Sugar & Spice by Celeste

I've been searching for the perfect balsamic vinaigrette that's easy to make at home and tastes delectable.  I'm thrilled to say that I've finally perfected said recipe and am eager to share it with you all! This salad was inspired by a trip to our local farmers market a few weeks ago.  I purchased some gorgeous arugula, red & yellow tomatoes, and a dozen cute-as-a-button quail eggs.  That's the thing I adore about farmers markets...I always find something new and exciting that I usually don't cook or bake with.   When I stumbled upon these quail eggs, I knew that I had to try some.  This is the first time I've cooked with them, and it was a success.  They taste just like a regular egg (surprise!), with a mild flavor.  Just be careful not to overcook them, and you'll be good to go. A fantastic salad is one of my favorite things to eat during the summer.  The flavor combinations are endless and change with what's in season.  This dres

Today, I'm feeling thankful for time spent with family this past week, flawless weather on this gorgeous Saturday, having the chance to photograph an engagement this morning (Congrats Justin & Jamie!), and I'm also thankful for stumbling upon this recipe at the beginning of summer.   Why the beginning, you ask?  Well,  one bite of this scrumptious cake will have you dreaming of all the different summer fruits that you can top it with in the coming months. This recipe is a major new favorite.  The batter bakes up into a delectably moist cake with a great texture (Hello, buttermilk!).  The addition of freshly whipped cream on top lends a strawberry shortcake-ness that you'll love.  Plus, it could be topped off with a wide array of different fruits.  I can't wait to get my hands on fresh peaches and blueberries at the farmers' market soon, so that I can make this again.   The bottom line?  This cake will make you (and your tummy) very happy! Bon

Tarts are the best. T hey're perhaps one of the greate st culinary inv entions when it comes to showcasing the summer's best fruity bounty .  You can top them with just about any fruit, and they're always exceptionally yummy.   A recent trip to the farmer's market result ed in a big, beautiful bu cket of some of the juiciest, sweetest and most delicious fresh strawberries finding their way to my kitchen .  With my berry discovery, I knew that a tart was in our n ear future.   For this tart, I used THIS RECIPE FOR A BLUEBER RY TART as my insp iration.   By the way , t hat blueberry tart is without a doubt one of my favorite desserts , like, ever in the hist ory of mankind .  If you're a blueberry fan, you must try it.  The past ry cream is dotted with little specks of vanilla bean goodness, fresh orange zest , and nutmeg (the secret ingredient!). The tart shell is easy to assemble, and the ground almonds lend a wonderful ly nutty flavor. If you&#

Every good Southerner knows that a deliciously comforting (and probably cheesy) casserole is a must at any potluck dinner.  A classic green bean casserole has always been one of Brad's favorites.  Maybe it's partly because of the scrumptious onion rings that grace the top, or maybe it's because they're just downright yummy. I stumbled upon Paula Deen's recipe recently and knew that I had to make it for him.  Plus, it's the perfect thing to make when fresh green beans come into season, which won't be long! I love this recipe because it incorporates fresh mushrooms into the mix.  It's an easy side dish that would be great to take along to family picnics this summer, or it would be equally perfect for your dinner table tonight. Bon Appetit, my friends! Green Bean Casserole Adapted from:  Paula Deen ***This recipe can be doubled to fill one 9x13" baking dish*** Ingredients: 1/3 stick butter 1/2 cup diced onions 1/2 cup sliced fresh mu

  The winner of the Gourmet Garden Giveaway is: Comment #14 from:   FireRunner2379 Congratulations and THANK YOU to everyone who entered!!!