It's The Holidays, Y'all!! Let's Eat!

Well, I got to assist at my first Food Optimist holiday party (actually, any catered event) and  it was so fun! It was for the nicest couple and their lovely friends - Chef Natalie did their wedding food and has returned for Christmas festivities since.

From the stuffed mushrooms to the flatbread with prosciutto and fig jam, to the beef skewers . . . I was there to do a couple of things - assist with prep (not being the real chef and since Natalie and our newest team member Cat were handling that) I got to chop and clean and that kind of thing, and do one of the things I do best - "hostess." "Do you need a refill?" "Are you done with that plate?" (To self) "That tray needs more crostini. . ." It was so fun! and everyone loved the food, of course.

Prepping the crostini for the pimento cheese, bacon and chive topping!!

Next time you need a catered event (or if you want to consider personal cheffing . . . ) you need to contact us! We accommodate all dietary needs (low-sodium, vegetarian, GF, etc) and focus on providing you and your family with as clean and green food as possible!! It is indeed possible to eat well AND healthfully. Just try us - we'll prove it to you!

Happy Holidays to all!

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

Mushrooms stuffed with sausage and cheese- a big hit!
Check out http://www.foodoptimist.com or find us on FB or twitter at @FoodOptimist!

Holiday Lunch

The boy is too sweet. And funny. And random.

Today, we weren't going to have much time together but he wanted to see me. So he came by late-morning, with "treats" . . . A poinsettia, because "I was going to get you cut flowers, but we haven't gotten you a tree yet, and I thought - poinsettia! Flowers later."

And "a cheeseball, because you were talking about that one a lady brought to the hair salon the other day, that was so good you got the recipe for it! And biscuits - because you were craving them yesterday and enjoyed them so much. And some of that pasta salad from Whole Foods you like so much." The best part? When he said "I don't know exactly what kind of meal we can make with all this, but it just seemed right!" And, indeed, it was.

Martha Stewart's cheddar cheeseball recipe, much like the one we had today! See it here: 

http://www.marthastewart.com/351212/marthas-cheddar-cheese-ball?czone=entertaining/holiday-entertaining/holidaycenter-foods

A wreath's not bad, either!

A girl's gotta eat, and when your sweet man brings you treats, well, that's even better-tasting!

Happy Holidays, to all!

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

Holiday Nibbles, Anyone??

As a fairly novice cook since a couple years back, and a recent convert to cooking for others and making things like deviled eggs (so festive, right? How could I - as a good Southern girl - never have tried them til this year?!), and now working for a personal chef, I've gotten kind of addicted to finding great new recipes.

This morning, I was inspired to seek out new deviled egg recipes and I found a treasure trove of yumminess! Check out http://myblessedlife.net/2012/04/deviled-egg-recipes.html for some scrumptious looking treats that I personally think are good ideas, any time of year! I'm going to try these first:

Avocado Deviled Eggs

Looking forward to a festive holiday season and some good "nibbles"!

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

Southern Sunday

Oh, there are so many things to love about the South and Southern food. One of those being Palmetto Cheese.

This stuff is so yummy. (*Note, I haven't tried my boss Chef  Natalie's version which she proclaims to be the absolute best, so I will have to try it and report back . . .) And this morning, odd as it may sound, you know what sounded good for breakfast, seeing as I got a roast chicken at the store yesterday and had a container of the PC (regular version- though their bacon one is delicious, too) . . . and some of those good savory butter Hawaiian mini rolls . . . cute little sandwiches!

Luke was jealous, but I did not share. If you haven't tried Palmetto Cheese, do so, in quick order. The holidays are coming and there's all kinds of fun stuff you can do with it!

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

Palmetto Cheese is good stuff! Check it out on Facebook or at  http://www.pimentocheese.com/ (available locally at Publix and Kroger!)

Feeling Optimistic

Oh, y'all!! This girl is super-excited.

News: I am now working with one of the best local companies around, Food Optimist LLC, and the fabulous Chef Natalie, as Marketing & Communications Director!

Really?? I get to combine some of my most favorite things - people I respect and believe in, food, and sales/marketing endeavors? Weeee!!!

If you don't know about Food Optimist, check out our website: http://www.foodoptimist.com. I'll be working on the blog, marketing efforts, community relations . . . lots of exciting stuff! Food Optimist aims to feed you and energize you with personalized, "green and clean" food - as locally sourced as possible - with a familiar touch for all of our "Foodies" in the family!

Good food + good people + good service = good health!

Oh, I am very Optimistic about this new adventure!

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

Visit Chef Natlalie and Food Optimist at www.foodoptimist.com or on Facebook!

Buddy Ro Day

Today was, quite simply, one of the best days I have had in quite awhile. 

As Luke and I have gotten to know each other- and given my penchant for chattering aloud to my pet(s) and calling them by various nicknames (Big was usually "Baby Dog") - I finally settled in on a few favorites. Variations on Luke, of course ("Lucas," "Sir Luke," etc) and my most recent and favorite, "Buddy Ro." It started as "bubby" or "buddy," but somehow evolved into Buddy Ro. Yesterday, when the boy and I were enjoying a lovely fall afternoon, I called Luke this . . . wouldn't you know? It was what the boy's grandfather used to call him, which I didn't know. It was a funny and cute coincidence.

My boys!

Today, I got to spend nearly all day with both of my Buddy Ro's. We wanted a low-key, relaxed kind of day for a lot of reasons on both sides, so he came over for a leisurely lunch and a movie (a "boy" movie, at his request - enter "Shawshank Redemption," a very appreciated choice). I got up early so I could figure out what to make us - he's cooked for me before, an elaborate brunch, but I'd only made him a small breakfast to take to the office one time when he pulled an all-nighter, so I wanted to come up with something he'd enjoy. Enter one of my favorite pizza recipes, with shaved asparagus, garlic, mozzarella and Boursin, then roast chicken and sauteed mushrooms (admission: he cooked the mushrooms and they were delicious). Add in a whiskey for him and a bottle of wine and we had the most lovely Sunday. Good food and better conversation (of almost entirely the light variety, which was good for both of us), cuddling on the couch. Sir Doggus and the original Buddy Ro were both happy campers - me, too.

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

Deliciousness!

Love on a Tuesday

As I sit here a little before bed and think about my day - and the doggus has gone out and the movie is winding up - I am thinking a few things . . .

Can't wait for tomorrow (more on that to follow, I hope!), and as I finish the nice Cab the boy sent me home with from dinner, am thinking how outstanding - yet again - our dining experience was today. We love good food; I don't always eat that much but I appreciate good things, and as we dine easily and well together, it's almost always a fun experience, whatever meal of the day. One of our favorite regular spots has become Paul's, near my place, and it is really just . . . great. I always enjoy being with him, but we've gotten to know everyone there from the super GM to the wonderful bartenders and other regulars, and the food is always top notch and there's always engaging conversation with people besides ourselves, which is a nice plus. Tonight we went with a typical array - the crabcake to start (it comes with spinach and a great mustard sauce), then the filet with a lobster tail for him, with mushrooms, haricots verts and fries. Yum. And I got sent home with the leftover meat (and wine)!

Tonight, I'm just thinking . . . I love steak, I love the boy, I am a bit spoiled . . . and maybe, just maybe, love on a Tuesday is indeed one of the sweet things in life!

Yours,
Love Bites,
Carrie Neal

Beef: it's what's for dinner! Visit http://www.greatfoodinc.com for details on Paul's and the group's other lovely restaurants!