“Did you make bacon?” This was said not really as a question but more of an accusation by my bff. As in did you make bacon and I didn’t get any how dare you. How. Dare. You. But no bacon was in sight (and not because it was in my belly). I stood there rolling out crackers as he kind of sniffed around like a basset hound (apparently a hound with a cold since his smell was off). He finally did break down and ask what I was making, and I said crackers. I got the no that’s not what I smell look from him but I followed up smoked cheese crackers…and the little light bulb went off. Trader Joe’s makes a blend of shredded smoked cheese that has a blend of smoked cheddar, Gouda, provolone, and mozzarella. It’s good stuff. Had seen on my time suck aka Pinterest people had made their own Gold Fish crackers and decided to give it a go with the cheese I had. These would have turned out much better if I wasn’t in such a rush. :) We had great baking weather on Monday but I had … [Read more...]
Simple New Years Eve with Sam’s Club…
(Blackberry and Sparkling Wine Geletina...yep that's dessert, not a drink!) I am a stay at home kind of gal when it comes to New Years. There is nothing better than filling up on food and wine and then only having to walk three feet to the bedroom. :) Sam’s Club asked a few of us bloggers to throw out some New Year’s Eve party ideas. My theme was Simple New Year’s Eve. Alright, definitely up my alley. I was all good with this until I found out I had to come up with decorations. Umm, Martha Stewart and Sandra Lee I am not. There are not table scapes in my future. So I panicked a little, until one day I came in and my dog (I leave the TV on for her) was watching a painting show on PBS. The lady was paining a bowl a fruit. And there I had it. Fruit is not only art, but edible…and so it began. Off to Sam’s Club I went to find as much fruit as I can. And what goes better with fruit, than cheese! You already know that Sam’s Club offers some great cheeses, I just had to narrow … [Read more...]
Push away the blues with Sam’s Club cheeses…
The first time I took my husband to a Sam’s Club he was in awe. See he had never been to one before. Or a warehouse club in general for that matter. He was of the consensus that a warehouse club meant rows and rows of 100 pound bags or rice and beans. So when he saw things like televisions, jewelry, pillows, tube socks, and what not he was a little like a kid in a toy store for the first time. I think a lot of people would be surprised what Sam’s Club has to offer. Especially since not everything is be in bulk like people think. Let’s talk cheese for example. I am fortunate enough to be in partnership now with Sam’s Club. And with that partnership came a LARGE box of cheese. Can you imagine? You come to the door and there is a large box of gourmet cheese just hanging out there. Calling your name. Free cheese. Free good cheese (disclaimer, in case you didn’t catch on Sam’s Club gave me 14 free cheeses). My mind was a little bit on overload, as well as my fridge at … [Read more...]
100 Miles….
There has been a lot of talk lately in the culinary world about the 100 mile diet. For those who don't know what it is, it is basically only eating food that has been grown or made within 100 miles of where you live. It all started from a book, Plenty: One Man, One Woman, and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally by Alisa Smith and J.B Mackinnon. Now if someone had asked me a few years ago if I could do this I would have laughed in their face. Arizona is not known for it's bounty of food. I could never have seafood again and I would be living on citrus. Moving to the Pacific Northwest is a whole other story. My first spring here was overwhelming to me, all this beautiful produce grown right here in my state, nothing I had seen in Arizona. Up until we moved here I had thought little of Pacific Northwest cuisine. I took a one night class on it and that was about it. We made salmon, pasta with Tillamook cheese and hazelnuts and something with Dungeness crab. The local chef up here are very … [Read more...]
