Artichokes of Love

Sometimes, an artichoke is just an artichoke. Sometimes, though, it's so much more.

And yesterday, it was. See, it's been a rough go of late in this little girl's world (see, even that wording should tell you something - I have been feeling awfully small and fragile) and even a small thing like a lunch treat of one of our favorite produce products, fire-roasted

Artichokies!

yumminess! Artichokes of happiness. Once again, the Sweet Man knew just what to get for a brief dose of happiness, in the form of food. Just for a moment . . . 

Love was food, and food was love, and all was ok in the world. Of course, there was more to it - we had a quesadilla too (kidding! even though we did have a tasty one) - no, seriously, we were us, and the sun was out and for a few minutes and hours, problems, real, serious ones were set aside, and life seemed ok. It would all come back quickly enough, but the artichokes brought a little peace. Sometimes you have to take peace where you can get it, for as long as you can have it. And be grateful for it.

Till the next artichokes of love . . .

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

I Had a Bad Day . . .

Well, actually, it was a really, really good day . . . till the end.

See, I am bad at asking for help. I can usually (most of the time) accept it when it's offered - and that's gotten better with time and practice. Today I did - sort of . . .

The Sweet Man knew that I needed - something - heck, maybe anything, to be a pleasant break, a few hours away from all that is swirling in my head, and invited me on a short road trip to TN. Yes! So after a road side breakfast at Cracker Barrel (c'mon, you know you like it, too!) we rounded out the day with a nice late-lunch/early-dinner. This man loves me, knows how to feed me and is patient with my proclivities. He could also tell I was getting antsy and not feeling so hot. So, things like this were in order . . . 

A very nice crab and lobster cake at a cute little downtown Chattavegas spot!

Along with a tasty, simple Caesar and followed by . . .

Delightful, lightly battered cod fish-n-chips!

Well, we ate well. And he deposited me at home. I thought about what to do for the evening and I made some not-so-great choices. Was I hungry? Just a chicken (for lack of a better pun)? I don't know yet. But I've got to figure it out, and fast, for lots of reasons.

Food for thought, indeed.

Yours,

Love Bites,

Carrie Neal

Back Again

Well, hell. It's been awhile.

Without going into full detail about the last six or so weeks - heck, let's give it all the way back to the tree falling on my still-uninhabitable apartment in February! - I've been cooking out of a microwave. And while I've gotten pretty adept at it, to wit:

A take on veggie soup using that ubiquitous college staple, Ramen noodles:

I vary the veggies based on what's on hand or freshest at the store! Souper  easy!

But, now that I am back into a full kitchen, it's game on once again!

Oh, the things you can do with a stove and an oven (not to mention a full size fridge and freezer)!

Over the past few years, I've found joy in cooking, whether for myself or a special someone or for someone in need or who's just hungry and could use a little homemade TLC.

And one of my favorite things to make is pizza. While I admit that I use store-bought, not homemade, crust, that's the only thing about any of my pizzas that's done the "easy" way. Really. This girl knows how to make some pretty delicious concoctions - from my asparagus and Boursin pizza that everyone from the Sweet Man to my girlfriends love: 

It really is so yummy! Get the Mama Nikki's pizza crust (thin or thick) and add olive oil and minced garlic to taste, then thinly sliced or shaved asparagus stalks, top with mozzeralla and Boursin, a little s&p and bake at 425 for about 10 mins.
  

Or my newest creation I made last night, with the same cooking directions as above, but with the following ingredients:

Olive oil and minced garlic, ham, mushroom, spinach and Havarti, dash of s&p = yum!

Something about cooking your own food - as opposed to eating out, which I do love muchly - is just comforting and fun, too. I'm grateful to be back in the kitchen and cooking and eating more tasty things to share with you!

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal