I am learning the hard way that ideas and perceptions that you allow to take root in your mind as a child are very hard to uproot as an adult, especially when it comes to food. While I have slowly added more colored vegetables into my diet,  I must admit that the only yellow vegetable  I eat is corn.

I was faced with a horrible dilemma during the holidays that brought me back to my elementary age years.
My more than adventurous mother decided to cook a butternut squash casserole. I mean I love...Read More » »

As a mother of four, spaghetti plays an important part in my cooking repertoire. My children love it, especially with meatballs. I cook it almost once a week for my children along with a nice crisp salad and usually some type of corn. When my mother-in-law comes to visit she usually takes over the kitchen. Even though I try to protest, not, she just gets in there and starts making wonderful meals to feed her grand-babies. She is such an excellent cook that I just love to watch and learn.

Because...Read More » »

My mother was a stickler for making sure that she served something green every night for dinner. She believed that making us eat our vegetables was one of her top list of priorities as a parent. I didn't get it then, but twenty years and four children later I get it! I can't lie to you and tell you that it didn't take as many years for me to get adventurous with vegetables, but now I can honestly say there is nothing that I won't try.

Have you heard of micro-greens? They are vegetables with...Read More » »

As the Texas Dairy Queen, I can honestly say that a life without cheese just wouldn't be worth living. I am, of course, a fan of aged cheddar cheese and sharp cheddar cheeses but I also love aged and raw milk cheeses which taste so much better than pasteurized milks and cheeses. Howeve, you must taste it to become a believer. The surface ripened cheeses, fresh  goat cheeses, aged and raw milk cheeses and specialty cheese at Capriole Farmstead are the perfect way to start what could turn into a...Read More » »

Do you believe that all human beings are given the charge of environmental stewardship? DO feel that our number one priority is to provide our families with healthy food to eat and a healthy environment to live in. Well, the farmers at Otter Creek Organic Farm believe it and they practice what they preach by using sustainable farming methods more specifically they practice 'mineralized balanced agriculture'.

Otter Creek Organic farm makes award winning Pesto cheese. Their aged cheddar cheese is...Read More » »

Growing up, my dear mother was a stickler for making us eat at least one green vegetable with each meal. No matter what the meat, we needed to have at least one green vegetable on our plate. She was so adamant about it that should would make us eat pizza with green beans! Yuck! Well, as we grow up we all come to realize  that "Mother knows best" indeed. So, now I am the one getting the sour faces when I serve pizza with whatever green veggie is available. Interestingly enough, as I have taken on...Read More » »

In these winter months, there is nothing like a nice hot cup of green tea and honey to get me going in the morning. Actually, I really like one in the afternoon also, as a little pick me up. Since one of my New Year's resolutions is to be honest with myself about the quantities of what I am eating and drinking, I must also add that I like one before bed as well. I must confess, I don't drink nearly as much water as I should so drinking the green tea makes me feel better about myself and...Read More » »

What you are about to read may sound silly but I dare you to give it a try. The next time you are on a farm, tell a joke to a pig. Why? "Happy pigs produce excellent and succulent pork!" hat is what the farmers at South Texas Heritage Pork believe and so they do their best to keep their pigs fat and happy.

Heritage breeds were the first generation of pigs to be introduced into the pork industry. They consist of the English Large Black which produces the tastiest bacon, my favorite breakfast meat...Read More » »

When you think of breakfast, you usually think of sausage and eggs or bacon and eggs. Rarely do you think of chicken and eggs. This year one of my resolutions is to save money and use what I have in the refrigerator to make meals rather than going out to get one or two items everyday that I think are the "missing" ingredient. This will cut out you having to settle for lower quality foods from grocery stores in between farmers market visits.

So, I had some leftover baked chicken in my...Read More » »