All posts filed under: Food & Drink

Pretty In Pink: Rosé… A Great Summer Wine!

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Hi friends! It’s the weekend! Did you know that the second Saturday in June has been declared National Rosé Wine Day? That makes today, Saturday, June 9th the perfect time to drink pink! As we heat up for summer us red wine drinkers must reconsider our friends Cabernet and Merlot. I often put my Cabs away in the summer unless enjoying a hearty steak dinner from the grill. And, I’ll chill my Merlot a bit to make them a little more refreshing. But, a great alternative to both of these is the lovely Rosé, on the dry side for me, of course. There’s even a sparkling Rosé for my Champagne lovers out there! A rosé’s color does not directly correlate with its taste. “Darker rosés may have more body than paler rosés, which could be appealing to those who prefer red wines,” says Doug Bell, the Atlanta-based global beverage buyer for Whole Foods Market. “But often paler blush wines have surprisingly complex aromas and flavors that can linger long after you’ve taken a sip.” In …

Did You Know Hummus Had A Day?

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Oh hummus, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways! Including the countless number of ways you can be prepared! See recipes below. Also Mother’s Day this year, May 13th is International Hummus Day. International Hummus Day is a relatively new holiday. It was started in 2012 by a young entrepreneur named Ben Lang, with the goal of creating “a holiday around food that could bring people together from around the globe”. Hummus comes from the Arabic word meaning “chickpeas” and the complete name of the prepared spread in Arabic is hummus bi tahina which means “chickpeas with tahini”. Long enjoyed in Middle Eastern and North African countries, hummus has really grown in popularity in the US in recent years. In 2006 hummus was present in only 12 percent of American households and today it’s estimated that nearly 67 percent of US households consume hummus regularly. We eat hummus around my house fairly often. My husband is Armenian (born in Lebanon) and pretty much grew up eating hummus. So is hummus good for …

Are You Ready For Some Football? Party Foods That Is…

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The big game is almost here! The Super Bowl. Heard of it 😉 Whether your team is in the big game or not, whether you are a fan of football or not, or whether your just interested in the commercials, it’s very likely  you may need to make food for guests coming over or take a dish to share at a party. Get your shopping list ready! Here are a few of my favorites from around the web to get you thinking, and salivating: For you Patriots fans how about some Lobster Rolls! Who doesn’t love a lobster roll? These look and sound delish! This recipe comes from Chow Hound. Rooting for the Eagles? How about these Philly Cheese Steak Sliders from Cooking and Beer! When I was pregnant with my first child I crave Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches. I could have gobbled up several of these bad boys in one sitting 🙂 Maple Bacon Popcorn from Grandbaby Cakes – Oh so decadent and AMAZING! Thank you Jocelyn for creating this tantalizing treat for the …

What to Eat In January: Seasonal Produce Guide

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Happy New Year everybody! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. It always seems to go by so fast and things get kind of hectic. I know I’ve been like crickets over here with the holidays, but I am trying to get back in the swing of things with the blog so I hope you check in often. And, please share with your friends. I would love to grow my blog this year! I am kicking off 2018 with a Seasonal Produce Guide. I hope to provide you with a list each month highlighting what is in season, along with some recipes you can try. Seasonal Produce Guide for January is all about potatoes, and citrus. It is a New Year so start it off right by eating the freshest foods available. That means buying as many things seasonal as you can.   Eating foods that are in season has it’s benefits. More vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. There are many good reasons to eat seasonally but the two really big reasons are, it’s good …

Easy Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup in The Slow Cooker

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Summer was back, but it’s on the way out again! Here’s an easy beef and vegetable soup to warm you up when the temperatures drop. It’s a cool weather favorite around our house! My grandma used to make this soup on the stove top, but I love the ease of throwing everything into the slow cooker so I can set it and forget it! Ingredients:  1 pound lean ground beef 1 medium onion, chopped 3 cups of water 3 medium red potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch cubes 1 can (14.5 oz) Italian diced tomatoes, undrained 1 can (11.5 ounces) V8 juice 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup chopped carrots 1 cup frozen corn 2 cups frozen green beans 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes 2 teaspoons dried basil 1 bay leaf Salt and pepper to taste or approximately 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper Elbow macaroni (optional) Prepearation: In a non-stick skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, drain. Stir in salt and …

A Thanksgiving Day Roundup: Hostess Gifts, Recipes, Wine Pairings, and More!

