The old southern adage says, "Peas for pennies, greens for dollars, and cornbread for gold… Eat poor on New Year's, and eat fat the rest of the year!"   When I moved to Georgia about six years ago, there were a few southern folkways that I really had to acclimate to. Some were good--people asking how you are and how your day is going, courteous drivers, and people trying to feed you every time you go over to their house. Some were confusing--groom's cakes, fried green tomatoes, the crowds of teenagers sitting in the Walmart parking lot. And some were just plain scary--"Wow, you really are …

Summer can be a hectic time for families especially when it comes to food supply. For most, the kids being home in the summer creates the issue of needing more food in the house for snacks and lunches. Lets be honest, kids (as well as parents) get bored with eating the same old thing over and over again. So this summer try to make it fun. Here are some cute summer snack ideas that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Take them with you on the go, or just have a good time preparing them with each other.  Spread a layer of frozen yogurt over graham crackers (similar to an ice-cream sandwich) and…

School has ended. Temperatures are in the sweltering mid 90s. I guess it is safe to say that summer has arrived. For some this is a time of celebration. No more freezing temperatures, no more school, and tan skin. For others this is a sticky, humid, sweaty, and just exhausting. I myself am more of an early-spring or fall type of girl. The whole make up running down my face while I am being eaten alive by mosquitoes really isn't my thing. Regardless of your feelings towards the summer season, there are a few definite positives. The longer sunlit hours and weekends filled with outdoor …

When I was younger, one of my favorite warm weather activities was making popsicles. They are so easy to make, and with my childhood imagination I make popsicles out of about anything you can freeze. As years passed I ended up forgetting about this summer tradition. Then, the other day I was walking through Walmart and I saw a popsicle tray. I probably reacted the way that most 5-year-olds do when they see them same thing (squealing, jumping up and down, the whole nine yards.). I threw the tray into my cart so quickly that one would think that it was a Black Friday and I was purchasing a new …

It's been a long day and you're exhausted. The last thing that you even want to think about is preparing a meal. Time for take out! We are all guilty of it. I ordered a sandwich and salad and had it delivered to my apartment a few hours ago.  Maybe that is what prompted me to write this article. As I wolfed down my huge caesar salad and chicken parmigiana sub while watching Animal Planet (it is my night off, don't judge me), I had a thought. How terrible is take out food for you? We are all made to feel so bad about eating out and not in our own kitchens. To ease that guilt off our shoulders …

As the weather turns warm and the sun begins to shine and bring with it a long awaited Spring, it is time to spend some time in the great outdoors. I would not consider myself an outdoorsy kind of girl. I don't like to get dirty. I never wear the appropriate shoes. I am terrified of bugs and I seem to be a magnet for mosquitoes. Take me camping and I will sleep in my car and not speak to you for weeks.Yet, despite all of this, I love picnics. I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, I am quite aware of that fact. Having that cushy blanket to protect me from the grass and the ants helps a lot. …

China Moo-Shu Pork This is a dish of northern Chinese origin. In its traditional Chinese version, moo shu pork consists of sliced or shredded pork chop meat and scrambled eggs, stir fried in sesame or peanut oil together with thinly sliced wood ear mushrooms,  day lily buds. Thinly sliced bamboo shoots may also be used. The dish is seasoned with minced ginger and garlic, scallions, soy sauce, and rice cooking wine.Canada Poutine Poutine is a diner staple which originated in Quebec and can now be found across Canada. It is sold by national fast food chains. It is a dish consisting of French …

Egypt Ful Medames "The rich man's breakfast, the shopkeeper's lunch, the poor man's supper." This traditional Arabic saying describes the Egyptian dish. This dish of cooked and mashed fava beans served with olive oil, chopped parsley, onion, garlic, and lemon juice. A staple meal in Egypt. Phillipines Lumpia Rolls These tasty treats are popular both in their native country and in Filipino communities around the world. In American cities with large Filipino populations, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, street carts serving Lumpia and restaurants specializing in the rolls have numerous …

I often get asked what my favorite food is. I never have to think about it. Hands down, no questions asked, it is cheese. I love it. Alone or in foods cheese is amazing. If I know that I am having company, the first thing I even consider making is a cheese platter. It never fails. Come to my house and I will feed you cheese. I always have it on hand (In my fridge at this very moment I have brie, provolone, and muenster. I just checked.) A cheese tray is simple and quick to prepare and is a great appetizer. Here are a few cheese dos and don'ts and some of my favorite cheeses to use.Tips for …

St. Patty's day is almost here again, and in lieu of teaching you all how to make your own green beer (something I personally just find gross,) I thought I would share some very yummy dessert recipes. Whether you decide to go all out and prepare the traditional Irish corned beef, potatoes, and cabbage meal, or just enjoy an everyday dinner, one of these sweet, green treats will make you feel festive. So here are a few simple, delicious, and green recipes to enjoy after your St. Patty's day meal. (If you would like to wash your green dessert down with a green beer, be my guest.) Leprechaun …

