Monday Mashup: birthday cake, my new fork, podcasts and wings

I totally just ate birthday cake straight out of the cake box for breakfast.  Coconut is a perfectly acceptable breakfast food, right?  It was my big birthday celebration this past weekend and dearest friends gathered to help me party the night away.  I ordered a giant coconut cake from Brick Street Bakery in Greenville.  We'll be eating on this cake next year. Okay, at the rate I'm diving in, it might be gone tomorrow, but you get the point. It's giant!

My friend, Griet, was leaving yesterday and being that it was cold outside, she wanted to put on her hat.  She had a ponytail and decided to cut a hole in her hat for her hair to stick out instead of having that giant bump on the back of your head.  You know the one.  I think this is pure genius and she could make millions off the idea.

I got a tattoo.  Yes I did!  A fork.  It's forking amazing.  Okay, so it kinda hurt like hell.  Like an angry cat continually scratching you, but it is super cool.  I just poked away at my iPhone in the other hand, took pics, etc and tried to ignore the incredible stinging coming from my other arm while he was working away.  Thank God my phone didn't die or I might have been a big baby about the whole thing.  So I am permanently forked.  And I love it.  J.J. Olinger was this incredible painter in Greenville before he started inking people, as well.  I was a huge fan so when he started doing the whole tattoo thing, I had to have a JJ original.  He gives this t-shirt away to people getting their first tattoo.  My husband was not totally stoked about this bit of the experience.

OMG. Adam Roberts, The Amateur Gourmet, will be in town next week and I get to meet him. (Squealing!)  I'm already jotting down questions so when he's sitting there and I'm thinking "OMG, Adam Roberts is sitting across from me!" I will have some go-to questions to keep me from looking like a totally obsessed fangirl. (Which I might be.  A little bit.  Okay, a lot.)

I'm also catching up on his Clean Plate Club podcasts.  My husband has been listening to podcasts forever, but I am a new fan.  After Christmas music ended, I just wasn't ready to go back to the regular play list, so podcasts have been a nice detour!  The Clean Plate Club is my favorite.  Adam invites one food person and one non-food person to have dinner with him and his partner, Craig, and they talk food, the entertainment industry (because Craig makes indie films), and general LA and New York gossip. LOVE it!  There, quite honestly, are not enough of them!  Get on that Adam!  I'm waiting!  OOOH!  We should do a Clean Plate Club recording over our breakfast next week!!!!! Can we?  (Begging. You can always delete it if I am unworthy.)

Other podcasts to check out: 3 Wine Guys, Go Fork Yourself (Andrew Zimmern and Molly Mogren), Spilled Milk (Molly Wizenberg! from the Orangette blog and Matthew Amster-Burton), and  Wine for Normal People.

I am totally obsessed with the wine app Vivino.  You open the app, snap a picture of a wine label and you have the expected cost, ratings, reviews, and so much more.  I LOVE IT!  My daughter has to pull me out of the wine section of the grocery store.  My friend brought a Worthy Sophia's Cuvee Napa Valley (2008) to my party and I totally Vivino'ed the wine. She picked well.  High ratings and great reviews.  A really awesome cab blend.  I can't wait to get my hands on another bottle! It might be my go to for dinner parties.

The Superbowl is apparently coming up soon.  I am only in it for the food.  Wings,  mostly. Here are 31 freaking awesome wing recipes to choose from. (Thank you Buzzfeed!) I dare you to choose just one. Lime and Maple?  Asian Caramel? Honey Sriracha?  Yes, please!  And I'm totally making these cocktail wieners this year. Pure crack.  And yes, that is a jello shot in the background.  I might have had one or two.  Tasty little boogers!

That's a wrap for Monday's Mashup!  It's time for a coffee refill and a little Today Show to catch up on the entertainment news.

Happy Monday all!  Keep an eye out for my beer float post coming soon.  YUM!

