Godspeed

Wishing my loving uncle safe travels and good luck as he deploys today for another tour overseas. Thank you for keeping me safe and protecting this great country.

Godspeed.

Walks on the Beach

I peaked out my window this morning and was greeted by a gray, rainy sky, as flakes of white snow danced with plump rain drops.

I miss South Carolina. I miss sunrise runs along the beach, sandy afternoon games of beach bocce ball, and being gently lulled to sleep by the softly crashing waves outside my window.  I miss the sunshine, the peach iced tea, the lazy afternoons, the big glasses of wine.

I want to go back to the slower pace, sand between my toes, no winter jacket required kind of life.

Kiwi Sorbet

This St. Patrick’s Day, I will not be avoiding the many city bars and their overindulgent patrons on my walk home from work. And since I am surrounded by palm trees, golf courses, and the ocean, I am not necessarily craving a heavy dessert to celebrate the holiday. Luckily, this kiwi sorbet is just the perfect compromise – a naturally green sorbet, so refreshing with just a kiss of sweetness.

Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Goodbye dreary, cold, crowded Manhattan.  Hello Kiawah Island: sunshine, ocean breezes, and t-shirts.  I do not even mind working on vacation, as I answered emails this morning in one of these lounge chairs, with the soft rhythm of the ocean waves in my ear.

There is not a winter coat in sight.

My First Cookbooks

As part of my birthday gift, my parents sent me the unexpected keepsake of my very first cookbooks. I remember spending hours scrunched up in my yellow beanbag chair, flipping through the recipes from the varying eras of the American Girl Dolls. My Daddy even included photos and a detailed account of the Mother’s Day dinner I prepared, using recipes from these very books.

It has been unbelievably fun to go back through these books, the very sources of inspiration that helped spark my love for cooking and baking. These treasures will be a wonderful reminder that no matter my age, flipping through cookbooks and stepping into the kitchen will always provide the same joy from my childhood.