Bananas. That's right, B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Gwen Stefani had it right; bananas are awesome. And lets be honest, no one is ever allowed to misspell the word ever again. Bananas are such a versatile fruit. There are so many recipes and other fun ways to include bananas in dishes. Also, they are cheap and easy to find. They are always available at the local grocery store (no waiting on "banana season.”) Not only are the readily accessible and inexpensive, but bananas are also very healthy. A medium sized banana holds about 105 calories and is full of fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 which …

I love colorful foods. I am not talking about just colorful vegetables and fruits. I like fake color. I would put food coloring in anything I could. However, I don't want to scare people.  This is an issue that probably stems from a childhood love of Dr. Seuss' book Green Eggs and Ham. I kept waiting and waiting for green food. Needless to say, it never happened. Color is fun. Color is adventurous. Here are a few fun ideas or recipes that food coloring can be added to just to mix things up a little.   Tip:When using food coloring always start out with a tiny bit. You can always add more later…

It is that time of year again: Girl Scout cookies are everywhere. These little cookies are dangerous. I don't like sweets very much, and I don't eat cookies. However, I will make an exception for Girl Scout cookies. Honestly, how can you not? These tiny, delicious cookies come in a variety of flavors and are sold at convenient locations (outside grocery stores) by cute little girls. Wait. There is more good news. These cookies no longer have to be enjoyed alone with a glass of milk. There are countless other ways to  enjoy your favorite Girl Scout cookies. Here are a few examples. Also, keep …

Yay, it's Valentines Day! Excuse me? Oh, sorry. Gross, Valentines Day is here again. No matter what your feelings toward this particular holiday are, it is hard not to indulge a little bit. Or a lot. Desserts and candies are rampant. Even if you absolutely hate Valentines Day, you have to admit, those little pink cupcakes are adorable and look delicious. Who wants flowers when you can have a box of chocolates instead. Don't forget those sugar cookies with the pink, white, and red icing. However, while the stores are bombarding us with treat after treat, I feel the best desserts are the ones …

I love the Super Bowl. Don't get me wrong, I don't really like football. However, the commercials are pretty cool. So if the halftime show. People host amazing parties, somehow finding ways to get a TV into every room of the house. Oh, and don't forget the food. I see the Super Bowl in the same light as I see Thanksgiving or Christmas. It is one of the occasions where we eat way too much. The overindulgence always leads me to feeling sick. Being I guess if you're going to do something, might as well go all out. Wings, burgers, dips, sodas, beer: I like to refer to these foods as "man food." I…

It is the beginning of the new year and we hear it everywhere. The grocery store, the gym, the pharmacy, the coffee shop, etc. The constant reminders that it is yet again time to start fresh and finally achieve those goals that were set aside for the lower part of 2010.   Everywhere I  go, people feel the need to tell me their new years resolutions.  I'm not talking about friends and family here. I mean customers that I wait on where I work (Frosty Frog Creamery and Cafe. I get to hear about how everyone is trying to eat better while they order large waffle cones of the delicious Honey …

Preparing a holiday dinner can be a daunting task. Even for a cook who is experienced, it is intimidating. This isn't your weekend dinner. Chances are you cannot even remember what you ate for dinner two nights ago. However, people tend to remember what they ate at a holiday meal. Thus sparking the inevitable question that your friends and coworkers will ask, "What did you eat for dinner this Christmas?"  It isn't everyday that your friends and coworkers ask what you ate for dinner, so cooking for the holidays can send even the most level headed cook into full hysterics. "There is not enough…

Whether you are hosting a large party or just having a small get-together with a few friends, specialty holiday drinks can brighten up any event. Since we only get to enjoy them a few weeks out of the year, let's make the most of it! I have compiled a list including some of my personal favorite drinks, alcoholic and nonalcoholic, that are sure to be a hit. I have included little side notes and changes that I made along the way. Keep in mind, drinks are all about personal preference. If I alter something to make a drink a little sweeter, and you are not a fan of sugary drinks, it might not be…

Festive decorations? Check. Holiday plates on the table? Check. Enough seating for everyone? Check. When hosting a party or an event, it is important to ensure that everyone is comfortable and that all needs are met.  Therefore, when inviting your guests, take time and consider possible roadblocks regarding your food preparation. Suppose that you spend hours making a pork roast just to find out a guest can't eat pork. What if someone is lactose intolerant and your appetizers contain cheese and cream cheese? According to Emily Post, the responsibility of knowing specific dietary restrictions …

With the holidays upon us, food has definitely taken up a part of our minds. From huge holiday meals on tables so thoroughly covered with food one would think that the table is in danger of losing a leg, to those delicious pumpkin muffins at the local coffee shop. With that in mind, this is also one of the busiest times of the year for most families. Often when we are busy, we have a tendency to not make the best food choices, grabbing what is quick and easy instead of what is actually beneficial for our bodies. That ultimately leads us to feel sluggish, cranky and just worn down.Shopping, …