Category: Foodie

  • Guest Post: My Favorite Summer Pie

    Guest Post: My Favorite Summer Pie

    Today’s guest post comes from Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert. Her blog is about saving room for the best parts of life.

    Hi! My name is Tricia and I’m a Fredericksburg Virginia blogger. That almost sounds like an introduction made at an AA meeting or something but if you want to get right down to it, blogging is a type-of addiction, or at the very least, addictive. We all blog for some reason but I can’t tell you in JUST a few words why I love it so much. Maybe we thrive on collecting virtual friends from all over the world, maybe we need a creative outlet and a way to express ourselves, and maybe some of us are compulsive bakers. I probably fall somewhere in all of the above categories and so many more.

    I was contacted by the lovely and talented Tinsley, foodie contributor of Virginia Bloggers and half of the husband wife blogging team behind CookingShorts. Tinsley wanted to know if I would do a guest post on my favorite summer pie. In 2011 I posted a pie a week for the entire year and ended up with 52 different, wonderfully delicious desserts, and a lot of new friends. Each Sunday my grown children and their friends would stop by to see what I had made, and what they could take home. To each of them I am grateful because instead of 10 extra pounds it would have been 30 or 40 if we had not shared. Please stop by and check out the list of all 52 pies!

    So … I’ve thought a lot about summer pies and spent a lot of time trying to pick just one favorite. But in the end I went with Key Lime Pie. Key Lime Pie reminds me of vacations at the beach and icy cold Margaritas. This pie is incredibly simple to make with a bold flavor that is tangy and tart, sweet and fresh. The filling is so smooth you’ll want to savor each and every bite. This pie tastes like summer!

    KLP

    Key Lime Pie

    Graham Cracker Pie Crust:

    • 1 1/4 cups crushed graham crackers (one whole wax paper package – not a whole box)
    • 5 tablespoons butter, melted
    • 1/4 cup sugar

    Filling:

    • 1 can (14 ounce) Sweetened Condensed Milk
    • 4 egg yolks, room temperature
    • 1/2 cup fresh key lime juice
    • Zest of one key lime

    Sweetened Whipped Cream Topping:

    • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
    • 3 tablespoons sifted powdered sugar
    • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

     Click here for step-by-step instructions.

    I hope you get a chance to make this pie and hope you enjoy as much as we do.

    Here are a few of our other summer favorites:

    Blueberry Pie

    Lemon Ice Box Pie

    Summer Berry Pie

    Blackberry Pie –

    Margarita Pie w/ pretzel crust

    Fresh Peach Pie

    Thanks so much for allowing me this opportunity to visit with you! Come see us!

    Tricia

  • Guest Post- Vegetable Showcase

    Today’s guest post comes from Kath the blogger behind Kath Eats Real Food. As a registered dietitian her nutrition-focused posts keeps eating and blogging her way through life.

    Vegetable Showcase

    Hello Virginia! I’m here to celebrate summer with you. Raise your hand if you’re happy summer produce is here! I look forward to heirloom tomatoes all year-long, and I can’t get enough okra, especially when it’s baked in a crunchy crust. Luckily my husband and I are growing both in our garden this year.

    Veggies

    Here are five vegetarian recipes I can’t wait to make this summer:

    Tomato
    Tomato + Bean Pizza For One

    Heirlooms are the star and beans provide creamy protein. Add some fresh basil as well.
    Pesto
    Strawberry Basil Pasta Salad

    Put more basil into your meals with some summer strawberries and tender greens in this pesto-y pasta salad.
    OKra
    Better Than Fried Okra

    This is a healthier version of the South’s favorite fried okra. Cornmeal and a hot oven give you a crispy outside and a tender mushy-in-a-good-way inside.
    Gazpacho
    Gazpacho

    Have too many tomatoes and cucumbers? This is the best way to eat ‘em!
    Eggplants
    Eggplant Pizzas

    Eggplant is another summer superstar and is hearty enough to fill you up. Cheese and tomato sauce make mini pizza rounds.
  • Guest Post: Purple Rice Pilaf with Feta and Walnuts

    Today’s post is from our foodie contributor, Tinsley over @ CookingShorts.com . Her blog is “designed to bring short recipes and good food to your table.” What a great mission!

    Purple Rice Pilaf with Feta and Walnuts

    This rice pilaf is super sexy and tastes oh so good. Perfect for date night, pair this side with steamed fish or grilled chicken. Summer is here! Pack it up with a simple salad and take it on a romantic picnic.

    Purple Rice with Walnuts

    • 1 cup purple rice (sometimes called black rice or forbidden rice)
    • 1/2 cup orzo
    • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
    • 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
    • olive oil
    • salt and pepper
    • 2 tbsp. butter

    Click Here for the Full Recipe and Directions