The Good Life

Homeowner Happiness

2011-04-11T05:55:00.000-07:00

The Edwards' have moved! The move itself was pretty terrible (we WILL hire movers next time...), but we have had the best time settling in. I have even discovered that I enjoy yard work when it is my own yard that I am taking care of. I voluntarily whent to Home Depot three times last week! While I do NOT consider myself to have a green thumb (I scorched my basil three times last summer), I have turned over a new leaf and am determined to be attentive to the things we have planted. It is so much fun to watch all the pretty things coming up in our yard. We lucked into a house that was very well maintained and has some great features. It has been so neat to have a home to work on together that we take pride in and really enjoy. We love to have visitors and are obsessed with our fire pit outside... so come on over and burn some sticks with us!

Living Room

Dining Room

Study off the dining room
(my favorite room- vaulted ceiling + painted brick + lots of built ins on opposite wall)
Kitchen
Breakfast Room
Bathroom
Big Upstairs Room
(not worth showing because we have no furniture up there yet)
Our Bedroom

Guest Bedroom (a major work-in-progress...)

One of my favorite features... screened kitchen windows that crank open to the outside!
We love our backyard
A few gardening endeavors...
Snapdragons
Planters in the front
(Japanese holly + petunias)

Even our dog/child feels perfectly at home

Going Granola

2011-01-14T06:09:00.000-08:00

If budget played no role in the formulating of my grocery lists, I think I would like to start shopping strictly at Whole foods and eating flax seed and almond butter and Greek yogurt and what not. But that is not what this post is about. I am not "going granola." This is actually a post about a homemade granola recipe that I tried, loved, and used for my homemade Christmas gifts.

I have never been a "granola muncher" (Urban Dictionary: someone who enjoys hiking on nature trails and bird watching. / Me: someone who likes granola) until I met Groovy Foods Granola at the Memphis Farmer's Market. At first, I would just grab a little sample bag each time I passed the booth... but then I started craving it... and it isn't cheap. While I still think Groovy Foods is better than this recipe I am about to post, and I know the ingredients they use are WAYYYY healthier (think safflower oil, cane juice crystals (?), brown rice syrup (?!?!), and carob)... I would argue that my granola achieves a flavor that is somewhat close... the key is salt. Try it out and see for yourself!
P.S. All of the ingredients for mine were purchased at Aldi (discount grocery store)... so it was super-duper cheap when I made it in bulk for Christmas gifts

French Chocolate Granola
(adapted from recipe by Orangette)

3 cups rolled oats
½ cup almonds, chopped (I used slivered b/c they are cheaper)
½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1 Tbsp. unsweetened Cocoa powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
salt (to taste- but I like the salty and sweet flavor so I used about 1 Tbsp.)
6 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/4 cup, or more, finely chopped dark or bittersweet chocolate
1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries (optional)

Preheat the oven to 300°F.

In a large bowl, combine the oats, almonds, coconut, sugar, cocoa, cinnamon, and salt. Stir well to blend.

In a small saucepan, warm the honey and oil over low heat, whisking occasionally – watch out! the oil will want to splash - until the honey is loose. Pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to combine well. I added the cranberries and cooked them with the granola.

Spread the mixture evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for about 20-30 minutes, or until golden. Set a timer to go off halfway through the baking time, so that you can give the granola a good stir; this helps it to cook evenly. When it’s ready, remove the pan from the oven, stir well – this will keep it from cooling into a hard, solid sheet – and cool completely. While still warm, I put about 1/2 of the chocolate on top and stir it all up... this gave the granola kind of a chocolate coating that I thought was nice... but you don't have to do that.

When cool, transfer the granola to a large bowl, storage jar, or zipper-lock plastic bag. Add the rest of the chocolate chocolate, and stir (or shake, if using a jar or bag) to mix.

Notes: I substituted Molasses for 3 Tbsp. of the honey in one batch (b/c I ran out of honey) and it was delightful... try it if you have Molasses around.

Don't be shy to add more sugar and salt if needed. I played around with this, tasting it periodically to get the right flavor.

This stuff can be used at breakfast, but also makes an awesome dessert. Put it on top of ice cream and you will be in heaven.

Our Little Sled Dog

2011-01-10T13:54:00.000-08:00

What a treat to have a snow day this morning! Having a husband on a snow day is fun, but having a doggie and a husband on a snow day is super fun... I can't imagine how much fun it is to have kiddos to play with on snow days... I will just go ahead and stop myself right now. So what did we do on our glorious day off...
- Got a sneak peak at the snow last night. Hank was not really a fan.

("save me")

- Started the morning with 30 Rock in bed... probably watched a total of 20 episodes this weekend. Can't get enough of that Liz Lemon.

- Snow walk #1... Hank wasn't ready to commit to a long walk, but we wanted to see our neighborhood before everyone got out and about and things got slushy.

(our snowy apt.)

(Hank kind of crept around for awhile... he really hates getting wet... too bad!)
(Price's idea)
(OUR FUTURE HOUSE!!!!! We move in Feb.)(Hank met two big friends... notice the tail between the legs)
Pretty houses in the Morningside Park neighborhood

- Breakfast time. Good thing Price's Christmas gift (4 lbs. of Benton's Bacon) arrived this week. There is no way to describe how deliciously smoky and salty this stuff is. Yum.

(can't you just hear it sizzle?)

(This bacon should be savored)

(Now time to add one more pair of socks for...)

- Snow walk #2... This time we hit up the beautiful Central Gardens. Hank got to wear his favorite dog fleece from Target. I don't know that it does much to keep him warm, but I kinda like to dress him up...!

(LOVED these berries)
... and that was about all Hank the sled dog could handle.

"Oh Brooklyn, Brooklyn, take me in"

2010-12-28T08:13:00.000-08:00

We just got back from a trip to the Big Apple. This was the first trip Price and have taken since our glorious honeymoon, and the first time I have visited New York since the incredible summer I spent there in 2007. I was not going to stand for being tourists on this trip. So I did my research. It wasn't until I tripped and faceplanted over a tree planter in Greenwich Village, distracted by the pocket map I was so discreetly trying to study, that I realized no matter how many times I visit this fantastic city I will always be a tourist... there is just too much to see and do! We had an absolute blast avoiding the crowds and exploring the city together. Here are some highlights:

DAY 1:

- Plane landed. Beelined to the Shake Shack's Upper West Side location. Price ordered the double cheeseburger that was to-die-for, but the Gingerbread frozen custard was most definitely the highlight.

- Hit up the Columbus Circle Christmas Market. There are lots of these around the city this time of year. Helpful hint: they are alllll the same... just go to one.

- Made our way down 5th Avenue. Helpful hint: Unless you enjoy walking at a turtle's pace, being jostled, pushed, and poked... DO NOT walk down 5th (or try to see the tree) on a Saturday afternoon during the month of December.

Despite my minor meltdown, the store windows were incredible and I was able to jump in with the other tourists to get a few pics.

Inside Bendel's

Bergdorf's

(I linked this one to a gallery of their displays bc my camera didn't do them justice)

Anthro (I LOVED this pinecone made of scraps and such)

Had to get a pic in front of "the tree". I like to think that Liz, Tracy, and Kenneth were inside engaged in their usual shennanigans when we visited 3o Rock.

- After this "event" we went back to the quaint Hotel Elysee, where hot coffee and delicious cookies awaited us every afternoon.

(Keep reading... this is where the trip gets good)

- For dinner we hit up Roberta's, a pizza place located in an old garage in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. This fantastic meal was in no part related to my meticulous planning. We were in the hands of our cool local Furman friends, Piper, Austin, Patton, and Edward. I am going through this brussels sprouts phase so naturally I enjoyed the "brusselmania" (pancetta, mozzerella, and brussels sprouts). But the "Cheeses Christ" (all kinds of cheeses with black pepper and honey on top) was also divine.

After dinner, the group decided to try out a new bar called "the Drink" in Williamsburg. I really enjoyed seeing the neighborhoods of Brooklyn. The Drink was AWESOME and unlike any bar I have been to. It is a "punch" bar with a nautical vibe. You order a bowl of punch (ours was called the Narwhal... it had gin, rosemary, lemon, and other stuff in it), it arrives in a crystal punch bowl with crystal cups straight from your grandma's dining room, and you share. It was not crowded at all AND they played an awesome selection of Otis Redding to make us feel right at home. After the Drink, we briefly crashed a random Christmas party, and I somehow got us home from Chelsea without a map.

Day 2

- Started the day off at Prune for brunch. Found out about this tiny East Village restaurant from the Amateur Gourmet and we HIGHLY reccomend it. We had to wait awhile to get a tiny spot at this tiny place, but it was so worth it. Price ordered the huevos rancheros. Delish. I ordered the spicy stewed chickpeas. Sounds weird, but it was heavenly. The eggs were poached and then "butter crumbed", which I think means rolled in crumbs and maybe flash-fried? Crunchy and soft all at once. The waitress called them "magic eggs". So great for a cold day.

- Next stop, the Brooklyn Flea Market. It's basically the Etsy store. All kinds of local vendors selling everything from vintage clothes to prints to bacon cupcakes (yum). We bought some really great prints from this lady.

- After the Flea (and lots of wandering around trying to find a train station), we headed to the Brooklyn Brewery. We drank some beer in their neat open space, watched a bit of the tragic Giants game, and took the tour. Enjoyed it so much, I even got over the fact that free beer was not a part of their tour. If you are ever there, we really enjoyed the citrussy IPA Blast.

- I am in LOVE with Brooklyn. I can't believe I spent 3 months in the city without properly exploring this part of town. If you are planning a trip any time soon, spend some time there.

- Dinner at Mesa Grill was good, so good that we ended up walking @30 blocks home to work it off. I love New York at night. I think the rolls they served and Price's chipotle beer were probably the highlights. We just love Bobby Flay and his take on southwestern cuisine.

Day 3

- Began our day in Greenwich Village, where the previously mentioned tree planter incident occured. It is my favorite part of town. Old buildings, pretty quiet, neat stores. We poked around and found my favorite paper store EVER (other than the Stovall Collection of course), Greenwich Letterpress.

- Lunch in Chinatown at the Excellent Porkchop House (also, thanks to the Amateur Gourmet's suggestions) was arguably our favorite meal of the trip. We got a porkchop, some stir-fried noodle dish, a huge bowl of wonton soup, and hot tea for the whopping price of $11. The wontons in the soup melted in my mouth. So good. Also stopped at a Chinese Bakery called Fay Da and enjoyed a delicious sweet potato roll.

(The soup was hot... that explains the weird face)
- The rest of the day was spent exploring and shopping. Ate guacamole and chips for dinner at Dos Caminos. In New York, calories don't count.

Day 4
- Tried to cram everything we didn't do in before reporting to the airport at 3. We were able to make it to ABC Carpet and Home so I could drool over everything I can't afford and found a more affordable home-goods store along the way called Fish's Eddy (I bought some great coasters that look like tree stumps.) We were even able to stop in Mario Batali's Eataly (amazing food store) for a brief minute just to peek. It is really really cool. Would love to have lunch there some day.

- Busted it back up town to the American Folk Art Museum (next to the MoMa). Glad we didn't have to pay to get in (they had water damage), because it was not that cool. However, if you are a quilter, weaver, or basket-maker you might think differently...

- Lunch was grabbed just outside the museum from the famous Halal cart at 56th and 6th. I have been wanting to try their food since my summer in the city, and Price demanded that we have at least one "street-meat" meal. It was fantastic. We ate it in the (very chilly) park. When I think back on this trip I will probably picture us shivering with runny noses in the park eating the steaming dish as quickly as possible. It was really a great meal.

