Stuff and Links {April 2014}

I hate it when I don't have a recipe prepared to share. Especially when it causes a lag in posting. For the record, when that happens it usually means I've been too busy cooking to go through the many, many steps required to put together a blog post, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Either that, or I've been super lazy, which happens on occasion as well.

But not having a recipe doesn't mean I don't have something to say. I almost always have something to say -- just ask my husband.

I haven't done a "Stuff & Links" post for a while, so I thought I'd put together some of what's been happening in both my food and non-food world!

Things I've Eaten:

Have you seen these? I happened upon them at Target and had to pick one up -- mostly because I'm a sucker for cute packaging and I happened to enjoy theirs. It's basically apple sauce. Chunky applesauce with fancy flavors. I liked it so much that I was slightly shocked. I was also shocked that the price was $2.50 per packet... but I guess it's either cute/tasty or cheap/unimpressive. You can't have it all.

I cannot get enough of tomatoes, cucumbers & hummus lately {my favorite is Aramouni -- it's a local brand they sell at my Whole Foods. I don't know what they put in it, but it's addictive.} And pineapple, grapes and frozen bananas {I use them for making the creamiest, most delicious "shakes" ever.} I love it when my food cravings happen to be healthy.

I figured out how to make the tastiest "DIY Instant Oatmeal". I don't have the exact measurements for you {otherwise, that would probably be the recipe I share today}, but basically I combine quick oats, chia seeds, cinnamon, and a tiny bit of brown sugar with almond milk, zap it for 90 seconds in the microwave, and add in yummy things like walnuts and bananas. So good. Not difficult. No weird additives. Score.

Things I've Been Cooking/Baking

I made this Strawberry-Coconut Tart for a friend's birthday last week. Isn't it beautiful? I adapted it from Willow Bird Baking's Strawberry Coconut Cream Pie Bars recipe and it worked out perfectly.

Have you ever made a gougere? Don't be fooled by the French name -- it's a cheese puff. It is probably one of the easiest  fancy-sounding things you can make. They're so good, and you can shape them however you want. Like these that I formed into "carrots" for Easter. I loved how they looked. Here's a basic recipe for them. {I made mine with Cabot sharp cheddar and fresh chives.}

I made a cake for Easter. It's King Arthur Flour's Chocolate Cassata Cake. I was thrilled with how quickly it was coming together, and then I somehow read the measurements wrong and used way to much milk, which I decided to "correct" by adding extra flour. In the end, it came out more like a brownie than a cake, but it was still ok. The frosting though... good grief. I could have eaten it off the cake with a spoon. I think I will find other things I need to frost so I can make it again soon.

Other Random Things

- I have mastered the art of dismantling a pineapple with minimal waste. Is this something you'd be interested in learning? Because I don't want to bore you, but man, has life gotten easier ever since I figured it out.

- In just a few short weeks, I'll be joining a bunch of food bloggers in Miami for BlogHer Food 2014! I can barely contain my excitement.  My last conference was almost exactly a year ago in Orlando for Food Blog Forum. I can't imagine anything could top that fun, but I will give BlogHer Food a chance to try. ;) Prepare yourself for some long recap posts and an Instagram feed full of foodie celebrities!

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- Three of my recipes were selected for the next Foodie Recipes Cookbook App! You should check it out if you haven't already, it's fabulous! I also have a few recipes being shared in upcoming issues of a few magazines... I'll share more about that when I have them in hand! It's so surreal when I get to see my hard work in print, or even digitally by some respected sources. I can't thank you enough for the support you give me that gives me the confidence it takes to continue reaching for my dreams. :)

See? I told you I'm never at a loss for words. If you're ever curious about what I'm up to when I haven't been posting on the blog, you can follow along with my daily musings over on Instagram where I keep things pretty current! And since we're talking social media, don't forget that my Facebook page also still exists though there's not nearly as much action over there as there used to be thanks to algorithms I don't care to understand. :P

I hope everything is well in your world and hope to have a recipe to share soon! xo

Oh, Paula...

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Well, it's time to get all serious on you. {Hey, you in the back, please stop giving your neighbor bunny ears.}

I know, I know. You came here for cake, not for a lecture. But bear with me since this relates to our favorite topic around here: yummy food.

As I'm sure you've probably heard, Ms. Paula made a big announcement last week that has really set off an interesting reaction from the masses. She shared publicly that, three years ago, she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Now, I have to tell you that I actually am quite fond of Paula Deen. She is loveable. She is flawed. She is real. She seems like the type you'd want to be around for a good laugh or a great buttermilk biscuit. Like a sweet, nutty Aunt or neighbor that knows exactly how to cheer you up.

That said, I also realize that the food she has built her multi-million dollar industry upon leaves a lot to be desired in the nutritional department. She turns the food pyramid upside down on it's head and suggests creamed corn and fried okra count as healthy vegetables. {I wish they did, too, friends.}

But let's be real. We know that the woman cannot possibly believe that. We know that throughout the years, there's a good chance that she has been advised and counseled on her personal eating habits and has quite possibly been given access to professionals that help direct her in not keeling over live and in person on the set, with a stick of butter in her hand. {That might drop ratings, huh?}

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So, why are people freaking out about her so-called "dishonesty"? Is it because she should have come clean about the true effect of years spent eating Southern fare?  Is it because she is now profiting from being the spokesperson for a pharmaceutical company that sells diabetes medication? Would her honesty really have stopped anyone from making poor food choices? We have known for years that junk food = unhealthiness = medication unless you commit to change. Yet, obesity in our nation is still at an all time high.

The expectation for her to bring her deep-fried image to a halt after years of success bolstered by that very premise puzzles me. She was hired to come into our living rooms and weasle her way into our affections with warm, cheesy grits.  When I turn on Paula's show, I watch knowing what I'm about to get. It's the place I go when I want to get recipes for something naughty. {And half the time, I don't even use as much butter as she calls for!} Changing from Paula's Home Cookin' to Paula's Wholesome Cookin' just wouldn't have the same ring {or quite frankly, credibility}, and let's face it, the same viewership.

Being mad at Paula is like pulling through the McDonald's drive-thru daily and then getting upset when cholesterol levels rise and pants don't fit. Or like putting celebrities who drink, smoke, and do drugs on trial for giving the impression that their bad behavior is safe for us to mimic because you can still be rich, famous, good looking AND stoned out of your noodle. {Ahem, Mr. Sheen}

Perhaps what has really caused this reaction to Paula's news is fear. A sinking feeling of accountability that has struck hearts and stomachs around the nation. The realization that even if we are eating copious amounts of fat and sugar because that's just what Southerners do or because someone told us it tastes real good, we are still putting ourselves at higher risk for illness. The thought that we have to take personal responsibility for our actions or we may be in real trouble.

So tell me, should I put a warning label on every recipe I share on this blog that exceeds daily caloric limits? {Sometimes I actually do. Despite all the sugar and fat, my husband & I are actually pretty healthy eaters.} I give my readers the benefit of the doubt because I feel like they're smart enough to know that "treat" really means treat.

I know not everyone feels the same, and I can understand the other points of view, but I just thought I'd bring up an important topic and see if anyone cares to chime in.

Regardless of your opinion, I hope you will always continue to do what is right for your situation so that you can live your best life. Make it count, y'all! ;)