Puff Daddy. Spring continues to unfold in a somewhat ferocious fashion, here in the Boonies. We went from winter to summer in the space of about one week, back in March, reaching temperatures above 90º. Seriously, in March? That’s just wrong. And then it got cold again. And now, here we are, a teeny outpost …
This Grilled Mango and Blue Cheese Salad is a great salad to make when you’re grilling out. You can grill the mango right before or after you grill your protein. Just takes a moment to get that beautiful caramelization! And I love a great salad! (Especially if someone else is doing all the washing and …
In the Friday morning ladies group that I attend, we’ve been tossing around the phrase, “orphan mentality”. It touched a nerve for me. Because too often, I catch myself living like I’m an orphan. What do I mean? What is an “orphan mentality”? And where did we even come up with this terminology? The …
While I was at Blissdom, I had the opportunity to connect with the nice people who make Alberto VO5 hair care products. Not only did they have samples for us, they acquainted us with more info about the product that was news to me. For instance, did you know that the “5” in Alberto VO5 …
This recipe for Goat Cheese Mac and Cheese with Rosemary, Roasted Garlic and Chicken Skin Bacon is the best Mac and Cheese I’ve ever had! It’s savory, creamy, and tangy, with a deep herbal note from the fresh rosemary and the rich, slightly sweet complexity of roasted garlic. And let’s not forget the crispiness of …
Ashley Judd. Image from here. Ashley Judd recently wrote an excellent article in response to a viral discussion of her physical appearance. HER APPEARANCE. I want you to pause for a moment, and imagine what it might feel like to have a large number of people in the media having an online discussion critiquing YOUR …
Are you a big country music fan? Me, neither. 😀 Well, at least, I didn’t USED to be. I hated country music my entire youth. And then…. I moved to Nashville. Music City, USA, right? I started listening to country music a lot back in the ’80’s when I first moved to Nashville because I …
Denny Jiosa is back as my guest poster today, with another awesome Wine Tutorial. In this post, Denny is selecting some wines that pair perfectly with one of my standard stand-by recipes, Roast Chicken. Take a look at Denny’s selections and suggestions. I think you’ll be glad you did. Welcome to the second installment of …
Good news for my readers! I have a brand new Wine Tutorial in the chute, written by my friend Denny Jiosa, that is almost ready to be published, and this one has some recommendations for wines that would pair nicely with my Roast Chicken recipe. So if you’ve ever wondered what kind of wine to …
Lord and Lady Boonie living their Wild Life in the Woods. You know it’s spring here in the Boonies when the turkeys start showing up in your “yard” on a daily basis. (Well, we CALL it a yard. But it’s not really a yard. It’s the woods.) Turkey hunting season doesn’t begin in Tennessee till …
Come to the Edge: a love story by Christina Haag recounting her relationship with John F. Kennedy, Jr. Come to the Edge is a memoir, written by actress/author Christina Haag. This book arrived on my doorstep because from time to time I participate in a book club/Twitter party with Andrea Katz, of Great Thoughts. Andrea must have …
What would it be like if every morning, when I woke up, one of the first thoughts that came to my mind was how deeply I am loved, cherished and completely accepted by the Father? What would it be like if I didn’t just know in my head, but actually believed in my heart, that …
This Double Chocolate Layer Cake is dark, deeply rich, and insanely moist, with a ganache on top, for those who simply can’t get enough chocolate. Because, for some of us, too much is not enough. It’s a Gourmet Recipe I’d also like to tell you that this is my “own” recipe, as if I came …
My husband and I threw a dinner party Friday night. You might wonder at our audacity, since the last time I threw a dinner party, a rattlesnake showed up as the uninvited guest. The Uninvited Guest from our last dinner party. (Could I make this stuff up? And yes, this is the picture to prove …
This recipe for Loaded Baked Potato Leek Soup with Bacon is better than most recipes I’ve seen for Potato Soup, because it has LEEKS in it. Leeks are my husband’s favorite: they lend a subtle sweet under-note to this outrageously rich, delicious, savory soup. My Irish Root(s) Vegetable Loaded Baked Potato Leek Soup with …