We're fairly settled into our little California bungalow, and as such, many of our favorite kitchen items are in full use.
Some are not.
We loved the idea of a slow-cooker, but I have had an irrational fear of the "set it and forget it" mentality that comes along with using it. Tell me I'm not alone. I'm begging you. Please. Because there is a part of me that feels if I leave something to cook on its own for 3-4 hours, disaster will strike.
It's taken me a little while to woman up and finally meet this strange worry head on, but this weekend I did it.
The stainless slow-cooker was placed on the counter, I flipped through several magazines, and ultimately decided on a classic southern dish: grillades & grits.
Could you think of a better meal to initiate yourself into the slow-cooker club with? I couldn't, and since the recipe was met with unanimous "YUMMY"'s, it was going to happen.
Long story short, the entire process was incredibly easy and our home didn't burn down. There was no terrible disaster, and we barely had enough remaining to call leftovers.
It was that good~and you know what that means...I just have to share this easy recipe from Southern Living with you all!
Southern Living's Grillades & Asiago Cheese Grits
For the grillades:
Serves 6
1 1/2 lb. top round steak, trimmed, 1/2 in thick
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. Creole seasoning
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 14 oz. can of fire-roasted, diced tomatoes
1 10 oz. package of frozen & diced onion, red & green bell pepper, and celery thawed*
3 garlic cloves, pressed
1.) Place the steak between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and flatten to 1/4 thickness, using a rolling pin or the flat side of a meat mallet. Cut into 2 inch squares.
2.) Combine flour and seasoning in a large freezer bag. Add the steak, seal bag, and shake to coat.
3.) Heat 1 Tbsp. of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the steak, cooking 2-3 minutes on each side or until browned. Transfer steak to a lightly-greased slow-cooker. Repeat with the rest of your oil and steak.
4.) Add tomatoes and next 2 ingredients to the slow cooker and stir.
5.) Cover and cook on HIGH 3 hours or until tender. Serve over Asiago cheese grits.
*A note: I wasn't able to find a bag with the frozen onions, bell peppers, and celery so I used fresh ones instead, and used a little bit of guess work as to how much would be inside a 10 oz. bag.
For the Asiago Cheese Grits:
Serves 6
If you have a second slow-cooker, it's suggested you use the following recipe. That said, as most of us don't own two, follow the stove-top directions on your grits carton using the same ingredients. It will yield the same results.
1 cup uncooked stone-ground grits
1/2 cup shredded Asiago cheese
1 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1.) Stir together grits and 3 cups of water in a slow-cooker. Let stand 1-2 minutes, allowing grits to settle to the bottom. Skim any solids off the top. Cover and cook on HIGH 2 1/2-3 hours or until grits are creamy and tender, stirring every 45 minutes.
2.) Stir in cheese and next 3 ingredients until blended.
A few more notes: As I used the stove-top for our grits, and we like our grits to be more firm than runny, I used one cup less of water. It cooked beautifully, but was a little too thick so I thinned it out with a 1/4 cup of milk. It reached the perfect consistency and helped make our grillades & grits heaven on a plate!
Now if any of you are looking to give your slow-cooker's a whirl~start with this recipe! I know you'll love it as much as our family did.
Sunday's are peaceful, quiet days. They're filled with spiritual nourishment, early family meals, and if you're lucky, a trip to your local Farmer's Market.
They open early, but once the beacons of white tents start appearing in local shopping centers, you know it's time to get out and enjoy. Come with me to two such wonderful places. Just grab a pair of comfy shoes and a cup of coffee, and we'll be off!
Living in California, there are an endless amount of Farmer's Markets~and they're not strictly for the weekends. I happen to prefer the weekend, as do many others, but if you hit it at the right time, the Market is a wonderful place to walk around at a leisurely pace.
This particular morning I arrived at Westlake Village's Farmer's Market just as they were opening. Everything was being unloaded, tents weren't fully erected, but many beautiful products were already out for purchase.