A little Saturday Dis and Dat

What's up my friends?  Can you believe fall is on it's way?  I seriously turned my car around in the middle of the road to head back to Starbuck's today when I heard Pumpkin Spiced Lattes are back. Like NOW.

Never mind I'm on gallbladder enforced dietary lock down until they yank the thing out. I had to get my fix.  Ahhhh.  The smell reminds me of warm fuzzy socks and orange leaves and cinnamon on EVERYTHING.  Oh, and long sleeve t-shirts, God's gift especially to me.  I heart them.

It's fig season and we went to our friends' house last night so it was imperative that I brought a Fig and Gorgonzola pizza for pre-dinner nosh. I ran to Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery for fresh figs and fig preserves and then to Trader Joe's yesterday for their most awesome Gorgonzola cheese and arugula. Leave it to me to drive all over town for one little recipe. I snagged a few other goodies at TJ's including Short Stack Syrup (my husband is making waffles as I type) and Dark Chocolate Covered Marshmallows.  

I am completely in love with Marshmallows at the moment.  They are bits of fluffy goodness.  A culinary cloud.  My obsession started when we were at the beach at the end of July, actually. Well before digestive hell.  The Sullivan's Island Coop had Haypenny s'mores, then I was in Piggly Wiggly on Mount Pleasant and snagged a bag of Campfire Lemon Meringue Mallow Bursts, which taste exactly like lemon pie.  (Sigh.  I miss them. I haven't found them here, but if you see them in Greenville, give me a shout!)

Oh, I also popped into Dapper Ink yesterday to check out their t-shirts.  I wear my green "love Greenville" shirt all the time. I've worn it out.  I grabbed a few of their newer t's for my rotation (only ten bucks each) and found out they are coming out with a brand new line of products to be debuted at Indie Craft Parade next weekend, Sept. 7-8,  in downtown Greenville.  It's a freaking amazing indie craft fair.  Go check it out.

Confessional: I have never seen a single episode of How I Met Your Mother.  My aunt raves.  My mom raves. I totally dig Neil Patrick Harris. I stalk him online.  I love seeing pictures of him, his partner and his twins. Yes, I am one of those people.  I will eventually have to get the show on Netflix or something, I guess.  Anyone else out there watching?

Hashtags.  I don't understand.  I'm totally blowing up Instagram these days, by the way.  I may not be blogging as much at the moment, but you absolutely  must follow me on Instagram to keep up with the business of being me. @gapcreekgourmet. My favorite follow on Instagram? Lena Dunham from HBO's Girls.  She is way cool. Anyway, I get that you can use hashtags to search for similar posts, etc.  But people sure do come up with some craziness. Someone teach me the ways of tagging, please.

#thingsyouwanttocraminyourface

I have made these popcorn cookies a bazillion times since I first told you about them.  You really have to try them. No kidding.

If you live in the Travelers Rest/Greenville area, the Travelers Rest Cookbook Book Club is looking for new members!  We meet the second Monday of each month at Upcountry Provisions and cook from a new cookbook every quarter.  We have an amazing spread of food at every meeting. Let me know if you'd like to join us!

I am in love with the new song "Royals" by Lorde (she's a cutie pie), but does anyone else thing the woman sounds like Poe?

Happy Saturday!
Ta.

Springy day, trader joe's loot and the DVR roll.

I totally sprang my child out of school early this afternoon. It was way too sunny in South Carolina to sit in a class room. I nabbed her and we went to the barn to enjoy the weather and some time with the horses.  I still haven't gotten on one yet, but enjoyed the sunshine and some blogging time while she rode around.

Prior to sealing my place for mother of the year today, I popped into Kitchen Arts and Pottery in downtown Greenville to interview the owner, Liz, for a story.  The place is chock full of odd and end kitchen supplies and high end ingredients - stuff you just can't find at the grocery store.  I scored some Italian lemon pasta to make for dinner.  Add a little butter, a little garlic... yum!