There are some Halal imposters out there who pose as the "famous" halal guys... the trick is to look for the yellow sweatshirts and yellow plastic bags, then you know you are getting the famous stuff.

Pita, lamb, yellow rice, lettuce, white stuff, and hot sauce (YUM)
This trip was the perfect combination of relaxation and adventure. Price and I had a great time enjoying each others company after a busy semester. We love to travel and explore new places together and look forward to many more adventures together.

It was sad to leave the city, but exciting to come back home to Christmas with our families. It has been a great break with lots of fun surprises.

(I look forward to having some new blog material--- our new house (!!!!!!)--- in the future)

Back in the Kitchen

2010-11-14T16:47:00.000-08:00

After several months of our rotating spaghetti/enchiladas/couscous schedule, I decided to bid my recipe rut adieu and try some new dishes.

First up, Spanakopita. I made this because I have to present on the country of Greece for the Social Studies methods class I am teaching. For these presentations we all have to cook a food from the country. I was given a challenge from a fellow classmate a few weeks ago when he said after a few not-so-stellar food presentations, "you little newlyweds, y'all are so cute thinking you can cook." At that moment I decided I would teach him to think twice before messing with this little newlywed. So, on to the recipe. I was a little intimidated by the Fillo dough, but I was excited to have a reason to go to my favorite little local gem the Mediterranean International Market on Park Ave. Thanks to my bestie Ina Garten, the recipe was a breeze to follow and the results were delicious. Here is the link. We will see what my class thinks!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/spanakopita-spinach-triangles-or-pie-recipe/index.html

Here is another link that I found useful when folding them up, Price thinks the process is similar to making paper footballs... can't say I am familiar with that.
http://lldzines.com/spanakopita/folded.htm
Next up, Hamburger Bun French Toast.
I have a little crush on the Amateur Gourmet. His blog is excellent if you have never read it. I especially love his hilarious seasonal headers. We had some straggling hamburger buns hanging out in our kitchen and I remembered a blog post that Adam wrote about hot dog bun french toast. I did the same thing, except with hamburger buns. I added cinnamon, nutmeg, and a teensy dash of almond extract. It was delish.
http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2010/08/hot_dog_bun_french_toast.html
Lastly, White Bean Chicken Chili.
I knew it was going to get cold this weekend and I have had this recipe on hold for the perfectly crisp evening. I came across it on Jennifer Chandler's blog, http://cookwithjennifer.wordpress.com/. Jennifer is a fellow Memphian who is Le Cordon Bleu trained and has written two fantastic cookbooks, Simply Salads and Simply Suppers. This is a recipe that is easy to throw together, healthy, and delicious (the perfect combo if you ask me).
http://cookwithjennifer.wordpress.com/2010/02/13/white-bean-chicken-chili-2/

This weekend I have been reminded once again of how much I adore cooking. Price adores the cleanup... he really does... I promise.

My Little Artists

2010-11-12T10:46:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile. A lot has been going on lately, but nothing blogworthy. I haven't cooked anything decent in weeks. No DIY projects (check out my former roomie's blog if you want to see those). Haven't read any good books (but that's not unusual as I rarely read). Still smitten with Hank. HOWEVER, Mrs. Edwards art room has been a busy place. Teaching art is really fun and really messy. Definitely can't keep a manicure for more than 48 hours, but I can't afford those anyway! Here are some of the things my JK and SK boys have created this year.

JK- Mondrian line study using construction paper and oil pastel
SK- Kandisky art using tempera paint and oil pastel
JK and SK- Watercolor resist patterns using crayon and watercolor paints
JK and SK- Painted pumpkin patch
I LOVED this project (not so much the doing of it, but the finished product)... We talked about texture and color, painted paper using various texture tools (forks, sponges, race cars, etc.), cut them out, glued them on construction paper, and painted stems and vines.
I love fall!

wonderFALL

2010-10-12T18:40:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite time of year for a number of different reasons... top of the list are birthdays, candy corn, and pumpkin yogurt at TCBY. I also love the lighting, the colors, and sleeping with our windows open / not using our AC. Despite the allergy-induced hacking that I am plagued with at the moment, we have had a very pleasant fall thus far.

Here are some of the highlights...

Beautiful birthday flowers from Garden District

before birthday dinner at Restaurant Iris...
(love it even more now that I have tasted their Brussels sprouts salad with Benton's bacon)
My fall centerpiece... which I have almost completely eaten.
I would find a way to use candy corn in my decor...

A wonderful trip to Santa Rosa Beach with my family over fall break.

Last, but not least...
the AWESOME light blue pumpkin I purchased at the farmers market.
I can't stop looking at it. It even matches the dusty blue/green accents of our apartment. Apparently this Australian Blue variety tastes delicious. I probably won't be able to part with it till Christmas so it may or may not get cooked.

Other notable fall-ish things we are enjoying:
Gibson's pumpkin spice doughnuts
freshly baked pumpkin bread
football (...starting to like it)
roasted root vegetables
lighting spicy scented candles
Essie's fall nail polish line (try "Sew Psyched")
crisp walks on the Memphis Greenline with my besties

A lot more work and a little less play

2010-09-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

I bought a new USB reader on clearance at Target and my camera is back in business. Here is a visual update on what has been going on during the past two months.

Hank's 1st victim. He removed the squeaker and the ear.
Hank's second victim. He has not been left alone in the kitchen since.
Yum. Blinds sure do taste good.

Wedding of two sweet Furman friends in Decatur, AL.
So happy to have this precious friend back in the US.
First Day of School.
(a.k.a. Hank now hates his life b/c he spends half of it in a kennel)
We hosted a Back-to-School Party for some friends.
No pics of the friends, lots of the food. Priorities, Priorities, Priorities...

Food: guacamole, caprese skewers, and jalapeno poppers with hot honey mustard dip.
(Flowers and produce courtesy of none other than the Memphis Farmer's Market)

Oh how I LOVE to entertain!

The morning after our shindig...

Ole Miss / Vandy

Can you tell we love this little guy?
We often find Hank straddling the arm of our couch.
Seriously... we love him.

Clean-Out-the-Fridge Couscous

2010-09-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

Typically, when I go to the Memphis Farmer's Market I end up buying way more than we can eat because all the produce looks so pretty. So, I invented this recipe last week in an effort to use up the week-old tomatoes, squash, and eggplant sitting on my counter. It was so good, that we made it again this week. I purchased a big carton of couscous several months ago. Kind of expensive on the front end, but it sure is a good thing to have around for throwing together a meal. Price said last night, "I can't believe it has taken us this long to start making this." Easy, healthy, awesome.

Clean-Out-the-Fridge Couscous
- 3-4 tomatoes
-3 small yellow squash
- 3 small zuchini
- 1 eggplant
- 1 onion
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
-2 Tbsp. Balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp. salt
-1 tsp. pepper
- Cavender's seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups couscous (I used plain, but I also like the pine-nut flavored)
- 1 1/2 cups water
- Red wine vinegar
- fresh herbs/ feta

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. Chop vegetables. (I chopped them to be on the thick side, Price chopped them so they were thin and delicate. I think I would find a happy medium.) Place vegetables in a large zip-top bag or a mixing bowl. Toss with olive oil, Balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and Cavender's. Spread on a cookie sheet or jellyroll pan. Roast for 30-35 minutes, turning once. When I roast my veggies, I like for them to develop that nicely caramelized look which often means I keep them in there a bit longer. Remove veggies and prepare couscous according to package directions (equal parts couscous and water... season to taste). Stir veggies into couscous. Add Red-wine vinegar to taste. I also added a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, a little extra Cavender's, and some more salt and pepper. Top with freshly chopped herbs and feta or parm.

Enjoy it (we will be for the next three nights because it makes a TON)!

Chocolate Eclair Dessert

2010-08-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

Warning: The recipe I am about to post is addictively delicious and simple to make. Sissy (if you still read my blog), I think you might even be able to master this one. Proceed with caution.

Last week, someone at school made this delicious dish for another teacher’s birthday and put it in the workroom fridge. Don’t know if anyone else munched on it throughout the week, but I sure did. I have been craving this dessert everyday since, so I whipped some up the other night as a treat. It was sooo easy and sooo tasty. Price even willingly ate it for breakfast yesterday. 24 hours later, and not a trace remains. Should I make another batch over the weekend?

Chocolate Éclair Dessert

(Again, not my photo... dog ate my USB cord... courtesy of: http://familyfriendsandfood.blogspot.com)

Ingredients
- 2 sleeves graham crackers
- 2 (3 oz) packages of instant vanilla pudding mix
- 3 cups milk
- 1 (8 oz) container Cool Whip (thawed)
- 1 tub of chocolate frosting

Directions

Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch pan with one layer of graham crackers. In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Stir well. Stir in whipped topping to pudding mixture. Spread half of mixture over graham cracker layer. Top with another layer of graham crackers and the remaining pudding. Top all with a final layer of graham crackers. Place chocolate frosting in a bowl and microwave for 20 seconds to soften. Pour/spread over dessert. Refrigerate at least 2-3 hours.

PS. I have posted the original, more fattening, better-tasting recipe. However, I made it “low fat” by using half the icing, fat-free CoolWhip, sugar-free pudding, skim milk, and low fat graham crackers.

Where I plan to eat in heaven

2010-08-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

(photos in this post are from the restaurant website)

The time has come for me to write about my very favorite Memphis restaurant. I have dined at Restaurant Iris three times, and all three have been blog-worthy experiences. I don't know why I haven't written about Iris yet. Maybe it just seemed too lofty a task, since there are really no words to describe how much I enjoy this restaurant. Just the thought of the hand dived sea scallops can get me salivating the way Hank does every morning while I eat my cereal in front of him. I may or may not have shed tears over a dropped to-go box of leftover morsels of deliciousness, and my husband may or may not have a video of this. Without further ado... I will try to do Iris the justice it deserves in the blogosphere.

Opening in 2008, Restaurant Iris is fairly new on the Memphis scene. Chef Kelly English (be still my beating heart) serves up French-Creole cuisine in the quaint rooms of a renovated Victorian home in the heart of Midtown. In my opinion, the atmosphere and decor of Iris are just as fresh and beautifully executed as the food. This is a fancy establishment, but it isn't fussy. You do not have to whisper. The rooms are warm and inviting, and the artwork that hangs on the walls (particularly the display hanging right now) is incredible. I want all of the pieces pictured below plus some. (photo courtesy of the Iris website)

On to the food... Oh where to begin! I suppose I will start with the wine list. The list is large, the selections are unique, and there are affordable bottles available. Naturally, we air of the side of affordable. Both occasions we have "imbibed", the wine has been so good that I have written the name of the bottle down so I could purchase it in the future. Next, the amuse bouche. I love restaurants that have an amuse. You know they mean business when they offer this "small bite to tickle the tastebuds" (Food Lover's Companion). The amuses at Iris are delightful. And, I absolutely LOVE the square beveled glass plates they are served on. The bread has varied from delicious rolls to a light and crusty baguette. Always fresh out of the oven and always quickly inhaled... and they refill your bread plate with more hot bread. Appetizers. "The Lobster Knuckle Sandwich" is our personal favorite. It is divine.

