This Week in the Charming South Kitchen

PeppersOk – I know this blog post is a little late, but thanks for still wanting to see what we are cooking this week.  My in-laws are here this week and friends from out of state and its my son’s birthday (today!) so we are busy over here.  Doesn’t stop me from cooking though!

Made this enchilada soup and it was good – will be great for leftovers this week – and it is SO EASY!

Bought some persimmons at TJ this week and grilled a TBone tonight – give me a good piece of meat and I can make a darn good steak!

These whoopie pies are going down in the morning

This chocolate cake is happening for my little’s birthday party with family on Thursday

 

Sundays in the South

Here's some Coffee

Most everyone I know is in some sort of weather today produced by Hurricane Joaquin.  Maybe you are loving it – maybe you’d rather have sunshine.  I love storms and wind – but I actually thrive on sunshine.

So, while some of you may be stuck inside today because of the weather, I thought I would send you some link to read up on:

I usually make muffins once a week in our kitchen because it is so easy for my misters’ breakfasts.  These will be coming soon because I have everything in my kitchen already.

If you get really tired of meal planning – maybe these templates will help you out and bring on the food creativity.

Are you aspiring to more in the kitchen?  Maybe you need to start with these?  I want to make my own bucket list of recipes.

Having worked for Williams-Sonoma for a few years, I loved reading this story.

Cookbook Review: Sugar & Spice

posted in: Books | 0

I don’t think I’ve ever had and loved this type of cookbook – and I know now what I’ve been missing.

Cardamom.  Pepper.  Cinnamon.  Cloves. Nutmeg.  Etc.

All bound together in a photo-medium (only downfall, I love photos and the ones in it are amazing), story and explanation rich and colorful (a huge bonus), recipe infused cloth that is begging me to get a mortar and pestle.  I don’t have one but if I were to have one I would want this one or maybe this one.

Like I said, the photos are gorgeous, I just wish there were more.  I love the voice of this cookbook.  The recipes would stretch me out of my comfort zone in what I usually cook – but it makes me want to.

I’m thankful for Blogging for Books for sending this to me for the review, and to Samantha Seneviratne for writing it.

And just possibly – I might be making the Coffee and Cardamom Shortbread for this wknd.  Why not?

This Week in the Charming South Kitchen

posted in: The Charming South Kitchen | 0

Spiced Muffins

Its the end of the month, but I’ve actually stayed on food budget this month so I’m very excited!  This week is going to be some whole foods for me – and some fun stuff for the boys and my mister.

How do you incorporate healthy foods into your menu each week?  What about your kids lunches?

These muffins that I made over the weekend.

This cinnamon swirl challah bread

This deconstructed falafel salad

These twice baked potatoes

This list is short – may make some random stuff but keeping it pretty simple this week.

 

This Week in the Charming South Kitchen

Limes & Menu Making

Greetings folks at the last day of August.  I wanted to share a little about how I go about planning my menu each week, and remind you still have until tomorrow to enter my 10 year blogging giveaway, and give you the menu for the week.

Here is just a few steps in my menu planning:

  1. Ask my mister if there is anything that he would want for food this week.  He usually gives me one or two specific things so I try to always mix those into what I’m already planning.
  2. I have my go-to food blogs and always some cookbooks on hand to peruse and see what looks yummy to me this week.
  3. Think about our schedule and our diet needs for the week.  Sometimes my husband has two days off, sometimes only one, so that plays a factor.  Also, we are on the go…so I like healthy and portable if we are going to be gone close to lunch time.
  4. I write down the recipes I want to make and make a list.  Then, I hit my pantry and fridge to see what, if anything, I have off that list so I don’t duplicate it.  Then I put that revised list into the notetaker app on my android.  This is so much more handy to me than paper and pen.  I can just delete as I go with one finger.  Not needing to balance paper, pen, grocery cart, and two little boys who are reaching for shelves or hitting my heels with the little grocery cart.

So, here is what we are doing this week:

Spaghetti

Macaroni and Cheese with banana peppers

Kung Pao Cauliflower

Roasted Jalapeno Soup

Beef and Vegetable Soup.

I’ll be sharing the recipes on facebookin if you want to follow along there – and I’ll be tweaking them – so if they come out well, I’ll share them with photos on Instagram (you can follow along over there) and the recipes here on the blog.

 

Food Blog Love (10 year blogging anniversary giveaway)

posted in: The Charming South Kitchen | 22

10 Years Food Blogging Giveaway

One of the reasons I started this here blog ten years ago this month was to share recipes with my college girls.  I loved sharing recipes so they could cook them for dinner, or to share with friends, or even now, to share with their husbands and families.

This month marks 10 years of blogging for me.  I love to blog, share recipes, connect with readers, and share life and community.  It can be done on blog world – believe me!

So, for this blog, I wanted to share some resources that I love – because often people ask me what are my go-to recipe places on the internet.  I’ve come to absolutely love these blogs and turn to them first more than other places.  I hope you come to know these bloggers, love their food, know their stories, and share their food with your loved ones.

everything important happens around a table

eatliverun  – I started reading Jenna back when I lived in Louisville like 6 years ago.  I loved her healthy(ish) recipes, her stories, her wine-tasting, California-living life, and her photos.  She also is a fit-girl!  She is a momma and though she doesn’t blog here now, she is doing fitness coaching and you can follow her on Instagram.  But, she still has her blog up.  Two of my favorites are her Thai Red Curry and her Pistachio Cupcakes (as my mister, they are so good).  And, if you haven’t read her book and love culinary life stories – you will love her White Jacket Required.  I finished it in two days (and I have toddlers!).