And whether it's on a rustic table, or fruits displayed on vintage tablecloths, seeing how the food is displayed is just as wonderful as seeing the food itself.
The colors are just so fresh and raw.
All produce is locally grown and organic, and the vendors take as much pride in their food as they do in how they choose to display it. They understand the power behind a well-designed stand~and more often than not, it works in their favor.
Because there were so few people at the Market, I was able to take my time wandering through the produce stalls, enjoying the sights and tastes along the way. I even stopped to smell the roses...
and many other beautiful flowers. For Farmer's Markets don't only have great deals on amazing produce, but on plants and flowers as well. I'm sure you all know this, but it still amazes me that you can get so much of a quality item for such good prices.
So good, that I had to pick up a few treats for my family from a French baker. His bread and pastries were delicious!
I couldn't leave without grabbing some croissants and rolls. Once the purchases were made I returned closer to home to the Agoura Hills Farmer's Market.
It's much smaller than the one in Westlake, but I like it more. The prices are a little better, they have a wider variety of produce to sample, and best yet, the nearby restaurants cater to those who are hungry. Falafel anyone?
The blood oranges were so juicy and ripe, I was craving a mimosa by the time I was done.
But it was the continued sight of bright and lucious food that continued to catch my attention.
I don't know about you, but when I see wonderful food on display, it pushes me out of my culinary comfort zone. It encourages me to try new things. And why shouldn't I?
Come back later this week to get a sample of what we cooked up, and come back next Monday as I take you somewhere very fitting for the month of February.
A lovely week to you all!
Growing up in Louisiana, Strawberry festivals were an event you looked forward to each spring. It involved a little bit of traveling to get to the site in Pontchatula, but once you arrived, it was strawberry serendipity in every which direction. Picking, eating, drinking~all the while there was dancing to music and playing games.
I'm happy to say my children have inherited my love of this pretty red berry, and though I usually have to remind Eldest to eat hers, the scallywag~our voracious eater~is always asking for them.
This is a very common scene:
My son sitting atop the countertops nibbling away at some fruit. If I happen to be in the kitchen preparing a meal, he'll ask to be picked up then request a snack. I'll cook, he'll eat and jabber away. We always have the sweetest, silliest conversations! On this particular day I was whipping up grilled cheeses with strawberries on the side.
The side quickly disappeared as he inhaled everything that was left in the carton!
Ever cautious, he rinsed each strawberry before indulging, allowing me to cut off the stems. Then down the hatch they went.
I'm forever thankful that both children are good eaters, and more often than not, at least one of them will ask for a healthy handout if they're hungry. I'll go on record as saying it's why they have such amazingly long lashes and rosy cheeks.
As for my son and his countertop snacks...Adorable. It warms my heart to spend time with my children, and it's in the unexpected moments that the most joy is found.
They're just as sweet as strawberries.
During the summer I spent a good three weeks in Italy with my college choir, I experienced bliss in many forms: culture, landscape, architecture, shopping, language, music, food... and, oh yes, meeting my Husband.
Never mind the fact that we'd been in choir together for the better part of a year. It was Italy that brought us together (as well as a well-timed gondola ride or two).
Japan brought us even closer as we were thousands of miles from family and friends.
Now what do Japan, Italy, and our new home of California have in common?
My continued explorations into the many flavors of gelato.
The best by far was in Italy. You cannot possibly get a more authentic cone of gelato. And in case you're wondering, yes, it really is best to enjoy it while wandering the ancient streets of Venice with your beau!
Or future beau...
Years after visiting Italy, I found Ciao Bella in the freezer selection at our local Tokyo supermarket. Intrigued by the flavor selection, I found myself enjoying it now and again, appreciating the little tastes of the past that were recalled with each bite.
Fast forward a year later and though it's January, California is preparing for a heat wave. It will hit about 80 degrees, and I for one cannot think of a better way to enjoy this "hot" weather than to indulge in a pint of my new flavor of gelato from Ciao Bella: Key Lime Graham Cracker.