We also thoroughly enjoyed "the Oysters Three Ways" (I had my doubts about the oyster bread pudding... amazing...) as well as the sweet corn griddle cakes with crab ravigote. On our next visit, we will definitely try the much talked about brussels sprouts salad. The main course. I really can only write about the one entree I have ordered at Iris... The dish of hand dived scallops accompanied by local peas, Allen Benton’s bacon, tomato, tarragon, and lemon is so perfect that I will never order anything else as long as it is on the menu. The melt-in-your-mouth scallops and the accompanying ingredients are a combination of light, creamy, and savory. The little bits of bacon lend a smoky flavor that is reminiscent of a campfire or Christmas or whatever intensely bacony flavor you can imagine. It is fatty and thick and to be savored with eyes closed. Price has devoured the surf and turf (strip steak stuffed with stuffed oysters and blue cheese) which was featured on the Food Network show "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" in March. It received rave reviews. He has also enjoyed the rack of lamb with veal sweetbreads, as well as the hangar steak served on a roasted poblano pepper. Much to Price's dismay, I have taken bites of all three of these dishes and give them my stamp of excellence as well. Dessert. Typically my favorite course at a restaurant, but Iris is so incredible that I am way too full to even go there. But we usually go there anyway. The brandy alexander is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Wow. The bread pudding is also incredible, and I am a tough critic when it comes to bread pudding.

(pictures of some of the dishes from http://acharmingday.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html)

To wrap up the longest post ever that is probably the most boring ever to anyone reading this who doesn't share my passion for Iris... let me say a word about the service. Jeff Frisby has waited on us twice and provides incredible service and suggestions. We were equally impressed by the waitress who attended to us the past time we went with my family. Chef English takes a break from the kitchen and makes sure to talk to each table. Who doesn't love personal attention?!?! I love that he is young, Southern, innovative, and that I see him chatting it up with the farmers and purchasing local fare at the Memphis Farmer's Market EVERY Saturday morning.

We eat on a tight budget, but Iris is certainly a treat that we will continue to enjoy at least annually.

Hot dogs and Easy Mac are on the menu at Restaurant Edwards this week…

Dessert Series Part III: Crunchy Cobbler

2010-08-10T04:17:00.000-07:00

Another dessert that I probably make too often is this incredibly easy cobbler recipe that I found in Southern Living, July of 2008. I love this recipe because it is so easy that after preparing it once I had committed it to memory... and that really makes me feel domestically legit. You can use any kind of fruit. I have tried it with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, and most recently fresh peaches from Jones Orchard. The topping is sugary and crisp. Make this today. You won't regret it.

Crunchy Cobbler

Ingredients

- 4 cups fruit (you can use frozen or fresh)
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 4-6 Tbsp. melted butter

Directions
Preheat oven to 375. In a bowl toss fruit with lemon juice, and a sprinkle of sugar if desired. Pour fruit mixture into a greased, square, glass baking dish. In a mixing bowl combine flour and sugar and egg until the ingredients form a cornmeal like mixture (when it looks like sand, it is ready). Spread mixture on top of fruit, patting down if necessary. Drizzle melted butter over cobbler. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until lightly browned and bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes. Serving it with Ice Cream is not optional, it's a MUST.

Dessert Series Part II: Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

2010-08-02T16:46:00.000-07:00

Remember that time I decided I would start a series of posts on my blog highlighting my favorite dessert recipes? Though I am notorious for starting things and not finishing them (just ask Price about his scrapbook), I am going to follow up my Part I with a Part II.

I decided to make ice cream with my lovely Cuisinart electric ice cream maker last week because (a) my brother got his wisdom teeth out, and (b) it is so dudgum hot in our apartment/Memphis/America. Perusing the internet for a recipe that my brother would love, I found this gem from Cooking Light. It is a breeze to throw together and so delicious that I have made it TWICE this week... don't judge... I had ingredients left over and gave most of it away. It tastes like the real deal.

Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

(This is not my picture, my camera is still out-of-commission)

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 3/4 cup)

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
1/2 cup bottled Key lime juice (such as Nellie and Joe's)
1/2 cup whipping cream
Dash of salt
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
6 graham crackers (1 1/2 cookie sheets), coarsely crushed, divided
Key lime wedges (optional)

Preparation

Combine first 5 ingredients, stirring with a whisk. Pour mixture into freezer can of an ice-cream freezer, and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. Stir 1/3 cup graham crackers into ice cream. Spoon ice cream into a freezer-safe container, and cover and freeze for 1 hour or until firm. Sprinkle each serving with 1 teaspoon graham crackers. Garnish with lime wedges, if desired.

Roasted Vegetable Ravioli

2010-07-25T05:02:00.000-07:00

I am always on the hunt for quick-cheap-healthy recipes. This combo of quick-cheap-healthy is quite difficult. When I am able to create a meal that is quick-cheap-healthy, I feel like I have really accomplished something. Like I am super-wife. Last night I threw together a ravioli dish before going to see Inception (great movie). We are in the end-of-the-month mode when we try our hardest not to eat out and to make do with what we have. This creation was one of our favorite get-rid-of-the-rotting-vegetables-in-the-fridge we have come up with. We will definitely be eating it again this week.

Roasted Vegetable Ravioli
- 2 small squash
- 2 small zucchini
- 1 onion
- handful of okra
- drizzle of olive oil
- drizzle of balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- salt and pepper
- frozen beef ravioli (I used Kroger generic- cheese would be good too)
- bottled marinara sauce
Preheat oven to 425. Slice vegetables into pieces of the same size. Place in a bowl or a large ziploc bag. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. Toss with red pepper, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Spread veggies in a single layer on a jelly roll pan. Roast veggies in oven for about 30 minutes, flipping with a spatula halfway through. Take out of oven and set aside. Prepare ravioli according to package instructions. Place back in pot and add marinara (probably around a 1/2 cup per serving ?) and veggies. Serve and enjoy.

Have any other quick-cheap-healthy recipes? Post up!!!

The Cool Kid

2010-07-19T04:50:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we discovered a dog park in our neighborhood. For those Memphians who might be interested, the dog park on Avery (just a seven minute walk from our place) is a great way to give your dog some time to exercise and socialize. The park is apparently an experiment by the city to see if it is the kind of thing they should build more of. It is located in an area with lots of city government buildings so that officials can monitor its use. (video about dog park) Since we are in an apartment without a fence, we wanted to find a place where we could take Hank and let him run without a leash. There is nothing fancy about the Memphis dog park: two fenced in areas (one for small dogs, one for big dogs), several benches, grass, and biodegradable bags for picking up after your pup. Our trips to the dog park have become a favorite part of our routine.
A night at the dog park:

Walk from apartment to park after dinner

Consider letting Hank play with the small dogs, but then opt for the big ones because they are more fun.

Hank walks/sniffs the perimeter of the park and is totally antisocial for about 15 minutes.
Price and I use our most encouraging "doggie voices" beseeching him to "go play, Hankie, go play." Why do we even worry?
Hank approaches other dog (from the back) or visa versa. They sniff. This continues.
(Hank prefers the big dogs)

Hank begins to tease the other dogs, darting in front of them, saying "chase me, chase me, please please chase me."
Eventually, Hank starts a massive game of chase with dogs ranging from Jack Russell to Goldendoodles. He is the fastest.
The other dogs tire. They quit. Hank runs in circles.

Hank finds his BFF (of the day) and they wrestle for awhile. It's usually a bigger dog, but our Hank is scrappy and can fend for himself.
(Hank and his buddy Daisy were fascinated by this Shih Tzu)

Chase again. Starts to slow down. Last night he slowed down to a trot and got blindsided by his friend, Bug. Everyone was laughing.

Back to sniffing the perimeter.

Plops down in the grass. His signal that he's over it.
(Saying goodbye)

We really love the dog park (if you haven't gathered). We especially enjoy talking to the other owners. Everyone loves their dogs, and everyone thinks that Hank is pretty great. We do too. We love the fact that he is one of the popular dogs. He is playful and sweet and brings so much joy into our household. In just two weeks, we have become those people I always made fun of who think of their pets as their children. Ooops.

No Clean-Up Required

2010-07-15T05:14:00.000-07:00

Price and I rarely eat out. Our monthly restaurant budget is slim, which has really made me appreciate the dining-out experience. Well, sorry mint.com, The Edwards have blown it this month. In the past four days we have eaten out four times at four fabulous Memphis restaurants which I would like to take a moment to feature.

(1) The Beauty Shop

This restaurant is one of the most unique in Memphis. Housed in an old 1960s style beauty shop, diners have the option of being seated in refurbished hair-drying chairs. The restaurant's decor is "retro-chic", with beauty shop memorabilia sprinkled throughout. My parents took us to brunch at the Beauty Shop for our anniversary. It was fantastic. The cuisine is a mixture of down-home cookin' with global elements. On our past visit, Price ordered the fried chicken and waffles and I chose the fish tacos. Both dishes were fantastic. It was hard to decide with so many great things on the menu. I guess we will just have to go back :)

(2) Cafe 1912

For our anniversary dinner, Price treated me to Cafe 1912. This cute little French restaurant is right down the street from us, and I have been wanting to try it out for awhile. It was fantastic. I loved the casual atmosphere and the upscale, but not too fussy, food. The bread gets an A+ (a big criteria to consider, in my book). Another highlight, they serve chicken wine (properly referred to as La Vieille Ferme, but who can pronounce that?) Note-to-self, do not call chicken wine by it's nickname at a nice restaurant... you will get a confused look from the slightly snooty waiter. I ordered a salad of tomatoes, arugula, and mozzarella which was served with a basil pesto dressing and the goat cheese ravioli. The ravioli was tasty, but the salad was the deal breaker. Price chose the burger with Maytag blue cheese, bacon, and roasted garlic aïoli, served with pommes frites. The pommes frites (I ate HALF... hey... anniversary only comes once a year) were thin, crispy, and delicious. We loved the fact that we left full and happy for under $40.

(3) The Trolley Stop Market

This restaurant probably should get a post of its own. The Trolley Stop Market on Madison is a new addition to the city, specifically to the growing local food scene. The market is owned by Keith and Jill Forrester, local farmers and owners of Whitton Farms (my favorite booth at the Memphis Farmer's Market). The Trolley Stop is a huge space which houses a food counter, plentiful seating, and room for a variety of farmers and local artisans to sell their products. We ate here with some friends on Tuesday (taco night) and had a blast. The space is extremely accomodating to large groups, always a plus! The food is made with primarily local ingredients. The restaurant posts their lunch specials on their Facebook page each day. The dinner specials are as follows:
Monday- Vegan night
Tuesday- Taco night
Wednesday- burgers and wings
Thursday- (not sure)
Friday- (not sure)
Saturday- Italian night
In addition to the nightly specials, there is always pizza. And it is good pizza. You can build your own with a number of fresh ingredients, or buy a slice from the case. I chose the Margherita Pizza (pictured below).
The crust was perfect. Thin and crunchy, but not too crunchy. The tomatoes and basil tasted as if they came straight from the garden (they probably did), and the huge chunks of mozzarella were divine. The slice was HUGE and only cost $3.50. We have declared Trolley Stop "our new place." We will be returning soon... very soon.

(4) Central BBQ

If you are from Memphis, you know about Central. I will keep this one short. I don't love BBQ, but this is my pick in Memphis. We went last night with a group of friends, and in an effort to be healthy, I ordered the portabello mushroom BBQ sandwich. Wow. So good. If you want a break from eating pig, I suggest you try this.

We will be eating at home tonight, and probably every night until August. It was fun while it lasted.

The Day-ul-tuh

2010-07-10T19:25:00.000-07:00

I don't know how he feels about this, but after an incredibly thoughtful 24 hour anniversary adventure my sweet hubby has forever established himself as the trip planner of our family. I am a hard one to surprise because I am extremely nosy, but he managed to really stump me on this one. I knew we were going somewhere that only required a few hours in the car, but other than that it was all a mystery. As we left Memphis, Price finally told me that we would be spending our weekend exploring the heart of Mississippi.

