(Trying to) Grow an Avocado Tree

Yes, I am still alive. Spring time has been keeping me very busy. Which is also the reason I had to make time to do nothing. Doing nothing is very good sometimes. In the mean time, I've been on an avocado kick- they're so delicious! I've been putting them on sandwiches, in wraps, making guacamole and eating them salted, straight out of their peel. As fun as I find it to whack its big seed with my knife to ease it from the fruit, I feel bad throwing it away. So I decided to find out how to grow my own avocado plant. I found this website that told me everything I needed to know- and it couldn't be easier! Carefully remove the avocado pit (minus...

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Travel Lust: Santiago, Chile

There was a No Reservations marathon on last weekend; I couldn't help but be sucked in for a good part of my Sunday. An episode about Santiago, Chile really surprised me- with its skyscrapers it was a lot bigger and more modern than I expected. After that episode, it has made it to my ever-growing to-travel-to list! Check out that view!  The Andes Mountains make the Rockies look like ant hills in comparison! Santa Lucia Hill is a beautiful tourist spot... As is the National Cathedral... The city offers beautiful architecture, like Santiago Stock Exchange building. Have you visited Santiago? What did you love about it? Photos from: beachcomberpete.com,...

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Lunabread: Fresh, Local, Cajun

If you're not paying attention you just might miss the best thing to ever happen to you. With nothing more than a small, metal sign hanging by the road, you could easily miss your turn into Lunabread as you drive down 15th Street. It wasn't a flashy store front or extensive ad campaign that brought me into Lunabread. It was simply their bread. I had passed their stall at the Cherry Street Farmers' Market one Saturday and eyed their goodies with curiosity; it wasn't until I saw them at the Pearl Farmers' Market, totting freshly baked brioche and French bread, that I decided to find out what they were all about. The picturesque baguette sat in...

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Fruit and Herb Soaps

My sage plant, though beautiful with its velvety leaves and purple blossoms, is starting to take over its pot. I love sage, but I don't think I would use as many leaves as it has now in an entire year- and it's still growing! I was wondering what to do with it until I saw this article in last month's Martha Stewart Magazine. With very few ingredients you can make beautiful handmade soaps in the blink of an eye- it was the perfect thing to do with my herb forest! From citrus fruits to berries to fragrant herbs, there are endless possibilities for delicious soap combinations. The article shows beautiful soaps made with thyme, basil, mint, sage,...

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What's in Your Garden?

Oh, how I love spring. The days get longer, things are green again, and you can grow delicious things right in your back yard. This is what's growing on my back deck: From Garden Trug I picked up some sweet basil, and lavender... And some thyme and dill...Also cilantro, Italian parsley and mint from Urban Garden... Let's not forget the tarragon I got at the farmers' market:  Little did I know, some of the herbs I planted last year were perennials! The sage and chives came back in abundance, both bearing flowers. Did you know sage flowered?And slowly, but surely the rosemary and oregano are making a comeback. I'm debating also planting some...

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Travel Lust: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Just a quick trip to the Atlantic coast. It's been ages since I've been to the Outer Banks in North Carolina but I always remember it fondly. The sandy dunes make the beaches there picturesque!     The Whalehead Club Cape Hatteras Lighthouse    I remember the cute Sandpipers all over the beach. Wright Brothers National Memorial Hope you enjoyed the trip to the beach! Pictures from: http://www.generationytravel.com/outer-banks-travel-north-carolina-vacation/, outerbankslife.com, http://www.miltonheiberg.com/postings.htm, gnpc.org, freeimageslive.co.uk, fineartamerica....

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Talking Southern with the Lee Brothers

It all started with a pot of boiled peanuts in a tiny Manhattan apartment. Two James Beard Awards later, Matt and Ted Lee have become the go-to guys for Southern food- satisfying home cooks with both the comfort of grandma's fried chicken as well as fresh, updated southern recipes for modern living. During their trip to Tulsa, I was able to steal some time with this captivating duo to learn more about their career before a question and answer session at the Philbrook Museum of Art. Though experts in their field, the Lee Brothers do not hail from deep Southern roots, rather they were born in New York. As young adolescents, their family moved...

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The Sweeter Side of Brady Tavern

Though far from short on trips to Brady Tavern, I have yet to make it to the end of the meal with room for dessert. While dining at their chef's table back in the kitchen for my birthday, I figured it was not an option at this point- I would manage to fit a sweet treat in somehow! And a perfect night to indulge it was as numerous diners allowed for greater sampling of the dessert menu! Though the menu at Brady Tavern changes frequently, it seems some items have stayed longer than others. One of them being the butterscotch bread pudding. And there is good reason for that. Stealing a bite across the table, I had instant dessert envy. This is the...

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