White River Creamery - grace grits and gardening

If you’re looking for a fancy-ish salad for Easter or any special gathering, try radicchio stuffed with goat cheese and walnuts. The combination of sweet and salty pairs well with most any protein. These radicchio salads can be eaten the traditional way (with knife and fork), or the naturally cupping radicchio leaves can be wrapped and eaten as a finger food or appetizer (i.e. lettuce wrap).

This recipe calls for both goat cheese and balsamic vinegar—two staples in my house. My favorite goat cheese comes from White River Creamery in Elkins, Arkansas. If you live in Northwest Arkansas, find it HERE.

Also, I highly recommend De Nigris 1889 balsamic vinegar. The 1889 in the label refers to the year Armando de Nigris founded the first vinegar works in Naples, Italy. The rich, flavorful vinegar will take your dish up a notch. Find De Nigris EVERYWHERE.Continue Reading

This quote by author Joan Marques says it all—Simple things bring infinite pleasure. Yet, it takes us a while to realize that. Once simple is in, complex it out – forever.

It is common to get tangled in the constant activity and busyness of life, but living in Northwest Arkansas makes it easy for me to slow down and appreciate each day. The pace is much less hectic than Dallas. I marvel daily at the surrounding natural beauty just beyond my kitchen window. Sunrise over Mount Sequoyah. Brilliant autumn floating to the sidewalk. Here’s a recap of the simple things I’ve enjoyed recently.

1. In a word, bacon. I made these yummy bacon-wrapped apricot appetizers for friends using local Petit Jean bacon and White River Creamery goat cheese. (The recipe is similar to THIS one, but I used apricots instead of dates.)

2. Allergy Medicine. Along with the beautiful fall leaves and cooler temperatures comes allergies. Thank goodness for meds. Can I get an Amen?

3. Planting Iris. These irises came from my late mother-in-law’s yard in Fort Smith. I transplanted them into our Fayetteville garden, and I know she is smiling down on them.