• Guacamole salad

    guacamole salad

    When I was in elementary school (probably around second grade?), my family went to Kansas to visit some relatives. The first night, we stayed in Witchita, and my dad uttered a sentence none of us have ever forgotten: “When we’re on vacation, you can order whatever you want.” I had a giant bowl of guacamole […]

  • Bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin

    bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin

    Do you guys remember those “Pork: The Other White Meat” commercials from the 80s? Apparently they worked pretty well, because every time I see the word “pork” — even in regard to wasteful spending in Washington — I think of that phrase. But I didn’t really eat a ton of pork as a child, I […]

  • Pumpkin-gingerbread trifle

    pumpkin trifle

    Despite the unseasonably warm temperatures in southern California, it’s October and therefore pumpkin season. I do like a pumpkin spice latte on occasion, but I prefer pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and other things that actually contain pumpkin. So when Toby suggested I make a trifle, my mind immediately went to pumpkin. I thought about doing […]

  • Macaroni and cheese (no béchamel required)

    macaroni and cheese with cheez its

    I think we can all agree that homemade macaroni and cheese is awesome. But it can be a bit of a pain (and a mess) to make. This recipe gives you the deliciousness of homemade mac and cheese, with significantly less work, less mess and less stress than a version that involves making a huge […]

  • Tea at the Aubrey Rose Tea Room

    tea pots

    I’m sure you’ve noticed that I am a certified tea fanatic, and going somewhere for afternoon tea is my favorite. Thank goodness I have friends and family who will indulge my tea and scone addiction, or I would just be stuck drinking a pot of tea by myself in my house every day (like usual). […]

  • Banana bread oatmeal

    banana bread oatmeal

    Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but I have never been very good at eating it. Besides the fact that I am rarely hungry in the morning, I also disliked nearly every breakfast food you can imagine when I was growing up. I was a pleasure to deal with, I’m sure. […]

  • Tiny pecan pies

    teeny tiny pecan pies

    Miniature food isn’t always tastier than regular-sized food, but it’s almost always cuter. Evidence? Tiny hamsters eating tiny burritos. But this post isn’t about adorableness. This is about pecan pie. In my experience, pecan pie is frequently relegated to Thanksgiving or Christmas, and not enjoyed year-round. That is a travesty, really, because the combination of pecans, […]

  • Grown-up cherry vanilla Coke

    alcoholic cherry vanilla coke

    I’ve always been Team Coke. Even though I didn’t grow up in the South, I have always referred to fizzy soft drinks as Coke — not “pop” or “soda.” And I really dislike the taste of Pepsi. What is really annoying, though, is when people try to tell me I can’t tell the difference between […]

  • Cincinnati Bengals cookies

    tiger stripe football helmet cookies

    Toby grew up a Bengals fan, and when we got married I became a Bengals fan by extension. It helps that several awesome Georgia Bulldogs now play for the Bengals (including Geno Atkins, Robert Geathers and A.J. Green). And that they signed a previously released player to the practice squad to to the practice squad […]

  • Breakfast biscuit bar

    biscuit bar

    The waffles were delicious. They really were. But building a make-your-own waffle bar is a mess and kind of a pain. The timing is a challenge, because you don’t want the waffles sitting on the table for too long, or they’ll get cold and a little soggy. And having to make the waffles separately is […]