Sugar & Spice by Celeste

I have SUCH big news to share with you...I have a recipe featured in the May issue of Southern Living magazine, y'all!  After months of anticipation, it has finally hit store shelves.  In fact, we just got back from the grocery store, where I saw it for sale for the first time.  I may have bought 4 copies and excitedly shared my glee with the cashier while checking out.  :) Southern Living has always been one of my favorite magazines.  Growing up, I remember my mom and grandmother's dog-eared copies lying around the house.  Never did I think my name would ever grace the pages! I love the magazine so much, that back in July 2005, I started 2 back-to-back marketing internships for the publication.  It was an incredible experience, where I made great friends and had the opportunity to be a part of on-location photo shoots, marketing campaigns, and fun events like the Southern Living Cook-Off, which was hosted by Tyler Florence that year. ...

In celebration of surpassing 2,000 Facebook fans, let's have an awesome giveaway, shall we?! I recently met Mary from Gourmet Garden at FoodBlogSouth 2013 back in January.  They were sponsoring the conference, and I got to taste samples of their goodies.  I love the convenience of their products, because I'm not always able to have a big selection of fresh herbs hanging out in my fridge.  That's where Gourmet Garden really comes in handy.   Their herbs are organically grown, and then washed, chopped, blended, and packed into handy little tubes for everyday use.  They also last months in the fridge, which is another big plus for me.  Some of their varieties include Parsley, Cilantro, Chili Pepper, Basil, Garlic and even Lemon Grass! Last night, I whipped up their recipe for Quinoa with Parsley & Bell Peppers.  I added some diced, leftover roasted pork loin from the night before, taking it from a simple side dish to a full meal.  ...

Eating healthy is really important around our house, but every now and then, a girl just needs a plate of delicious fries, I tell you!   Am I right?!? This recipe is a keeper.  Large wedges of russet potatoes are coated with a quick vinaigrette of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, shallot, garlic, oregano and parsley (which comes together in a flash with the help of a food processor).  Next, they bake up all beautiful and golden brown in the oven for about an hour. The flavor is fantastic, and you could even add a little Greek feta cheese as a garnish if you really wanted to take them over the top.   Next time, I will probably cut the vinaigrette quantities in half, because I did end up with extra vinaigrette.  This isn't a terrible thing, though, because you could use it up in other dishes.  I bet it would be delicious on a roasted chicken. Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Bon Appetit, my friends! Greek Potatoes with L...

Photo courtesy of Pursell Farms My latest culinary road trip took Brad and me to Pursell Farms , where I recently had the opportunity to sit down with award-winning Chef Andrea Griffith during our Easter weekend visit (read about our fun weekend HERE !). With over 13 years of experience, Chef Griffith is no novice and is using her passion for farm-to-table southern cuisine to create exciting new menus and culinary experiences at Pursell.  She was gracious enough to sit down with me after a long day to answer a few questions, which I think you'll really enjoy.  Read on as she talks about trying to duplicate an elusive Canneles de Bordeaux, her advice for home cooks, and making authentic Polish Pierogies with her grandparents: Let's start with what everyone wants to know about an award-winning chef:   What are 5 items that you always have stocked in your kitchen? 1.   Sriracha 2.   Sweet chili sauce 3.   Grits 4.   Greens (collards, tu...

Three things that I love are: 1)  Fun & relaxing weekend getaways 2)  Awesome food 3)  Beautiful surroundings This past weekend was filled with all three of these things during our stay at Pursell Farms in Sylacauga, AL.  Brad and I loaded Ava up in the car and made the one hour journey to the countryside, where we had such a wonderful time.  And OH, the food!  It was incredible.  I just can't help but share the details with you all. The trek led us out of the city, only about an hour away.  Upon arriving, we were greeted by a pretty gate, with the Pursell Farms sign beckoning us in.  A long, winding road led us through the beautiful property, with trickling streams, open fields, shaded woods, and views of the golf course along the way.  A sense of calm came over me...a relaxing weekend on the farm was just what I needed.  I breathed in the fresh air and got excited about the events of the weekend to come. We...