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Table Runners: Inexpensive Way to Add More Color to Your Kitchen or Dining Room

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My youngest daughter, Stephany, and I went to Kohl’s earlier shopping for various pretties. The main thing I was looking for was a new runner for the dining room table. I didn’t see anything I really liked, so I came home and jumped on Amazon (a place I ALWAYS see things I love!). Sure enough, one search for table runners (Amazon link) produced so many choices I’m still trying to decide.

I love table runners because they allow you to still see your beautiful wooden table. It’s like you’re adorning it rather than hiding it.

The Akuntana Table Runner (Amazon link) pictured here is one of the ones I’m considering. We have a lot of purples, blues, and deep reds in our kitchen and dining room, so the deep red and dark blue have caught my eye. I love that it’s High-quality Waterproof and Stain Resistant – with one husband and three grandbabies (all 4 and under), I can’t possibly tell you how much I love this!

Other Features:

  • made of 100% high quality polyester with a cotton-like feel
  • machine washable
  • low iron if needed
  • spill-proof, wrinkle-free, no shrinking, no color run
  • rectangular size 14 x 90 inches long 

Take a closer look at the gorgeous, vibrant colors the Akuntana Table Runner (Amazon link) comes in on Amazon.

Gorgeous Knife Set with Wooden Block from The Pioneer Woman

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I’ve probably mentioned it a hundred or two times on the food blog, but I love and collect everything Rachael Ray and have for too many years to count. A few years ago, I began collecting another favorite Food Network star, Ree Drummond, and now my Pioneer Woman collection rivals my Rachael Ray collection.

Cookbooks, magazines, dishes, pans, napkins, mopines, cutlery, spatulas, garbage bowls, EVOO bottles… you name it, if the name Rachael Ray or Pioneer Woman is on it, our kitchen has it (sometimes multiple times).

What can I say, I spend a GREAT deal of time in the kitchen and want to be surrounded by bright, colorful, whimsical, and beautiful things that make me smile. Plus, to be the best cook possible, you have to surround yourself with the best tools possible and these are some of the best you’ll find anywhere.

I also love that many of their kitchen and cooking items come in my favorite colors: Purple, red, and turquoise.

I like to keep things fun and as colorful as possible!

This gorgeous turquoise Rustic Pioneer Woman Cutlery Set (Amazon link) is on my radar. Most of the Pioneer Woman items I have are turquoise, so I’m absolutely thrilled these come in this wonderful color.

The Pioneer Woman Cowboy Rustic Forged 14-Piece Cutlery Knife Block Set includes a GREAT variety of knives including a chef knife, bread knife, Nakiri knife, utility knife, paring knife and steak knives.

The blades are stainless steel and have ergonomically designed handles.  LOVE that!  I also love that the set comes with a beautiful wood block for easy storage.

See Rustic Pioneer Woman Cutlery Set (Amazon link) for a closer look!


LOVE These Checkered Kitchen (or Laundry Room or Bathroom) Rugs

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I’ve been needing (okay, maybe wanting is closer to reality) new kitchen rugs, but can’t seem to find any I love. We like to switch up the colors and “theme” with the seasons and, truth be told, our summer-y rugs really need to go back into the linen closet for a while!

I do just about all of my shopping on Amazon (by almost I mean I still shop in grocery stores) these days, so naturally that’s where I was browsing earlier. When I came across these absolutely wonderful Buffalo Plaid Kitchen Rugs (Amazon link) and now my mind is absolutely set on them.

Things I love about these rugs:

  • They go with any kitchen theme. Our themes are rustic and whimsical and these rugs go perfectly with each.
  • Go with all colors! The black and white checks go with our primary colors red and purple.
  • Go with all appliance colors. Our large kitchen appliances happen to be black, so these will match perfectly. They’d also go perfectly with white or gray!
  • Durable-High Quality. These rugs are made of a new modified superfine polyester fiber. They’re non fade, which I adore. 
  • Non-Slip Backing. The anti-slip rubber on the back is a concave-convex dispensing design to ensure that the carpet is anti-slip, helps it to stay in place on the floor, meaning you don’t have to worry about the rug slipping with pets, kids, or husbands stumbling around at 5:30 am looking for coffee!
  • Easy Care. All you have to do is weep with a broom or vacuum regularly. They can even be put it into a washing machine when necessary.
  • Just in time for Holidays! While I’ve been focucing mainly on gift ideas, we all need to also focus on getting our kitchens

See Buffalo Plaid Kitchen Rugs (Amazon link) for more information. As for me, I’m now figuring out just how many I need. Seriously, y’all I am so in love with these.

