Pan Fried Risotto Cakes

Posted by Paula in All Recipes | 14 comments

Nov 06, 17

This post is brought to you by Mirum . All opinions are my own.

Pan Fried Risotto Cakes.

I happen to love risotto in all it’s forms but there’s something incredibly decadent that happens when you take said risotto and turn it into pan fried risotto cakes. I’ve been known to make extra risotto just so I can turn it into risotto cakes or arancini. I like it that much. You’re already making a pot, why not double the recipe and have enough to make these bites of bliss the following day? It’s smart. It will save time. You’re welcome.

Garlic Shrimp Risotto

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Gluten Free, Seafood | 10 comments

Oct 25, 17

This post is brought to you by Mirum . All opinions are my own.

We’re all busy. Busy could be my middle name actually (that would mean my initials would be PBJ – lol) I’ve been so busy this year I can hardly believe it’s Fall. With Fall comes back to school for many and the beginning of holiday planning for all. Gasp, I just realized Thanksgiving is next month. With everything going on though, it’s important to still find time to enjoy tasty meals with your family. Dinner doesn’t have to be complicated, or mean you have to go through a drive thru. You can create easy weeknight recipes full of delicious flavor and real ingredients with the help of new Knorr Selects—Real ingredients. Real taste. They’re available at your local Food Lion in the rice aisle!

Salted Caramel Chocolate Brioche Twist

Posted by Paula in Desserts | 11 comments

Oct 23, 17

Salted Caramel Chocolate Brioche Twist. Made in partnership with Dixie Crystals.

I’m not sure if you would consider this breakfast or dessert. I say both. No matter what you categorize it, it’s delicious. This is an impressive loaf of brioche and that’s because of the gorgeous twist. Are you hearing Let’s Do The Twist in your head? Just me? Well if you’re not and you decide to make this it’ll show up then not to worry. The brioche twist isn’t difficult but it’s messy, not gonna lie.

This is a sweetened yeast dough. Yes, yeast. Don’t be nervous. It just means the dough needs to sit around and rise to the occasion.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted by Paula in Cookies | 14 comments

Oct 10, 17

Soft and Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are perfect for fall. They’re even more perfect stuffed with your favorite buttercream or icing!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Cookies are going to be the end of my affinity for skinny jeans. They’re so cute and small tempting me. I tend to indulge, losing track of how many I’m actually eating. I don’t have any self control around desserts. Never had. Never will. I choose to focus on balance. Hence why I was having a green smoothie for dinner. It is what it is.

What these cookies are is what we’re here to talk about. They’re soft and chewy just the way I like my cookies. They’ve got just a hint of pumpkin in them with the added oomph of spice.  Pumpkin pie spice, because spice is nice.

Spaghetti with Roasted Root Vegetables

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Pasta, Vegetarian | 12 comments

Oct 09, 17

Lobster Ravioli in Browned Butter Sauce

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Pasta | 49 comments

Sep 20, 17

This post is brought to you by Parla Pasta. Opinions are my own. Always have been. Always will be.

Lobster Ravioli in Browned Butter Sauce.

Y’all know how much I love pasta. LOVE pasta. When I was asked to partner with Parla to share my personal experience with their pastas it was an easy yes. I’m always looking for ways to save time in the kitchen without sacrificing quality. That is important to me. I was THRILLED to find out that not only are Parla pastas made in the USA from a family owned and operated company (right here in my great state of North Carolina) Parla pastas are made and filled with all-natural ingredients – ingredients that you can actually recognize and pronounce.

Skillet Strawberry Cobbler

Posted by Paula in Desserts, Vegetarian | 11 comments

Sep 14, 17

Skillet Strawberry Cobbler.

I grew up eating cobblers. I am Southern as cheese grits after all. Every time of cobbler: peach, blackberry, cherry, blueberry, pineapple and you guessed it, strawberry. My Momma made the best cobbler I’ve ever had. EVER. As with all my cobblers, this recipe is based on the holy grail of cobblers to me, MOMMA’S PEACH COBBLER. She made her cobblers in cast iron skillets (Two – small/medium skillets or One- large skillet) so being the good Southern girl that I am, I do too. They’ll outlast us all. Mine were proudly passed down to me and are loved and used on a very regular basis.