Oh, and I went to Trader Joe's.  I came away with a huge bag of goodies (and wine) including the new Crunchy Cookie Butter (which is the bomb), Sweet Potato Chips, Kona Coffee Shortbread Cookies (which are heaven in a cookie sprinkled with coffee) and PBandJ chocolate bar (made with their Raspberry jelly, which I LOVE).

Yep, it was a healthy trip.  I would like to point out that my family suffers so on the food front.  Too bad I'm not as good at cleaning house as I am scouting out goodies.

I have yet to catch up on DVR recordings enough to see Smash.  We are, however, caught up on The Following.  I love this show.  Totally hooked.  It's a nail biter each episode and it's Keven Bacon, people!   (Hmmmm.... bacon.  I should have grabbed some today while I was out.)

We are also digging Banshee (Antony Starr is a bad ass) and The Americans (Felicity is just SO serious these days and she kicks butt).

That's all I got.  Just checking in.  Stay tuned for another ChefQ6 coming your way!

Wrapping Christmas and holiday loot.

Well Christmas has wrapped at the Livengood household and the new year is on our doorstep. I'm still celebrating. I refuse to take down my trees and presents are still scattered around the den. My mother rips Christmas down the very next day while she watches Gone with the Wind, but I'm in no hurry to make it all disappear. When I finally get in the mood, I'll pull out Bridget Jones's Diary, Something's Gotta Give and The Holiday. Those are my packing it up tradition.

There are leftovers bursting out of the fridge from our Christmas day feast: cinnamon buns, honey ham, potato salad with bacon and cheese, sugary and goey pies, pickles and olives... we'll be eating on these until we can't stand one more bite. And today I'm making ham bone soup. We always cook for an invisible army.

The present giving this year was off the chain.  I thought I'd take you on a tour of the loot and share some of my favorite family pics from our celebrations.  I hope you and yours have a great New Years Eve and day.  I can't wait to share my New Years resolutions with you and to get these Southern Egg Rolls made again!  You must click on the link and check them out.  They are the best part of the new year!

Santa filled our stockings with all sorts of goodies.  I discovered these Guinness and Bourbon Marshmallows from Wondermade.com. We haven't cracked them open yet, but I'm pacing waiting on him to offer me a bite!

I found these under the tree just for me.  A holiday selection from Seattle Chocolates.  

I've had these on my Pinterest wish list for a while now.  

My sister got me this t'shirt that is totally, absolutely, 100% me.  

If I had a team shirt, this would be it. I love it!  

AND she got me GREEN!!! Converse.  She rocks. 

I'm not the only one racking up at Christmas!  Look at my child's haul!  Her highlights were a first computer, Littlest Petshop and Monster High dolls.  I think we sort of went overboard, but it may be her last Christmas that she actually asks for toys.

Another online find that found its way into the husband's stocking.  We are stoked about trying it!

A super cool etsy find from my parents.

Other highlights:

Jewelry by my favorite metal artist, Molly Dingledine.

 Blood, Bones and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton, which I immediately tore into and read in three days.  I swear the book was fantastic but actually put me into a frustrated and angry mood. When you read the book, you'll understand.  Her life is just frustrating! 

A new satellite radio system for my kitchen.  Mine was archaic. I've programmed in all of my favorite channels: 40's on 4, The Pulse, Alternative Nation, Margaritaville, Coffee House, The Blend. Gotta have my tunes while I cook.

Comfy jammy pants, fiesta ware...a jersey duvet cover which I have been dying for for years and years and it is pure heaven. 

Oh! And Secrets of the Best Chefs, Adam Roberts's new cookbook.

A nativity from my dear friend. She gave me Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus last year and added the Wise Men this year.

Yes, I am a spoiled brat.

Happy New Year (if you don't hear from me before then)!

The Green Room, last minute shopping, and a leaky hat

Today I met my buddy Taryn at The Green Room in downtown Greenville for lunch.  I hadn't been there before so Taryn insisted that we start by ordering the Caprese Bruschetta, fresh baked sun dried tomato and herb bread toasted and topped with fresh mozzarella and olives tapenade.  I'm not a "starter" kind of girl on the lunch hour, but I quickly understood why she insisted.

