Our Food Influences..

     Ok, this is my first time writing a blog post, and of course what is my blog about?... FOOD! But not just food and its tasty goodness but the impact it has on us and some of our best memories. Think about it... everyone has a great food memory, whether its from your childhood or adulthood. Everyone has a grandma food memory, I mean that's all you hear about when people describe their favorite comfort foods. I am lucky enough to have two amazing grandma's that both had a passion for cooking, and each had their own special style. My Nanny was from the north so she had "yankee" influences from her ham and bean soup made after every Christmas, her shoo fly pie, whoopee pies, and yes... her amazing sugar cookies. My Mama on the other hand was very southern and fried practically everything, one reason her boys have a little extra love around the edges (if you know what I mean). She makes THE best chicken fried steak, sticky buns, and bacon and eggs. Mama taught me how to make the perfect bacon and scrambled eggs, yes something so simple yet how many times have you had too crunchy of bacon or too chewy... combining the two, crunchy with little chewy fat at the end, delicious.
   
     Now, moving on to why I named the blog "Love and Food - Bringing People Together." Food is the center the point to all fun and memorable gatherings. Its the Sunday BBQ, the Saturday night of drinking and eating with good company, the candle light dinner with the love of your life, the "hey I have a new recipe I want to try out so come over and be my guinea pig", and then there is the sweet bite of the fluffy sugar cookie each holiday season that makes memories of my late Nanny flood in.

     Another major food influence I have had in my life is my grandpa, Papa... I was lucky enough to be passed down his knowledge of Championship BBQ and yummy homemade eggnog (which is an art all in its own). I write this blog as I sit on my back porch waiting on my pork to finish smoking. Smoking teaches patience, it takes hours and hours to smoke a tender piece of meat, but as we all know, its worth the wait once you take that first bite. BBQ is definitely turning into a passion of mine as I try out new techniques and flavors on the weekends to achieve the "Babe, this is really good!" from my husband, or the Nick speechless face as he chows down my food, or the special requests from my best friend. This is when I know I am surrounded by love, people inviting themselves over for a meal, as we sit down to eat and catch up on life. I look forward to the one day I sit down with my kids and they chow down on mom's new yummy dish, or play out in the yard with my sweet husband as I grill up something finger licking good. I even patiently wait (yes I know I am weird) for the chance to be a grandma and be the memory kids carry on to their future.

 

     Have a good evening my friends, hug your love ones dearly, and cook something good this week... from scratch. Scratch always makes you feel more accomplished, and (with the right dish) really isn't that difficult.