Thanks for reading! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Old Amsterdam Classic and Goat Gouda Cheeses… These are Extraordinary!

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Old Amsterdam Classic and Goat Gouda Cheeses

Old Amsterdam Gouda Cheeses are Extraordinary

This card-carrying cheese fanatic has a couple of cheeses she needs to tell you about today – and they’re both from one of the absolute LEADERS in cheese: Old Amsterdam.

Whenever someone asks me, “What’s your favorite cheese?,” I always say, “Whichever one happens to be in front of me at the time.” Then I give them my top favorites… when I get to around 8 or 9, I tell them I have a bit of an addiction – which they probably figured out around number 6.

One cheese that always makes the list (very high, actually) is Gouda cheese. I love it in potatoes, grits, mashed cauliflower, and (of course) on cheese trays. It also pairs beautifully with smoked turkey and ham for sandwiches.

When I was asked if I’d like to sample two of Old Amsterdam’s gouda cheeses, I jumped at the chance I knocked the cat in my lap a country mile. Not really, but you get the idea.

I have to say that I showed absolutely no restraint whatsoever when they arrived – cutting into each immediately.

(Continued below….)

Old Amsterdam Goat Gouda Cheese

Old Amsterdam Goat Gouda Cheese

I tried the Goat Gouda cheese first because I have never had goat gouda cheese before and was wildly curious. Holy cats (or maybe I should say holy goats in this case) it was phenomenal. So creamy tasting and mild. Milder than traditional gouda and yet, distinctively from the gouda family.

This would be the IDEAL cheese to include on a cheese tray alongside grapes and almonds – it would lend itself beautifully for a party appetizer and would be excellent served with crackers. I seriously cannot say enough good things about this particular cheese – it simply blew me and my husband both completely away.

(Continued below….)

Old Amsterdam Classic Gouda Cheese

Old Amsterdam Classic Gouda Cheese

I fell so completely under the goat gouda’s spell that I actually put off tasting the classic gouda for a while because I wanted to judge him on his own… not in his brother’s shadow! I really needn’t have bothered because the classic gouda is every bit as good. A bit milder than smoked gouda, this one is also ideal for cheese trays and appetizers.

I kept myself from nibbling on the classic gouda long enough to shred some in my grits and a little more (at another meal) on top of mashed potatoes. It gives so much flavor and creaminess – I’m simply in love with it.

I will be buying and using these cheeses more in the coming days (and weeks, months, and years) and I will return to this post to provide you with more photos and recipes. I was simply very anxious to tell you about these extraordinary cheeses so you can order them now in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Trust me, ya’ll, you’ll want several of each.

See Old Amsterdam for more information! You can also find Old Amsterdam Cheeses on Amazon.

Thanks so much for reading! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Why I Always Have Gourmet Garden Lightly Dried Herbs on Hand (and a Few Favorite Ways to Use Them)

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Fried Eggs with Vegetables and Ground Beef - topped with parsley.

Fried Eggs, Sautéed Vegetables, Ground Beef, and Parsley 

While I LOVE growing my own herbs for use in cooking, sometimes I’ve harvested one to the nub or simply don’t have enough of the one I need on hand to use. That’s when these lightly dried Gourmet Garden herbs come to the rescue. Just a note, this isn’t a paid for post or anything remotely like that – it’s just me raving about something I love and know you will too!

I have, in the past, bought those inexpensive dried herbs in the supermarket – you know, the ones in the plastic containers that hang above produce? I honestly have never been completely happy with these herbs. I have no idea what happens to the herbs in the process of getting into our supermarkets, but they sure do lose their flavor along the way.

That’s why, last winter, when I wanted some basil for my favorite Italian vegetable beef soup, I grabbed a Gourmet Garden tub of basil. It cost a bit more but, by gosh, my soups are worth it! As soon as I took off the lid, I knew I had made the best decision.

