Juleps and Jam Blog

The Gospel of Good Eating, As told by Italians

Lessons in good eating from our trip to Italy.

julepsandjam.com I'm riding out tidal wave of rejuvenation brought on by my trip to Italy, feeling refreshed from the salty sea air, cobblestone street adventures and encounters with symbols of humanity's brilliance I've only read about history books. As expected, Shawn and I stood in awe of historic structures and…

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Bluegrass Goodness is now Juleps and Jam! Follow us at http://www.julepsandjam.com/

julepsandjam.com Fat Tuesday Jambalaya February 17, 2015 Juleps and Jam Just when we Kentuckians thought we had escaped a brutal blow from Old Man Winter, February buries us in a blizzard. While a covering 10 or so inches of snow stalled business and life as usual, I really didn't mind the pause all that much. While…

Go Big Blueberry Muffins

THERE'S A BIG GAME TONIGHT! To show support of my Wildcats, I've made Go Big Blueberry Muffins. A little background on my love of UK basketball and the really yummy recipe on the blog today - so check it out!

bluegrassgoodness.com I'll go ahead and get this out of the way. I am one fired-up Cats fan. I am a tweet-at-Cal, unapologetically loud, wear-blue-or-ruin-the-chi, Louisville-despising, sports article-absorbing, NCAA championship-preoccupied University of Kentucky Basketball fan. Love it or hate it - it's ...

Seed Starting Basics

Shew guys, it's been a while since I've posted. But a great big blog post is up today about one of my favorite early spring hobbies: seed-starting. Packed with tips I've picked up and photos of our progress toward Garden 2014. Happy Seed Starting!

bluegrassgoodness.com Last year was the first year Shawn and I had a yard. A YARD. A blank canvass in which to create horticultural wonders. After years of condos, apartments and yards that weren't really our own to mess with, we had dirt to press between our fingers and use to our satisfaction. Like Adam and ...

The Craft Hub: Tabletop Presentation Stand for Farm Products - Hobby Farms

Not much to report on my blog lately (I'll work on that!) but a new Craft Hub Blog up on HobbyFarms.com.

hobbyfarms.com Now is the time to get started on your easy and inexpensive tiered table-top presentation stand for canned goods or other products.

What Famous Chefs Cook for Their Valentines

A little something fun on your Valentines Eve.

bonappetit.com From Art Smith to Mary Sue Milliken to Bobby Flay, how chefs wooed their mates with food (yes, there are a lot of lobsters and truffles involved)

Sugary Redemption: Zesty Lemon Bars with Mascarpone Icing

New blog for you today!

bluegrassgoodness.com A couple weeks ago I was eating breakfast with Shawn on a Saturday when we had nothing pressing on our schedules. These clear-slate days always irritate me until a project takes root in my brain. I had arrived at my afternoon project that morning while making belgian waffles in a kitchen ...

Sugary Redemption: Zesty Lemon Bars with Mascarpone Icing

So - no matter how ambitious I get with crazy cooking ideas, sometimes things just don't pan out (literally). Good thing there's always a chance for lemon bar redemption. Check out the recipe that worked - it's what you see below!

bluegrassgoodness.com A couple weeks ago I was eating breakfast with Shawn on a Saturday when we had nothing pressing on our schedules. These clear-slate days always irritate me until a project takes root in my brain. I had arrived at my afternoon project that morning while making belgian waffles in a kitchen ...

Rewards of Summer Canning and Crispy Chicken in Brown Butter Jalapeño Reduction

On the blog: a recipe for a brown butter chicken with some kick. Plus, how my countless hours of summer canning have paid off - in ridiculously good salsa out of season!

bluegrassgoodness.com There's nothing like a little fresh salsa made from the fruits of your own backyard garden - in frigid January. This week, Shawn and I pried open a pint jar of garden salsa I'd canned in the summer months. This was not the first year I've canned and stored local and homegrown food ...

Sites We Love: What Should I Eat For Breakfast Today? | SAVEUR

A wonderful goldmine of blogging beauties.

saveur.com Marta Greber's food blog and sometimes travelogue, What Should I Eat For Breakfast Today, is a lovely account of life as expressed through the morning meal.

