Jules and I talk every day. For real. Maybe a day or two has slipped by in the last twenty-five years, but those kinds of days are the exception not the rule. Our conversations are varied -- as you can imagine -- and cover everything under the sun. Some days we are super inspirational. Sometimes we can solve the world's problems in a single phone conversation. Other days we deem it a crying shame that the world isn't privy to our witty ...
Apple Cinnamon Pork Tenderloin in the Crockpot
Wanna know a little secret? Sometimes I don't post recipes because I don't have a pretty picture. Pitiful right? I was thinking about how selfish this is of me - keeping yummy recipes stashed in a mental file due to my personal problem with perfection. I'm trying to get over it. Bear with me. It's kind of like not inviting friends over because the house isn't clean. If I were to invite you over, would you come even if you knew you ...
Easy Homemade Tomato & Basil Soup
It's still blazing hot here in Austin. Way too hot to be thinking about soup. But, I had these beautiful summer tomatoes and two handfuls of fresh basil. What's a girl to do? Make soup and crank the air conditioner. When the Littles were still little, they had a funny way of finishing off our soup. They would raise their bowls with the last sip of soup to their lips and tilt their heads back to get every last drop with a gigantic ...
Mountain Strong Chili
We're Texan. Which makes us chili people. Some of our favorite recipes include: Chipotle Chicken Chili The Bestest Darndest Chili Chili Ike Bison Chili Vegan Chili {I know, right?} We love all kinds of chili, but serving chili for Thanksgiving? It's never been done 'round here. But, we are also Mountain Strong people. Inspired by an incredible story of hope and hospitality from our happy place at the YMCA of the ...
Pumpkin & White Bean Soup
Yum. This soup is autumn in a bowl. Savory, with a hint of heat from the crushed red pepper, you'll be warmed up and cozy in no time. It's a breeze to make and keeps well in the fridge so you can make it a few days in advance. I've served pumpkin & white bean soup in small mugs as an appetizer, with crusty French bread as a simple weeknight supper, and a double batch straight out of the crockpot {used for warming} for a Teacher ...
Crock Pot Sesame Chicken
One hour. You'd think it wouldn't be such a big deal, but we are still adjusting to the time change around here. My 5 am internal clock was most unwelcome at 4 am the last two days. Oy vay. I'm keeping things simple in the kitchen this week. Using my sous chef to do the work – my beloved crock pot. Fall Back Favorite One of our favorite crockpot meals is sesame chicken. The Littles love the sweet and tangy chicken piled high on ...
Kohlrabi and Lentil Soup
Each week in our CSA basket a funky looking veggie appears. The first year of our farm deliveries, I marveled at the mystery vegetable, scratched my head quizzically, and banished the purple—or sometimes green—bulb to the crisper in the dreaded 'other fridge'. The fridge intended for well-planned overflow, but in reality a landing spot where unused condiments like the pickles purchased last year for a 4th of July picnic linger until ...
Tortellini Soup {and an awesome iTunes playlist}
The Littles are wishing the rain away in Austin. Me? I'm cozy and content with the unseasonably cold, wet spring. It's a perfect Thursday morning to continue my spring cleaning, make a new playlist for our trip to Ireland, and simmer a big pot of a favorite soup on the stove. I made this soup all winter and the Littles triple heart love it. I double this recipe so it makes a big pot because the leftovers serve double duty as a yummy ...
Top 3 Chicken Wing Recipes: BBQ, Buffalo, and Sweet & Sour
In case you missed it Sunday is the Super Bowl. I don't know about you, but I can hang all Fall with middle school, high school, and college football. But the Super Bowl? As we say in Texas, I don't have a dog in this hunt. Our soon-to-be teenager son is pretty much singularly focused on football. Which is infinitely better than say being singularly focused on girls. We are biding our time on that one. When he asked if he could ...
Baked Potato Soup in the Slow Cooker
There is something about this soup that is just downright cozy. It's such a humble soup, with only a handful of ingredients. And, I bet you have most of these simple ingredients on hand. The smooth, creamy soup tastes just like a loaded baked potato, and the Littles love picking their favorite toppings. I love that a warm and hearty soup is waiting in the Crock Pot at the end of a long day. You can't beat a dinner that practically ...