It’s all too easy to say “where did it go?” or “time flies,” but to crane the neck and glimpse backwards requires a bit of effort. On New Year’s Eve, we swept out the newly formed cobwebs by reminiscing. I closed out 2017 with a slow-cooked, fall-apart-on-your fork boeuf bourguignon, celery root mash, red wine and a dark chocolate & matcha cake. Full, warm and happy, I curled up next to the Rustbelt Farmer to prod our hearts and minds.
We played Vertellis, a “game” that is more about drawing closer than competing. We asked each other which moments of the year made us laugh until it hurt? Which moments made us the proudest? Which moments did we regret?
A year can hold so much, yet it’s easy to overlook the many moments that should fill us with lasting gratitude. That’s why, come New Year’s Day, I like to nestle in and really look back at the love and care I put into this, my corner of the web. I do this so as to celebrate, rather than denigrate, my efforts. It’s all too easy to critique the times when I didn’t post frequently, or to compare myself to other bloggers, but when I see all these recipes, adventures and posts together, I find contentment in the nostalgia (and in my ever changing hair).
If you’re new here, welcome! Here’s a BIG glimpse into With The Grains. If you’ve been here before, thanks for returning! This corner would not be the same without those who pass through, and for you, I am grateful. Here’s to the delicious adventures behind us and the inspiration for the coming year!
Happy New Year!
Recipes for Festivities & Hibernation
Mulled White Wine & Homemade Gluten Free Crackers for Winter Entertaining
Wanderings: Beaverdam Cabin, Jennerstown, PA
The Ultimate Whole Wheat Pecan Sticky Buns from @BonAppetitMag’s Baking Guide
Spiced Whiskey in a Custom Labeled Bottle for the Whiskey Lover
Vegan Chocolate Tart with Salted Oat Crust
Lemon Lavender Coconut Cake for a Baby’s First Birthday (Sugar Free & Gluten Free)
Feasting
Spicy Pepper Roasted Chicken & Vegetables from the book “Soul Food Love”
Roasted Chicken Salad on Croissants
Spicy Pepper Roasted Chicken Tacos with Hearth Roasted Potatoes
Big Batch Whole Grain Pancake Mix Plus A TV Appearance
Celebrations, Toasts & Snuggles
Bulletproof Coffee featuring One Village Coffee (and the cutest Julep snuggle)
Spiced Apple Pie with a Chai Flavored Whole Grain Crust for Pi(e) Day (featured on @Instagram)
Whole Grain Biscuits & Toppings for a Biscuit Buffet
My Birthday Cake Tradition: Whole Grain Chocolate Layer Cakes with Hazelnut Ganache
A Biscuit Buffet & Mini Cake Brunch for My Birthday
Rum Spiked Egg Nog
Dog-Friendly Treats & Dog-Friendly Places
A Liver and Parsley Birthday Cake for a Special Dog: Julep’s 4th Birthday
Vegetarian Polenta “Bolognese” with Garlic Flatbreads + Leftovers Mezze
A Tour of “MoonShine,” A Tiny House Cabin at Blue Moon Rising Campground
Whole Grain Lemon Quick Bread with Coconut Sugar & Honey Candied Lemons
“Plate Your Story,” A Styling & Marketing Workshop with the Food Mood Girl
Honey Buckwheat Pancakes with Caramelized Apples & Bee Pollen
Earl Grey Honey Simple Syrup for Blackberry Bread Pudding and Cocktails
Libations & The Lighter Side
A Turmeric Cocktail Featuring Von Humboldt’s Turmeric Cordial
Frozen Peach Tart with Almond Coconut Crust (Gluten & Sugar Free)
Red Wine Sangria and How To Use Leftover Sangria Fruit
Grilling Fruits for Cake Toppings This Memorial Day Weekend
Homemade Bleu Cheese Dressing
Father’s Day Cocktail: Frosty Sazerac and Boozy Cake Pairing
Adventures & Refreshers
Frozen Rosé Wine (Frosé): Is it Worth the Hype?
Watermelon Salad, Watermelon Lemonade and a Watermelon Treat for Pups
Peanut Butter Popsicles for Pups & People
Lavender Simple Syrup for Iced Lattes
Exploring Chatham University’s Eden Hall Campus
Fresh Summer Eats
Healthy Sweets: Chocolate Drizzled Peaches with Bourbon Whipped Cream
Rose Cocktails: Two Simple Cocktails feat. Belvoir Rose Elderflower Lemonade
Sweet and Savory Spreads for Late Summer Entertaining
An Updated Classic: Whole Grain Ramen Noodle Salad (Vegan/Gluten Free)
Beach Picnic at Lake Erie to Soak up the End of Summer
Summer & Fall Gatherings
An Apple Themed Menu for a Pittsburgh Blogger Potluck
Gluten Free Zucchini Cake with Apple Butter Frosting & Apple Cider Reduction
Crock-Pot Applesauce (Honey Sweetened with Vegan Option)
Homemade Thousand Island Dressing for Vegetarian Zucchini Reubens
A Tour of Food52 for a Food Styling Workshop
Family Reunion: A Time Honored Tradition (Whole Grain Trail Mix S’more Blondies)
Harvest Bounty
Frozen Corn Tart with Chocolate Crust (Vegan & Gluten Free)
Grilled Corn Pizza with Burrata & Herbs
Corn Recipes to Celebrate the Sweet Golden Harvest
Harvest Salad with Roasted Beets and Butternut Squash
Apple Cake Combinations To Enjoy This Fall
Pumpkin Spice Bulletproof Coffee
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cocktails & Cake Garnishes
New Places, New Traditions & New Friends
A Christmas Tree Farm & Peppermint Chocolate Cookies for Santa
Peppermint Hot Chocolate (Vegan)
Biscuits, Chocolate & Champagne in Asheville, North Carolina
Homemade Eggnog with Coconut Sugar
Kretschmann Family Organic Farm (Plus, A Puppy!)
Coming Up!
And here’s to what’s in store! For starters, I’ll soon be embarking on a book tour with my inspiring friend, Lindsey Smith, aka The Food Mood Girl as she inspires the world to embrace emotional eating through her cookbook Eat Your Feelings (styled by yours truly).
There’s a chance I’ll be in your city, so follow along, and hopefully we’ll be eating something delicious in person too.
