{COOKBOOK: to add to my collection}

Brown Betty Bakery Cookbook from Blossom Productions on Vimeo.

This will be on my Christmas wishlist.
What a great story.

One of these days I'm going to get some family recipes together and compile a cookbook.

It's coming!

xoxo,
Ronita

{special delivery}

I love getting packages in the mail.

June curlBox

June Birchbox

...and my new coffee table book!!

xoxo,

Ronita

1st Louisville, now us, next Brooklyn...Original Maker's Club coming to CINCY

So excited that CINCINNATI will receive our very own culturally curated city guide from none other than

The Original Maker's Club.

Check out the their manifesto:

The Original Makers Club is dedicated to bringing you content that illustrates, documents and archives the culture of a chosen City.
We aspire to redefine the City guide concept.

The release of Edition I strengthens the movement we visualized. An aesthetic minded website and publication that shows a City it’s local talent from a different perspective. A guide that does not rely on the words of a writer, but rather shows the true stories of people through imagery. Our small team of designers, photographers and film makers want to give you the most self-curated experience, so with every edition you feel your city captured in a unique way.

Original Makers Club will go beyond the pages of its website and book by inserting itself into the culture of a city. The OMC shop, parties, grass roots marketing and collaboration with makers are all moving parts of the Original Makers Club.
We are more then just a city guide, but rather a voice of a local makers movement.

I Love Cincinnati!

xoxo,

Ronita

{A book I will treasure...forever...}

Everyone knows how much I love gardening, farming, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and growing my own food. Boy was I excited to find out that The First Lady, Michelle Obama, has written a book about just that...growing food.

I ordered a copy yesterday and can't wait to get it in my hands.

This book is one that I will treasure forever.

Photo: Courtesy of The Crown Publishing Group

I have read that the book is made up of wonderful pictures and storied from her journey in the White House garden. This will be on my nightstand for awhile.

A peek inside...

Photo: Courtesy of Quentin Bacon Photography

(via)

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Go First Lady!

xoxo,

Ronita

what I am loving NOW!!!

nomnom...this local gelato is divine..perfect for spring!

My new seeds...I think I have a new obsession, collecting seeds...lettuce, pumpkin, rainbow chard and basil

fresh picked flowers

cookbooks from the library

Trader Joe's Crimsom Blossom green tea

our rain boots and all this rain...perfect for my seedlings

Happy Tuesday

xoxo,

Ronita

Parenting: Mommy what color am I?

(via)

The time has come where my little Tre' (6 years old) realizes and verbalizes that he sees a difference between the color of his skin compared to that of his classmates. He even recognizes that he is a different shade of color compared to me and my mom. I love his innocence when choosing a crayon to use to color in his face versus a classmate he has drawn or even mine for that matter.

 I am so excitined for him to discover the differences that are in people, not only in the color of their skin but their traditions, their heritage and even for him to understand that although people are different we are all equal and loved by God.

I thought maybe if I get some really beautifully illustrated books that might help with our discussion.

Here are some I found and ordered off Amazon.

Shout out to one of my really good friends, Emily, who gifted Roman with this book for his 2nd birthday!! We are going to crack this one open tonight.

Do you have any books, songs, strategies or words of wisdom when it comes to talking about race and ethnicity with your children?

Looking forward to hearing them!

xoxo,

Ronita



Meeting The Neelys!!!

Oh we had a ball!!! Tre' was just as amazed to meet them as I was. Tre' loves to cook and be in the kitchen with me so we always joke that he is Pat and I'm Gina. He makes sure I know when they are coming on so I don't miss the show! These two were just as sweet and genuine as what you see on TV. I know you can just as easily print off recipes online, or get them on your iPad...but nothing beats a book that you can feel, see the beautiful pictures and read the family stories!!!

One day I'll have to get to Memphis to try their food!!!

Just a little snippet of them signing my book and me letting her know how much we love her red velvet recipe!!!

In the new cookbook it looks like there are some amazing recipes to celebrate everyday life!

I can't wait to try them all!!

First Up: Memphis Style Popcorn....for a relaxing movie night tonight with my boys. It's been a long week. Time to relax and unwind.

xoxo,

Ronita

Update: The Neely's are coming to Cincinnati!!!!

This Thursday!

I cannot wait...I even rearranged my Parent/Teacher conference so I can go!!

Don't judge...

I guess I will be getting the book a lot sooner than Christmas!!

HAPPY MONDAY!!

xoxo,

Ronita

OMG Not Another Neely's Cookbook--Thrilled!!!

I want I want!!

I love cooking, I love cookbooks, I love recipes, I love entertaining and I love The Neely's!!

I know a lot of people hate on the Neely's but I love them. I think they are amazing together and honestly their food is delicious! I got their first cookbook a couple years ago and can't wait to get this one. I'm sure it's chocked full of amazing recipes and family stories--just what I would expect from them!!

Maybe a Christmas gift...wink wink

xoxo,

Ronita

ILOVECINCINNATI: The Honey Bee--new kids bookstore in Cincy

Last week I was dropping some packages off at the post office and I saw this cute kid's bookstore grand opening sign! I took a stroll in and WOW what an amazing little store. It has books for all ages and all reading levels. label books, picture books, all the way up to children's novels.

If you are looking for special gifts for the upcoming holiday season or for anytime throughout the year...check out....

The Honey Bee Bookstore

SHOP LOCAL

xoxo,

Ronita

Cookbook Obsession

I picked this book up from the library on a whim and oh my goodness the recipes!!!

You can find it here on amazon or do like me and check it out at the library.

Deconstructed Sweet Potato Hash with Fried Eggs

I'm making this for breakfast tomorrow (I already have everything I need).