Gourmet Garden Parsley

Gourmet Garden Lightly Dried Parsley

These herbs somehow look, smell, and (most importantly) taste like you just got them out of your own herb garden. Since that time, I have used every single herb they offer. Heck, I buy the parsley and basil ones every time I’m in the store – I use them that often.

Basil: The basil one is delicious in soups, pasta salads, and sauces. I also use it very often as an appetizer – I slice fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and roll up slices of rosciutto, salami, and/or pepperoni. I drizzle everything with Rachael Ray Balsamic Vinegar Reduction (Amazon link… also found in most grocery stores – it’s the absolute best on the market).  Then I top it all off with a sprinkling of the Gourmet Garden chopped basil. Delicious!

Parsley: I use this one on and with just about everything – especially potatoes and eggs. You don’t realize just how much parsley brings to the party until you send it an invitation. It’s healthy, adds a bright wonderful flavor to just about everything, and… come on, let’s be honest… looks marvelously high brow!

A quick and easy meal (one of those that you almost always have the ingredients for and comes together super fast) is pictured here – simply make your ground beef patties (seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder). When they’re through, set aside and keep warm. Sauté asparagus, bell pepper, and onion in the juices from the beef…. season with salt and set aside with the meat. Add your eggs and cook them either sunny side up or over easy. Unless your meat was particularly fatty (and do they even make them anymore!?), you’ll need to add a little butter, olive oil, or bacon grease to the pan before the eggs.

Gotta say…. I LOVE one-skillet meals!

Fried Eggs with Vegetables and Ground Beef - topped with parsley.

Fried Eggs, Sautéed Vegetables, Ground Beef, and Parsley 

Why You Need an Air Fryer (and Why They Make IDEAL Gifts for Cooks)

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Cosori Air Fryer

Cosori Air Fryer

The air fryer pictured above (nevermind the little Matchbox truck… I have three grandbabies, all boys, so there are little cars, trucks, and dinosaurs everywhere… and I thank God for it daily!) is the latest picture of proof that… well… sometimes I’m wrong.

You see, when air fryers (Amazon link) first became a “thing,” I never thought I’d ever want one, yet alone use one. When it comes to some things, I can be very, very, very old school – this is never more true than in the kitchen. Now, mind you, I still think a cook should stay sharp with all forms and techniques of cooking – that is to say, he/she should regularly make omelets, saute’, make gravy, broil, poach eggs, etc… not only does repetitively using a cooking technique keep your skills sharp, doing so allows you to develop the absolute best way of making something. Relying solely on one small kitchen appliance (at the expense of other styles of cooking) doesn’t serve one well. I know a family member who became SO dependent on her microwave once that she had to go out and buy a new pan to boil water in when her microwave decided it no longer wanted to work for a living!

I didn’t ask if she remembered how to turn the stove on again – I was afraid of the answer!

However, the other end of the spectrum is also very true and can also make you an even better (and more creative) cook: Having a variety of fun kitchen appliances encourages you to cook different meals and experiment with different foods and styles of cooking… both of which make your kitchen a much more delicious place to be!

So, if we’re numbering the reasons you need an Air Fryer, I’d put Creativity at the top of the list. The ones that follow it, however, are just as important.