French Onion Soup

Posted by Paula in Soups | 7 comments

Sep 11, 17

Making French Onion Soup at home is easier than you think. With a little help of a mandolin, you’ll have your onions sliced in no time and on their way to caramelized golden goodness. French Onion Soup is rich, warm and perfect to enjoy all fall and winter long. 

Labor Day has come and gone and with it go the dog days of summer. Ready or not, Fall is here. I have to admit, I’m not thrilled. I’m a spring and summer kinda girl. I don’t like cold weather and I know it’s just around the corner once Fall comes a knockin’.

If I could stay in shorts and flip flops all year I would. Other than packing up and moving to a tropical location there’s really not much I can do about that. I do like warm, comforting fall/winter foods so there is a sliver of a silver lining for me. Like this French Onion Soup.

Chocolate Bourbon Mousse

Posted by Paula in Desserts | 1 comment

Chocolate. Bourbon. Mousse.

I’m all about dessert. I’d be okay eating dessert first and on occasion as my only course. I realize that’s not a great idea but sometimes you just wanna eat the damn dessert. Here’s the thing though, I don’t like to spend a ton of time making said desserts. Something that I can throw together in the morning or early afternoon and let it set up until I’m ready to eat it later in the day is a winner winner mousse jar get in my mouth winner. Clearly I shouldn’t write any songs, but I can make a mean sauced up chocolate mousse.

No Bake Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake

Posted by Paula in Desserts | 7 comments

Frands, this is the easiest cheesecake you can possibly make. I know it’s a bold statement, I’m a bold kinda girl after all, but it’s true. It’s NO BAKE. No baking involved. Crushing and mixing. You can do that, right? The hardest part is a toss up between waiting on the cream cheese coming to room temperature OR waiting on the cheesecake to set up. I would argue that you COULD eat it without actually chilling the cheesecake if you’re impatient. I am impatient. I know my weaknesses. So for me, the hardest part would be waiting on the cream cheese. Either way, it’s still easy peasy to pull this baby together and did I mention it’s NO BAKE?

Pina Colada Sorbet

Posted by Paula in Desserts, Vegetarian | 7 comments

Jul 01, 17

Pina Colada Sorbet.

I’m having all the pineapple feels right now. Have you seen the PINEAPPLE GRANITAS we shared a little while back yet? They’re pretty awesome. Like 3 ingredient awesome. That’s right THREE ingredients. They’re light, refreshing and perfect all summer long. What’s even better than that you ask? Turning them into Pina Colada Sorbet with just a few additional ingredients, including rum, because you can’t have a pina colada without rum can ya.

Y’all thought I was going to say bourbon didn’t you? It’s understandable, but you know you need rum for Pina Coladas. Paper umbrellas are optional. Also optional is singing “If you like Pina Coladas”. It was stuck in my head so it’s only fair it’s stuck in your head now as well. I’m a giver, what can I say. I don’t however like getting caught in the rain, especially if I’m on my motorcycle. That hurts y’all.

Bourbon Roasted Cherries

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Gluten Free, Vegetarian | 7 comments

Bourbon Roasted Cherries. Hello lovah. I’m going to go ahead and implore you to double this recipe because for one you’ll already have the oven on so you might as well roast more. Second, you’re going to be eating these with a spoon, or if you’re even remotely like me, you might just pluck them out of the jar and pop them right into your mouth. They’re borderline addictive. I’m okay with that.

Roasted Cherry Bourbon Ice Cream

Posted by Paula in Desserts | 8 comments

Roasted Cherry Bourbon Ice Cream.

Ice cream is my jam y’all. Specifically homemade ice cream. I give my little Cuisinart ice cream maker a workout all year long but especially in the summer time. I make my ice cream the way my Momma taught me. Custard based. It’s all that and a bag of chips. From her base vanilla ice cream recipe the flavor options are limitless. I’ve made at least a dozen variations here on the blog. Everything from your basic chocolate to a Sweet Corn Ice Cream with Blueberry Balsamic Sauce. Something for erryone to throw in a waffle cone and go to town on.

Pineapple Granitas

Posted by Paula in Desserts, Gluten Free, Vegetarian | 7 comments

Pineapple Granitas.

