, 2015

we have the fruits.

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I've been on a real banana bread tear lately and obviously can never be convinced that I've achieved banana bread perfection.

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October 30, 2015

we have the meats.

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As a kid, I didn't much care for pot roast.


As any good mother would do, Mamster always put some on my plate anyway, but it didn't always end up in my stomach.

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October 27, 2015

peanut butter and... #OXOGoodCookies

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Let's do some word association, shall we? When I say "PB and...", what comes to mind?

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October 24, 2015

black and tan orange

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Any dish made using black beans and sweet potatoes seems extra appropriate for Halloween (or for fans of the Bengals, Beavers, or Orioles). What luck that sweet potatoes are at their finest in late October and November!

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October 22, 2015

smitten.

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And really, can you blame me?

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October 20, 2015

grazy in love

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My name is Grace, and I'm a grazer.

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October 19, 2015

it's here!

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I teased you about The Casual Veggie last week, and now it's officially for sale!

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October 15, 2015

almost too much of a good thing

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Part of me feels like it should be illegal to include butter, sour cream, bacon, and cheese all in the same dish.


But that's just sensible Grace. I don't listen to her very often.*

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October 12, 2015

it isn't dead, it's just resting

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Chivalry, that is.


I definitely don't want to get into any sort of conversation about feminism (and people who know me might suggest that I usually don't want to get into any sort of conversation at all...), though I might be dancing around the topic a bit in this post. You've been warned.

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October 7, 2015

poultry panacea

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Here's the scenario: You're lethargic and can feel yourself getting sick, AND the weather outside is frightful (officially scratching Joaquin off the list for potential dog and/or baby names). What's for dinner?

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October 5, 2015

the casual veggie

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If you go meat-free at least one day per week, you might be a casual vegetarian.

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October 1, 2015

scaling the precipice like a couple of mountain goats

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My fiancé and I recently took a trip up north into Maine. Neither of us had been to the Pine Tree State before and were eager to see some moosen take in some awesome sights...and perhaps a bite or 50 of lobster.

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September 28, 2015

martha, martha, martha!

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New products and a new partnership!

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September 24, 2015

time to face facts

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Fall isn't creeping in, it's sprinting!

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September 21, 2015

the next big baby name?

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Chutney. That's my prediction, anyway. After some of the ones I've seen, it's not out of the question, amiright?

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September 11, 2015

it's so hard to say goodbye

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I can't help but feel somewhat agitated by all the pumpkin recipes I'm already seeing*. It's still summer, folks! Please don't wish it away before it's over!

*I blame Starbucks completely a little--this pumpkin spice latte craze is madness indeed.

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September 8, 2015

grounded for life

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Should I invest in a meat grinder? I'm considering it.

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September 3, 2015

when i dip you dip we dip

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Most people know about 7-layer dip. They've made it, seen it, tasted it, or at least heard about it, I'm sure. If you're among those who haven't tried it, don't worry--I've eaten enough of it over my lifetime to compensate.

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August 31, 2015

beam me up, scotchie (plus a #giveaway)

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I think I've always been a fan of oatmeal scotchies, and they've had the honor of being deemed my number one cookie once or twice.

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August 27, 2015

saved by the sauce

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Okay, so even though my honey likes his pork shoulder without any glitz or glamour, I'm only human. I occasionally often make mistakes.

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August 24, 2015

millions of peaches

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I think that if you say you love peaches, you have accepted (and perhaps relish) the fact that you can't eat one without getting its juices all over yourself.

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August 19, 2015

still single...(and an outstanding #giveaway!)

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Single serve, that is.

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August 17, 2015

krim reaper

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Even though I haven't been what would be considered a bona fide scientist for several years, I don't think I'll ever stop overanalyzing problems and running experiments to prove or disprove a hypothesis. The setting and equipment (and necessary degree of precision) are just a little bit different than they were in my school days.

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August 12, 2015

maybe he won't notice...

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There are some food-related things that I like to remain unchanged (...until I suddenly get tired of those items and want something completely different). These things include but are not limited to my weekday breakfast (Lucky Charms, if you must know, which replaced a years-long obsession with Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds) and my before-bed treat (creamsicles for the win!)(previously a homemade caramel steamer,for which it's entirely too hot right now).

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August 10, 2015

beginner's luck

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I was having a conversation with a coworker the other day and we somehow found ourselves discussing casinos.

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August 4, 2015

rotten luck, rotten plants

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My family is full of green-thumbed gardeners, and they all told us* we were nuts to nurture five squash plants for two people. They might've been right, but we'll never know.

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July 30, 2015

a restorative condiment

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Lest you be misled as I was, balsamic vinegar is not made from the balsam flower (which, incidentally, is quite lovely).

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July 27, 2015

pickled tink

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Just a little spoonerism for youse guys on this balmy Monday morning.

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July 22, 2015

it's rotini jerry!*

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If I had had some fusilli in my pantry, I would've used it.


*I think I reference Seinfeld on this blog more than anything else, not that there's anything wrong with that. I maintain that it's the best sitcom ever made.

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July 17, 2015

peter piper picked...

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...a peck of purple peppers!

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July 14, 2015

freezer jam's my jam

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It concerns me that there are people who have never heard of pectin.

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July 9, 2015

sweeties for my sweetie (and me!)

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As predicted, we're nearly up to our eyeballs in tiny tomatoes...


...and I'm glad.

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July 6, 2015

oh, bulgur off

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Just kidding! Stay! Stay and read about my foray into the world of bulgur wheat!

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July 3, 2015

fireworks!

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Have a dynamite (and safe) 4th of July, everyone!


My go-to last-minute dessert? Cupcakes. Always cupcakes.

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June 30, 2015

just add lettuce

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I couldn't decide whether to call this a salsa or a salad. Ultimately, I think it could be either, depending on how you eat it.

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