Eats & Drinks

When you hear the word beignets, what do you think of? You may think of the jazzy streets of New Orleans, where they also call it "fried fritters". You may think of where it originated, France eating some with a beret on your head. Or you may be like me, and have no idea what they are.

Yes. Making your own cold brew at home is both simple and satisfying. Not to mention you can save a ton of money! With summer on the way, hot drinks will mostly be for those chilly days, and cold coffee drinks are ready to take over. This is such a simple process and there are so many benefits to brewing your own cold brew at home. Let's talk about statistics, the process, and the benefits.

As some of you may know, I am a huge chocolate lover. I could eat a whole chocolate cake if I could. But, just like most people, I try to watch my sugar intake a little. 

A huge part of self care is balance between fitness and "treating" thyself. So that's why I love making desserts that include some healthy ingredients such as chickpeas.

This is now my go to banana pudding recipe. Michael's nephew loves bananas so much that it has also become a regular dessert request. I just love seeing the family enjoy this rich dessert that means so much to me. It has the nephews approvals and importantly the mom stamp of approval. I can't wait until I receive my next request for my banana pudding.

I have to say that this is the most delicious quinoa kale salad I have ever tried! After making it a few times in the last couple months, you can also say it has grown on us. It pairs perfectly with fish, pizza, sandwiches, or even soup. The ingredients are so nutritious and the flavors are all complementary. 

Are you a whiskey or a bourbon kind of person? As a southern girl always at heart, I love a good whiskey cocktail! I will share a few of my favorite cocktails highlighting the one and only Peanut Butter Skrewball Whiskey. Most of the recipes come directly from the Skrewball Whiskey website, with a couple creative additions. If you love peanut butter and whiskey stick around for more!

How much chocolate can you eat in a day? According to the National Confectioners Association, the Aztec emperor Montezuma drank 50 cups of cacao a day from a golden chalice. Okay, so I'm not having as much chocolate as him, but I definitely love to have at least a little piece of chocolate every day. 

Slow down, take a break, and sip a cup of tea. That's what Qianlong, the fifth Chinese emperor of the Qing dynasty did on the daily. The successful emperor lived to be 89 years of age. What was his secret for longevity? He claimed it was tea. Traveling from province to province, one thing he made sure to do was taste the local tea, participating in royal tea ceremonies. Tea has not only been an important part of Chinese culture, it is also a form of medicine.