grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

  • Home
  • Bio
  • Backyard Phenology
  • Publishing
  • SHOP!
  • Garden
  • Reading & Books
  • Sunday Letter

Shishito Peppers: Quick & Easy Appetizer!

August 15, 2019 By Talya Tate Boerner

Sautéed Shishito Peppers

Have you tried shishito peppers yet? If not, let me introduce you to this flavorful treat! I had them for the first time about a year ago at a friend’s house. Then, I had them not that long ago at Cheers in Fayetteville. Now, that I know how easy they are to sauté, this is my new favorite make-at-home appetizer (or side dish).

Y’all, I’m not exaggerating. There’s a reason shishito peppers is the hot new summer appetizer in all the coolest restaurants.

And by hot, I don’t mean spicy. These Japanese heirloom peppers are crisp and sweet with only a tiny bit of heat.

A game changer for sure.

Continue Reading

The best MAC AND CHEESE in all the land. Period.

August 12, 2019 By Talya Tate Boerner

the best mac and cheese!

We had friends over to eat Tuesday night. John grilled burgers, and I baked the best Mac and Cheese in all the land which hopefully cancelled out the very average pot of beans I served with it. This is my go-to mac and cheese recipe. There’s no need to make any other. You could add lobster like the fancy restaurants do and have a dish people would pay $17 a serving for in Dallas (i.e. Capital Grille). I truly believe that.
Continue Reading

Sunday Letter: 08.11.19

August 11, 2019 By Talya Tate Boerner

Sunday Letter

Dear Sunday Letter Readers,

Today’s Sunday Letter is a wonder, not because it’s exceptionally marvelous or anything. Not at all. The fact that it exists is the small miracle. All throughout the past week, I’ve been overly confused about the day. Tuesday felt like Wednesday. Wednesday was Thursday in my mind. On Friday morning, John asked me, “Is today Wednesday or Thursday.”  See? It wasn’t just me. Our whole week was weird.

For the most part, I’ve been tied to my desk working on my book. Maybe that’s the reason for my confused state. Or maybe it’s the horrid humidity.

Yesterday, I did spend a few hours in Bentonville at Megaphone Summit (an influencer conference). The highlight for me was seeing some of the original Arkansas blogger ladies I met when I first began this blogging adventure. And by the way, I heard someone refer to me as “one of the old bloggers”—LOL—that’s true in more ways than one.Continue Reading

« Previous Page
Next Page »


Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Our Garden Mission Statement
  • Goodbye, 2025. Hello, 2026.
  • Sunday Letter: 11.23.25
  • Maggie and Miss Ladybug: My New Children’s Nature Book
  • Sunday Letter: November 9, 2025

Novels:

Coloring Books:

Fiction-Themed Coloring Books

Backyard Phenology:

Children’s Nature Book:

Never miss a blog post! Subscribe via email:

Looking for something?

Categories

All the Things!

A to Z April Blog Challenge Autumn BAT Book Reviews childhood Christmas creative writing prompt Dallas Desserts Fall Fayetteville Food Gracie Lee Halloween Hemingway-Pfeiffer holiday recipes home humor Johnson Family Keiser Lake Norfork Lucy and Annabelle Mississippi County Mississippi Delta Monarch butterflies Munger Place Nana nature Northeast Arkansas Northwest Arkansas Osceola poem Reading Schnauzer simple living simple things spring spring gardening Summer Talya Tate Boerner novel Thanksgiving The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee Thomas Tate Winter Wordless Wednesday

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!

All content and photos Copyright Grace, Grits and Gardening © 2026 · Web Hosting By StrataByte