Hosting my book club in the winter feels especially lovely—it gives me an excuse to plan a cozy meal to pair with a cozy book. Our group is made up of eight educators, and we’ve been meeting consistently for several years. Since I only host once a year, choosing the right book always feels like …
Mrs. Maisel’s Marvelous Brisket
My daughter, Zooey, is obsessed with all things Mrs. Maisel. We wish the show was still on but we have started our own tradition by making Mrs. Maisel’s brisket before she goes back to college. The brisket grounds her and reminds her of what’s important…family and food! When you care about someone, you make them …
Book Club: Be Ready When the Luck Happens
Our book club met in December to discuss Ina Garten’s new book. A group of elementary teachers gathered on a Thursday evening to a warm dinner of an Ina inspired meal. Teachers make for excellent book club discussion because of our love for routine, structure and reading. The consonance on Ina’s book was two thumbs …
I only have pies for you
The kitchen is the most joyful room in the house. There is power in making food together because sharing food is the most natural way to connect. Time well spent with a friend in the kitchen is a great way to press the reset button. My friend Kris and I share a love for food…especially …
BBQ chicken…Texas-style!
Big city or small, there is always a large base of Texans who love BBQ. Going to school in Alabama, I spent time enjoying Dreamland BBQ. My husbands parents are outside of Memphis so I also explored Tennessee BBQ. I’m from Denton, Texas and have always enjoyed Texas-style BBQ. I like my sauce slightly spicy and sweetened …
Squash Blossoms
This is my second summer to grow squash and zucchini and I’m making sure I don’t miss an opportunity to use them while they’re bursting in my little garden. They are reminding me of a hibiscus flower…delicate and opening only for the sun. Once I picked them, I used them right away because they don’t …
Chicken and biscuit dumplings
There’s a new staple in my pantry…buttermilk biscuits from Biscuit Head. I’m a fan of cozy comfort foods and have previously made them using Parmesan cheese and flour. I was out of Parm and having a snow day with biscuit mix in the pantry…I’ll never do dumplings any other way. They floated on my chicken …
Lemon Curd
We have the sweetest little lemon tree that my parents gave us several years ago. It makes me so happy to see more lemons coming back each year. The anticipation is even sweeter. We watch and wait for the lemons to ripen. The very beginning of November was lemon harvest time for us in Texas. …
Wishing you a rosy school year
We’re back in school and if you try REALLY hard you can find the sweetness…my own kids are so happy to be back. My first grade students come to school with BIG smiles excited to learn in-person. Teachers are happy to teach at school and not virtually. It’s true that the soul is healed by …
Mom’s Hot Mustard
My mom is famous for her hot mustard. She usually makes it during the holidays. I feel like I’ve turned into my mom ever since the pandemic hit! I’m craving her cooking and since we haven’t been able to cook together like we usually do, I’m making her recipes for her. My dad has been …
Tabasco Jelly & Bloody Mary Mix
You know what goes really well with Tabasco Jelly? A Bloody Mary and Bing Crosby. I missed making Christmas jelly with my mom this year. I’ve missed spending time with my mom so much that I’ve turned into my mother…making jelly all the time! It helps me feel connected to her. It’s our tradition that …
Crepes: the perfect weekend breakfast
The last time I was in Paris, my husband and I were walking around Sacre Coeur mid morning and stopped to buy a crepe. I devoured it like an American and had Nutella all around my mouth. I stopped and asked an artist in Montmatre a question and noticed he gave me a quizzical look… …