The lunch menu is sandwich, soup, salad, etc.  I settled on the French Dip. I've been out with people who have ordered this sandwich, but haven't actually ordered one myself.  I was feeling adventurous.  For my side I ordered their Truffle Fries, which, as I came to find out, they are known for. CNN Travel +  Leisure voted them some of the best fries in the nation, actually.

When my plate arrived, my mouth fell open.  Taryn laughed at me and said she should have warned me about the serving size.  Before me sat a huge sandwich of tender thin sliced beef  with melted Provolone cheese and caramelized onions on fresh baked bread with side of house-made au jus.  I managed to eat half and packed the rest up for a soon-to-be very happy husband.

If you're in the Greenville area, you must go try their fries.  They are thin cut and extra crispy, topped with salt, parm cheese and parsley. I've had other truffle fries in town that we very tasty, but these were seriously some perfectly cooked fries.  I'm thinking a bottle of Cab and a plate of fries is an order for a girls night soon.

When we said our goodbyes, I made a b-line for The Green Eyed Girls Boutique across the street and around the corner.  It has gotten quite a lot of press lately and I pass it coming into town all the time but never find myself close enough to walk around the corner to W. North Street.  It's a neat little place with jewelry, home decor, scarves, etc.


Then I went into Southern Fried Cotton to scope the place out.  If you're looking for last minute gifts, you have to go in here.  There's a t'shirt for everyone on your list and I found these neat man candles in scents like new glove and gunpowder.

Oh! And here's a shout out for Poppington's Popcorn, where I visited earlier in the week, also on Main Street.  The place has any flavor of popcorn you can imagine. It's like the popcorn place at the mall when I was a kid!  The best part was they give samples willingly.  I tried Bloody Mary, Dill Pickle, Salt and Pepper, Beer, Cheddar with Bacon... you're seeing a pattern.  I was there in search of a bag to accompany the annual tradition of watching Lethal Weapon, one of my husband's favorite Christmas movies. (Just a note: it was really hard for me to watch this year in light of the horrible shooting. What's up with people?!!!!)

Something cool popped up in my blog surfing today. The Amateur Gourmet wrote about this place called The Meadow in NYC.  It's a place that has an entire wall of different kinds of salts.  Rockin' cool.  Here's a link to the place.  You can buy salts online too and one of the owners, Mark Bitterman, wrote an entire book on salt called Salted, A Manifesto on the World's Most Essential Mineral.  That one's going on the Pinterest wishlist board folks.

And lastly... last night we watched a little Prep and Landing clip at the end of Charlie Brown Christmas. It tickled our funny bone and had us repeating lines all day long. Any time I worry from this day forward, I will say, "I think my hat is leaking!!!" It's short. Watch it. Enjoy.

My dream spatula, meal sharing, and spreading holiday cheer

I bought Sweeteeth chocolate for a friend for Christmas.  It is staring at me.  Is it wrong to eat someone's present?  

I am so in love with this Gir Spatula.  I want to shout from the rooftops how happy I am that someone finally made a spatula without a seam for food and crud to get stuck in! It's probably too late to tell Santa, but it's definitely on the birthday list.

In all other things in life I am not, but for some reason when it comes to cooking (utensils,pots,pans, etc.) I am a minimalist. It's like I'm stuck in my college years dicing onions with a steak knife.  (Yep, I still do that.) I just haven't acquired the nicer things most cooks treasure.  I make do. As I melted chocolate in the microwave in a Tupperware bowl this evening (chefs everywhere are cringing), it dawned on me how absurd it is that I don't own a good set of glass bowls.  How did I make it this long without glass bowls?! New Years Resolution #1: update kitchen ware. 

I love this blog post by Kate Connor about a stereotypical writing day.   If you ever wonder what it's like to be a writer, this will answer your question. At least for me. The last line is priceless: And that is why writers are fat.  Amen sister. 