  1. Creativity. New appliances and gadgets encourage creativity and can, by their very nature, shake you out of the all too common kitchen rut! There are so many wonderful air fryer cookbooks (Amazon link) and even magazines on the newsstand that provide even more channels for creativity and fun.
  2. Crispiness. While I love, love, love experimenting with different techniques and recipes for the air fryer, want to know the one thing I love it for the most? The one thing I’d fight someone for if they came to steal our air fryer? Hold onto your seats, this is a very high brow, food blogger food…. tater tots! Hear me out, fellow foodies, the air fryer will make you fall in love with tater tots all over again. It gives them a crispiness that the oven simply cannot muster. If you want just a little crispiness, you pull them out sooner… if you want a lot more crispiness, you leave them in a little longer. Personally, I think a perfect tater tot is a little crispy on the outside and soft inside. The air fryer gives you that restaurant quality tot you never knew you missed until you make it yourself. Air fryers are also IDEAL for fries, chicken strips, onion rings, and just about anything else you can think of!
  3. Coronary Health! Obviously, anytime you can replace fried foods with “air fryed” foods, your heart and arteries will thank you for it. Fried foods are horrific for your heart’s health – something I (as a southerner) am pained to admit, but it’s true. When you air fry the food, it is just as delicious and SO much healthier.
  4. Convenience. Remember the three grandbabies I mentioned earlier? I have a lot of blessings in life (wonderful husband, three beautiful daughters, three beloved sons-in-law, three perfect grandbabies, precious cats…) and one I never take for granted is the BLESSING of watching my grandbabies while their parents are at work during the week. The boys are all under 4, so this is a blessing that keeps MiMi hopping! Needless to say, meal prep and quicker meals are big on my list. The air fryer cuts cooking time in half for many foods – allowing me to fix quick meals for the little guys and quick suppers for me and my big guy! It’s also an excellent way to cook frozen foods such as fries, fish sticks, and chicken strips. They go into the air fryer frozen and come out, minutes later perfectly delicious – often even better than when cooked in the oven. Quicker, always as good/often better, and no preheating is necessary.

Okay, I’m not going to list the following “bonus” with the ones above, and not just because it doesn’t start with a C… although I am absolutely anal enough to be bothered by that! Anytime we (any age) can learn something new and take on a new challenge, we do absolute wonders for our brains. The brain loves a challenge and, frankly, most of us don’t offer our brain nearly enough challenging opportunities. When I have a new kitchen gadget or appliance (or a new toy to put together for my little buddies) that I have successfully put together or learned how to use, I can literally feel my brain buzz with excitement. It’s kind of a rush, if we’re being honest.

I love that learning new things like this makes my brain set up and take notice. In the same way we all need to be more mindful of our heart’s health, we absolutely need to be more mindful of our brain’s health.

The air fryer will make an excellent addition to your family, if you don’t already have one. It would also make an excellent gift idea for anyone on your Christmas list (or gifts for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Anniversaries, birthdays, graduates…). It is an extremely thoughtful gift idea and one the recipient will cherish and think of you each time they use it!

If you’re lucky, they may even make you some tater tots.

While our brand is the Cosori Air Fryer, I’m linking you to a newer model. This one has the coveted Amazon Choice label and something I generally find just as lovely – a $20 off coupon. Whoot!


I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghosts (In Fact I Lowkey Love Them)

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One of the Halloween things I collect are ghosts – love them to distraction. So, naturally the two wonderfully boo-tiful goodies shown here are (as we speak) haunting my Amazon shopping cart.

First up is the adorable Halloween Ghost Salt & Pepper Set (Amazon link) from Mud Pie. Mud Pie absolutely makes some of my favorite things – I  search for their name on Amazon as much as I search for anything!

The little cuties come with their own little wooden fence and I have no idea how I’ll be able to keep from leaving them out all year.

The set is 3 1/4″ x 4 1/2″ and, while perfectly “usable,” I’d never dream of doing anything but allow them to sit on the table and just show off.

I’m also very smitten with another Halloween beauty from Mud Pie and it’s pictured below.

The Mud Pie Ghost Pitcher Set (Amazon link) will, of course, sit right beside the salt and pepper set and (again) I have no idea how I’ll ever bring myself to pack it away for the season!

Mud Pie Ghost Pitcher Set

Boo-tiful Halloween Dip Bowl Set (Love This so Much!)

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Not sure how I ever lived without this ADORABLE Halloween Dip Bowl Set (Amazon link).  This time of year is so wonderful it defies description. I have always been (and will always be) completely obsessed with Christmas and Thanksgiving but, quite frankly, I’ve only comparatively recently become obsessed with Halloween.

Maybe the older we get the more we truly, truly appreciate things that are just wildly fun and come with zero expectations… things that simply want to make everyone smile.

That’s Halloween season to a tee.

I remember when my daughters were little, I was obsessed with Halloween too. There’s a certain magic when you combine kids with Halloween. Now the kids in my life are all either in their 50s (husband), 30s (daughters and sons-in-law) or toddlers (grandbabies!) and making them smile is the one thing in the world that makes me smile the most.

Okay, my cats would figure in there too but their smiles are more audible than visual.