We began our adventure in Clarksdale. I have been wanting to dine at Morgan Freeman's restaurant Madidi for years now, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. I had Australian Seabass with a black bean salsa, and Price had good ole fried quail with collards and sweet potatoes. Madidi sure knows how to dress up good Southern food. If only Mr. Freeman had been dining with us...

After Madidi, we walked down the street to the Ground Zero blues club, also owned by Mr. Freeman. The club was hosting Clarksdale's first annual "The Most Southern Weekend on Earth" which featured a number of different blues artists. It was a really cool venue. Wish we could have seen the band. I think all of Clarksdale must have made it out for this one. Sadly, the Shack Up Inn (an old farm turned hotel pictured below) was booked for the weekend, but we are totally going to stay there next time.

The next morning we explored a sleepy Cleveland, Mississippi. We were asked in the local Hallmark (the only store opened at 10) if we were with the Teach for America group. Yes, but no. Apparently, the Mississippi Delta corps is attending their institute in Cleveland. The locals seem to really be enjoying the influx of young
folk.

The highlight of the trip, for me, was our visit to the McCarty studio in Marigold. As a lover of art and a lover of the South, I have a huge appreciation for these beautiful pottery pieces. I have been wanting to make the trip for a while now to see the studio, but wasn't really counting on Price being the one to initiate this! He is just full of surprises. He even acted interested when I was contemplating which of two nearly identical flower vases had the prettiest glaze. As much as I enjoyed looking at the pottery, I think we both loved the tour through Lee and Pup McCarty's gardens the most.

We were fortunate enough to be shown the gardens (which are soon to be featured in the Smithsonian magazine) by Lee McCarty himself. He was a precious little man, who clearly has a passion for art and quite a green thumb. Price and I picked out a beautiful pitcher and a vase, both of which I will always cherish with fond memories of the trip.

We had a fantastic lunch at The Gallery in Marigold, also owned by the McCarty's. Not only did I love how every plate, cup, salt and pepper shaker, was McCarty, but the food was delicious. You have two choices, the cold plate or the hot plate. I got cold, Price got hot. Mine consisted of vegetable soup, chicken salad, a tomato casserole, green beans, and cornbread. Yum.

After our fun in Marigold we messed around in Clarksdale a little longer, picked up some tamales on the tamale trail, and headed back home.

(Price and his tamales)
To make the trip even more perfect than it already was, Price kindly pulled over in Nesbitt and picked some blueberries with me at my favorite blueberry farm. I think I might turn into a blueberry if I don't stop.

I feel so lucky to have married this precious boy a year ago, and can't wait for many more fun adventures together.

Cal-i-forn-ia Girls...

2010-07-08T04:45:00.000-07:00

I had some post ideas in mind; however, Hank has limited my ability to blog because he destroyed the cord that I use to upload pictures to my computer. This is only one of his many chewing mishaps this week... my Rainbow sandals, our blinds in the kitchen, 2 wine corks, a pen... etc. Alas, I'm going to try to rise above it and pull from some pictures I already have on my computer.

Last month, my mom and I hopped off the plane at LAX to visit my sweet sister who is working in the city for the summer. It was so much fun to get away for a long weekend and spend time with two of my very favorite people. Here are photos of some of my favorite things we did while in LA.

Sightseeing tour. This was outside of Michael Jackson's house on the one year anniversary of his death. The white medical glove in the tree was a nice touch.
George Clooney's house.
Mourners at Michael Jackson's star outside of the Kodak Theater.
Santa Monica Farmer's Market. I love MFM, but this one is like no other farmer's market. The produce in California is UNBELIEVABLE. We bought some delicious dates, berries, and orange flavored almonds. Yum.
The original Farmer's Market of LA. No longer is a farmer's market, but a shopping area with lots of food stands. We loved the Anthropologie at this location (we visited three in the city :) )
Our hotel (the Beverly Hilton), and the gorgeous flowers in the lobby. The fresh flowers and cooler temps are enough to make me want to move to CA.
My favorite view on Rodeo Drive.

I need a picture for Yogurtland (we ate there two out of the four nights in the city). I am obsessed with the concept of a build-your-own-yogurt place. I try to do this at TCBY by asking for multiple flavors and a variety of toppings in one cup... but I am pretty sure they hate me. We need a Yogurtland. If you are in a city with one of these trendy yogurt joints, take advantage.

This was such a fun girls trip. I'm so thankful I spent this precious time with my mom and sister.

Red White and Buckets of Blueberries

2010-07-06T06:56:00.000-07:00

You might find this surprising, but one of my favorite activities is picking things... not my cuticles or scabs... but fruit and flowers etc. At Furman, Price and I made a point to pick apples at Sky Top Orchard near Ashville every fall. For the past three or four summers, I have taken great delight in picking blueberries at a farm in nearby Nesbit, Mississippi.

Nesbit Blueberry Plantation is about a twenty minute drive from Memphis. It is just as it should be, a small farm house and a pond with acres of blueberry bushes. You arrive, grab your bucket, tie it around your waist for easy pickin' if you are so inclined, and hit the fields. You have two options, pick your own gallon for $11 (a STEAL considering you pay around $3 for a tiny half cup in the store) or you can purchase pre-picked berries for $16. I enjoy the process of picking my own and tasting them as I go. It is definitely best to go in the morning before it gets too hot. I always bring a friend along and it always ends up being a sweet time of conversation and catching-up. Thanks, K Ray, for coming along this year! Of course, with a gallon of blueberries at home you gotta get your recipes out and start cooking before they go bad. I froze half of mine this year, but still was able to make blueberry muffins, 2 cobblers, and eat blueberries on my cereal every day for a week. The season for blueberries is short. I think we have about a week left, so head out to the field if you get a chance and call me if you want a buddy!

If you are looking for a FAB blueberry muffin recipe, try this one. A little time-consuming but SO worth it. I packaged them up and gave them as 4th of July treats to friends and family.

America's Test Kitchen Best Blueberry Muffins

Lemon Sugar Topping

* 1/3 cup sugar
* Zest from one lemon (about 1 ½ teaspoons)

Muffins

* 2 cups fresh blueberries
* 1 1/8 cups sugar, plus one teaspoon
* 2 ½ cups AP flour
* 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
* 1 teaspoon table salt
* 2 large eggs
* 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
* ¼ cup vegetable oil
* 1 cup buttermilk
* 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Stir the sugar and zest together until combined; set aside.

Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Spray standard muffin tin with nonstick spray. Bring 1 cup blueberries and 1 teaspoon sugar to simmer in small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, mashing berries with a spoon several times and stirring frequently, until berries have broken down and mixture is thickened and reduced to ¼ cup, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to bowl and cool to room temperature, 10-15 minutes.

Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in large bowl. Whisk remaining 1 1/8 cups sugar and eggs together in medium bowl until thick and homogeneous, about 45 seconds (remember, 80 strokes). Slowly whisk in butter and oil until combined. Whisk in buttermilk and vanilla until combined. Using rubber spatula, fold egg mixture and remaining cup blueberries into flour mixture until just moistened. The batter will be very lumpy with spots of dry flour; do not overmix!

Use an ice cream scoop or large spoon to divide batter equally among muffin cups (batter should completely fill cups and mound slightly). Spoon teaspoon of cooked berry mixture into center of each mound, pushing it below the surface. Using chopstick or skewer, gently swirl berry filling into batter using figure eight motion. Sprinkle lemon sugar evenly over muffins.

Bake until muffin tops are golden and just firm, about 17-19 minutes, rotating muffin tin (front to back) halfway through cooking time. Cool muffins in tin for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool 5 more minutes before serving.

Our New Addition

2010-07-05T05:18:00.000-07:00

Meet Hank Edwards.

This sweet little fellow came into our lives on Saturday. Price and I had been talking about getting a dog. Ok... I had been begging for him to get me a dog. We even went and looked at a few puppies for adoption at the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning. Price said no, and I pouted all the way home. He went to "play basketball with his brother" later that morning and came home with my new best friend, Hank. I was so surprised by this precious early anniversary present. We have had so much fun with Hank over the past 48 hours.

About Hank:

breed: As Price's dad said, he's a Heinz 57... a little bit of everything... but we are thinking mostly Fox Terrier / Jack Russell

age: About one year old. We are declaring July 11th (our anniversary) his birthday

Likes: Chasing squirrels, cuddling, monkey grass, his perch on top of the couch

Dislikes: Water, being photographed, watermelons (he kept barking at the one we had sitting on the table)

(He is a little camera shy)

(Hank's perch)

We absolutely love this little guy. He is perfect. Rarely barks and housetrained (we think) which is a BIG plus. Come and meet him!

My Sixth Sense

2010-04-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

I saw one of my kids at church on Easter Sunday. Ok, I saw half of my school at church on Easter Sunday, but this particular kid was sitting about three rows behind me. I don't think he saw me, but I spotted him the minute I walked in. It's like I have a radar for 4-6 year olds now. On Monday, I casually mentioned I saw him in church. The conversation was as follows:

Mrs. E: "Saw you in church this Sunday."

Kid: "Nuh Uh, I didn't see you."

Mrs. E: "Well, I was sitting three rows in front of you and I have eyes in the back of my head."

Kid: "Oh my gosh!!!! I SAW THEM!!!!"

SERIOUSLY.

THEY. ARE. SO. GULLIBLE.

Dessert Series Part I- Cake Mix Cookies

2010-03-07T05:44:00.000-08:00

I haven't been cooking much lately. But don't worry, I have resolved to nip this lazy streak in the bud and make my husband some good food once I finish this massive midterm paper that is due in 36 hours. I have, however, discovered quite a few cheap and easy dessert recipes that I would like to share. In the manner of the Pioneer Woman, I am heretofore beginning a dessert series on my blog. Who doesn't love a good dessert?

Cake Mix Cookies

(I was unable to take a picture of the cookies I made because they were consumed too quickly, this picture belongs to Annie's Eats)

For the cookies:
- 1 box of cake mix (whatever flavor your heart desires)
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup oil

Combine ingredients. Shape dough into uniform 1 in. balls (you can give or take a little depending on what size you want your cookies.) Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees about 15 minutes.

For the icing:
- 1/4 cup butter, room temperature (1/2 stick)
- 1/2 block of cream cheese
- 1/2 box powdered sugar (about 2-3 cups... I guestimated here)
- 2 big globs of marshmallow whip, if desired (probably about 4 Tbsp. total)

Cream butter and cream cheese. Add powdered sugar until icing reaches desired consistency. You will want this icing to be pretty thick and fluffy. Add marshmallow whip at the end, if desired.

To assemble:
Wait until cookies have completely cooled. Ice 1/2 of the cookies with desired amount of icing. Place an un-iced cookie on the top to make your cookie sandwiches.

These are great little treats that come together super quickly. I threw together a batch of lemon and a batch of chocolate (using 2 boxes of cake mix but only one batch of icing) and they were gobbled up. You can keep them simple or get fancy with them...

Let's play dress-up:
- Strawberry cake mix with pastel colored sprinkles rolled around the edges of sandwich (like picture) for Easter
- Lemon cake mix with lemon zest added to the dough and the icing
- Chocolate cake mix with a dot of peppermint extract or peppermint liquor + green food coloring in the icing
- Carrot cake mix with orange zest added to icing and crushed pecans rolled around sides
- German chocolate cake mix with coconut added to frosting
- Red velvet cake mix, cut into hearts after assembly (thank you, Bakerella)

Kindergarten Cop

2010-02-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

It has been a while blog reader(s). I have been super busy lately, and believe it or not the Olympics have just really cut into the time I would spend blogging or doing productive things like cleaning, homework, cooking. However, I do have two funny school stories that I just have to share. It turns out, there is a little guy in my class who has been watching me and learning my tricks...

