Let food ring!

I am totally excited! I am having company for July 4th! here is our menu:

Our Menu:

Bleu cheese/garlic burgers
Bratwurst
cilantro corn relish
sweet potato fries with a garlic mayo dip
tri-berry muffins
Peach and blackberry cobbler
cake (flavor is still undetermined)
Buttermilk pie....maybe depending on my time. (just b/c I have some buttermilk in the fridge)

Fathers day dish!

It starts with Herbs from my Garden!

And pretty peppers, and celery!

Clarification to "I am a foodie"

I actually do not eat a lot of meat, and when I do, I don't like to think of it coming from an animal. So when I do, I am picky about how it needs to taste(which is why I chose grass-feed), I can go weeks, even months without eating it, I prefer vegetables, and fruit. And I am allergic to sodium nitrates so that limits what I can eat, so when we got out to eat I always go vegetarian(less hospital trips that way)
I was telling Chad tonight that what I love about being an adult is I dont have to share or ration my fruit(my dinner tonight was orzo in a honey lime sauce and then my 2nd bowl of mangos, strawberries apricots, and grapes) Having to chose between Mango's or cheese cake, it would be mango's every time. One time I over heard my granny once tell my mama that, "as much fruit as that girl eats, she would never have a weight problem." Amen to that Granny!

I ate an entire half a watermelon by myself for breakfast!

I could easily be a vegetarian, but growing up on a working farm, and taking our cows to auction I really learned how important it is to the farmers integrity and lively hood that those animals make high bid. I remember telling my daddy I was going to be a vegetarian, he sat me down and calmly explained, and even quoted scripture about giving the animals a happy fulfilling life in return they replenish not only our bodies but allow us to give that back to Mother Earth. It was a typical daddy-lecture. But I thought about his point, and his words and just decided to eat it when I craved it, but not take it for granted!

These came from my Mother in laws garden!

Then I read Barbra Kingslover and she really brought that point home.

It makes me feel good about being in America (b/c every time a walmart or mc king sonic comes in, I have my doubts) when I hear other people have the same sense of foodie responsibility as Chad and I have! so thank you for your comments, I really appreciate them!

I am a foodie!

*Vegatarians beware this blog contains meat-all meat is locally raised-grass feed and lived a very happy life! *









I grew up eating good....no, great food! Mouth watering-slap your knee, you would rather eat a baked potato than McBurger-Sonic. This mentality has spoiled me to say the least; My dad and uncles have cooked off the back of a chuckwagon, both my Granny's could have cooked for a King...and my grandfather....makes a mean buttermilk pie!


Elbows deep in potato salad daddy making dough for the coblers

My uncle sessioning Cabrito My daddy checking the brisket

I remember one cold day in college...back when I was a theater major (technical) I really craved stew..like a granny kinda stew....it was at that moment that I realized I either better learn to cook or go through serious yummy food withdraw. Since the latter wasn't an option, I have learned to cook...and cook good! (if I do say so myself) I also married a cook too!
"My soul belongs to Texas, but my stomach belongs to Italy" that's what I always say!

I have been cooking my own spaghetti sauce since I was like, 8. I really got a chance to explore the different herbs and what goes good with what, like Thyme and Sage...thats my all time favorite combo, it gives a warm heat to the sauce. Oh and Rosemary, fenel and thyme. Oh! and fenel and lemon...chicken piccata! OH my!
Then I read a great great book by Barbra Kingslover, "Animal Vegetable Miracle" I learned so much about where our food comes from, what we are putting into our bodies; the chemicals, the preservatives, buying local to help the community and Mother Earth. It made my appreciation for good food increase 10folds! That book changed the way I shop-eat-cook-and grow my garden.
It also help me realize how little appreciation people in American have for food. We are such in a hurry these days. Running late to work so swing by for a breakfast burrito, Opp! been in the car all day, too tired to cook-lets order a pizza! Ummm-yeah lets go out to eat for fried chicken (don't even get me started on Kentucky Fried Jerk-faces and how they treat their animals) I grew up on a farm, so we grass feed and raised our own cows for eating purposes....they were happy and even had names!
Chad and I have traveled abroad and I wished Americans would slow down and learn to appreciate a nice piece of fresh yeast bread dipped in olive oil. I just wished we weren't so "corporate america' driven. People in Europe really appreciate food much more than we do-and at times, that makes me jealous, makes me wished I was over there eating gelatos and cheese! mmmmmm-cheeeese!

My daddy cooked at my Reception, he made pork tenderlion, fall off your fork brisket, chicken, potato salad, and coblers, that he made on sight! (the food was great, but I wouldn't know because I didn't get a chance to eat!) The meat was bought local, with the rest of the food! He loves to cook....and I love to eat! It was a win-win situation!