Why Napa Valley? Wine not, I mean why not! My first trip to Napa Valley was over a decade ago and I was just totally entranced with it. All the rolling greens and just how clean and serene it felt. And not to mention of course, the wine. It was just such a tranquil place, and although it’s definitely built up, its still how I remembered it, amazing. Where to stay This is an important need to know. When we say Napa Valley, we include all of the surrounding towns in this quaint and serene place. The first time around we stayed in Calistoga. It felt like you could walk…
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Here is the Total Pantry shopping list
Disclaimer: obviously this is only a suggested shopping list, and all based on my opinion. Feel free to omit what you don’t like or don’t want and adjust this shopping list according to your own needs. I just think these are great options for keeping your pantry stocked with all the necessities for basic cooking and baking needs. Not only will it give you a lot of options but will save you time also. I’ve asterisked * what I think could be optional. Also, any brands of these items are absolutely fine. You will see varying prices by name brand in the supermarket and being honest, I don’t see a…
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This is the basic way I keep my pantry stocked
Keeping your pantry stocked is a helpful way to always have your basic items on hand and you can avoid a lot of last-minute trips to the grocery store. Most of these items are so inexpensive so you can buy them in bulk to build up your pantry stock. Here is a list of what I think everyone needs to keep in their pantry. Dry Spices While fresh are always best when available, dry can work just as well. Whether it’s to make a rub, add to chili, stews or even soups. I always have a lot of different spices in my cabinet because I really like a lot of…
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Quick and easy delicious salad
Who doesn’t love quick and easy, especially in the summer I know once June rolls around, I hate the thought of turning on my stove. I also want to be able to enjoy as much of the Summer as I can because it goes so fast, so I don’t want to waste too much time in the kitchen. This quick and easy salad is delicious anytime of the year but a super easy dish to make whether you don’t feel like cooking, or you just need something quick and easy to bring to an impromptu BBQ. The best part is this will literally take you under 10 minutes to make…
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The best food I ever ate Part 1 -You’re welcome!
Let me talk about some of the best food I ever ate. This will likely be an ongoing segment because I totally love food. I love making it, eating it, watching shows about it and finding the best of it. I love all genres of food too. Street food, fast food, fine dining, pasta, a good burger, pizza…oh give me all the pizza. Ethnicity doesn’t matter either. Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Indian..the list is really long. So when I find something so amazing, no matter if it’s a donut or a 5-course meal, I believe it’s worth remembering. And yes, I am one of those people who takes pictures of their…
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Want a new Thanksgiving leftovers recipe Game changer?
What to do with all the Thanksgiving leftovers. And there’s usually a ton. Now the second day you probably don’t mind all thanksgiving leftovers and you do another dinner. But by the third day of Thanksgiving leftovers, you’re probably over it. The sides are pretty much gone, and you still have a boat load of turkey. Don’t get me wrong, I like turkey, but I really come for the sides. It’s probably because I like the variety and what fun is the turkey without all the sides. This year I’ve decided to do some different things with my leftovers. And since there aren’t enough thanksgiving leftovers at this point for…
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Stuffing waffles – a simple idea for thanksgiving leftovers
In my opinion, thanksgiving just isn’t complete without stuffing. I know there are so many different variations, but I love a simple French bread stuffing. It’s so basic (said in my best Anna Delvey voice), yet it has all of the flavors of thanksgiving in every bite. Stuffing is also great for leftovers too. Just reheat and pour some gravy right on. Sometimes though, I like to do something “not basic”, and that’s making stuffing waffles. If you have a waffle iron these are simpler than making your regular breakfast waffles. All you need is some leftover stuffing. You take a cold scoopful and add right onto a nicely greased…
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This 1 simple ingredient is the best kept secret for the best mashed potatoes
Who doesn’t love mashed potatoes? Even when they’re bad they’re still pretty good. All you have to do is pour some gravy on em or add some salt and butter and I think they’re doable. There are so many good variations out there. But out of all the potato recipes in the world, I am going to share thee absolute BEST you will EVER have. These are an old family recipe from my Mothers aunt and they are everything. What’s so special about mashed potatoes? Let me tell you. These potatoes are one of my favorite recipes. They are the creamiest and most decadent potatoes you’re going to have. They…
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A side dish sure to be the star of your dinner table
Let’s talk about my mom’s cooking. Whatever she cooks is always done with such effort and a lot of pride. Anything she makes is always so delicious and screams home cooking. One of my favorite’s is this side dish of her Sour Cream and Onion mushrooms. Now not sure what comes to mind when I say sour cream and onion, but if you are thinking some powdery flavoring from a bag of sour cream and onion chips, believe me these are nothing like that. This decadent recipe starts with buttery sautéed onions and fresh mushrooms and is finished with lots of real creamy sour cream. We usually always have this…
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I’m not a Chef, but I love to play one at home
I’m definitely not a chef but I really love to cook. I wanted to learn to cook ever since I was little. I would love to watch and help my grandmother (we called her Nanny) in the kitchen. Most of her dishes were these really simple recipes. My favorites were her Pepper Steak and a dish she called Swiss Steak. Both had a very simple tomato sauce base. Her dishes weren’t fancy, but they were good. Early memories.. I can remember when I first wanted to learn to cook. It was watching the Graham Kerr cooking show every day with My grandfather after school. Graham would make all these beautiful…
