The Best Thing I Ate Last Month

The best thing I ate last month was...

The Best Thing I Ate Last Month

 

The best thing I ate last month was... 

The Best Thing I Ate Last Month

Lazy Dog's Butter Cake

 Last month, after meeting a few girlfriends for a church event, we decided to get dinner...

Dreaming of Charcuterie Boards

The Iberian Pig

This weekend while dining out, we ordered a charcuterie board, and now I want to make one...

Trying New Things

 I admit. I'm not always willing to try new things...

On Photographing Food

Almost every day, without fail, my friend and I exchange food pictures...

The Best Thing I Ever Ate

The best thing I ever ate was...

What Have You Missed Most?

What is the first thing you'll do when this quarantine is lifted?

Are you just dying to eat out at your favorite restaurant? What loved one or friend will you see first?

I've really missed eating out. Of course there's still take-out, but it's not the same as sitting at a table and having a hot meal placed in front of you. I love cold and soggy fries...said no one ever!!!

My family and I miss our trips to get our favorite burgers and fries. I love mine dressed with onion straws, jalapenos, cheese, lettuce, tomato, ketchup and mayo.  I know this is something we're all looking forward to, especially Buddy Roller who always gets a root beer float. 

I've been dreaming of tacos, chips and salsa!

And...I really miss spicy Indian food! My friend and I love to visit this restaurant and have their lunch buffet.  I don't typically do buffets, but I made an exception for this place.  We always eat way too much and hardly have any room left for their delicious rice pudding and flan.  This comfort food always hits the spot!

How I Came to Love Spaghetti

Growing up in Jamaica, our meals always consisted of the traditional ones. You know, curry chicken, oxtails, stew chicken, curry goat, jerk chicken, rice and peas, fried plantains, Escovitch fish, bammy, fried festival and dumplings, ackee and saltfish, beef patties, boiled yam and bananas, and so much more. My family never veered too far from the norm. But then a move to the states changed everything...

On Food Trucks

Regarding food trucks. Three words. I support them...

What I'd Like for Dinner Tonight

A ginger, lime, and honey seltzer from W.H. Stiles Fish Camp.

It Lasted Only 12 Days

I tried.  And I was doing really well.  I was eating lots of fruits and vegetables. In between meals, when I felt hungry, I would reach for a fruit or nuts instead of junk. I was doing well.  Even when there was bad food around me, I held strong and resolved to say "no." And it worked. I was determined.

I discovered a few things these last 12 days.  One.  I was over-eating way too much. Two. I don't have to have dessert and I can go without it. I did it for 12 days, and I survived. Three.  Eating less made me feel lighter, and I had more energy. Compared to over eating which made me feel lazy and sluggish.  I'm so glad I was able to do this for 12 days. I love what it feels like to eat healthier and it beats how I used to feel.

But then.  Thursday night came. I went to a meeting at my church and they had these irresistible pistachio macaroons, and I wanted to try them. Have you ever had them? They are delicious! Also, my mom is in town and she made one of my favorite dishes...stew peas...plus another favorite. Her pound cake! These I could not turn down.

And yes, this is a setback.  A minor one. I won't eat like this every day. I'll be eating healthier most of the time. Maybe I'll just take a little break.  Every 12 days.

Family Dinners

Best conversations are had over dinner.

A Cup of Hot Nutty Goodness

Green tea with hazelnut creamer...yum!

After Eating Out A Lot...

There's nothing like home cooked meals.

No More Holiday in a Cup

No eggnog lattes...chai will do.

How It Should Be On Sundays

One of the things I've been missing most in my life since moving away from my mom is Sunday dinner. I've missed how it should be every Sunday...a full house, with my mom and sister cooking and contributing to the feast. Talking. Laughing. Family together.  What could be better than that?

And today, I got to be in the middle of the preparation for Sunday dinner with both my mom and sister. It was priceless as we tried to prepare many dishes while maneuvering our way in my very small kitchen.

We prepared several dishes. There was my mom's famous fried chicken, my sister's Cajun chicken, garden salad, garlic zucchini with Parmesan cheese, my honey Teriyaki jerk salmon, a big pot of rice and peas, and of course dessert...pumpkin pie and double chocolate marshmallow cookies.

But it was less about the food...even though everything was delicious.

It was more about family.  Even Buddy Roller was enjoying quality time with his Uncle Rich! This day was special.  It's what I've been missing.

And it's how it ought to be...every Sunday.

TGIF - I Really Live for Fridays

I  have seriously missed blogging, but things are really busy right now. I think I've bitten off more than I can chew with work and taking a graduate level course. But you know what? There is never a dull moment, and I've been quite happy most of the time juggling everything.

On the home front, things are also running smoothly.  The Hubs and I worked out a new schedule that suits every one.  We are all able to get more sleep, making us all happier at the end of the day. Love that we were able to see this error and make a change that really benefits the whole family.

The weather has cooled down quite a bit here in Hotlanta! Fall is really making its presence known.  You can feel the cool crisp air early in the morning and even during early evening. I'm looking forward to the many fall festivities with family and friends.

And now that it's cooler, I can really start to enjoy hot treats like tea with sugar and milk..like they do in Jamaica.

And here are just a few silly photos taken this past week. Buddy Roller, who by the way is Batman this year, is super excited about Halloween. So we stopped by a local costume store and had a little fun trying on hats and masks and other things.

Have a wonderful, restful weekend, and make it count.  Monday is just around the corner!

Food For Thought

As I was getting dressed for school this morning, I was listening to NPR as I typically do. I heard an interesting report that says looking at pictures of food can, to some extent, make you feel satisfied.

I so disagree!

According to "new" research, that I'm obviously not buying, some volunteers were shown many, many pictures of salty food and they found that they enjoyed these foods less and less.

Salty food...I'm no fan of, but show me pictures of any delicious looking meals and desserts and I start salivating right away. In fact, looking at pictures of food only makes my cravings that much more intense.

Case in point...

I don't know about you, but every time I watch the Food Network...Barefoot Contessa, Giada At Home and especially Diners Drive-Ins and Dives...I actually want to eat everything I see!

So... are these pictures making you feel satisfied and less hungry?

Uhmmm...I'm actually feeling like I could eat a good meal right now!

And don't forget dessert! Are you hungry yet? I know I am!

A Compromising Meal

Don't ever make a promise to a four year old.

Especially one you don't intend to keep.

And not specifically to an extraordinary little someone we call Buddy Roller.