Thursday (lunchtime)
Kindergarten Cop: "Mrs. Edwards, can I eat my dessert?"

(Note: we eat lunch in the classroom three days a week and there are always a few kids who want me to give them the OK to eat their dessert after checking their plate)

Mrs Edwards: (Busy stuffing folders, glances over shoulder) "Sure, go ahead."

Kindergarten Cop: (20 minutes later, loudly to the whole class and other teacher) "Mrs. Edwards sure is smart. She told me I could eat my dessert and didn't even have to look to see if I had finished my lunch."

Caught red-handed.

Friday (walking in line to recess)
Kindergarten Cop: "Mrs. Edwards, you don't follow your own rules."

Mrs. Edwards: "Really, why do you say that?"

Kindergarten Cop: "Well, earlier in the hallway you told us we couldn't walk backwards, but whenever you walk us somewhere in line you walk backwards."

Mrs. Edwards: "Well (sweetie) I have to walk backwards because I have to keep my eye on those guys in our class who just can't seem to behave in line (you)."

I am going to have to start watching my back.

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland...

2010-01-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

Well, we finally got our snow day. It was more like an ice day, but enough to give the ground a pretty white sheen and to leave my parents without power. Yikes. I'm sure it is delightful to live in a quaint historic neighborhood, but I think the next best thing is to live in walking distance of one. Here are some pictures from our winter walk through Central Gardens.

Above is our apartment. Where we have been cooped up for 48 hours. Minus the hour-long walk. Stirrrrr crazyyyyy...

Despite being cooped up inside with the roads too icy to go anywhere, we have had a lot of fun together. I am so glad I joined every other Memphian at Kroger on Thursday afternoon. We even had the ingredients to make oven-baked S'mores last night right before Price fell asleep on the couch around 8:07 pm and I watched a movie by myself. Sigh.

Take A Yoga Moment

2010-01-27T19:13:00.000-08:00

For the first time since last May I have experienced stress and anxiety. If you know me well, you understand that sometimes I travel with a little black rain cloud of stress overhead. I am not proud of this. Surprisingly, the past six months have been unnaturally stress free. This is most definitely related to my being married to the most laid back man on the planet and my happy work environment. But on January 19, 2010 my little black rain cloud temporarily (?-trying to be optimistic here) returned due to a few changes in my very comfortable routine.

Before Christmas I enrolled in graduate courses in the Education Department at the University of Memphis. I am going to keep working full time and taking night courses when I can. I hope to have my masters in 2ish years. As of last week, 3 precious hours of my Monday and Tuesday evenings are spent in class. YUCK. I am not ready to be a student again. What's even worse is every Tuesday I will have to miss the first fifteen minutes of the last season of LOST.

Two weeks ago I was offered the chance to take the job of a teacher who was leaving for the rest of the year on maternity leave. It is a co-teaching position in the Junior Kindergarten. I am paired with a wonderful teacher and have a lot to learn about 4-5 year olds. This is very exciting and a great opportunity, but bittersweet. I LOVED my job as a Senior K assistant. I LOVED the teacher I worked with every day. I LOVED my precious class. I LOVED my daily routine. I shed many tears in the process of deciding to leave. I know it sounds silly. I am working right down the hall from my old classroom and see the boys and my SK friends nearly every day. I am really enjoying my JK class and new co-workers and learning lots. One important thing in particular... the concept of a "yoga moment"...
We all need to incorporate these into our daily lives. The JK boys have it down. When they are being rowdy or their teacher just needs a moment of silence to catch her breath, she calls for "a yoga moment, please." Instantly, the room is silent (with those few little exceptions, of course) and the boys are all in the most zen state their four year old bodies can muster. Works like a charm.

Dinner on a Dime

2010-01-09T09:36:00.000-08:00

Back in the crazy college days I would pop over to the grocery store at least 4 times a week, frolic down the aisles with no direction, and fill my cart with whatever items my taste-buds fancied at that moment. Athenos Feta, Jacks Organic Salsa, Sabra Hummus, and Boars Head shaved turkey galore.

Marriage was a wake-up-call. I confess, it has been a struggle to put my irresponsible grocery store habits behind me. My car does occasionally drive me to Fresh Market and next thing I know I'm walking around picking up pretty jars of organic-freerange-fairtrade-jam, black licorice from the Netherlands, and boxes of expensive truffle infused crackers that I probably could live without. However, I have resolved in the New Year to continue to work on being more frugal with my food purchases. I definitely don't claim to have it all figured out, but I'd like to share a few practical things that have helped me in the grocery store thus far.

1. Plan Your Menu
Don't go to the grocery store without a list and a menu in mind. I usually sit down on Saturday or Sunday, look at what I already have in the pantry, and think about the week ahead in terms of which nights we will be eating at home and how much time I will have to cook. After deciding on my food game plan for the next week or two, I make a list including items for breakfasts and lunches. Make sure not to overlook those basic things that you always assume you have but often run out of like eggs, milk, flour, sugar etc. Put everything on the list because if you don't you will probably forget it (unless you are Mary Grace and have an insane memory.) Also, when planning your menu for the week or two weeks, try to think about how you can incorporate ingredients that you purchase for one meal into other meals as well. i.e. I bought bell peppers, onions, and chicken this week and used them in jambalaya, on a salad, and on a pizza.

2. Go Generic
I didn't realize until this year that there really is not much of a difference between the grocery-store brands and the name brands.A can of corn is a can of corn. The Jiff peanut butter may be a smidge smoother than Kroger's but when you are slathering the sandwich with jelly anyway, who cares?!?! I have said goodbye to my name brand snobbery and it has helped me immensely. Compare the prices of the generic and the name-brand when you go to the store. It may just be 20 cents cheaper but at the check-out line those cents add up. If you are in a city with a Publix you have no excuse not to buy their generic products. I long for Publix Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt daily.

3. Stockpile Specials
We have 5 boxes of oatmeal in our kitchen right now. I have nowhere to store them becuase our pantry is packed. Soooo, they are shoved in a tiny corner next to our ice cream maker and food processor. But they were on sale for $1.27 per box. I have at least a month of breakfast for a mere $6. Don't pass deals like these up, especially if it is something you know you will use and something that will keep well. Things I stock up on when I find them on sale: black beans, corn, green beans, Progresso soup, frozen bags of veggies, cereal, oatmeal, and cheese.

4. Befriend Your Freezer
If I find something that is perishable on special (like boneless skinless chicken breasts) I will buy them even if I don't have an immediate use for them and pop them in my freezer. Because I am cooking for two, lots of times I will make a full recipe of something like spaghetti sauce or enchiladas and freeze half for later use. It is really nice to have these things on hand during busy weeks or at the end of the month when you really don't want to spend a ton of money. Just make sure you take them out of the freezer and put them in the fridge to thaw 24 hours in advance. Here are some guidelines on freezing foods: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FactSheets/Focus_On_Freezing/index.asp

5. Leftover Love
I count my blessings every day that my sweet husband doesn't mind leftovers. I could probably feed him Spam and he wouldn't complain. We stretch our meals as far as they can go. It may mean that we have to eat taco soup 4 days of the week, but when you keep things interesting by inventing a nice side salad with things in your fridge or serving it with grilled cheese the next night it doesn't really feel like you are eating leftovers all week long. I often find myself adding a can of beans or tomato paste or some extra veggies to make a meal last a little bit longer. This is a great way to use what you have a save money. If you don't like leftovers, freeze the other half to eat a few weeks down the road.

6. Find Budget-Friendly Recipes
I am always searching for recipes for cooks on a budget with minimal ingredients. These are sometimes hard to come-by because I try to cook healthfully and, while tasty, Hamburger Helper isn't great for the waistline. I have a file on my computer of recipes that I have come across and would like to try. I also have a list of easy and cheap dishes on my fridge that we have tried and enjoyed. If I am in a hurry I can look at my list or my file and pick out a few things to cook that week. This helps me not get in a rut of cooking the same thing over and over again. I am going to try to post some of these recipes as I come across them this year.

There are plenty of websites that have budget cooking sections and meal-plannning advice. Myrecipes.com and tasteofhome.com are two of my favorites.

This post by The Amateur Gourmet also has some good advice on food frugality:
http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2010/01/how_to_cook_on.html#more

Holler back if you have some tips on cooking on the cheap. I need all the help I can get!

From Spilt Coffee to Sipped Champagne

2010-01-07T18:52:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of how my day began: I awaken from a restless sleep during which I thought I was having a heart attack and thought I stopped breathing multiple times (but who doesn't?!?!) only to be greeted by NO SNOW outside and A GRASSHOPPER in my bedroom. While I am grumping about not getting a snow day, Price is trying to kill our little friend with a small cloth, so then I start grumping at him about his lack of grasshopper killing technique (In our apartment I kill them frequently and effectively.) Price leaves. I'm still watching the weather channel, holding out hope for a snow day as the names of closed schools scroll across the TV screen. "ECS... HUTCHI(N)SON... PRESBYTERIAN DAY SCHOOL, Clarksdale..." I have never even heard of a PDS in Clarksdale. So now I'm really mad and running late to PDS (Memphis). I can't get my new haircut to work properly so I throw on a headband. I fumble through my sock drawer unable to find my super warm socks and slam my thumb in the drawer so hard I start to cry. I proceed to forget to put on deodorant and then spill half my to-go cup of coffee on the floor. No time to clean it up. I run outside and find that my windshield is iced over. I run back inside and grab the first thing I can think of to scrape it. The spoon I ate my oatmeal with. I arrive on time by the skin of my teeth. I don't know that I smiled all day until I heard this conversation between two of the boys in my class:
Boy 1: "Did you know the movie Twilight is about kissing? I've seen it."
Boy 2: "Yeah, well, I've been to a wedding before."

Though today didn't begin ideally, I must say things are looking up. It's amazing how much better a bad day can become when Price gets home and we can relax together. Right now I'm sitting in my snuggie surrounded by candles in my cozy apartment, drinking champagne (on days like these that is TOTALLY acceptable), messing around on my computer while Price watches football. Things couldn't get much better. Fingers crossed there will be no "heart attacks" tonight.

Our First Christmas

2009-12-28T08:08:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has come and gone. I really really really don't want to take down our tree, or put away our stockings, or stop using my adorable Christmas napkins from Target. So I think I'm going to just keep it all up for the next few days. I have been looking forward to our first Christmas as a married couple for so long and it was just as special as I had anticipated. We did our best to keep all family members happy and the result was a fun, action packed, very filling two days.

On Christmas Eve I had the pleasure of attending the traditional Edwards family meal at Benihana. It was all very exciting since the Memphis establishment burned down last year and the family wasn't able to enjoy the refreshing steam of the hibachi like they usually do. Different from the usual Italian fare served at the Good house on Christmas eve, but equally fun. After Benihana, the Edwards bros and I attempted to start a new family tradition by watching A Christmas Story and eating peppermint ice cream pie over at our place. Weren't able to finish the movie before we had to scurry to the beautiful eleven o'clock service at Second Pres, but we were able to get a decent picture in front of our first Christmas tree!

The next morning I awakened at my usual 6:45 to prepare breakfast for Price. After exchanging gifts with each other we ate cinnamon rolls and bacon while listening to Christmas music. I turned up the thermostat, lit allllllllll of my candles, and it almost felt like we had a fire going. It was so cozy and fun. I must say, Price totally out-gifted me this year. He really spoils me and I totally don't deserve it.

