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I just love to experiment in the kitchen, try new foods, and explore different flavors! I’m planning once a week to share a food tip here on my blog from my culinary adventures. 🙂 Today’s ideas are simple to prepare, elegant and delicious! The key is excellent quality ingredients. And in particular, Westphalian Ham. This photo is from a special tapas meal I made for my family. It is so simple to prepare and yet SO delicious! I was going to use Serrano ham until I found out how expensive it was (To give you an idea, a whole ham … Read more

Well, it’s time for the final post of the Adventure-a-Week Challenge! It’s been such a fun project over the last several weeks. You can see a list of all the Adventure-a-Week posts here. (If you’re reading this in an email or reader and can’t see the video above, just click here .. the video is where the substance of this week’s challenge is! Plus there’s some new stop motion video, as well as the announcement for what the next challenge will be, now that the adventure challenge is over!) Below, is the set of Bingo printables – I’ve created 6 … Read more

Personally I love to wear vintage clothing. I like the classic meets whimsical aspect of it. But if you love vintage like I do, then you’re probably been here before: you discover a fabulous vintage clothing find that seems to be in your size, only to realize that you would need to remove some major body organs and perhaps some limbs in order to be able to fit into it. Sizing: it was the single biggest problem that people voted for in a poll I did on why people don’t wear vintage. Not surprising, since no matter how much you … Read more

I love to cook, and I feel that almost everything is better homemade – except Chinese take-out. For all my efforts and trials, I just cannot make General Tso’s like take-out. Or hot and sour soup. When I was pregnant with my little one, I craaaved hot and sour soup like nobody’s business. I even wrote an ode to hot and sour soup. (Yeah, I’ll throw it in at the end of the post, just so you can laugh at me, so be sure not to miss it.) But then when I tried to make it, it literally smelled like … Read more

Well, our weekly adventure challenge continues! (If you haven’t seen the challenge post yet, you can see it here.) Last week I shared our pirate nature scavenger hunt, and it was geared more specifically for small children. This time for our second adventure we did an activity which isn’t targeted at any specific age, and can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone. (Although, confession – I cheated a little on the “weekly” this time. I’ve been posting the week after the adventure, but we didn’t go on an adventure last week due to sickness, we are doing two this week … Read more

(Sorry for my lack of blog-posts last week … I was in Florida! If I was more organized and had planned ahead more I would have had blog posts pre-written and scheduled to post while I was away. But .. well, that didn’t happen. But the week in FL was awesome – it was a road trip with my extended family, I got see my siblings at college, attend a week of Bible lectures, and see my brother in the Spring musical. WooT!) And now I’ve returned from the 80+ degree weather back to the chilly snowy days of February. … Read more

Or in this case, pumpkin roll? It’s the end of FlourishCafe’s birthday week, but, of course, the proper way to celebrate the completion of year is always with a delicious dessert!  Ah, traditions. 🙂 I had never made a pumpkin roll until my husband requested one for his birthday – and I was surprised as how easy it actually was! Its a great autumn or winter dessert, and looks pretty to boot.  I’m including the recipe I used at the end of this post. Thanks for celebrating FlourishCafe’s birthday with me this week – and don’t forget to enter my … Read more

My “The Cook Gets to Lick the Spoon” Illustration I knew someone once who said they liked their food bland. Um … that’s definitely NOT how I like my food. I like colorful spices, bold flavors, and bright flavors. I’m sure that each cook has their own set of flavors and spices that they consider staples – but one that I consider a staple that seems to be under appreciated in general: the lime. Candied Lime Peel by HarmlessColor Flavors that can be used in both sweet a savory cooking are some of my favorites. Cinnamon, mango, allspice … and … Read more

Are you a local explorer? You’d love it!! Few things inspire me creatively more than this. Not sure? Ok, I’ll give you some reasons – and then some helpful tips and tricks. 🙂 All of the photos in this post are from my local explorations here in Knoxville! I’ve lived in several awesome places in the past — places that other people take trips to go visit. (Prague/Czech Republic, Gettysburg/PA, Tampa/FL..) But one thing that completely took me aback was how people who had lived there their whole lives had never taken the opportunity to go see the sights! I … Read more

Hi all! Today I’m excited to share a guest post from my good friend, Debbie Sutherland. My husband and I have known her and her family for quite some time, and always enjoy getting to see their lovely family when we visit New England. Debbie runs a blog on fun and frugal living, and today’s post that she is sharing with us is all about frugal nature-themed date ideas. Love it. I’m married to my guy, but I still want to date him! Thanks for the ideas, Debbie! -April Going out on a date with a loved one does not … Read more