bloggingoverthyme  Laura and I share the same last name (well, my maiden name).  She is superb at the camera and I love her story-telling and her chronicling of her now life in Chi-town.  She is down to earth and shares delicious recipes – and she interacts with her readers and wants to encourage them in their kitchen pursuits.  I just made her Lemon Zucchini Cardamom Bundt Cake.  So good (I ended my sugar and carb fast a day early just to have some – and a BLT).

pinchofyum I’d love for my husband and I to be able to turn this blog into a well-paid blog so that he could quit his job and we could just do this.  Wishful thinking.  But, other than the monetary side of the blogging, this couple is great at giving photography tips, delicious recipes and that may be a little out of my culinary box, and again, is interactive with their readers.  I do love these chocolate chip cookies and this delicious granola

dineanddish Kristen is so friendly and personable and of course a great chef for her family and others.  She cares about her readers.  I wish I could meet all of these bloggers and sit down for coffee or bake with them in their kitchens.  That would be such a treat.  Again, her photographs are great (notice a theme of food and photography) and her recipes are delicious.  LIke these maple scones perfect for the fall that is approaching quickly and because I’m from the strawberry cap of the world, this unbelievable strawberry shortcake

And since I’ve been blogging for ten years – I will be giving one lucky reader a little prize package – filled with things that I blog about!  So, all you have to do to enter is comment here (and for every entries share on social media)!  I will pick the winner on September 1!

This Week in the Charming South Kitchen

Pear Salad

Welcome to the end of another month.  Where I clean out my fridge and freezer and dig way deep in the pantry.  Going to try to make ends meet another month – but do so in a tasty way!

My mister only asked for one meal this week so he is getting what he asked for – steak (ribeye) and potatoes).

Making this quiche (without the crust and adding in some veggies)

Making some healthy chocolate zucchini bread for my misters’ breakfast.  They can down some bread and muffins in the morning, so I might as well make it at healthy as possible.

I’m thawing some chicken.  This soup is calling my name.  Avocados and lime in a bowl – yes please, especially with my guacamole recipe coming out on Wednesday!

Since I’m trying to stick to paleo this week, this is a perfect easy crockpot meal that will be perfect by itself with greens or on a salad.  It will also be good for burritos or enchiladas for my misters who love flour tortillas!

What are you guys cooking this week?  How do you survive the last week of the month?  And how do you eat well but not make your family eat exactly like you do?

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

I don’t know what it is but the moment anyone in my family says they are sick, I immediately jump on the orange juice and chicken soup bandwagon.  Well, last weekend, my husband came down something for the millionth time this year.  I said I would go to the store that night.

I’m not a huge fan of broth noodle soup because after reheating it several times you don’t have any broth left.  And it usually lacks flavor. However, I wanted something creamy and thick and comforting.  This was it!

My boys and my mister have loved it – and my mister is all better. So, was it the chicken noodle soup, who knows? But, I know it didn’t hurt!

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
Author: 
Recipe type: soup
Cuisine: chicken
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8-10
 
Thick and creamy chicken noodle soup
Ingredients
  • 7-8 cups homemade chicken broth
  • 2-3 cups rotisserie chicken, cubed or shredded
  • ½ white onion, finely chopped
  • 1 bag frozen peas and carrots (do not thaw)
  • 2 T unsalted butter
  • 3 cups of medium egg noodles, (measure out 3 cups dry before cooking)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream (or half and half, or more milk)
  • generous amounts of salt and pepper (remember you can always add but you can't take away)
Instructions
  1. In a dutch oven, saute onion and frozen peas and carrots over medium heat with the 2 T of butter for about 5 minutes.
  2. Add in liquid and bring to a boil.
  3. Add in noodles. Cook until al dente.
  4. In a small sauce pan, heat butter and flour, whisking vigorously until all the flour is mixed in and the butter is melted. Add in milk and cream.
  5. It will thicken as it stands.
  6. When the noodles are done, add in chicken and cream mixture.
  7. Let sit for a few minutes off heat. Serve with bread or a side salad.
  8. This soup does get thicker as it sits in the fridge a while. Leftovers are more like a casserole. So yummy.
 

This Week in the Charming South Kitchen

Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Two things are driving my menu this week:

1.  My mister is working long hours and needs foods that he can eat at his desk, probably 2 meals each day.  That means I get to eat a lot of my salads alone – but I need to make meals that can keep him full for those long 12 hours days.

2.  I’m trying to do better about making a meal plan and sticking with it so my boys don’t eat so many chicken nuggets and french fries.  If I have quick dinners already prepared for when I walk in the door with them then I will be less tempted to eat fast food because it is quick.

Homemade take on Panera’s kale caesar salad (I love this!)

PW’s Panzanella salad with roasted salmon on it

Vanilla Almond Cupcakes for a photo shoot tomorrow

Thai Chicken Curry

Fish Tacos (featuring TJ’s fish nuggets and homemade lime crema and broccoli slaw)

 

Cupcake Friday

posted in: food | 0

Cupcake Obsession

I absolutely love to make cupcakes.  They are fun to photograph and they are more delicious to eat!  And you don’t get to cup too big of a slice of cake.  You can just eat one cupcake, piled high with delicious buttercream (or any frosting that you choose), and its so portable.

As I’m researching cupcakes today to find some to make to take to an “at home with” shoot on Tuesday, I thought I’d share with you some of the fun ones I’ve found.  Enjoy – and get your cupcake bake on this weekend.

These scream summer to me – and fruity too!

Because nothing about nutella is bad

My husband could tell you hours worth about my coconut obsession

Fluffernutter – its just maybe the funnest word to say in the baking world

We all need a little chocolate in our lives

These are great for when you need a touch of elegance

Why you should have a kitchen torch in every home