On a Food Kick: Sweet Potato and Gorgonzola Bisque

Most cooks and food lovers know what it's like to be on a "food kick." Here are my thoughts about "food kicks" and a recipe resulting from my own ingredient obsession.

bluegrassgoodness.com I know what you're thinking: Put down the sweet potatoes and walk away, Elizabeth. You're going a little bit berserk on your sweet potato kick. All kitchen geeks are at times guilty of going on food kicks. I think they are perfectly healthy: these streaks of devotion to one beloved ...

Food Works East End Lexington, KY

Love to grow your food, eat well and live healthy in Lexington? You've got to check out FoodWorks.

foodworkslex.com

Respect the Sentiment, Not the Textbook Rules

Why sentiment will trump cooking technique every time. If you find yourself thinking more about the process of cooking than the purpose behind your meals, this blog's for you.

bluegrassgoodness.com My dad in his pajama pants, not always wearing a shirt, flipping pancakes in harmony was a familiar sight on Saturday mornings growing up. Like a lot of American dads, my dad wasn't home a lot during the week. So Saturday mornings were the only times we kids could really get some quality ...

A Lesson in Greek Eating at Athenian Grill

You're in for a treat - we're looking at the authentic Greek eats served at Lexington's Athenian Grill. Click here to read about my visit, which introduced me to spanikopita (the scrumptious dish you see here).

bluegrassgoodness.com Beginning in the summer of 2012, Ilias Pappas took his mouthwatering gyros ("yee-ros") to the streets of Lexington. His Greek food truck parked in the grass at summertime food festivals, outside the doors of local breweries and on the sidewalks of downtown hotspots during the lunch ...

Lex Eats

Lex Eats is a page on my blog dedicated to the local food businesses that give you good reason to get out of your own kitchen. On Monday, I'll share the inside scoop on great Greek dining at Athenian Grill.

bluegrassgoodness.com As much as I love to make a mess in my little kitchen, I'm always drawn to the local eateries in Lexington and around central Kentucky. Kentuckians are very proud of their food and beverage heritage. Our state is home to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the birthplace of some scrumptious ...

A Sweet Start: Sweet Potato Muffins with a Honey Butter Glaze

It's a new year - how about a new recipe on the blog? For a lazy day, there was a lot of activity in my kitchen on Jan. 1. Here's the recipe for Sweet Potato Muffins with an optional Honey Butter Glaze.

bluegrassgoodness.com Happy New Year, everyone! Despite having woken up embarrassingly late with the aches and grogginess of an oncoming cold, I entered 2014 with my baker's creativity firing. My husband Shawn enjoys the sleepiness of the first day of the year. Nobody's open, so there's no reason to go ...

10 New Year's resolutions to make you a better Kentuckian | Neighbors | Kentucky.com

Hey, Kentuckians (or even non-Kentuckians who plan to visit our great state in 2014). Here's some resolutions to consider. I love these activities - especially the one about visiting a small town - there are some precious gems all around, from Midway to La Grange!

kentucky.com Struggling with making some new year's resolutions? No problem. We've come up with a list of 10 resolutions for Kentuckians — specifically, Central Kentuckians. These are things any Kentuckian in good standing should learn, do or experience in 2014.

Cinnamon Can Help Lower Blood Sugar, But One Variety May Be Best

Who loves cinnamon? Uh, me! More reasons to sprinkle it over just about anything.

npr.org A recent spat of studies adds to the evidence that the health effect is real, with some caveats.

Cold Weather Chicken Noodle Therapy

New recipe for homemade chicken noodle soup on the blog. We'd love for you to come on over and "like" our page as we reboot for 2014! Thanks a bunch.

bluegrassgoodness.com When throats get scratchy, noses start to slow drip and chills scamper down spines, there's only one remedy. You know the therapy - but it's very likely you associate this prescription-free, mom-approved medicine with a red can made iconic by Andy Warhol. As with every recipe that I ...

Cold Weather Chicken Noodle Therapy

Cold weather got you feeling icky? Try these tips for from-scratch chicken noodle soup. Plus, ways to give this miracle soup its healing power.

bluegrassgoodness.com When throats get scratchy, noses start to slow drip and chills scamper down spines, there's only one remedy. You know the therapy - but it's very likely you associate this prescription-free, mom-approved medicine with a red can made iconic by Andy Warhol. As with every recipe that I ...