We then headed east to celebrate with our families, starting off the day opening presents at the Good house. (Below is Hannah, black sheep?!?!?!)

Then off to the Edwards for gifts and lunch and relaxing. Around 4 we headed back to the Good house so that I could prepare my dessert for our Christmas dinner. My mom really out-did herself with our Christmas feast. Ham, turkey, cheese grits, hot fruit compote, mac and cheese, orange and green salad, and my mediocre attempt at the Pioneer Woman's tres leches cake. We returned home to our haphazard apartment stuffed and pooped.

The next morning we set off for Jackson, MS with Price's brothers to visit their mom's side of the family. It was great to get to catch up with them and see where they lived. I have never been to Jackson and really enjoyed it. Still can't get over the fact that they have an Anthropologie before we do. We had so much fun playing with Price's six year old cousin. Price had so much fun playing Super Mario for Wii. It was a great finish to our Christmas weekend.

Since then, we have been enjoying doing absolutely nothing until around 1 or 2 everyday, eating leftovers, and watching movies. I love being a teacher and having a Christmas break. I just can't believe this bliss must end on Monday the 4th.

"Christmas Cookies and Holiday Hearts..."

2009-12-20T05:42:00.000-08:00

Only a Hutch girl will understand the title of this post, but it does pertain to what I have been doing for the past 48 hours off of work. Working on our homemade Christmas gifts to friends! We may not have a Christmas card this year, but we do have cookies to deliver. And I really need to get on the ball and start giving them to friends so that I will no longer have to stare at the tempting stash of calories that I have "hidden" from myself on a very tall shelf that I can't reach in our kitchen. I have been plotting what "we" would make for our homemade Christmas gift for months. I always enjoyed helping my mom out with these kinds of projects when I was younger and I especially loved delivering them. I finally decided to make gingersnaps with pumpkin dip. Here are the recipes and pictures of the finished product.

Pumpkin Dip
- 1 block cream cheese
- lots of powdered sugar (I just kept dumping it in... probably 1/2 of a box)
- 2 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

Mix together these ingredients until combined. Keep adding powdered sugar until you get the consistency you want. I prefer mine a bit thinner so I added quite a bit of sugar. I also added more spices just for kicks.

Gingersnaps
I found the recipe on this site. They turned out great. I added some extra molasses and additional ginger.
http://www.joyofbaking.com/gingersnaps

He Went... To... Jared?

2009-12-14T18:13:00.000-08:00

A year ago today, my sweet husband got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. We were talking last night about how quickly this year has passed. I so vividly remember walking to the admissions building at Furman thinking I was meeting my sister to "talk" and being swept off my feet by a candlelit proposal in a place that was so special to our relationship. I remember getting in his car and not knowing who to call first or where to go to celebrate because everyone was studying for exams and I was too excited to think straight. I remember going to McDonalds before going back to tell my friends and getting a soft-serve ice cream and then not eating a bite of it and leaving it in Price's car for 2 days. Clearly, I was distracted as ice cream is not something I ever waste. I remember running around the J apartment complex telling friends, both awake and asleep, about our exciting news. I remember standing in front of my closet for a good thirty minutes trying to decide what to wear on my first day with a fiance. I remember painting my nails once a week for a good month or so. I have a good memory and could go on and on but am going to stop for your sake.

Sitting here thinking about a year ago, I'm struck by how much has changed. Right now, Price and I are sitting in the living room of our apartment in our pjs (it's 8 pm, mind you) watching Mary Poppins on ABC family. We will probably go to sleep in an hour. My nails haven't been painted in awhile and I can't remember the last time I cleaned my ring. Our friends are all over the place. We are both teaching, something that really wasn't even a consideration a year ago. We have to pay bills... okayyyy... he has to pay bills. And I don't make the gourmet meals I pictured myself making as a wife because I tried that for a month or so and realized it wasn't amenable to our budget! Confession: tonight, I scratched the plan to make chicken enchiladas and instead opted for leftover ravioli from the PDS lunchroom. Price told me it was delicious. Apparently I am a great food heater-upper.

Things are so different from where they were last year and from what I imagined they would be like, but they are different in a good way! I really had no idea what a blessing marriage would be. I get to spend all the time I could ever want with my very best friend. We watch movies. Laugh about the grasshoppers that have infested our apartment. Fight about putting up the Christmas tree and then happily hang ornaments together. After dating for 5 years I really didn't think we could get much closer but everyday I am surprised. Price is gracious, kind, and so encouraging. I always knew these things, but being married has made me see them on a deeper level. A year ago today I was a very lucky girl! I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us in the future.

Disclaimer: Price did not actually go to Jared.

Elf on a Shelf

2009-12-13T18:23:00.001-08:00

A new phenomenon I have encountered this holiday season is the "Elf on a Shelf" tradition that many families with youngsters have embraced. Whoever thought of this one was pretty crafty. You have this elf, who sits on a shelf, and watches everything the little ones do so that he can report back to Santa. Naturally this voyeuristic household addition "encourages" the children to behave, at least while they are in the elf's presence. I am learning from the daily updates my kindergartners share that elven activity varies depending on the family. Some elves just stay put on that shelf. Others will disappear without any warning (to go to the North Pole of course). I have even heard of elves causing havoc with toilet paper in the living room. To add to the Christmas excitement this past week, our boys made a elf craft and got to write the name of their house elf on it. Now we have "Commander Elf" "Rocky" "Elfo" "Elf-ee" and many others watching our classroom (hasn't helped the Christmas-induced wild behavior yet). I strive to practice impartiality, but I have a favorite elf. His name is "Rex Malone." Poor little guy has two left feet and looks like he might need to go potty, but that doesn't stop him from spreading Christmas cheer. (See top row far right)

Have any fun family traditions? Please share! Also, if you too are fascinated by the elf on a shelf you can find out more info on this site: www.elfonashelf.com

The Halls Are Decked

2009-12-08T08:50:00.000-08:00

Decorating for our first Christmas has been something I have been looking forward to ever since I created my gmail account with my new name months before we got engaged. Just ask Kate about it. However, I was unaware of the intensity and costliness of the process. I started buying decorations in early November. The shopping bags piled up in our one tiny storage closet, but when it came time to decorate I was amazed at how unsubstantial the items I accumulated were. It turns out Christmas napkins, stickers, cups, and treat bags can't get you very far when trying make your apartment appear festive. After many trips to Target, Michael's, and Hobby Lobby, I feel as if our decorations are blog-worthy.

Helpful hints for others looking to spruce up their space for Christmas:

- Home Depot is where it's at. We got our lovely 8 foot Fraser Fir tree for $39.99. The other tree lot we browsed had prices between $70-$150. Rip off.

- Hobby Lobby has garland that looks very real. And they run it half off for a few weeks after Thanksgiving.

- Christmas scented candles make me oh so happy. An even cheaper way to add a festive fragrance to your house is to let water, orange peel, cinnamon, and cloves simmer on your stove for a few hours. A trick I learned from my mom that smells heavenly

- BUY A DECENT TREE STAND. I will spare you the sappy details of our experience with a shoddily made tree stand that was too small for our tree, but if you are trying to decide between the $7 tree stand and the $12 tree stand just splurge on it. It will save you blood, sweat, and tears. We experienced all three.

Kindergartners Say the Darndest Things...

2009-11-30T11:07:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love my job as an assistant kindergarten teacher. There are many reasons why I love it, but one of the best things is that there is never an afternoon when I come home without a funny story.

Last Week (on playground before our Thanksgiving feast):
Kid (pulling his ears up and down while wiggling shoulders and shaking hips): "Mrs. Edwards, my ears are itchin' to PAR-TAYY!"

This Morning:
*Kid: "Guess what Mrs. Edwards?"
Me: "What?"
Kid: "My mom drove into the hood this morning?"
Me: "What hood? Like the hood of a car?" (Not thinking that a child his age would know about the "hood")
Kid (giggling): "No, like the hood where the gangsters live."

*Note: This child decided to cut his cargo pants later on in the day during craft center. Perhaps his trip to the "hood" inspired him.

This Afternoon (making snakes in craft center):
Kid: "Snakes give my mother the willies. We have one under our house."
Other kid: "Is your mom a scaredy cat?"
Kid: "No. As a matter of fact, snakes are very frightening."

I then had to explain to the rest of the group what "the willies" were.

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

2009-11-24T09:33:00.001-08:00

In the spirit of that almost has-been of a talk show hostess whom we all admire and love, I have set out to make a list of my favorite things sans the audience giveaways. Sorry reader(s?), the blog hasn't made it that big yet. Perhaps my suggestions will come in handy when trying to come up with a gift for someone special, or for yours truly...

Tocca Candles ($16-$36)

Also a favorite of Jessica Simpson. These candles are sure to add a breath of fresh air to your apartment/house/condo/parent's house and maybe a little holiday "spice" too. The large size has a burn time of 60 hours. I recommend the "Havana" and "Grace" scents. Just add mistletoe and you are set. www.tocca.com

Harney & Sons Tea ($6-$12)

This tea will rock your world. Beware: Lipton, Stash, and even the higher-end Tazo brand of tea bag sold at Starbucks will never taste as good once you have tried Harney & Sons. I am now a tea snob. Twelve dollars for twenty sachets may seem steep, but they do come in a cute little tin that you can reuse! "Hot Cinnamon Spice" is perfectly invigorating on a chilly morning and my absolute favorite flavor. www.harney.com
Tory Burch flats ($295ish)

I have the best husband ever. He bought me a pair of these babies in black for my birthday and I never want to take them off. I would wear them every day of the week, the only thing stopping me is my fear that I will wear them out too quickly. It's quite a conundrum. They are excellent for fashion forward teachers... until a little one steps on the metal "T" emblem and pain shoots through your toenails... but that's a very very minor detail. www.toryburch.com
Hunter rain boots ($100-$125)

While we are on the topic of shoes, it's definitely a toss up as to whether I love my Tory's or my Hunter's the most. These boots have the power to transform even the gloomiest of days. They are simple and chic, and do a marvelous job keeping tootsies dry and warm. My kindergartners are confused by the notion of rainboots indoors, but I wear them proudly! www.zappos.com or www.hunter-boot.com.
Alecia's Tomato Chutney ($8)

Alecia's Tomato Chutney is made by Alecia in Leeds, Alabama. I first tasted its goodness on a pizza at Frank Stitt's Bottega Cafe in Birmingham. Apparently, it is one of Stitt's favorite products too. The flavor is savory, but with a sweetness that comes from raisins and sugar. I have used it on baked chicken, pizza, sandwiches, pasta, and with cheese and crackers. According to a man I met at Williams-Sonoma who also loves this product, the chutney is made in small batches in Alecia's kitchen. You only see it in Birmingham and can't order it online. If you are interested you can give Alecia herself a call at (205)352-4900.
McCarty's Pottery

Now that I am married and allowed to collect pottery, I have a full-blown obsession with the pieces produced by Lee and Pup McCarty in Marigold, MS. According to their website, the McCarty's started throwing pottery in 1954. "Lee and Pup have come a long way since William Faulkner showed them a clay deposit in a ravine on his property and told them they could have it." I received several pieces as wedding gifts and the soft brown, blue, and green glazes typical of McCarty work perfectly with my decor. My birds and candlesticks make me particularly happy. I hope to collect many more pieces and maybe even make a trip to the McCarty barn and restaurant in Marigold in the near future (Price)!?!?! www.mccartyspottery.com
Juliska

