something i really like

garden and gun magazine, it's a bi-monthly magazine that my boss got me hooked on. he'd pass along issues for me to "sample". when steve and i visited to new orleans earlier this year, our food tour took us to  tujaques (the second oldest restaurant, antoine's being the first).  it supposed to be where the cocktail was born-the sazerac, anyway, the bartender that made our drinks was featured in this magazine, and his picture captured him perfectly.  i knew then and there i had to subscribe. my boss likes to say that this magazine is "all about the south we're not invited to, but allowed to observe".  seriously, though the articles features little known artisans and craftspeople throughout the south, and the spirit of what it means to be southern.  previous issues have featured steve martin and his band, morgan freeman, ted turner etc.  there are always recipes and a "good dog story" which will make you laugh, cry or both.  the articles are incredibly well written (something that seems to be disappearing these days).  there is always a musician/group featured, and they tend to be those that are very non-run of the mill that embrace the folk-y mountain music, jazz, and are the kind of people that are driven to keep the good parts of the south alive (not the confederate rebel flag waving south either). i attended a lunch/talk close to my office a few weeks ago that was hosted at RAO Design studio to celebrate a collaboration between the designer and siematic kitchens (oh to win the lottery and be invited to this south!). of course, i went cause i knew the food alone would be amazing.  we had a lovely "boxed lunch" served in a galvanized tray with brown butcher paper (i so wanted to take this thing home), we had pickled okra, roasted potato wedges, 3 lovely triangles of assorted sandwiches (3/4 of a whole sandwich) a slaw that was amazing-something chipotle-ish, and a sugar cookie for dessert.  just the right size portions so that you were full, but not FULL.  i got a chance to chat with a a few people from the magazine, and they were blown away by the turnout and how much "everyday" people said they LOVED this magazine.  everyone said the same thing-that they thought the writing and the content was so different from other magazines, and you really wanted to read it cover to cover, even about the fly-rod maker in blue ridge that charges $2,000 minimum for hand crafted cane rods.  i always make notes from the magazine of places to visit and restaurants to try-what are you really liking these days. reality is that it's a VERY slow day at work and i managed to read the latest issue in it's entirety and i still have time to spare before i go home!!!!!

what i like right now.another twist with yogurt

i posted here about my yogurt fixiation, but i've discovered a new fruit that adds just the right amount of sweetness-clementines, cut the wedges into bite size pieces so each bite of yogurt has a bit of fruit! i also love using greek yogurt as a substitute for sour cream-so versitle, and healthy. i'm hoping the peach crop this year is as good as it was last year-that'll be my next experiment!

what i like right now..skype

it's been a while since i've done one of these-i finally got onto skype so i could video chat with pj, and it's AWESOME, it's one thing to talk on the phone, but to be able to see who you are talking with is even better. having the web cam on my laptop i was able to "take" pj around the house to visit with his nana, brother and dad. look forward to doing more of this.

what i like right now. . . .

my newly acquired mr. bubbles beach towel to take on my trip with "the girls". isn't it cute!!!????

what i like right now-adult snacks

enjoying a small snack of cashews, dried cranberries and a very small broken square of 85% cacoa-mmmm very grown up. so different from the candy bars of my "youth". the only thing missing is a glass of wine, then again I AM at work! how about you?

what i like right now-a summer breeze

enjoyed lunch outside yesterday with my knitting, and a fresh peach!-love that there is a slight breeze on a very warm summer afternoon.

hopefully the photo relays this. i really tried to get a photo with me smiling-i'll keep working on this.

what i like right now: cupcakes

those who know me, will attest that i have had a long standing affair with these tiny cakes. today i went to gigi's cupcakes in buckhead to redeem my living social coupon. today i chose Birthday Surprise, Chocolate Cream Pie, Hunka Chunka Banana Love, Kentucky Bourbon Pie, Lemon Dream Supreme, and Texas Milk Chocolate.  the only problem i have with cupcakes from bakeries is that i really don't like all that icing, i love the cake with just a tad, so i'll be scrapping most of the topping off, which is a sad waste.  i've already had the birthday surpise which was yummy good. pictured l-r: hunka chunka banana love, birthday surprise, kentucky bourbon pie, lemon dream supreme, texas milk chocolate, and chocolate cream pie.

what i like right now-croissants

on the friday we left for our annual family gathering at dillard, i stopped in at bakeshop for a snack while i was waiting for steve. i love this place-buttery flaky croissants with local strawberry jam, self serve of coffee and the farm table styled seating. i usually sit at the counter that faces the street so i can people watch. have to be careful not to eat to many of these (or of andrew's yummy biscuits)

what i like right now-pizza

other than "cheap" mexican, pizza is my favorite "junk" food-but not your elementary school pizza, i like mine with adult toppings. between andrew and i we try to make our own dough, but i always make my own sauce.  friday nights are scheduled as pizza night, but this week we changed things up and had pizza for saturday's dinner. i made a caprese pizza (fresh basil from our patio garden), proscuitto and mushroom (pictured) and for the "boys", there was a pepperoni and a sausage. as long as i have yeast, flour, salt and cheese, and canned tomatoes, i'll always have something to eat. what do you like on YOUR pizza?

what i'm liking right now-whoopie pies

for administrative assistant's day, my boss gave me these red velvet whoopie pies-he knows me so well. these tasty little cakes are a close 2nd to my love fo cupcakes- real close-what are you liking right now?

what i like right now-cherry blossoms

just a few small "branches" from the cherry trees on the mantle in the kitchen. love bringing the outside-in, and need to do it more often.  i was going to do a photo to show a better perspective, but you miss seeing how pretty the flowers are-am thinking a really good camera is in my future-maybe for christmas?! your turn.

what i like right now-greek yogurt

this has been my breakfast for the last couple weeks. i love the thick creamy texture of greek yogurt-it feels so decadent, but it's fat free and loaded with protein and calcium.  since i have 4 quarts of strawberries my ratio of fruit to yogurt is a bit off compared to what i normally eat. i like to add fruit, and sometimes a bit of agave nectar for sweetness.    i'd buy the yogurt with the fruit already in it, but there is a lot of sugar in those containers.  i'd rather have the fresh fruit anyway.  i've used the yogurt on potatoes and in my apple salad. yummmm. your turn-

what i like right now-my beret

springtime in philadelphia i finished this beret on saturday-definite "potato chip" knitting, i couldn't put it down, and it was so easy. this hat is very soft and squishy and i can't wait to wear it to paris. what do you like right now?

what i'm liking. color

the first ad in the recent vogue knitting magazine-purl soho.com, no less. something about this makes me want to go make something-i'm drawn to this type of photo layout no matter what the subject matter is-if it was cookies or even photos or objects that caputure a common element i'd still be inspired-what are you liking right now?