the year in a nut pie shell

Seeing everyone's 2014 highlights has done two things. First, it has inspired me to follow suit, and secondly, it has made me feel like I kinda dropped the ball this year. You folks have really created some incredible stuff!

an apt name (and a giveaway for the new year)

We all have the capacity to be both sweet and sour, wouldn't you say? Everyone has his or her moment of being considerate and selfless and kind, and there are times when each of us feels grumpy and grim.

sweetest salad ever

What if I told you I lived without a blender for nearly all of my adult life? It's true--I just didn't have a need for one.

have a krusteaz kristmas!

It should be fairly obvious at this point that I'm a fan of Krusteaz, even if you didn't know I was an ambassador for them and a member of their Baker's Dozen.

hungry for the holidays

I love the holidays. I appreciate them so much more than I used to for two reasons.

step aside, cinnamon

Bet you never thought you'd see a post with that title on this blog.

decadence defined

You want decadence? I've got your decadence right here.

give as you have been prospered

I need to tell you a little bit more about Hickory Farms. As you know, they offer a variety of specialty foodsand holiday food giftsthat are perfect for any budget and for everyone on your list. Quality, freshness, and value are key traits of all of their holiday treats and gifts, and for more than 60 years, they've been providing holiday shoppers with options that not only impress aesthetically, but also taste delicious.

going green

Ms. Hyde has become Dr. Jekyll once again...

It's experiment time.

(riga)tony! (riga)toni! (riga)toné!

No matter what form it takes, the combination of rich, meaty tomato sauce, perfectly cooked pasta, and ooey-gooey cheese just delivers comfort.

challenge accepted!

I've always been extremely competitive. If someone claimed claims to do something better than I, you'd better believe I'll do my darnedest to prove otherwise.

I even find myself trying to move my cart around faster than the lady next to me in the grocery store and out-walk others on the sidewalk and in the mall. I can't help it.

where's the beef? (and a giveaway)

When you think about Hickory Farms, a basket full of sausage, cheese, and pears is probably what comes to mind. However, they're about more than just meat and cheese. They supply fruit and nuts, wine, and sweets too.

turkey trot

I'm sure most of you are on top of your game and already have Thanksgiving dessert all planned out. If not, here are a few of my favorites that might inspire you (or, at the very least, make you hungry).

Cranberry walnut upside down cake.

seeds of yesterday

Are you sick of Krusteaz yet? Tough (non-Krusteaz) cookies if you are, because I most definitely am not.

looks aren't everything

Hummus is not picture-friendly. Black bean hummus is, apparently, downright ugly.

Yikes.

stranger danger

Halloween is over. How much candy do you have left?

free at last

I'm always proud of my degree in food science, but there are times when that pride is nearly overwhelming. How awesome is it that these people (who probably took the very same courses that I did, maybe even sitting right beside me) are spending their days adapting ingredients to suit consumers with dietary conflicts?

Very awesome!

in case you didn't believe me...

Need further proof of my love for nuts? You've got it.

nuts about nuts

I could never pick a favorite nut. I enjoy most kinds, if not all, for varying reasons.

match made in heaven

I've bemoaned our lack of a grill twice now. We've actually done some shopping, and it should come as no surprise that Weber® keeps popping up as the best of the bunch.

white lightning! (and a giveaway)

Remember when we went to the beach? I remember. I remember all the time.

"pretty please...

...with a cherry on top." So many times, the promise of that cherry makes all the difference and suddenly, like magic, the person you're asking to do something for you is willing to do it.

get fresh with me

Summer's over? Already? Boo! While I like the hot beverages, crisp air, and comfort foods that come with fall, I'm really going to miss all the garden-fresh produce that summer delivers.

food blogger (and coffee lover) mecca

I just spent 4 days in Seattle for the International Food Bloggers Conference, and it was amazing.

flat-out delicious (and a great giveaway)

If you're anything like me, you often find inspiration for suppers at home in menus at restaurants. That was the case here.

flank you very much

Living in an apartment can be frustrating for many reasons, but one sore spot for me is the lack of a grill and a place to use it.

pumpkin spice explosion

There is such an obsession with pumpkin spice right now! Lattes, bread, muffins, donuts, even chewing gum--everywhere you look, there's something pumpkin-spiced.

the ones you know by heart

Most of us have recipes we've made so many times that we know them backwards and forwards and could probably carry them out blindfolded and with one hand tied behind the back. I have several of those, and this is one I can't believe I haven't shared.

not discomfortable

I seem to be posting lots of comfort foods lately, but I promise you, I'm not uncomfortable. I'm not experiencing discomfort either.

get ready for some krusteaz!

You guys know I love Krusteaz mixes. I've used them in everything from tamale pie to laced lemon lime bars to coconut almond pancakes.

hoagies and grinders, hoagies and grinders

What do you call a sandwich made on a long roll? Hoagie? Grinder? Sub? Hero? Maybe a combination thereof, like groagie? I grew up saying sub.

the cartoon lightbulb

Way back in 2011, I made a really easy dessert that was reminiscent of one of my favorite candy bars, the Mounds. The treats were so good, I still have them as a part of my sweets rotation.

better than coal?

Some people think pig tails are just a hair style for little girls. I guess those people weren't raised in a farming family with a grandpa with a peculiar sense of humor.

whet your appletite

The first baked treat I endeavored to make from scratch was an apple pie. Best to start with something simple, right?

grill power! #whatagrillwants

I'm so glad that times have changed and many ladies find themselves (wo)manning the grill. Why shouldn't we?

tommy toes

Oh, the fun you can have with a can of tomato soup!

comfort food?

I might be wrong, but I suspect that a lot of Americans (and perhaps Italians) consider spaghetti and meatballs to be one of the ultimate comfort foods. It was never on my list, though, and I can only assume that's because we didn't eat it when I was growing up.

a true teacher

I think (and hope) we all have teachers from elementary or high school or college who really left an impression on our lives. I consider myself very fortunate and am grateful that there were so many men and women in my life who taught me much more than the things applying to the subject at hand.

get country.

As a kid in my small southwestern VA hometown, you couldn't avoid country music. I went through a spell where I loved the sound of it and many of its artists--Garth Brooks, the Dixie Chicks, Big and Rich, Toby Keith, and yes, even Kenny Chesney. (Am I dating myself?)

i had my doubts...

...but I was wrong.

no fire required

While there are a number of sweet treats associated with New Orleans (beignets and bread pudding, to name a few), one of the most awesome desserts that has its origins in The Big Easy is bananas Foster. For my money, it’s hard to beat the combination of bananas, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and rum.

the best thing i ever ate: crunchy

I just watched that particular episode of the Food Network show and realized that I have my own entry into the category: coconut-crusted chicken.

courgette.

I prefer the word courgette to zucchini and aubergine to eggplant, but I get the oddest looks when I use them out loud and in public. Oh, well.

My photo processing program wanted me to tag that farmer's face.  Sadly, I don't know his name.

if it was a snake...

Everyone has a different idea of comfort food, and for me, two dishes that fall decisively into that category are chicken pot pie and chicken barbecue (this gal likes her Gallus gallus domesticus).

swimsuit season

Pffffft.

jimmy crack corn...

...and I do care! I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to corn season in these parts. I forget how much I love that stuff until something random reminds me of it. Corn is awesome.

a cause for celebration

Friends, tomorrow is a special day, for as I understand it, it's National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. If ever there was a food that deserved a day of recognition, it's the humble and long-loved chocolate chip cookie.