I’m running a little late with my four favorites from October, but there were too many great things I enjoyed to skip over this monthly tradition. I restocked one of my favorite balsamic vinegars, read one of my favorite types of books, had a little time to be inspired by entertaining and design blogs, and spent some quality time with elephant seals over my birthday weekend.
We are well into fall and I couldn’t be more excited about it. And by well into, I mean I have all kinds of fall in my heart. Mother nature and her 95+ degree days clearly does not. Despite them, cooler mornings do hint that it will feel like fall soon.
Another end of the month has rolled around and that means another edition of my four favorites where I share a brand, book, blog and break that I brightened my month. Satisfy your sweet tooth, brush up on your writing skills, fill up on comfort food and take a hike.
August flew by and you won’t hear me complaining. I try not to make a habit out of wishing time away, but we’ve finally entered into my FAVORITE part of the year, September – December.
Before I jump in with both feet, though, I need to share my Four Favorites for August. This month I’m back to my regular pattern for this post featuring a Book, Blog, Brand and Break. We spent the past two weeks on and off with travel so I’ve had little time in the kitchen, but lots of time to read some new favorites and do some sightseeing.
This month, I want to share a book that redefines happiness, a blog with a splash of inspiration from Polish cuisine, a goat cheese we enjoyed all summer and a short trip in the heart of cheese and cherry country.
I have a bit of a special edition of my four favorites for the month of July. I guess you can consider it the South Central Valley edition.
Last week, I attended the Fresno Food Expo. It was my first big food experience and introduction to the products and food folks in the valley since our move here last September. To be honest, I had no expectations for what the event might be like. I’ve been to my fair share of food expos in the past.
Pleasantly surprised, as I walked away last Thursday, I felt that this had been among the best of them.
I know, I know. I completely skipped over my four favorites for May.
That’s not the worst of it, though. I also missed this blog’s anniversary.
Again.
I haven’t remembered one year, in fact.
Mid-summer rolls around and I think — Oh, that’s right. I started this blog in May of 2008. I forget. Every time.
I’m back on track now, though. And so far this summer I have encountered some really great stuff. A coffee subscription service, a book I know you know about but that you should still read, a blog that inspires me and a lavender ranch.
In case, you are new around here, my monthly (or sort of monthly) Four Favorites is where I share my favorite finds in the form of a brand, a book, a blog and a (travel) break.
Brand
As I was trying to figure out what to feature this month, it hit me mid sprinkle when I was putting the finishing touches on a Caprese salad. I promise that I’m not trying to purposely devote the brands of my Four Favorites to products from Kentucky, but I’m also not quite sure why I haven’t shared this salt with you before. I LOVE this bourbon smoked sea salt. This isn’t one of those ingredients that was sent to me for review. I discovered it about 5 years ago while we were living in Kentucky and I’ve had a desperate need to keep it in my pantry ever since.
My Four Favorites series is back and I’m introducing a new theme to these monthly installments of my favorite finds.
The four Bs. A book, a blog, a brand and a break.
These are a few things I’ve come across this month that I’ve enjoyed so much that I must share.
It’s time for Four Favorites, the September edition! I say that like there have been previous editions. Well, there haven’t.
You see, I’ve come across so many cool specialty foods and ingredients over the past year. Some I buy myself, others are sent to me for review. Many have become regular staples in my kitchen, others are treats that I think you must try.
In the past, I haven’t felt comfortable sharing about some of my favorite finds because they aren’t all ingredients. Having a blog called Fake Food Free that is focused on eating fewer processed foods has pressured me for a long time to show that I make just about everything we eat.
The truth is, I don’t make everything. I used to make a lot more when we lived in Kentucky, but in the Bay Area I have access to so much. I’m finding foods that are equally, or more, natural, unrefined, delicious (whatever term you want to use) than I can even make myself.
Don’t worry. I plan to keep on cooking and making things from scratch as I have for the past several years. I value that. There are some things that I really want to share, though, because the products are great or the companies are doing great work. And sometimes you can use a good gift idea!
I love browsing favorite thing posts from other bloggers so I thought it was time I start my own. Just once a month and hopefully you’ll find something fun you haven’t tried before. Continue Reading…
