grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Cole Slaw in Vintage Pyrex (and other kitchen traditions)…

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kitchen

I love our kitchen. The longer we live in this house, the more deeply I believe it is one of my favorite places anywhere. I love it not only for its expansive windows that look out over our backyard (the space where we spend most of our free time), but also because it’s the room that holds so much tradition. If a house has a soul, its core is rooted in the kitchen.

Don’t you agree?

I thought about this recently as we prepared our Easter meal. We kept it simple this year, deciding on ribs with all the trimmings. Yes, it may have been more typical of a 4th of July picnic, but no one seemed to mind. Our kitchen comes with no rules, other than that one rule standard for all southern kitchens—we don’t want anyone to leave hungry.Continue Reading

Morel Mushrooms served with Fettuccine

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Fettuccine and Morel Mushrooms

Y’all, I harvested my first batch of morel mushrooms last week, and I have to say, the whole process was so much fun! I noticed a few mushrooms growing on our property. Once I began searching, I gathered a big bowl full of these prized beauties. Probably two pounds!

According to reports from those in the know, this spring’s morel season is a stellar one. Conditions have been perfect for these gifts from the forest.

morels

John was sure I was trying to poison him. You see, we missed the fungi class during our Master Naturalist training so he was skeptical. But real morels are easily distinguishable from false morels. Real morels are hollow inside from stem to cap.Continue Reading

Ultimate Hot Chocolate

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Ultimate Hot Chocolate

I believe if you’re going to drink hot chocolate, drink hot chocolate. The real deal. Go big and luscious with toppings and add-ons, what I like to call the ultimate hot chocolate. ‘Tis the season to do things right, after all.

If you live in Northwest Arkansas, pick up a bag of Loblolly Creamery‘s Spicy Hot Chocolate at Ozark Natural Foods. If spicy isn’t your thing, Loblolly makes regular and peppermint as well. Or, use whatever hot chocolate mix or recipe you prefer. One thing I know—it will be creamier if you whip it up with hot milk rather than water.

Oh the toppings!

The hot chocolate is only the beginning. Next, the fun part.Continue Reading

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