outstanding in the field

Almost as we speak, I am booking a flight to Austin.  My dear sister suggested that we try one of the seasonal farm dinners put on by Outstanding in the Field.  They have taken farm to table yet another step by travelling all around the U.S. & Canada, partnering with local chefs and farms...then they do this:

outstanding in the field

The dinner we are attending is being hosted by Erin Flynn & Skip Connett of Green Gate Farms.  They have restored this historic farm in East Austin, "transforming a rundown spot in a once-blighted area into a beautiful place for the community to gather and grow good things." Chef Todd Duplechan of Lenoir in Austin will be preparing dinner. 

Lenoir, Austin

This is how the team from OITF gets around.

Some loot from a farm share at Green Gate

Have a great day!!

My Hero

We eat a lot of sandwiches around here.  I could write endlessly about my favorite sandwiches (the great salami sandwich of '08 anyone?).  In classic American fashion, we will almost literally put anything between 2 slices of some sort of baked good and have at it.  My children have learned to expect sandwiches at any meal.  I dislike cooking every night in the summer and sandwiches are a delicious option.  We especially love a baguette or those little Hawaiian sweet rolls.  Please.  I could probably scribble down a haiku right now about those little sweet rolls. 

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PBS even aired a documentary called "Sandwiches that you will like."  Then entire documentary is available here.  I didn't want to push my luck with you, so an excerpt is below.

Have a great day!



Ode to the Bloody

Since our return from St. Louis last week, I have been somewhat on the wagon.  For good reason.  Those people in The Lou know how to make delicious food and celebrate.  We ate at great restaurant after great restaurant.  I've even been researching a dessert I ate that was a very simple yet mysterious creation involving bruleed bananas and bourbon.  I'm hoping to share more on that another day.  My sister knows how I can obsess about certain items made at certain restaurants.  We still talk about 'the sandwich' in Williamsburg, VA. 

This week, though, my thoughts have been on a certain bloody mary.  I had the perfect bloody in New Orleans last fall.  Literally, perfect.  From the spices to the salad.  Perfection.  There's apparently a lot of debate about the best mix (as if), vodka, and the veggies.  I've personally spent countless hours researching this subject. 

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If you want to create a classic bloody, "The Preppy Handbook" recipe (below) is very Muffy.

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Garden and Gun takes it to another level by recommending a bloody mary bar at your next get together.  Things like bacon-infused vodka, pickled okra, and steamed oysters at the bar would be pretty irresistible. The mix is a whole other conversation.  As any bloody lover knows, this is super controversial and like politics and religion, should not be discussed in polite company. However, if you must betray Mrs. T's, try Fat and Juicy or Brandon's Bloody Mary Mix.

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Have a great day!



on the road

We love road trips around here.  Really really love them.  So...we decided to hit the road for the 4th and headed to my sister's in St. Louis.  How cool are these fireworks?

One of my favorite things to do here is look at all the beautiful homes.  They are everywhere.  Check out this gorgeous sunroom by St. Louis interior designer Amie Corley.

Turns out that this is Amie's personal home.  Love the bookshelves around the window an her artwork arrangement so much.  The colors she used were inspired by the room's original terrazzo floors, which have a hint of pink.  Here are a few more photos of Amie's perfect 1907 home.

The mix of new & vintage makes her home extremely kid friendly. Her home was featured a while back on Design Sponge.  You can take the entire tour here. 

Have a great day!

Hot to Trot

This could be us very soon.  BD has it in his mind that we will be traveling with an Airstream this summer.  He's a bit obsessed.  We love roadtrips, but we also love being in our own beds  This could be the perfect solution. I'm truly loving these Airstreams.