Recipes

Spaghetti Squash with Feta Cheese and Tomatoes {easy recipe}

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When it comes to squash, spaghetti squash is my favorite.  Granted, it took me a while to master how to halve a spaghetti squash without losing a finger, but I now enjoy a big plate of faux spaghetti (injury free) at least twice a week during squash season.  98.7% of the time, I top my squash with marinara.  It’s not very creative, but it gets the job done PLUS it temporarily satisfies my persistent pasta cravings.

Tonight, after channeling my inner Arnold at body pump, I was ravenous.  I could already feel the signs:  tightness in my shoulders, tingling in my arms, and weak in the knees.  Why, hello, low blood sugar, we meet again!   Luckily, I pre-cooked a spaghetti squash last night (halved, then baked in a 375 degree for 20 minutes).  Bonus points for thinking ahead, but sadly I neglected the absence of  marinara fixin’s in my pantry.

Dang!  Time to get creative!

spaghetti squash with feta

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Food Talk

33 ways to eat Nutella

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In retrospect, it’s kind of shocking.  I mean, I’d heard of Nutella and seen a commercial or two, but I couldn’t wrap my mind around slathering chocolate on bread.  Don’t get me wrong, I love chocolate and I can eat my weight in baguettes, no problem, but a chocolate sandwich just seemed gross and, frankly, un-American.  To me, eating such an insane combination felt like cheating on good ole peanut butter and jelly.  When I confessed my big secret–that I’d never EVER tried Nutella–my friend Vanessa, appalled and concerned, bestowed upon me a tub of Nutella the size of a baby walrus.

That day, I had my first Nutella experience:  baked stuffed bananas loaded with peanut butter, chocolate chips, and a dollop of Nutella.   It only took one bite to realize I’d been robbing myself of intense palate pleasure for the better part of three decades.  Since that moment, I’ve been making up for lost time and searching for things to slather with the unworldly chocolate hazelnut spread.  For the record, I checked the ingredients list and chocolate-candy-crack isn’t listed—just hazelnuts, skim milk, sugar, and cocoa.  Nutella doesn’t even have artificial flavors or preservatives.

It tastes too good to be true.

nutella peanut butter rice cake

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Recipes

Slow Cooker Sundays: Three Bean Chili {recipe}

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This post might be more appropriately titled “HOLY COW, I COOKED!”

three bean chili - 1

After months of neglect, I dusted off the crockpot and kicked off the arrival of Fall, my favorite season of all, with a hearty chili recipe.  What I like most about this chili, besides how tasty it is, is that it’s equally delicious with or without meat.  Over the past six months or so, I’ve drastically reduced my meat consumption, a change that was (unintentionally) spurred by a sausage making class I attended.   Since then, our food focus has shifted substantially, and meat now serves as more of a side dish than the main event.

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Features

Eat local at Atherton Mill & Market — Charlotte, NC

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Atherton Mill MarketLiving in a city has its perks, and one of my favorite things about Charlotte is our local markets.  During the week, I often stop into the 7th Street Public Market for lunch at Pure Pizza and to wander around the vendor booths (and drool over the wares).  Another gem in Charlotte is Atherton Mill and Market, which is just outside of uptown in South End.  This week, I stopped in for a visit and spent some time chatting with the folks at Atherton.  Every time I visit the market, I’m surprised by just  how much it has to offer–it’s so much more than fresh produce.  It’s local foods, local farms, and local artisans.  Where else can you find nuts roasted that very morning and bread made with local brewery starters?

Atherton Mill and Market

2104 South Blvd

Hours:  Tuesday  10am-7pm, Wednesday – Friday:  10am-2pm, Saturday:  9am-2pm

 

Just for fun, here’s a list of 9 awesome things I found at the market:

#1 Simply Local – a retail grocery within Atherton Market that offers goods from local producers and farmers.  This is where I nabbed the Big Spoon Roasters Peanut Pecan nut butter for my foodie penpal!

Atherton Mill Market (2 of 27)

#2  Pickleville – kosher style pickles plus fresh salsa and Cajun creole food.  My favorite is the HOT GARLIC pickle.

Atherton Mill Market (14 of 27)

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Restaurants

Restaurant Review Roundup: Mert’s Heart and Soul, Eddie’s, Baja Soul {Charlotte, NC}

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In honor of FRIDAY (hallelujah!), here are three flash reviews of restaurants I’ve dined at this month:

merts banana pudding

MERT’S HEART AND SOUL:  Serving southern soul, low county, and Gullah-inspired dishes, Mert’s has been a common stop for visitors in Charlotte for over ten years.  When I hear “Mert’s,” I instantly think of their amazing cornbread:  sweet, cakey loaves that arrive at the table hot from the oven with a side of softened butter.  Inside the restaurant, the quirky southern soul decor creates a fun environment, and it is a perfect reflection of the food.  Some of my favorite dishes at Mert’s are the mac and cheese and the Carolina chopped barbecue pork sandwich, which comes on a hearty potato roll.  The banana pudding is infamous, and believe me it lives up to the hype.  Don’t forget to save room for cake!

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