Buttery Bourbon Caramels

You've probably seen my pictures of Buttery Bourbon Caramels on Facebook. Well, the recipe is up at my blog Bluegrass Goodness. Happy Holidays!

bluegrassgoodness.com Call her the Baroness of Buckeyes and the Princess of Peppermint Bark - my little sister Hannah is a master at making Christmas candy. A methodical and calculated cook (carried over from her physician's assistant mind), she's likely to be found in her kitchen a few weeks before ...

Buttery Bourbon Caramels

The kitchen has been a sticky mess the past couple days - but testing my own recipe for holiday bourbon caramels has been a fun challenge. See the tried-and-true recipe on the blog!

bluegrassgoodness.com Call her the Baroness of Buckeyes and the Princess of Peppermint Bark - my little sister Hannah is a master at making Christmas candy. A methodical and calculated cook (carried over from her physician's assistant mind), she's likely to be found in her kitchen a few weeks before ...

The Tree-Free Way to Spruce Up Your House for the Holidays

I've got a tree-free (and cost-free) way to spruce up your home for the holidays. If you are a naturalist like me, you're going to love the looks of this mantel and the dining room centerpiece.

bluegrassgoodness.com I got the following text from my mother-in-law a couple of days ago. "They have trees at Walmart as low as $18!" Last week she found out we weren't putting up a Christmas tree. And she simply wouldn't accept it. She's not the only one. When I tell people that Shawn and ...

How To Put Together A Great Cheese Plate At A Regular Supermarket

Need to put together a platter for a party? Here's some good tips if you can't make it to a specialty shop.

buzzfeed.com You don’t have to serve Kraft singles at a party just because you didn't go to a fancy cheese shop. There is another way.

Kentucky-based author Fred Minnick raises a glass to women of whiskey with new book | KyForward.com

Award-winning author Fred Minnick has brought women to the forefront of the whiskey industry in his newest book. A great addition to any whiskey or bourbon lover's library!

kyforward.com Fred Minnick turns the spotlight on forgotten women who were integral to the survival and development of whiskey throughout history. (Photo courtesy Kentucky Derby Museum)

Spread the Word: Dad’s Deli Serves More Than Just Tasty Cheeses

Not trying to be cheesy, but I'm kind of a Dad's girl. Check out today's blog on my first stop at Dad's Favorites Deli. Fantastic food - and people too!

bluegrassgoodness.com Wearing a plaid newsboy cap and a bright yellow collared shirt, the cheese master known as "Dad" tidied the tables in front of his deli in preparation for the Thursday lunch rush. As a line of customers formed at the tucked away deli, Dad scanned the line for first-timers. At ...

Coffee’s on the menu, but serving community is goal of A Cup of Common Wealth’s owners |...

There's lots of love being exchanged at A Cup of Common Wealth. Check out my article on the guys behind the counter and this unique business.

kyforward.com A Cup of Common Wealth on Eastern Avenue in downtown Lexington, was opened with a mission to embrace community, serve others and create culture. (Photo by Elizabeth Adams)

Coffee Shop's Incredible Response To Neighborhood Robberies

I'm so inspired by the guys at A Cup of Common Wealth and the compassionate community they've built since landing downtown this summer! Plus, awesome coffee! Check out this story about how the community has their back.

huffingtonpost.com One coffee shop in Lexington, Ky., knows the true meaning of family.

http://bluegrassgoodness.com/2013/12/10/it-wouldnt-be-christmas-if/

Finish this statement: "It wouldn't be Christmas if..."

Then, read the blog - we're going to be exploring some uniquely Kentucky Christmas traditions over the next couple of weeks. Happy Holidays!

bluegrassgoodness.com

Lexington Love | National Boulangerie & Patisserie

TIffany takes us inside the National Boulangerie and Patisserie with her gorgeous photography.

offbeatandinspired.com There's a new cafe in town! National Boulangerie & Patisserie opened their doors on the corner of National and Walton yesterday, just outside downtown Lexington (KY). I've been very eagerly awa...

A Country Boy Can Surmise: Favorite Albums of 2013

It's the season of the "bests of 2013." Here's a reflection on great music from a reliable source: Silas House.

silashouseblog.blogspot.com Author Silas House blogs about writing, the writing life, books, movies, nature, religion, politics, and other things that generally concern conscious people. House is the author of the bestselling books CLAY'S QUILT, A PARCHMENT OF LEAVES, THE COAL TATTOO, SOMETHING'S RISING, ELI THE GOOD, and SAME...

