A while back, I discovered through genealogy research that one of my ancestors was originally from Smithfield, Virginia. When my younger son told me out of the blue one day that he wanted to “find a really good ham,” I knew Smithfield was the place to go. We headed to Jamestown to take the free… Read More Ham and peanuts in Smithfield
Many people who know me are familiar with my hobby of entering contests and sweepstakes. I started entering these online giveaways about 15 years ago, and in that time I’ve been fortunate to win many fun and exciting prizes. Since I’m a travel junkie, my favorite prizes are trips, of course. Since 2003, I’ve won… Read More My Contest and Sweepstakes Hobby – Part 1
New York City is one of my favorite places in the world. It’s like an onion with so many layers of history to peel. Every time I visit, I discover something new. A few weeks ago, my husband and I got to take a weekend trip to NYC for a concert at Irving Plaza. We… Read More Highlights from a weekend trip to New York City
The food culture of Argentina is an interesting mix of native and indigenous cuisines with Mediterranean, particularly Italian influences. The prevalence of cattle in the South American nation means that beef is nearly always on the menu there. When making a delicious Argentinian-style dinner for my family, grilled steak with chimichurri was a must! Chimichurri… Read More Argentinian Dinner
Some classic cocktail enthusiasts may not know this, but the Old Fashioned was originally created as a gin cocktail. In 1862, renowned bartender Jerry Thomas published his “Bartenders’ Guide.” In it, he described the Old Fashioned Holland Gin cocktail as containing sugar, water, ice, Angostura bitters, a small piece of lemon peel and a jigger… Read More My Favorite Old-Fashioned
My six year-old son loves cooking with me, so much that he has an Easy Bake oven and his own cooking set given to him for Christmas by his aunt and uncle. When I told him I was going to make some tomato soup from scratch for lunch on this #SuperBowlSunday, he couldn’t wait to… Read More Cooking with Kids – Super Bowl Lunch
Near the Eastern France/Germany border, the region of Alsace is a unique mix of French and German culture. Over the region’s long and storied history, ownership of this region has passed back and forth between the two countries time and again, resulting in shared influences on the cuisine, language and culture of the area. The… Read More Unique Chateau in Alsace, France
This quick blend will transform your tea into a winter-spiced pot of comfort. Slice an orange in half and squeeze a bit of the juice into your teapot. Dice the remaining pieces and drop them into the pot. Add in two tablespoons of star anise, a couple of cinnamon sticks and two tablespoons of grated… Read More Warming Winter Tea
The trick to this delicious dish is a quick sear on both sides of your beef roast. Paired with rice and black beans, it’s a hearty, cold weather meal the whole family will enjoy. Sizzle some diced garlic in about a tablespoon of oil, then sear your beef roast on both sides for about five… Read More Slow Cooker Cuban Beef
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” ― Robert Louis Stevenson 2017 ended with hosting a family holiday get-together in our new home, visiting my parents in their new home and watching the ball drop with our kids at home, ringing in 2018 with the people… Read More Welcome 2018!
Dogwood Dispatches 