It’s getting hot already y’all and it’s not quite June. That tells me it’s going to be a sizzler of a summer. I’ll be looking for all kinds of ways to keep cool all while hoping my air conditioner doesn’t conk out on me. Since I don’t happen to have a pool with water misters, large polka dot umbrellas and giant doughnut floats to lounge around in an sip drinks while being misted (sigh, yes that was super specific) with giant black sunglasses, I’ll be making lots of frozen treats. Like these fresh pineapple granitas.

Devil’s Food Doughnuts

Posted by Paula in Breakfast, Desserts | 8 comments

Devil’s Food Doughnuts.

I never expected I’d enjoy my doughnut pan so much. I thought maybe I’d buy it and use a few times and then find it a few years later in the back of my cabinet when I was pulling everything out to organize it because I finally got tired of chaotic state of my cabinets. Pans falling out onto the floor every time I go to get the ONE pan I’m looking for. I can’t be on the only one with a hot mess of kitchen cabinets?

If I am don’t tell me, how about just offer to come over and help me organize. We can bake doughnuts while we’re working on it. Sound like a plan?

Old Fashioned

Posted by Paula in All Recipes | 9 comments

Old Fashioned.

Where are all my whiskey people? Probably in the back of the room raising their hands and hollering right now. I see you and I’ll join you soon. I am a bourbon girl. I typically take my bourbon neat, but every once in a blue moon when I’m feeling like stepping out of my box I’ll throw everyone off and order (or make) a good Old Fashioned.

Because I can’t leave well enough alone, and I’m not going to start at this point in my life, I do things a little differently, this rendition of an Old Fashioned is no exception. This is MY take on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail. I feel like I’ve stuck to the bones of this iconic drink so hopefully the purists can appreciate that.

Cereal Doughnuts

Posted by Paula in Breakfast, Desserts | 8 comments

Cereal Doughnuts.

I traveled to Sevierville, TN last year on a media trip. One of our stops in and around the surrounding towns was at a quaint little donut shop called Courthouse Donuts. It was in fact located across from a courthouse with a giant statue of Dolly Parton in the courtyard. Aptly named. All these months later one doughnut has stuck with me. A colorful Fruity Pebbles topped doughnut.

I have to admit, I wasn’t sure how this doughnut was going to taste. It was a doughnut with cereal on top. I am however willing to always (okay most always) take a bite. Sometimes out of those random – how bad can it be – bites you’ll come across something kinda magical.  So take the bite.

Classic Coconut Cake

Posted by Paula in Desserts | 3 comments

Classic Coconut Cake.

It’s all kinds of classy. I’m going to start off telling you that I’m not normally a big fan of coconut cake. If I see it on the menu It’s not high on my ordering list. I know, gasp. I might lose my Southern card. Before you write me off, it’s only because I’ve had a few absolutely mind blowingly delicious pieces of coconut cake in my life (Peninsula Grill in Charleston SC) and I compare all others to those quasi perfect slices. Most of the time they fall short and I’m disappointed, so I go for the sure dessert bet instead. But this cake, in all it’s coconut glory, I am a fan of. If you’re going to eat dessert it should be good right. It needs to be worth those extra miles I’m going to have to put in. This one is worth it.

Limoncello Cookies

Posted by Paula in Cookies, Desserts | 12 comments

Limoncello Cookies.

I’m practically giddy that it’s Daylight Savings this weekend. We’re springing forward y’all. I don’t know about you, but I’m beyond ready for longer days. Longer days mean spring and summer are right around the corner along with warmer weather. I’m not a cold weather person. Winter is not my jam. I like boots and a roaring fire but otherwise I could skip the entire thing and be okay with it. I’ve considered moving even further South every winter. Truth. These Limoncello cookies are like spring and summer all balled up into a few glorious bites.

Pink Macarons

Posted by Paula in Cookies, Desserts | 1 comment

Feb 13, 17

Pink Macarons.

It’s the month of all things pink, red and everything heart shaped. You know the holiday. They’ve had the shelves stocked with chocolates and goofy little stuffed animals since Christmas Eve reminding us it’s coming. I’ve never been a jewelry and flowers girl but food, yes I’m all in. Especially when it’s carbs or dessert. Pretty pink dainty French cookies, most definitely fall into the yes category for me. Better known as macarons. It’s a sweet meringue-based confection made using: egg whites, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, almond flour, and food coloring. They’re delicious and you can fill them with whatever your heart desires.