The Do-Nothing Getaway and Vacation Tips for Foodies

Blog is up! I hope you'll join me for more Kentucky-inspired fun - but forgive that this post is actually about a delightful little jaunt to the Caribbean. It's great to be back!

bluegrassgoodness.com As far landscapes go, Aruba in November is pretty much the opposite of our home here in the Bluegrass state. It's best known for its prickly cactus plants and the beachside Divi Divi tree with its shallow roots and warped, twisted branches. The tranquil aqua ocean was perfect for water ...

Derby Day Baby Shower

A reflection on my sister's baby shower - and how wonderful it is to have two sisters like mine.

bluegrassgoodness.com In just a few weeks, the little person bumping around in my sister Laura Marie's belly will join our family. And while he has a mom and dad who are eager to meet him, he also has a nurturing family ready to play a part in the story of his life. My sister Hannah and I are two of ...

Look at this awesome tutorial by my friend Offbeat & Inspired.

Exciting news!! A giveaway and a new YouTube channel?! YES! We launched our channel today with a tutorial on Flawless Foundation + Contouring and one lucky subscriber will win 2 of my favorite highlighting/contouring products of all time! Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer and LORAC Cosmetics, Inc. Perfectly Lit Luminizing Powder in "Luminous" ($60 value total!)

Check out my latest blog post for a link to the new video (and new channel!), makeup fun facts and the giveaway details!!

http://offbeatandinspired.com/2013/01/24/flawless-foundation-contouring-and-a-giveaway/

Do you want to see more makeup tutorials on our new channel? What beauty topics would you like us to cover??

Bluegrass Goodness

We're a society that loves to stay busy, say we're busy and all the while loathe our how busy we've become. But are we making time for the things that are most important? On the blog today. (Plus a little cheesy treat that won't drag down your to-do list.)

bluegrassgoodness.com Nurturing a love for all things Kentucky

Roasted Red Pepper & Feta Skillet Scones

I don't usually go for so much carb for dinner, but my goodness! Just look at this recipe from Joy the Baker.

joythebaker.com It is what you say it is. It’s not ‘Oh Lordy I woke up late for this coffee meeting and I haven’t washed my hair in three days’… it’s called the Top Knot Bun. It...

Back to the Basics with Bittman – My New Cookbook Crush

My latest cookbook crush - you can't go wrong with foundational cooking instruction! On the blog: Mark Bittman.

bluegrassgoodness.com Shawn and I talk about celebrity chefs like we just got off the phone with one. "I'm going to follow Mario's advice on this one, you just can't go wrong with a little extra pasta water." Such a phrase has casually rattled out of one of our mouths in the kitchen, I ...

It’s a Hoppin’ New Year

Without any luck, you'll have a Hoppin' New Year. That's right - my thoughts on meaningful change in 2013. Plus, a Hoppin' John recipe on the blog now.

bluegrassgoodness.com We wear old lockets and tuck raggedy hankies in our back pockets. On our Big Day, we wear something old, new and blue. We extinguish candles on the day we're born, dreaming up a wish for another year of life. And we toss away pennies to rest at the bottom of park fountains, all for the sake ...

Traditions that Stick (Like Icing): Gingerbread Party 2012

A sweet Christmas Tradition that keeps my family creative - Gingerbread Party 2012.

bluegrassgoodness.com Every year in the days leading up to Christmas, my sisters and I press dough, whip up loads of icing and bake cookies that will never be eaten. One of our kitchens turns into a gingerbread factory, filling every square inch of the house with the spicy scent of freshly baked sweet bread. ...

Alltech Holiday Celebration of Song

Ring in the holiday season with old fashioned Christmas carols this weekend during Celebration of Song! Alltech and University of Kentucky Opera Theatre are presenting two free performances this Sunday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Festivities will take place at the Victorian Square Atrium in downtown Lexington, with Santa for your kids. It's a heart-warming event that's sure to put you in the Christmas spirit. See you there!

celebrationofsong.org In the spirit of the season, join Alltech and UK Opera Theatre led by Professor of Voice, Everett McCorvey for an old fashioned holiday sing along at Victorian Square.