caviar

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Red, white and “que”

Get your que on captionIt’s summertime in the City.

From now until Labor Day (September 1st for my international readers) it feels as if we have just entered one big, carefree summer  holiday season.

The 4th of July kicks off  the season as America pauses to celebrate the anniversary of our nation’s independence from Great Britain with fun, fireworks and food.

Summer also signals the barbeque season.  It’s the time of year we love to get our “que” on whether it’s Memphis, North Carolina, Kansas City or Texas style. Continue reading →

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Ali in the Valley is back-to-basics at its best

Alison Ball Kilmer , creator of "Ali in the Valley"

Alison Ball Kilmer, creator of “Ali in the Valley”

Alison Ball Kilmer may live in the valley – an area nestled northwest of the Los Angeles Basin – but her epicurean influence spreads far and wide.

Talk about a digital imprint – she has a pretty significant one from her YouTube video series to her writing endeavors.  Her wildly successful blog Ali in the Valley: Home grown cooking, down to earth living has an impressive following. It’s shaking up millennium thinking by demonstrating the value and virtue of getting back to the basics of wholesome food. Continue reading →

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Loafing on Father’s Day

dad

My dad, Olephyeo Stamps

My dad loved Father’s Day.

It was a day we not only celebrated him, it was a day he took off from his perceived duties and loafed around the house after he got back from church.

Father’s Day is always around the NBA Championship and dad relished his uninterrupted time in front of the television on his special day. It was like his “man cave” time and we let him have his moment. Continue reading →

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Cook fearlessly, eat well

Cook fearlessly

It’s a simple but courageous motto.

I will try anything in the kitchen. No limits. No boundaries. No fears. And while my culinary victories often – well always – make me break out in the happy dance, my culinary faux paws always give me a good laugh. I just shake it off and keep trying until I get it right – that is right with me. Continue reading →