I’ve eyed Food52 for awhile now – drooling over their recipes, fawning over their contests, so this week I figured what the hell, I’m going to go for it!
 
So this week the contest was Your Best Walnuts & Sage recipe. “Holidays behind us, we’re ready to return to the pure, clean flavors of winter. We want recipes highlighting the earthiness and muted hues of walnuts and sage – bonus points for thinking beyond pestos.”
 
Okay. I ...

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It’s been a good year.
I started my own business.
I made lots of yummy food, mostly healthy with some desserts.

I got married and had a Hallowedding.
I started a garden; though a challenging year, it was still a good one.

I traveled to Costa Rica, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy and Belgium.
I learned more ...

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During the holidays, one of my favorite things to do is baking.  It’s this beautiful meditation as baking takes a patient heart, a careful eye and most certainly a sweet tooth.  When the weather is cold outside, the kitchen becomes my favorite place of solace — as it’s always been my most sacred spot to relax.  I always believe that homemade gifts are the ones people remember, so what better way to spread the love ...

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It’s hard to believe we’re already in December.  Where did this year go?  As the days quickly approach towards the Holiday season, we’re filled with urges to celebrate — Ugly Christmas Sweater Party! White Elephant! Holiday Potlucks! Whatever your reason may be this year to celebrate, what’s a party without the booze?
For the next few weeks I’ll be posting some holiday cocktails for you guys to try this season — this week I’m featuring ...

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 My favorite holiday of the year is hands down, Thanksgiving.  Growing up, my family didn’t have many Thanksgiving traditions – it was a foreign holiday that we never really embraced.  But I’d always dream about what kind of Thanksgivings I’d have when I grew up: the perfectly browned turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato casserole with those nicely melted marshmallows on top, green bean casserole topped with crispy fried onions…the glory!
Once I headed off to college and pretty much had to ...

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Where do I even begin?  3 years ago I was in a scary place.  After graduating college, everything was uncertain; I had no intention of pursuing my major and ultimately went after something I’ve always loved: cooking.  At one point my mother was trying to convince me to become a candle-maker.  Don’t ask, it’ll just make this more awkward.  The point is, no matter how busy or difficult things became in life, I always made ...

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Before I make your bellies grumble with a Tim Byre’s inspired recipe from Smoke, I’d like to take a moment to share with all of you a very exciting project that I’ve been working on with friends for the past 2 years.  I introduce to you: 1-2 Simple Cooking, a cooking show designed for singles and couples where I teach you the secrets of becoming an efficient home chef.  Our goal is to encourage people ...

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It’s a common belief that only children tend to be awkward, many times introverts and apparently always selfish.  Well whoever said that was obviously jealous- speaking from personal experience being the only child was pretty freaking awesome.
Sure I’m weird (I prefer quirky), and on some days I’m definitely one of the most introverted people you’ll ever meet and when it comes to food, you bet I’m selfish — DONT YOU BE TOUCHIN MY BROWNIES. Don’t ...

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It’s been a blistering hot Summer here.  At times I have trouble focusing, my head feels a daze as I watch the heat shrivel out the remaining life of our cucumber plants.  Day after day the temperatures soared past 100 even 105! How is that even legal?  It’s even unbearable to walk around barefoot anymore; the once soft plushy grass is now replaced with a crunchy yellow patch.  My feet strive for relief.
 
I can hardly ...

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Exciting news!  I am guest posting for Xiaolu at 6bittersweets this week.  Please check out my post and show her some love!
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I met Xiaolu this year through the wonderful World of blogging. I was initially attracted to her jaw-dropping photos on 6 Bittersweets and with time have discovered that her inner beauty was just as beautiful as her talent. She was sweet enough to bake me cupcakes on my birthday and even mailed me the ...

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Sometimes your fate is sealed for you, even before you realize it.  When we allow ourselves to search deep enough to find our true being, magical things can happen.  Dean Fearing, chef and owner of the highly acclaimed restaurant Fearings is joining us this week for our Sunday Brunch, featuring his famous Fried Quail with a fresh Heirloom Tomato Salad.
The legend begins in Eastern Kentucky right by the Ohio River where Fearing spent his childhood.  ...

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“Everyone has a doctor in him or her; we just have to help it in its work.  The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well.  Our food should be our medicine.  Our medicine should be our food.  But to eat when you are sick, is to feed your sickness.” – Hippocrates
I’d remember when my mother would look at my pimples during my not-so-sexy adolescent years and say ...

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