I also plan on trying her Brown Butter Banana Muffins, Ginger Mojito, Buttermilk Pecan Chicken, Roasted Tomato Bread Soup, Spicy Coconut Chicken Soup...Indian Corn with Curry Yogurt

...oh my there are so many. I am definitely going to have to renew this book!

HAPPY Cooking,

xoxo,

Ronita

From Soil to Jar....

Last Spring, after visiting a strawberry patch, I came home and realized I didn't know what I was going to do with all the strawberries we picked. My dear Sorority sister suggested I make strawberry jam and I have been hooked on canning and preserving ever since.

Here are two beautifully written well, organized, easy to understand books about growing your own fruit and vegetable garden by pairing them with their soilmates and then canning and preserving them to enjoy months down the road!!!

HAPPY SATURDAY!

xoxo,

Ronita

From Seed to Skillet...love it!

As you all know from last year I really got into growing and harvesting my own veggies, visiting
farmer's markets and many local farms, and enjoying afternoons in Ms. Sarah's (my mom's neighbor) back yard garden!!! Well thanks to Martha Stewart I can across this wonderful author and gardener. Please believe I have this book on reserve at the library!!! I can't wait to dive into it!!!

xoxo,
Ronita

Fabulous Book Finds

I had a coupon for Half Price Books and went today after work. I picked up two really fab fashion books!!!

(Soulstyle: Black Women Redefining the Color of Fashion by Duane Thomas)

I can't wait to crack them open. SoulStyle will make a great coffee table book!!

xoxo,

Ronita

Mrs. O so FABULOUS!!!

Recently, while browsing the aisles at my local TJ Maxx I came across this awesome book for half the list price. I was so super excited about the deal but even more excited about the topic. I have been very intrigued by our First Lady's style choices, mixing high end with low end pieces. I have been flipping through it ever since. I even brought it over to my cousin's house for the New Year and even my husband's grandmother couldn't put it down!

The book takes a look at First Lady Michelle Obama's fabulous fashion and it is lovely. It's complete with awesome pictures and super fun interviews with some of her favorite designers!! This was a great investment and will make a great coffee table book!! Some of my lovies might even get this for their birthday!!!

While looking for a picture to snag for this post I came across a blog that the book was named after and. It is a complete chronicle of the First Lady's fashion wardrobe. She is truly an inspiration! Be fabulous ladies!

xoxo

Ronita

Exhausted today but for a great reason!!!

Last night I stayed up and watched Julie and Julia and am in love!!! I had such a great time by myself. I think this was a combination of what I enjoy most, great food- cooking and eating, blogging, romance, comedy...it was just so awesome to watch. I think I will take a trip to half price books to see if I can score Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I think it would be absolutely delightful to try some of her recipes. The movie made me miss Paris!! I can remember when I went in 2001 and how much I loved the food!!! I think one of my future goals will be to save for a trip back to France and I would love to tour Italy...with my amour of course!!!




I think I will try this recipe for Sunday dinner.

French Roast Chicken Recipe

Julia Child's recipe from 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking.' This makes a wonderful, moist, juicy bird. I think it's the turning technique while roasting that does it. It may sound like a lot of work, but it really isn't much more than roasting a bird any other way. The sauce reduction is a LOT easier than any gravy, and is out of this world! In the book, she suggests serving this with green beans or peas (buttered, of course! this IS French cooking!) and sauted, roasted, fried, or souffleed potatoes, or potato crepes. I have also posted the recipe for brown chicken stock, which can quite easily be simmering away as you cook the bird (you don't need the stock until the very end). Using the homemade stock makes a huge difference in the flavour, but it can be substituted, I suppose.

1½ hours 1 min prep
SERVES 4 -6 , 1 bird
3 lbs broiler-fryer chickens
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons softened butter
1 small carrot, sliced
1 small onion, sliced
Baste
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon minced shallot or green onion
1 cup brown chicken stock or canned chicken broth
salt
pepper
1-2 tablespoon softened butter

Preheat oven to 425.
Sprinkle the inside of the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt, and then smear in 1 tablespoon of the butter.
Truss and dry the chicken, and rub the skin with the other half of the butter.
Baste: Melt butter in a small saucepan with cooking oil.
Leave on stovetop with a basting brush for later use.
Back to the chicken: Place the chicken, breast side up, in a shallow small roasting pan.
Scatter the veggies around it, and set it on the rack in the preheated oven.
Allow the chicken to brown slightly for 15 minutes, turning on the left side after 5 minutes, then onto the right side for the last 5 minutes.
Baste with butter quickly after each turn so that the oven does not lose a lot of heat.
Reduce heat to 350.
Leave chicken on its side, baste every 8 to 10 minutes, using the butter in the bottom of the roasting pan once you have used up all of the baste in your bowl.
Watch and adjust oven heat so that the chicken is noisy, but fat is not burning.
Halfway through estimated roasting time (which is 70-80 minutes; so after about 35 minutes), salt the chicken and turn it onto its other side.
Continue to baste regularly.
15 minutes before end of estimated roasting time, salt again and flip chicken breast side up.
Continue to baste regularly.
Chicken will be done when drumstick moves easily in socket and juices run a clear yellow.
Let sit on a platter 5 to 10 minutes before carving.
Remove all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the roasting pan.
Stir in shallot or onion and cook slowly for 1 minute.
Add stock and boil rapidly over high heat, scraping up bits that are stuck in the pan with a wooden spoon.
reduce to about 1/2 cup.
Season with salt and pepper.
Off heat just before serving, swirl in the last 1 to 2 tablespoons butter by bits until it is absorbed.
Pour a spoon of the sauce onto the chicken, then pour the rest into a gravy boat and serve with the chicken.

Bon Apetit

Ronita