Not just thyme, lemon thyme! One of my best friends gave me some from her garden last year, and this was one of my first plants in my first garden last season. I’m very attached to this plant for that reason – it’s been with me for awhile now! While I wasn’t sure at first how I was going to make use of it, I’ve now discovered several uses and benefits of this tasty herb. Continue reading
Category Archives: Life
Big Fun in The Big Easy
Our friends David and Amanda moved from Atlanta to New Orleans last fall, and we’ve been dying to visit them. Neither the bf or I have spent much time in the Big Easy, and we thought it would be great to experience the city with people who live there. We took advantage of the long Memorial Day weekend, and drove down on Friday after lunch. Continue reading
Fresh Juice Friday: Crazy for Cabbage
Oh, cabbage. Such an overlooked juicing ingredient. I’ll admit, I was pretty nervous about juicing cabbage – the smell and taste can be quite pungent.
But I’m also adventurous and will try anything once…so I figured I might as well apply that to juicing cabbage! Continue reading
Summer Garden Series: Parsley
Parsley is the first plant I’m focusing on in my summer garden series. It’s a new addition to my balcony garden this year. I’ve never cared much for the taste of flat-leaf parsley, but do recognize it’s importance in fresh pasta dishes and in cooking stocks. Plus, the bf loves it so I figured I might as well grow some this year. One plant that produces all season – at least six months – costs what one little package does at the grocery store. And that always goes bad before I can use it all!
Parsley has been easy to grow and care for thus far, and I’m figuring out new uses for it in my kitchen all the time. Continue reading
Mom’s Famous Baked Ziti
I’ve been bugging my mom for her official baked ziti and homemade meat sauce recipe for a long time. However, this recipe doesn’t have her homemade meat sauce in it and we also added Giada de Laurentiis’ meatballs. I just can’t leave well enough alone – tinkering is what I do! 😉
I promise I’ll share mom’s homemade meat sauce recipe, but I just didn’t have time to make it on this day. It’s divine, and it makes me sad to settle for store-bought. The good news is that I didn’t have to settle for store-bought: I used a jar of sauce my mom brought on her last visit from one of my favorite Italian restaurants in my hometown. Supporting local every chance we get!
Summer Garden Series: Uses for Herbs, Plants, and Vegetables
I started my first container garden last season on my balcony and enjoyed it so much I decided to do even more this year. Growing my own food, even a small amount, is not only rewarding it also saves me money and time from shopping. It also sparks creativity as I’m constantly thinking of new ways to use the things growing right outside my door.
I realize that beginning to garden can seem overwhelming. When I think of actual gardening outside I containers, I feel the same way! Growing in containers is a great first step, as is starting with just one or two herbs, plants or vegetables.
This series will run the entire summer, with one post each week focused on an item from my garden, how to grow and care for it, and a variety of different ways it can be used. There’s no need to feel overwhelmed – you can do ONE THING and it will make a big difference. And in this series, I will show you exactly how to do that – one herb at a time!
Continue reading
Fresh Juice Friday: Beet-Ginger Juice
After a fun and indulgent long weekend in Savannah, I’ve gotten back to my routine of juicing during the week. I fasted completely on the first day, and then ate one meal each day on the second and third days.
Sometimes I get very hungry, so if I’ve consumed my juice and water and still feel uncomfortably hungry after about 30 minutes, I’ll reach for a small, healthy snack to keep me on track. There are lots of snack products on the market, some are better than others and many are expensive. I think, however, that I’ve found a great solution… Continue reading
A Weekend Filled With Southern Charm in Savannah
Sean and I went to Savannah for an extended visit where I met his mom and stepdad for the first time. They drove up from Florida and stayed in a hotel downtown while Sean and I stayed with my friend Ryan at his house in Ardsley Park.
We had an action-packed, fun-filled long weekend, and I was NOT ready to leave that beautiful city when Sunday arrived. But I know we’ll be back soon, and I’ve got plenty of stories and photos to hold me over. Continue reading