Good Lord, y'all...run, don't walk, to your local market to grab this treat. It's creamy, a little tart, and when that graham cracker hits your palate you will explode with happiness.
Explode.
Of course, only give this particular pint a whirl if you enjoy a good slice of Key Lime Pie. If you don't, try their S'mores gelato, the blood orange, the mint chip, matcha...you really cannot go wrong.
And if the flavors aren't enough to convince you, the vivid, and beautifully simple design of their containers will certainly draw you in to investigate a little further.
So go ahead and try something a little different. You'll be very glad you did.
Ciao!
Good morning all and welcome to a new segment of the blog: "Meet Me Monday". Every Monday you'll journey with us to various places we love to frequent, as well as the new ones we discover. I hope to show you the savory, the pretty, and the fun!
Let's begin with one of our new favorite coffee spots: The Coffee Bean.
Also known as The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, The Coffee Bean is a very well-known and loved establishment. It has a profoundly loyal following. Founded in Southern California in 1963, it remains the oldest and largest privately-held specialty coffee and tea retailer in the United States. It's also become an international icon with 800 stores in 20 countries!
True this may be, but before California the only place I'd seen a Coffee Bean had been in an airport in South Korea. Crazy, right? Starbucks were everywhere, but it wasn't until we made our move back to the US that Coffee Bean's became just as visible.
Our favorite Coffee Bean is located in a beautiful outdoor shopping area in Westlake Village.
Set beneath the shade of numerous trees, you can people watch in comfort while enjoying your coffee. Women in yoga gear often frequent it in the mornings, as do men in their business suits. Pet-owners sit outdoors to enjoy the fresh air with their drinks and treats. Parents & children spend their time with one another over muffins and juices morning, noon, and night.
As a mother, I love being able to go places where my children are welcomed with smiles and cheerful dispositions~especially when my daughter and I are spending some much needed time together.
The Coffee Bean has a more subdued atmosphere than Starbucks, which is great when you want to have an actual conversation. But much like it, they have coffee-free drinks for your children to enjoy. Eldest loves her Pure Chocolate...
and her red velvet. I suppose it's true what they say: you can take a girl out of the South, but you just can't take the South out of a girl!
On our last visit we split a cupcake while sipping our drinks. The entire time we nibbled, laughed, and delighted at the chill in the air. It was a wonderful afternoon.
After our outing and some discussion, we came to this conclusion: what we love most about The Coffee Bean is the warm, welcoming atmosphere. It's very family-friendly. Not only that, but there's something calmer, less chaotic, and more inviting than that of Starbucks. It could be the attention given by the servers, the quality of their product, the warmth of the decor, the set-up and layout of their individual locations...
Perhaps it's all of the above! In the end, I don't suppose it really matters. Any way you look at it, The Coffee Bean is a wonderful place to delight in a cup of coffee, by yourself or with others.
And they've certainly earned two new, loyal patrons.
Thank you for joining us on our inaugural "Meet Me Monday"! I hope you'll share your favorite coffee locales and return next week for our following adventure.
A lovely Monday morning to you all!
On Sunday Eldest's teeth were no longer aching, the scallywag had woken up with his first cold of the New Year, Husband was exhausted from work, and after watching our Saints loose to the 49'ers the night before, we were in dire need of some sugary resuscitation.
Knowing Crumbs Bake Shop was only a few minutes away, we decided to make our inaugural trip and try their legendary cupcakes. Husband used to tell me about their cupcakes while working in New York, and I won't lie, when we lived in Tokyo, I desperately wished for those or the other well-known cupcakery, Sprinkles.
They always sounded like confectionary perfection~mostly beacuase everyone said they were. Who was I to argue? I love cupcakes and was happy to believe it. I was really excited when the day rolled around that we'd all be able to eat some!
Along with the children, I drove to Calabasas, grabbed a very pretty selection, then headed back home. We were ready for some primo cupcakes!
On our plates were a Red Velvet, a Grashopper, an Avalanche, a Milkshake, and one wee Classic Chocolate for the scallywag. There was a little mishap with the box carrying our cupcakes and each of them wound up wearing icing from the others, but it didn't really bother us when it came time to eat.