There is a new website you'll be interested in.  It's MealSharing.org, a social networking site that allows you to share home cooked meals with people around the world.  Say you're traveling across the US or to another county.  The site hooks you up with a home cook!  You can sign up to share a meal in someone's kitchen or sign up to host travelers in your home or meet up with people to share a meal. Super interesting, right? 

I've spent the entire day in my kitchen baking for the holidays.  I've made mocha cookies, oatmeal butterscotch cookies, coconut cookies, fudge and pretzel peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate. Tomorrow is another day of the same.  It's hard work spreading holiday cheer!

 

truffle fries, a holiday tune and catch up

I was sipping on a glass of Alamos Malbec (great wine for under $15 pick), and thinking that I've let the week slip by without posting.  

I went to Marks again this week with my buddy Ximena and totally ordered their Parmesan Truffle Fries.  They are so blasted good that there aren't words.  I'm a huge truffle fan.  Love the truffle. I think I'd eat it on morning buttered toast.  Seriously. Anyway, you should go get these fries... their burgers are damn good, too.

Onward. December is a big ta-do in the Livengood household.  There's baking and present wrapping and shopping and house cleaning and chorus concerts and parades and dinners with friends... yep, the Christmas season has us all wrapped up with busy-ness.

The blogs are full of delicious Christmas recipes this time of year, too, aren't they?  I can't possibly cook everything on my Holiday Baking board on Pinterest before the Big Guy comes down the chimney, but I'll gonna sure try!

I stumbled upon the Big Red Kitchen blog last week.  What caught my eye was a post about mixing Eggnog with Ginger Ale.  I ran to the fridge (I had both) and excitedly mixed them together, because as we all know, I am obsessed with all things eggnog.  It was interesting.  I wouldn't serve it at your next party, but it was definitely worth trying once.

Jacob Johnson is the bomb.  He's a fixture in the local coffee shop (Ithe Forest...still known to many locals as Leopard Forest) so I get to see his smiling face when I run in for a mid-afternoon pick-me- up. He posted this rendition of the Peanut's version of Christmastime last week.  The boy can tear up a guitar. And apparently he too shares an appreciation for Charlie Brown's Christmas which makes him even cooler. Enjoy.


Next.  Kate Middleton is pregnant.  There will be royal baby...which as a toddler will actually be a royal pain in the butt.  Hahahahaha!  Yep.  Made that one up  folks.  I'm just a regular Jay Leno, eh?

(crap!  My glass is empty. Time for a refill.)

Oh!  I finally found someone who could appreciate my appreciation for bowties!  Adam Roberts!  If you follow my blog often, he's The Amateur Gourmet guy I talk about all the time. A food nerd and fellow food blogger (but he's made it BIG TIME).  Check out this really awesome talk he just gave to publicize his new book (which is on my Christmas list).

Okay.  That's all folks.  Enjoy your evening. I have more for tomorrow so stay posted!

Rip and file, Mason Jar swag and stocking musts

It's time for the monthly rip and file.  The monthly mag subscriptions have gotten totally out of hand.  But it sure makes for some cool ideas.

in the kitchen: Broccoli is the new Brussel sprout. Thank God cause I was getting pretty tired of seeing those little tiny cabbage boogers all over the place.  (I still have a bag in my fridge that may go bad before I can decide what to do with them.) There's a super yummy recipe for Flash-Roasted Broccoli with Spicy Crumbs (meaning pepperoni and panko) in this month's Food and Wine.  

And I'm definitely  making these pork looking eggroll things in the near future. 

And this Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake. 

to buy: I'm newly obsessed with drinking out of Mason jars.  Mainly I am a total klutz and they are really great for not tipping over when I side swipe them. Okay, so now there is a Mason Jar Shaker by W+P Design.  It's been in all the mags this season.  But the coolest in new Mason Jar swag is this sippy cup top from Cuppow that turns your jar into a spill proof cup.  

Someone needs to purchase this for me for Christmas.  I am in need. 