Thank you Rachel Walton Knowlton for introducing me to Juliska ceramics (pattern: "Berries and Thread.") I am big on pretty colors, so when I chose this for my everyday china I couldn't decide between the blue, green, or brown. Sooo... I got some of each and I couldn't be happier! I have SO much fun mixing and matching my pieces. And the colors of my plates etc. flow effortlessly with my (small) collection of McCarty serving pieces. These guys are sturdy and elegant. I think my next present to myself will definitely be the small blue Juliska pitcher that was featured in this months Lucky magazine! www.juliska.com
Labradoodles ($ "too expensive for me")

Back to Reality

2009-11-12T06:38:00.000-08:00

Price and I took a brief vacation from our teensy apartment and got to live it up in one of the oldest houses in Memphis while the owners were out of town. Although our apartments are ancient (my parents lived there after they got married), they don't have the "charm" that a house with a plaque on the front door listing it on the National Historic Register does. Until this weekend, I thought babysitting was a pretty easy way to make a little extra cash. Now that I have experienced housesitting I have changed my mind. Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful for the life that we live but there are a few amenities that I enjoyed and will miss as we transition back to our place:

1. Heated Bathroom Floors- Makes it a little bit easier to wake up in the morning.
2. Picturesque views of the country club golf course- All we get to look at is the parking lot and the railroad tracks.
3. Laundry Laundry Laundry- For the first time in months our clothes feel clean and we didn't have to deplete our quarter collection.
4. High Thread Count Sheets- I really dropped the ball on that one. Bought the cheapest I could find and with each wash they get these little fuzz balls on them that won't come off and make them scratchy.
5. A controllable shower- I forgot that showering can be enjoyable when you aren't spending the whole time fiddling with the knobs to get that perfect balance of hot and cold without getting scalded.
6. A walkable neighborhood- I avoid walking in our neighborhood because of the combination of busy streets, angry Memphis drivers, and my paranoia. Also, the houses near us are not nearly as fun to drool over.

We had such a fun time playing house together and will certainly jump if the opportunity arises again. However, it is nice to be home and back in our routine!

Chez Price

2009-11-03T11:53:00.000-08:00

In this post I would like to take a moment to spotlight the kitchen-savvy man I married. It probably won't come as a surprise that he is quite humble about his cooking abilities and becomes quite bashful when complimented. But I have no problem bragging for him.

Mr. Edwards is self-taught. He began his career making delicious omelettes for his adoring girlfriend on special occasions using the Furman dorm stove and an extremely scratched frying pan that he rented from our RA's office. Since then he has graduated from eggs and maintains quite a repertoire of delicious dishes. Some of my personal favorites include his chicken couscous with vegetables, fish tacos (haven't had those in awhile... hint hint), corn and black bean salsa, and even though I don't like avocados in the least his guacamole is fab. He dominates our baby Weber grill and uses our Wusthof knives like an Iron Chef. He also hones them to keep them sharp. Wow.

Two weeks ago he made a dish we named "Farmer's Market Pasta" out of a bunch of random ingredients and vegetables we had in our fridge. He spent less than $10 at the grocery. I kid you not we ate this meal at least 5 nights and also had some to take for lunch. If you are cool with leftovers it is a great dish. I don't exactly know how he made it and I don't think he does either but here is the gist of it:

Ingredients:
- 5 stalks of celery (chopped)
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tomatoes (diced)
- 4-5 Japanese Eggplant (these are the long skinny ones, much easier to cook with)
- cooked chicken (however you want to cook it)
- 1 package of penne pasta
- 1 can tomato paste
- 1 can tomato sauce
- Salt
-Pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- fresh parsley

Start by sauteing the onion, garlic, and celery in a skillet using a little oil or cooking spray. Cook until translucent. Add chopped eggplant and tomatoes. Cook for a few minutes. Add tomato sauce and tomato paste. Add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and any other seasoning you like. Simmer about 15 minutes on low. Meanwhile, cook pasta noodles. After you have drained them, add the veggie sauce and chicken to the warm noodles. Mix in chopped parsley and perhaps a handful Mozzarella cheese. Hope you like it because you are stuck with it for about a week!

When it is all said and done. Mr. Edwards won't even let his wife lift a finger to help him clean up. He makes the kitchen sparkle. In the future, his wife hopes that he will venture into the world of baking :)

Getting Festive

2009-10-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

This may surprise you, but I haven't decorated for Halloween in any way shape or form. I bought a pumpkin about 2 weeks ago and that is it. I like to think I am saving all of my efforts for Christmas. I finally decided to carve our lonely little pumpkin last night and had so much fun that I am thinking of carving another tonight. I can't wait to roast the seeds today just like my mom used to do when we were little.

E is for Edwards!

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater

2009-10-19T10:53:00.001-07:00

With the chill in the air, my favorite ingredient is taking center stage in recipes and eateries everywhere. If there's pumpkin in it, I'm sold. Pumpkin Spice Latte's from Starbucks are delightful, Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts from Gibson's are heavenly, but NOTHING beats Pumpkin frozen yogurt from TCBY.

I have been a TCBY fiend for quite some time now. I have the rewards card, I know all the locations in Memphis, I have memorized their hours. I lived without a close TCBY during my college years and have found that absence certainly does make the heart grow fonder. Ever since October 1st, I have actually taken up stalking our TCBY locations in an effort to obtain this holy grail of fall flavored froyo. I confess, I have the store numbers in my phone and call daily.

Well, this past weekend while I was at Homecoming I gathered a search party (my mother) to stay on the lookout for me. Well... she found it and had a pint waiting for me in her freezer. Though a yogurt this tasty needs no additional adornments, I decided to make ours extra special by topping it with cinnamon and marshmallows that I toasted in the oven. YUM-O!!!! Enjoying it cuddled up in a blanket with fall scented candles surrounding you takes the experience to an even higher level. It's only on the menu for a little while, so go out and buy some today!!!!

Feel free to share your favorite pumpkin recipes or menu items. I would love to have a reason to try them!

My Dutch Lover

2009-10-11T06:27:00.000-07:00

I have a new best friend. It is big, blue, made of cast enamel, and too heavy for me to lift from its spot on the top shelf (enter, strong tall husband)… My LeCreuset Dutch Oven.

I received this mother of all pots as a graduation gift from my Aunt. I don’t think I knew what its function was when I registered for it at Williams-Sonoma. Just thought it was pretty. To be honest, until yesterday, it has been sitting in the same place in our kitchen for the past two months adding a splash of color and silently intimidating me. Well, this weekend I took that oven down and put it to work. The results were very encouraging.

The function of a dutch oven is kind of like a crock pot, without the cords etc. You can throw a bunch of random things in it, put the lid on, stick it in the oven for a few hours and let your meat and veggies cook to a tender goodness. You can use a dutch oven both on top of the stove and in the oven, which I did for this recipe. I didn’t really follow a recipe, so hopefully next time I will be able to recreate it. Our dinner last night was fantastic, but I can’t take any of the credit… magical things happened in my big blue pot.

Pork Tenderloin With Fall Veggies

- 1 pork tenderloin

- 2 small sweet potatoes, cut into chunks

- 6 small red potatoes, quartered

- 3 large carrots, sliced into large pieces

- 1 onion, cut into chunks

- olive oil

- fresh rosemary

- Worcestershire sauce

- Salt

- Pepper

Cut up all your veggies, and place them in a large sauté pot with 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Saute over medium heat until slightly browned on outside (about 5-10 min.) Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in dutch oven over the stovetop (medium heat.) Add pork tenderloin and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and rosemary. I also drizzled a bit of Worcestershire sauce at this point. Sear tenderloin about 8 min, turning every 2 minutes to make sure all sides are seared. Turn off heat, add veggies to dutch oven and pork, and season with salt, pepper, rosemary, and any other herbs or spices you fancy (I used a little cinnamon and nutmeg.) Cover Dutch Oven with lid and place in oven, preheated to 350 for about an hour or so. About halfway through I drizzled a little more Worcestershire.

After I took the tenderloin and veggies out of the oven, I deglazed the pan (removed the brown bits) by adding ½ cup chicken broth, ¾ cup white wine, and 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard to the pot over medium heat. Let the sauce come to a boil, turn down heat, and simmer for 5 minutes until it thickens a bit. Serve this sauce over the pork.

ENJOY!

The Life and Times of an SK Teacher

2009-09-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don’t know, I am working as a senior kindergarten teacher’s assistant at an all-boys elementary school in Memphis called Presbyterian Day School (PDS). I wake up in the morning excited about work and I couldn’t ask for more than that in a first job. Here are some things I have learned in my month or so at PDS.

Clues That The Kindergartners Are Rubbing Off On You:

(1) Your favorite snack is now pudding cups (fat free, of course)

(2) You get so into the Sesame Street video your class is watching that the lead teacher kindly reminds you “Mrs. Edwards, it’s time for carpool.”

(3) While putting book order forms in the boys folders, you seriously consider purchasing Caps For Sale, the Little Engine that Could, and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie… for future use J

(4) You forget your husband can open his own drinks and tie his own shoes. (About 90% of the time spent with the kids I am doing this)

(5) Your quads are sore from sitting in tiny chairs and looking kids in the eye.

6) You smell like hand sanitizer constantly and fear you might be coming down with Swine Flu.

(7) When you are up past 9:45, it’s a late night.

(8) You have gained at least 5 pounds. It’s so hard to resist the Star of the Week treats, as well as the gummies, Cheez-Its, Rice Krispy Treats, and other kid snacks that are always around.

(9) Your big victory of the week is designing a Hippopotamus paper bag puppet for next weeks craft project.

You have zero tolerance for whiners, fakers, suck ups, and know-it-alls.

Here are a few pictures of some of our little SK angels. They are so cute, sweet, and entertaining.

(Part of the playground that is dedicated to Price's mom)

Labor Day Weekend/ Football Season Begins

2009-09-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

I must say I was skeptical on Saturday when I woke up to Sports Center instead of the Food Network. But for a weekend with nothing special planned, Price and I managed to pack those three precious days with lots of spontaneous outings and activities.

Friday night was spent watching MUS whoop South Panola with Lizzie and Bev. On Saturday we leisurely drove to Oxford, MS to continue our month long quest to find something to hang our lovely new All-Clad pots on. Price found the perfect piece at my favorite antique store, The Mustard Seed. AND, we only spent twenty dollars! After drooling over furniture we can’t afford (ok, Price sat in the car while I drooled), we browsed around Square Books and then headed homeward.

That night, we ventured downtown to the Memphis Heritage and Music Festival, which we will be attending annually from now on. It was a b.l.a.s.t. The event is put on annually by the Center for Southern Folklore and other sponsors. It was a smallish festival, taking up only a couple blocks of South Main. On the five or six different stages we were able to see gospel, folk, blues, Latino, funk, and rap groups. I must say Al Kapone (Al Kapeezy oH bOy!) was probably my favorite act. I especially enjoyed seeing one of my neighbors, who is… ohhhhh… probably late fiftyish, getting crunk by herself to this Memphis rapper’s rhymes. And how could I forget the cooking stage! We had the luxury of sampling the most delicious mustard greens, cornbread, and peach cobbler we have ever tasted. I don’t even want to think about the calorie content in those few bites. We had so much fun on Saturday that we went back on Sunday after Ole Miss beat Memphis only a few blocks away from our apartment.

Overall we had a great weekend of togetherness, food, not cleaning, relaxing, food, football, visiting with my family, and food. I can’t wait for Thanksgiving break!

Locovores

2009-09-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

My passion for farmer's markets began in college during a sociology class taught by a granola eating professor. I became a regular at the Pepper Place Farmer's Market in Birmingham when I lived there summer of '08 and since then have become obsessed. I never thought I would find another one as great as Pepper Place, but a few weekends ago I went to the Memphis Farmer's Market downtown and have found my local food fix.