This colorful, fun, and deliciously unique dip bowl set is available on Amazon (they have so many beautiful Halloween dishes and decorations, I’m having a hard time not buying everything!).

  • 2-piece set
  • Nested set of two dipping bowls feature debossed sentiment rims, hand-painted interior stripes and exterior icon artwork
  • Material: Dolomite
  • Size: Size: small 2″ x 3 1/2″ dia | large 2

Please see the adorable Halloween Dip Bowl Set (Amazon link) for a closer look.

 

Have You Invested in a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer Yet?! Here’s Why I Think You Should….

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Ironically, in spite of ALWAYS saying, “You’ll only be as great a cook as your tools and ingredients allow you to be,” I put off buying a KitchenAid stand mixer for years. And years.

The very person who consistently pays more for most ingredients and who grabs every new kitchen gadget that hits the market put off buying something because it, “… seems so high.”

If I didn’t do a great deal of baking, it’d be more forgivable but with a large family, there are always birthday cakes to make, homemade icing to throw together, candies, pies, and whatnot. And that in’t even counting Thanksgiving and Christmas – my annual grand finales!

I knew Kitchenaid stand mixers were gorgeous and knew the brand had one of the best reputations in the business but I  honestly assumed my handheld mixer could do anything it could and I knew it was far cheaper. More on the faulty assumption in a minute.

Earlier this year, my youngest daughter got a Kitchenaid stand mixer (Amazon link) and immediately began to rave about it. She’s one of the rare humans who does as much baking and cooking as I do, so when she recommends something, I listen. I decided to test her Kitchenaid out with something I make each week – Homemade Whipped Cream. My husband and I love it in our coffee (as well as on ice cream, cakes, cookies… heck, I’ve even seen him eat it right out of the bowl!).

(Continued Below the Whipped Cream!)

Homemade Whipped Cream

Homemade Whipped Cream (Recipe) 

First of all, I fell in love with the fact that all I had to do was put all of the ingredients into the bowl and that the Kitchenaid did the rest. My right arm marveled at something being beaten without it feeling the burden.

However, if the results had been the same, I would have stayed loyal to my handheld for the rest of my life.

The results were not even remotely the same. My homemade whipped cream has always been delicious but this time it had a MUCH better consistency – a consistency that made it look better and, somehow, even taste better. I remember picking it up with a spoon and thinking how much it looked like store-bought whipped cream. My handheld never did that!

Then it hit me… if the Kitchenaid stand mixer (Amazon link) makes this big of a difference with something as simple as whipped cream, imagine the difference it can make with cakes, pies, cookies, brownies, divinity, fudge… that was it. I was sold.

Yes, a Kitchenaid stand mixer  is more expensive than hand held mixers and, yes, for most of us, they’re somewhat of an investment. But here’s the thing, if the meals we make for our loved ones aren’t worth it, nothing is.

I would never recommend anything to my readers that I don’t absolutely love and use. I’d never suggest you buy something unless I knew you’d love it – I’m just not built that way.

I 100 percent believe you will love a  Kitchenaid stand mixer (Amazon link) and recommend buying one before Thanksgiving and Christmas show up in your home! From what I’ve read, other stand mixers do not hold a candle to the Kitchenaid brand, so I wouldn’t get sidetracked there, if I were you. Kitchenaid is a household name and know I know why.

See Also: Recipe for the Best Whipped Cream!

KitchenAid

KitchenAid Stand Mixer

Delicious Gluten-Free Snacks (Perfect for After School!) Using Parma! Vegan Parmesan

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Parma Vegan Parmesan

Parma! Vegan Parmesan Chips

A while back I wrote a review for the delicious line of Parma! Vegan Parmesan (link to the review). Often, when I really love a product, I will revisit the review, adding new ways I’ve enjoyed the product. This one was so tasty I HAD to give it its own post.

I’ve found that sprinkling this deliciousness on plain potato chips, then storing them in a covered container creates a tasty chip you simply won’t find on any store’s shelves. It’s a knock out on popcorn, too, but there’s something extra special about the magic it creates with potato chips.

You can find the different varieties of Parma! Vegan Parmesan on Amazon. They are absolutely delicious – I LITERALLY eat the parmesan right from the container. I wish to goodness they made slices of cheese that tasted just like this!