Dear Santa: I happened upon an ad for White Chocolate Peppermint Pringles. 

  

What. The. Hell.  I think I need these in my stocking. If you see them somewhere, message me immediately so I can tell Santa.  

to give is better than sex: okay, maybe not, but it does feel good.  If I had a bow tie guy in my life, I'd totally get them a bow tie from The Cordial Churchman out of Rock Hill.  I really don't think my brother or my husband, being the non-wearing-tie males they are, would appreciate the gesture.  But maybe you know someone...

There's a party going on in my house... I'm sitting here blogging. Maybe socializing would be a good thing today?  Have a good weekend and happy Christmas shopping!

Gap Creek Gourmet Gift Guide 2012

Well, the Christmas trees are up and the house is decorated. Now it's time to get serious about shopping.  It's tough sometimes to figure out what to get everyone on my list. I'm sure you're the same, right?  Luckily, this year, I've been stockpiling ideas on Pinterest... bookmarking others.  And now it's time to share my loot and hopefully give you guys some good ideas for those harder to please people on your list.

Note: if you are a relative (or my husband), please quit reading and go back to whatever else you were doing or your grand surprise might be destroyed forever.  Thanks.

Flavored salts are the bomb.  We keep a jar of the Yamika Applewood Smoked Sea Salt on hand from Whole Foods at all times and it's a definite yes on the gift giving list this year, but I also found this Sriracha Salt for the hubs stocking on Etsy.

Van's Chocolates in Hendersonville, North Carolina has amazing Wine Truffles.  Tickle that wine lover's fancy with a half dozen chocolates and a bottle of red.

I found this cake tester on the Duff Goldman site and immediately bought one for someone on my list.  It's hard not to buy one of everything for myself, too.  Sigh.  I pinned it to my "I want..." board on Pinterest to satiate the need.  Maybe Santa will get one for my stocking...  PS: right now, everything on this site is 50% off!

I am a HUGE Chuck fan.  Love me some green Converse, but did you know you can personalize the heck out of these things?  I mean, you can even order them in zebra stripe with the color of trim you want and your name on the side?  Seriously.  Go check it out.  When my daughter's foot quits growing, I'm so getting her some of these.

I need this hat, and so does the baker on your list. It's a must, don't you think?

Okay, so Greenville has this amazing Culinary Tour.  No, I haven't been yet, but this is year number two it's on my wishlist.   You get to meet the chefs and get up close and behind the scenes at some of Greenville's hottest restaurants.  Oh, and they feed you. 

Books.  Everyone still needs a book or two for Christmas.  There's something so tactile about flipping a page, dog-earing for later... Two pics for the cook on your  list are

"Stuffed: Adventures of a Restaurant Family" by Patricia Volk (a memoir and recommended at a food writing class I took recently) and..."The Secrets of the Best Chefs" by Adam Roberts (recipes, tips and tricks from a foodie/chef/blogger who is the cat's p.j.'s in my little world). 

I just can't keep up with my life on my iPhone or computer.  I've tried Outlook.  I've tried reminders.  Nope.  I need a good, old fashioned written calendar.  And I am lusting over this Erin Condren life planner. You can personalize it with pics, etc, but the coolest part is the big, full spread calendar and lots of sections for keeping notes and important info.

I love a good movie that makes me want to run for the kitchen for some grub (or a tasty beverage).  Here are the top foodie movies on my list: Ratatouille, Julie and Julia, Under the Tuscan Sun, Chocolat, Big Night (on my wishlist this year), It's Complicated, Bottle Shock and Sideways.

For the 3 and unders on your list, get them the Little People Nativity Set.  I've purchased so many of these over the years that I should have bought Fisher-Price stock.  Seriously. It's part of the Christmas decor in my house, too.

Got a wife/daughter/friend who's just got everything?  This Figs and Ginger necklace is awesome.  I have one and every single time I wear it someone compliments me on it.

Okay, so I could go on and on forever.  I love the gift giving season.  It's the bomb!  I'm always open to helping out if you're stumped and need some inspiration for someone on your list. But for now, I hope this gets you started!  Happy shopping. 