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It’s almost here! A day for family, friends, football, and FOOD! Also know as Thanksgiving. This is surely one of my favorite days of the whole year! I absolutely love the food and the time with family and friends! It’s an all day event for sure starting with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning, followed by football games, the big meal, and ending the day with a classic holiday movie and another round of turkey 😉 And all day the house smells heavenly! If you are still looking for some Thanksgiving day inspiration, I have rounded up a few things from around the Internet to help make your Turkey day a success! Tablescapes, hostess gifts, movies, and more! Hosting Thanksgiving at your house and looking for some decorating inspiration? Some top designers share their tips at My Domaine. Going to someone else’s house for Thanksgiving this year? Need a Hostess gift that isn’t wine? I love these 10 Affordable Hostess Gifts at Apartment Therapy!   Recipes galore and other Thanksgiving tips can be found …

Cook This Weekend: 5 Slow Cooker Recipes For Fall That My Whole Family Loves

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Yea! It really feels like fall in Houston this week and this weekend is supposed to be even cooler! When the temperature drops it’s the perfect time to get your slow cooker (crock pot in the south 😉) out and make some warm, comforting soups, stews, and other dishes that you might not cook in the warmer summer months. I love the ease of cooking a meal in the slow cooker. After a little prep while the kids are at school you can set it and forget it from 5 to 8 hours depending on the recipe. It makes dinnertime, and cleanup, a breeze. Oh, and don’t forget the aromas that fill the house throughout the day! Below I wanted to share with you some of mine and my family’s favorite fall and winter slow cooker recipes. Really I cook some of these year round, but when the temperatures dip they are way more pleasing! Just this week I made the red beans and rice and the taco soup. Today I’m throwing the lentil soup …

15 Dog Friendly Restaurant And Bar Patios in Houston

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The official start to fall has arrived and we are finally experiencing more pleasant temps in Houston! Ahhh…..Patio weather! Those fleeting couple of months where us Houstonians actually want to sit outside and enjoy the beverage of our choice, some grub, and people watching. Who better to invite for dinner, or brunch, and drinks than your dog? Don’t you think he (or she) would love to join you on a patio somewhere, drinking something cold, and mingling with other dogs and dogettes! Who can say no to that face! Thanks to the foundation of Paws on Patios in 2010, Houston restaurants can obtain city permits to allow dogs at outdoor tables. This initiative finally put Houston in line with other Texas cities that already had a similar permit program in place. Woof woof!! You love your dog, don’t you? Take that puppy out for some fun! Here are some Houston area restaurants and bars that welcome your furry friend. Just check ahead with these establishments to make sure their dog policy hasn’t changed. And, if you have …

Fig-licious: Recipes to Try with Figs

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Hi friends! Is it cooling off where you live? Not so much here in Houston yet. Though the day time highs have dropped a little bit. I am looking forward to the first cool front to blow through and bring us some cooler temps. I love when that first hint of Fall is here and the season starts to change! Another thing that I love about this time of year is that big, juicy figs are available in the supermarkets and at the local farmer’s markets! As a kid growing up in Louisiana my grandmother had a couple of fig trees in her yard. I realized from an early age how much I loved figs. I’d go right outside and pick them from the tree! I’m pretty sure I didn’t even take them inside to be washed off! After all, it was the 1970’s, we were out in the country, and they were washed by Mother Nature! You can trust her, right 🙂 Figs aren’t just delicious, they’re  nutritious too. They are high in fiber …

Around Town: Helen In The Heights Brings The Tavernas Of Greece To Houston

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This past Friday my friend Courtney and I enjoyed a late lunch at Helen in The Heights. Courtney and I have been friends for a few years and share a passion for travel, great food, and discovering new places. You should check out her Insta @Hiptrip52 for traveling on trend in Texas! Back to Helen… Nestled in a 5-story red brick building known as 1111 Studewood Place Helen is a modern Greek taverna offering traditional Greek cuisine and regional Greek wines. This sister restaurant to Helen Greek Food and Wine is just shy of 4 months old, but this ‘little sister’ holds it’s own and more with it’s taverna style menu and vast all Greek wine list! Upon entering Helen you’ll feel welcomed by the fabulous interior designed by Erin Hicks. Stained concrete floors, red brick walls, rustic chandeliers, exposed air ducts, inviting banquettes, and even a wall of faux greenery in the rear of the restaurant. Designer Erin Hicks was aiming for “a traditional taverna feel with deep blues, brick, whitewashed wood, and replicas …