Overall, the children loved their treats. Eldest deftly ate her Grasshopper with a fork, savoring every bite, while the scallywag devoured his...and wound up wearing most of the icing (which is always the sign of truly enjoying something, in my humble opinion).
Husband and I liked them as well, but they weren't exactly what I thought they would be. Maybe it's becuase of all the hype that I'd built up these cupcakes to be the end all be all of cupcakes. But after all was said and done all they were was good. Not spectacular, just good.
There is certainly nothing wrong with good, and I'll definitely go back since I still want to try the Artie Lange and Blackout. I'll just ground my expectations a little bit.
Maybe second time will be the charm.
Have a very sweet day, all!
Last week Eldest found herself facing two big B's: the Spelling Bee & braces.
Eldest is a phenomenal speller, winning the school Bee when we lived in Charlotte. Unfortunately, there was a bit of a mix-up with spelling lists this year, and while she spent a good two weeks pouring over hundreds of words from different origins it all turned out to be for naught.
She'd been given the wrong spelling lists.
We were floored, and a little angry on her behalf for such a huge mistake. She'd spent countless hours learning word after word...It didn't seem to matter too much, though, as Eldest finished 6th out of 30 people. I don't know about you, but all things considered that's not too shabby. We were so proud of her!
Eldest's amazing work ethic and good nature got her through those lists of words and the disappointment of a mix-up. As a parent, that made me more proud than you can imagine. A trophy is no replacement for a person's character, and Eldest's was shining that day.
She had other things to look forward to anyway.
We arrived at Dr. Bar-Zion's office at 2:00, and within moments she was whisked away to a reclining chair for one final inspection.
The expanders had done a very good job~maybe too good. With all the extra space, her teeth had gone in every which direction. They didn't know what to do with all that room to move!
Thankfully the braces are solving that little problem. Would you believe that only after a week her two front teeth are already almost straight? It's amazing, I know, and Eldest is beside herself with happiness.
So sorry, I thought I said "beside herself with happiness".
Eldest was in such good spirits after having her braces put on she had no problem hamming it up for the camera. All joking aside, she was in a good place, and amazed at her transformation from before to after:
She had some pretty intense discomfort that night, it even woke her up, but it passed after a few days. Thanks to each of you who offered kind thoughts and offered to pray for our sweet girl! No doubt they helped her through the rough moments. We celebrated her recovery with some sweet treats on Sunday from Crumbs Bake Shop.
Come back tomorrow and join us as we delight in some decadent looking cupcakes! Our thoughts on them just might surprise you.
Have a lovely day!
Today will be the last time I see this sweet smile as is.
Today Eldest is getting her braces! Originally they were to be put on during her oral surgery, but you know how doctors can change their plans. Both our oral surgeon and orthodontist decided to let the expanders complete their job before placing braces on Eldest's upper teeth.
And today is that day!
I'm excited for my daughter, but I'll miss this un-bracketed smile, as it's familiar and precious. Endearing.
This said, we're all welcoming what will come with the changes from her braces~and so is Eldest. She's excited about the rubber band choices, watching her teeth move and align. The knowledge that in no time at all her teeth will be a thing of straightened beauty only sweetens the pot.
Two years from today we'll see a completely new smile emerge from months of care. And we will love this new smile as much as her old one. The sweet person beaming at us hasn't changed a bit, after all.
It's amazing to see how quickly things progress in the world of orthodontia now. What a change from when we were all going through it!
We are all thankful for having such amazing doctors caring for Eldest. They're not only at the top of their field, but they're also good people. Do you know many doctors that will meet you on Christmas morning to fix a broken chain?
I love our orthodontist, and so does Eldest.
If you could, please keep our sweet girl in your thoughts today. While none of us are concerned about the actual braces, Eldest may experience some pretty intense discomfort as they begin using the chain attatched to her braces to pull her impacted canine down. Unfortunately, we're still not sure if it will descend. Only time will tell.