Trader Joes holiday goodie bliss, eggnog and the end of Audrey

Back in the saddle again... (Tis the season for the When Harry Met Sally soundtrack, right?).  Okay, so I'm not really back in a saddle, just back in the swing of things somewhat after a week of hibernation. It's about time!  I can't afford to take the week of Thanksgiving off, now, can I?   There are pumpkin rolls and cheesecakes to be made, Turkeys to be purchased for brining, cranberry sauce to be purchased from the Fresh Market. Then next week it's TREE TIME!!!! (She squeals like a little kid.)

Yesterday while I was out running errands, my mother-in-law dropped these fried apple donuts from Skytop Orchard off on my back porch.  What a very cool surprise.  They are quite possibly the best fried donuts in the world. 

I spent the day running all over town for Christmas craft supplies.  I'm making these little guys thanks to a little Pinterest inspiration.  I'm putting my own spin on them, of course, but aren't they cute little boogers?

And I squeezed in a trip to Trader Joe's amid the fa-la-la for a little holiday goody bliss.  My aunt used to send these to me way before we had a Traders.  

The Dark Chocolate Minty Mallows are melt in your mouth holy-moly goodness. Your eyes will roll back into your head at first bite.  It's a promise.

It's also eggnog season. Every year I try to hold out til after Thanksgiving for the first sip but fail miserably. I caved and got an Eggnog milkshake from Jack in the Box.  

I love these things.  Hell, I love eggnog period: eggnog cookies, ice cream, cakes, cheesecakes... big fan.  I even love it in my morning coffee.  I can't even begin to guess what kind of horribleness it contains. 

So last night was the last episode of the little YouTube miniseries I've been watching called Audrey.  It's like Sex and the City meets foodie world.  I was hooked after the first couple of minutes and then six episodes later, I was holding my head in my hands moaning in sadness that it had to end. What a tease. I hate miniseries.  

Speaking of Television, some genius posted the 2012 Holiday TV Schedule on their blog which in turn was posted on Pinterest.  I think I love this person. Okay, so it's not comprehensive.  I mean, where is Die Hard? But it's a good start and I definitely  wrote a few of these on my calendar for family time.

Have a good Saturday folks.  Until next week...

bookclub, creative consumption and Greenville's first food truck rodeo

My daughter totally rocked out our Cookbook book club on Monday night with a version of this cake from The Pioneer Woman Cooks Cookbook .  It was one of the best bookclub meetings yet due to the scrumptious recipes in this book. 

We had stuffed mushrooms, creamy chicken enchilladas, Dr. Pepper pulled pork, chocolaty cups of creme, potatoes au gratin (I made these), hummus... I'm telling you, it was a feast! We still have room in our group if anyone is interested in joining for the new year!

I voted. Girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do for a sticker, right? 

If I don't quit eating Halloween candy... arg!  There's a huge bowl of Tootsie Rolls and Butterfinger staring at me in my kitchen and I can't bring myself to throw them away.  I'm brainstorming ways to get rid of them through consumption. The s'more I made from a mini snickers was one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth.  Yum! You gotta try it.  

And on to some foodie news: 

I hear Greenville's gonna have it's very first Food Truck Rodeo!  Well, a mini rodeo, anyway... According to the Neue Southern Food Truck Facebook site the Asada Truck and Pies R Squared will be joining them in the Stone's Point shopping center by Community Tap on Saturday from 5pm - 8 pm for a mini rodeo.  Greenville has to get more food trucks.  Any news on that front?

Cookbook fan like I am? Then you'll want to know about this: Fiction Addiction is hosting cookbook authors Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart for the Friday, November 30 Book your Lunch event at Soby's in downtown Greenville.  Their new book "Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking" is one you will definitely want to add to your collection. Want more info? Go here or call the bookstore at 864-675-0540.

Well, that's that folks on this rainy Wednesday.  I'm doing good to stay awake today!