grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Gracie Lee’s Mixtape

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Gracie Lee's MixtapeAs a nine-almost-ten-year-old, Gracie Lee didn’t have much money but when she managed to save a little, she liked to buy a new record or two at Savage Tunes on Main Street. Most of the time, though, she was forced to listen for her favorite songs to be played on the radio. WHBQ in Memphis played the best music—mostly top forty—and unless it was stormy, clear reception traveled across the Mississippi River to her corner of Northeast Arkansas.

She liked country music, too. Daddy blasted everyone out of bed before sunrise with the music of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, so those songs grew on her.Continue Reading

End of Summer Pizza

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End of Summer PizzaI’m pretty excited that I just made this wonderfulness for lunch. I’m calling it End of Summer Pizza because my whole goal was to come up with a great way to use the last of my basil and that’s what I did. End of Summer Pizza is easy to make and healthier than ordering delivery pizza because a) it’s loaded with veggies, and b) I don’t have a bunch of leftovers calling to me and driving me crazy until I eat every last bite. Know what I mean?

The crust is Naan, an Indian flat-bread purchased from the grocery store. Yes, I could have made it, but I’m trying to keep it simple while still eating well. Plus, I don’t make crust.

End of Summer Veggie Pizza

End of Summer Pizza

Print Recipe
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Naan
  • Olive oil
  • Parmesan Regianno
  • Green onions chopped
  • 4-5 cherry tomatoes sliced thinly
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped red pepper
  • Basil chopped
  • Shredded cheese I used 6-blend Italian
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Brush Naan with olive oil.
  3. Grate parmesan over Naan.
  4. Layer chopped green onions, thinly sliced tomatoes, chopped red pepper, and basil (in that order).
  5. Sprinkle with grated 6-cheese Italian blend, or cheese of choice.
  6. Add more grated parmesan. Please, use the real thing not the stuff in the can.
  7. Top with a slice of red bell pepper for additional flavor and crunch. Add salt and pepper.
  8. Bake 5-7 minutes until cheese has melted.

A couple of things… I think goat cheese would have been a great addition, but I didn’t have any. Really, add whatever you like—shredded chicken, black olives, purple onions, etc. You could also add pesto sauce or tomato sauce instead of olive oil.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]End of Summer pizza made with flatbread and the last of my basil. #vegetarian #Naan #simpledinner[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:

This has nothing whatsoever to do with my pizza, other than I love this performance, Barrett Baber lives in Fayetteville, and I was walking in Memphis last week.

Barrett Baber & Dustin Christensen, Walking in Memphis

 

Angels in the Fields of Arkansas

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It takes me forever to drive anywhere in Arkansas because I have to take the scenic route. And when I come upon an old cemetery, I pull over and take pictures. There are so many angels in the fields of the Arkansas Delta.

Just outside the city of Wilson, this small cemetery has always drawn my eye toward the cotton field. Finally, I stopped, walked through the field, and took a closer look.

McFadden Cemetery, Wilson, Ar

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Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

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