All prayers would be appreciated, by Husband & I, as well as Eldest.
Have a lovely day all, and as always, thank you for stopping by!
It doesn't matter where we are, Carnival follows us wherever we go. Being born and raised in New Orleans creates such an unbreakable bond. Mardi Gras is as big a part of our year as birthdays and all other major Holiday occasions.
We may be far from home, but we still celebrate Twelfth Night, and we cheer on our favorite parades with the help of beads, doubloons, and King Cake from our family friends, the Haydel's.
I may have mentioned these lovely people several times in the past, but they as they were a big part of my childhood, as well as the ultimate bakers of all things sweet and savory, they must be acknowledged again. I'm not being compensated in any way for writing this~but I do love to sing the praises of people with great products and even greater hearts. The Haydel's do as much for the community as they do for the community's appetite.
Above is my Daddy with Mrs. Dottie Haydel, one of the owners. The Haydel's and their employees are just as nice as can be.
If you live in Louisiana, or even if you don't, you must order their King Cakes. They're the ultimate bake shop for all your Mardi Gras needs and as such, they ship nation wide.
Believe me, the demand for their product is there.
When you order their King Cakes, you'll have several options to choose from. Our family prefers the traditional with icing and the purple, green, and gold sugars, but you should give the cream cheese a try! Look at all the goodies that come with your King Cake when you order it:
There's a little something for everyone. Coffee, beads, doubloons, a porcelain collectible, a history of Mardi Gras, and so much more!
Enjoy a slice of your King Cake with a cup of coffee (preferably one with chicory) and you'll feel like you're right in the middle of Mardi Gras in the Crescent City.
Nothing truly captures that feeling more than actually being there, of course, but this does bring you to a close second!
Now what are you waiting for? Give Haydel's a call and enjoy a slice of Mardi Gras in your home or workplace. And while you're at it, enjoy Lucky Player's King Cake Vodka during a more adult-friendly gathering.
Inspired by the flavor of Haydel's King Cakes, it's said to have captured the essence of what makes their creation so delightful. No other Bakery has inspired such a libation, so don't wait any longer than you have to.
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
A belated Happy New Year to you all!
It's been a really nice break away from the computer. Time spent with my family has been precious and as expected, over far too soon. I was not ready to send the children back to school on Tuesday.
Christmas was good, a little quiet without visits with family, but it was still really nice and laid back. We had a chance to see movies, dine out, play, and even do a little shopping.
We all made good buys~including some crazy orange kicks purchased by Husband. They're insane! But my favorite by far was the painting I found for the scallywag's room.
I'd been looking for something to put over his chest of drawers for a while, but nothing seemed to fit. There was no way I was going to force a purchase. Whatever made its way above the dresser, I wanted it to work in our little guy's room. It had to be young, fun, and unexpected.
One trip to the Salvation Army changed everything!
Hidden on a very high shelf was this whimsical rainbow wheel painted by Una Lawrence. It was brilliant, and as Eldest said, loud and happy just like her brother. There's sisterly honesty for you!
I tend to look up artists and nothing was found on Ms. Lawrence, but she was obviously local and tried to sell the painting for a lot more in an art show. The tag for the show was still on the back, so our find was a steal!
After a week, I'm still not sure what I love most: the texture of the acrylics, the pretty linen and aged gold frame, the vivid color...it's just perfect for the scallywag's room.
Best yet, the picture pulls from other elements in the room, namely the green in the striped Dash & Albert rug and the tan from the houndstooth coverlet on the bed.
Yes, it needs to be ironed badly, but it's a task I'm getting around to. Hopefully soon!
I know we've all heard it before, but never discount your local thrift stores. Not only are the prices always right, but you never know what treasures you're going to find. Go to Goodwill, give the Salvation Army a chance, visit your local Habitat for Humanity home store and other consignment shops in your area.
Your pocketbook won't be hurting, and you're helping those who are in great need.
Perhaps that's the greatest treasure of all.
A lovely Friday to each of you, and as always, thank you for stopping by!