The key to a good experience at the farmer’s market is getting there early. Not only do you get to enjoy the cooler morning temps, but you also get better selections and prettier produce. I am a morning person so I had no problem hopping out of bed to support our local farmers.

The Memphis Farmer’s Market is located at Central Station in the trendy South Main district. There are probably between 50 and 60 vendors selling everything from cactuses to blueberries to wind chimes. I loved seeing how the farmer’s market attracts people from all walks of life, old women, young families, and even college kids. It is interesting talking to the different vendors about what they grow and hearing their cooking recommendations. You can easily get suckered into spending a lot of money at the market because everything looks so fresh and pretty, and every vendor vows their product will be the best you ever taste. I never really go with a list of what to buy, but I always decide how much I want to spend and bring only the allotted amount of cash with me. Here’s what I got last week for only $12: Okra, lima beans, green tomatoes, an eggplant, red potatoes, and a baby watermelon.

The Menu:

Fried Green Tomatoes with Non-Local Tomato Chutney (from Bham)

Herb Roasted Red Potatoes

Lima Beans

Salted Watermelon

Peach Tea with a Punch (of Firefly Vodka)

Banana Pudding

2009-08-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

Price and I have been doing quite a bit of cooking lately. We have actually made it a bit of a game to see how many nights worth of leftovers we can get out of one home cooked meal. But don't fret, we are staying very well-fed (at least I am). Price's aunt from Jackson came in town last week and gave us the recipes and ingredients to two of her favorite easy dishes. One of which was banana pudding. Up until last week, I had only made banana pudding the old fashioned way where you make your own custard and have to keep stirring until your arm falls off. After making this, I don't think I will ever go back. This is one of those recipes that you can definitely play with to spruce it up a little and make it your own. I added orange zest and vanilla extract to the pudding mixture and it was delicious. Next time I may throw in some blueberries, or try the recipe with chocolate wafers instead of vanilla.

(I did not take this picture)

Easy Banana Pudding
- 1 small box vanilla pudding mix
- 3 cups cold milk
- 1 tub Cool Whip
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
- (any other mix-in's you think would taste good)
- 1 box Vanilla Wafers
- about 5 bananas

Make vanilla pudding according to package instructions. Let stand for 5 minutes. With a mixer or whisk add 3/4 tub of Cool Whip and can of sweetened condensed milk to pudding mixture. Layer Vanilla Wafers, bananas, and pudding as desired in a serving dish of your choice. Top with remaining Cool Whip and some crushed Vanilla Wafers. Chill for at least an hour before serving.

Nesting

2009-08-23T17:29:00.000-07:00

After an hour of labor, the second locksmith succeeded in unlocking our antique desk. Here are some pictures from our apartment that I promised. There is still work to be done, but it is very homey and we love it!

Kitchen

Dining Nook

View From Couch (where we spend much of our time)

The Study + Price's Bookcase (all I got was the bottom shelf)

My Great Grandfather's Roll Top Desk

The Very Unfinished Bedroom With Napping Husband

Tiny Bathroom With Lovely Peach and Black Tile

That pretty much sums it up. It is much more charming in person, so if you are reading this blog (and are one of our actual friends) we highly suggest you stop by for a visit!

Mr. and Mrs.

2009-07-31T08:07:00.000-07:00

Since my last update, Price finished TFA training, we tied the knot, enjoyed a fantastic honeymoon at The Tides in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, moved into our new apartment, and have both started our teaching jobs.

I am absolutely loving getting to spend so much uninterrupted time with my best friend, especially after all of the time we spend apart this summer. The honeymoon was an incredible way to kick things off and just relax together. The food at the Tides was the best I have ever tasted. Not to sound like a fatty, but I woke up every morning thinking about what I was going to order at brunch. I seriously had my dinner orders for the week mapped out in my head the first night of the trip.

Food highlights included: homemade jams (or "yams" as the waiters called them) in exotic flavors with these great little pointy rolls at brunch, fresh corn tortillas every night, LOBSTER (never tried it before, it's now my new favorite food that I can't ever order), octopus appetizer with capers, flaming alcoholic coffee that I'm not going to even try to describe, mango mojitos, and the most beautiful tres leches cake.

Now that we are back, settled, and slightly less well-fed, we have been able to establish somewhat of a routine. We have been cooking dinner at home with all of our fun new wedding kitchen gadgets, attempting to go on walks in our awkwardly unwalkable neighborhood, watching the Food Network despite the fact that we don't think it's a part of our cable package, enjoying (free) meals with our families, and watching lots of movies with our new Netflix subscription. Fyi: Netflix is an awesome wedding gift, thanks Wes and Clint.

I have really been surprised at how quickly our apartment has become "home." Though the decorating is at a (temporary) hiatus due to insufficient funds, I am looking forward to being able to add a few more things like curtains and maybe a cabinet or chest for a little more storage space. I would post some pictures of our Home Sweet Home, however our camera (along with many other important things) is locked in my great grandfather's beautiful, antique, roll-top desk that happens to lock on itself when closed. The key is inside. The locksmith came, said we should try picking it, and told us to call him if it worked. It hasn't.

"I thank my lucky stars, to be livin' here today"

2009-07-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

I awoke this morning at 6:34. Fixed myself a patriotic bowl of cereal with blueberries and strawberries on top. Grabbed my Ipod and set out for a slightly longer than usual morning power walk (I plan to eat well today). This is a special weekend not only because it is the last one I will spend with my family before I get married but also because it is the first time I have been home on the Fourth in FIVE years! As I pumped my arms to the upbeat bluegrass music on my not yet unbearably hot walk I started thinking about the Fourth of July and why I love it so much... To make this reader friendly, I will use bullet points.

I love how great the yards look in my neighborhood this time of year. People seem to work extra hard in their gardens during the summer. I can't wait to have my own garden. Right now i'll just be content with the pot of basil I am growing but can't remember to water.
I love that Fourth of July is casual. Other holidays (i.e. Christmas, Thanksgiving) are stressful. The house must be perfect. The menu must be perfect. Not so on the Fourth. If the house is messy, we eat outside. As long as the ribs are tasty, nothing else on the menu matters.
I get to wear my FAVORITE red sweater this year. When you are accused by your unobservant fiance of wearing a certain article of clothing a lot, you know you probably overwear it. I don't care. I love this thing (see below).

The smell of grilling out is one of the best scents in the entire world. Even this morning at 8 am I could smell it. Passing one house I caught the sweet scent of ribs and later a whiff of burgers on a charcoal grill.
Andddd... last but certainly certainly certainly not least... the FOOD. Now don't get me wrong I am not much of a carnivore. I don't really like ribs, burgers, or barbecue (I know, sacrilege being from from Memphis and all). It's the Fourth of July sides and desserts that steal my heart every year. Here is a glimpse at what the Good's will be eating this year:

Slow cooked ribs. My grandma's recipe that she never wrote down but, like any good Southern cook, remembered by smell.

Smoked turkey

Asian Slaw (a Good family staple at all holiday feasts)

Watermelon (of which I will probably eat half)

Purple Hull Peas

To be determined dessert with berries that I will make if I can pull myself

away from my new favorite blog, thepioneerwoman.com, long enough to whip something up.

The only thing that could make this Fourth of July 100% perfect was if someone who is in Atlanta were here to celebrate with me. I guess i'll just have to wait for another celebration that will occur a week from today!

Home Sweet Home

2009-05-28T21:56:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with Memphis today.

For the past two weeks I have been in my stressed out-I-have-to-plan-a-wedding-and-find-a-job-and-be-nice-to-people-along-the-way-mode. I haven't had time to stop and smell the roses or, in these parts, the hydrangeas that are popping up in neatly manicured lawns. Well, at least for today, my perspective is renewed and refreshed. Memphis is going to be a blast.

So, what made today so special? I began my morning at the brand new Panera on Poplar Ave. Panera is a new phenomenon to Memphis and a very exciting addition to our after church lunch repertoire. I then proceeded to the beautiful Rhodes College for an informal meeting (don't waste your excitement, still jobless.) Seriously, if you haven't ever seen Rhodes it is beautiful. It is not a place I pass by very often, but every time I do it amazes me that such beautiful gothic architecture is in the middle of our city.

The afternoon was spent apartment shopping. Over the past 48 hours, Price and I have had a complete change of plans regarding our living situation next year. After visiting my grandfather's old house in Germantown(where we were supposed to live next year) and calculating the costs of utilities, extra furniture to make it appear livable, and the fridge, washer, and dryer we would have to purchase, we concluded that this rent free option might end up costing us as much as living in an apartment. After going back to the drawing board, we visited the apartment complex where my parents had their first apartment. After we got past the musty cat urine smell that comes with the quaint little apartment we fell in love. Seriously, it is so cute. Hardwood floors, an extra room that we are calling a study but I think will be my extra closet, nice khaki walls, a sweet little back porch just perfect for our baby Weber grill, and an amazing location in Midtown. Not to mention we have two sets of friends who are getting married this year and living in the complex, as well as one of Price's best friends from high school. We didn't hesitate to apply for the apartment. We are approved and set to move in on July 1st! We are so excited and feel like this is exactly where we need to be. We also got 2 free $25 gift cards to Cozymel's (a Mexican restaurant.) A move-in date and margaritas, what more could you want?!?!?!

An event this monumental in our soon-t0-be-married life deserved celebration, so Price and I went downtown. We dined at Automatic Slims on Second street, a hip restaurant serving up Caribbean fusion cuisine. The service and food left something to be desired, but in our state of apartment bliss it didn't seem to bother us. After dinner we walked to the Orpheum, a beautiful theater just off of Beale Street, to catch their Summer Movie Series which features different films on the big screen throughout the summer. The movie tonight was Swiss Family Robinson which I had never seen but absolutely loved. If the apartment doesn't work out, I could totally do a tree house like theirs. When the movie let out we decided to mosey down Beale Street and check out the live music scene. We bumped in to some friends and wound up at Rum Boogie Cafe, a great bar with live blues and all kinds of crazy Memphis music paraphernalia. If you are planning a trip to Memphis anytime soon (cough, July 11, cough) you should definitely check this place out. While dozing off on our 20 minute drive back to our parent's houses in East Memphis, I felt so content and excited about the years to come.

Sadly, I must now set aside my Memphis euphoria and my MacBook and focus on speed reading the 200 pages I have left in a marriage book I am expected to have completed before our marriage counseling session tomorrow. Thanks for reading!

Confessions of a Blogaholic

2009-05-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

I love blogs. It all started last summer during my internship in Birmingham when I had the inevitable hour each day with nothing to do but surf the web. I got into stalking the blogs of people I knew... and people I didn't. Up until this point my life hasn't been interesting enough to blog about. Not that I really think I'm overly fascinating now, but I definitely have more blog content than a few months ago.

To get you up to speed on my life in a nutshell, here you go... I'm a college graduate. I don't have a job. It's looking like consigning my non-professional clothes and selling old books on Amazon might be my best options for making cash this summer. I'm getting married in July (not to worry, Price is employed) My life is currently consumed with invitations, appointments, and scrounging up furniture for the house we will be living in. Oh yeah, and job searching (if you have any ideas holler at me.) Hopefully I can keep this interesting. If not, I added Price as a contributor because he's funny. Maybe I can convince him to be a ghost writer for me on occasion.

** Be warned, It's only a matter of time before my blog morphs into some sort of domestic sounding board. I don't have time to be domestic right now, but if you like recipes and home decorating (I do, I do!!!!) stay tuned.