It's Friday and it is raining, like pouring let's just take a nap all day kind of raining. And it looks like it is going to the whole weekend here in Louisiana. If I wasn't already itching for a beach vacation, I am definitely wanting one now. White sands, blue water, tan toes, my man by my side, and a salted and frosty watermelon margarita...

There is good news here y'all, I just so happened to make a batch of watermelon margaritas...a little sunshine on a rainy day in my book. These cocktails should be the official drink of the summer. They are the perfect balance of refreshing, tangy, and sweet with a kick from tequila, which is never a bad thing!

It's perfect for that extra watermelon that you have cut up in the fridge, or if you happen to get a watermelon that isn't perfect when you cut it open, throw it in the blender! This drink doesn't discriminate against imperfections!

A drink to trick you into thinking you are on vacation...a sip of sunny rays! Or if you are somewhere sunny and gorgeous this weekend, I'm jealous, but nevertheless this drink would be perfect poolside or with your toes in the sand!

PostedJuly 18, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesCocktails

Tagswatermelon cocktails, watermelon margaritas, frozen watermelon margarita, frozen margaritas, summer cocktails, cocktails, tequila, fresh ingredients, foodblogger, cheers, watermelon, lime, salt

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Let's talk about sweet corn ice cream and how it might sound strange at first but really it will change your life. So before you tune me out and click away from me, just give it a shot, I promise you are going to love it! The first bite is unexpected in the best way possible and then from there you are hooked. I might have even eaten an ice cream cone at 10am after I made it, but I mean with corn and bacon it can be considered a well balanced meal...right?

If you haven't trusted me yet, today is the day that you start. After all sweet corn is in season and is naturally sweet...so it really only makes sense. And have you had candied bacon before or maybe you have heard it called pig candy? Because whoa, it's like the most amazing sweet and salty combo that there ever could be. So just imagine it with ice cream!

Having a barbeque? Make this ice cream. I couldn't imagine a more perfect end to a summer cookout than eating one of my sweet corn ice cream cones topped with delicious candied bacon.

Have you ever had a cookie with bacon in it? It's been happening for a while now in the cookie world, and this ice cream flavor combination is like that...but maybe better.

And really we all just need an excuse to make more ice cream...so when you buy too much corn on "accident" at the market it's ok because then you HAVE to make this ice cream and no one can judge...not that I would anyway, let's be honest.

PostedJuly 17, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDessert

Tagshomemade ice cream, sweet corn ice cream, corn ice cream, candied bacon, pig candy, bacon and ice cream, dairy, ice cream, ice cream cone, summer ice cream, fresh corn, sweet corn, barbeque ideas, barbeque sides, cookout ideas, summer cookouts, summer barbeques

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The smell of baking bread throughout the house is something that I will never tire of. It is comfort, it is home, it is mouth watering, and I have decided, completely worth the effort to make. There is something so rewarding about eating bread that your hands and your hands alone made.

I am no bread making master yet, but I did figure out this whole wheat recipe that is a great basic recipe and isn't too hard to make. I have big bread making dreams now that I have a little more understanding of how this homemade bread thing works. I'm hooked.

I told you last week this was either going to be a problem or the best thing I've done in the kitchen in a long time...well it's kind of both. I have this irresistible urge to slather honey butter on the first slice right out of the oven...so usually I do, which I guess could be considered a problem. But what's a girl to do when it's warm and calling for a honey butter bath?

PostedJuly 16, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesBread Making

Tagsking arthur flour, bob's red mill, whole wheat, homemade bread, homemade whole wheat bread, 100% whole wheat bread, healthy, flax seeds, baking, bread making, adventures in bread making

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Can we talk about how there are few things in the world better than a good slice of pizza? It ranks right up there with a great kiss, puppy breath, and realizing that top you have been wanting from Free People just went on sale. We have been known to have pizza night once a week because lucky for me, I married a fellow pizza connoisseur who is equally obsessed. And I'm about to change the game on your regular ole pizza with my farmer's market smoked sausage and corn pizza!

Y'all...holy cow was I surprised at the flavor combination the first time that I made this pizza. It was love at first bite. I knew I had to make it for you and share the recipe because one shouldn't keep this kind of deliciousness to themselves.

I do have a confession though...I tried a new technique because I read a fellow blogger who did this and thought hey that's genius...and maybe it is, but I did not feel so genius after trying it. I put my pizza stone right on my grill to recreate a wood burning oven effect and instead broke my pizza stone right in half (sigh). It seemed so brilliant, maybe it was just my stone...or maybe it was just me.

PostedJuly 15, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesPizza

Tagspizza, homemade pizza, whole wheat pizza, farmer's market pizza, farm fresh, smoke sausage, eat local, corn pizza, pizza recipes, grilled recipes, summer grilling, summer dinner

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About two years ago we went to a little hole in the wall juke joint out in the middle of nowhere. Turns out it might be one of the coolest things about where we live. We've been meaning to go back ever since we moved back to Louisiana, and finally made the trip on Saturday night! It was a night filled with blues music, late night food, and friends. And then we topped off an amazing night and weekend by waking up late Sunday morning and eating Canean's favorite Sunday breakfast, waffles and bacon. What could be better than Saturday night juke joints and Sunday morning waffles?

Not much...I'll tell ya!

It was the perfect weekend filled with all of the things that feed my soul. Music, food, friends, and most of all, Canean.

Teddy's Juke Joint is an old house (where Teddy himself was born) converted into a little bar and stage where real blues musicians come and still play on a weekly basis. It's Louisiana as Louisiana can get and that's what I love most about it. There isn't an inch of empty ceiling or wall space because it's all filled with souvenirs, license plates from all states, mardi gras beads, and other collectibles from over the years. It's probably one of the only places where you will find all walks of life, races, and ages all brought together for one thing...good music.

PostedJuly 14, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesWeekends

Tagsweekend things, weekend, juke joints, Louisiana blues music, blues music, dancing, friends, waffles, Sunday morning waffles, life, love

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It's Friday, so of course I made you a cocktail again. I have decided that since it's summer and the heat is out of control that the least I can do is make you a refreshing drink every week, I mean that's just the kinda girl I am. And the peaches at the farmer's market right now have been so dang sweet and juicy that I couldn't resist making another cocktail with them. This peach mojito is going to make you very happy and it's the perfect refreshing drink when it's a thousand degrees outside.

I was reading one of my favorite foodie bloggers Heather Christo, when I stumbled upon her nectarine mojito (she has gorgeous cocktails) and I immediately realized that I need to make a peach mojito! Genius. And turns out the flavor combo of peach, lime, mint, and rum is dynamite! The peaches were so sweet, that I only had to add agave to sweeten the drink ever so slightly, which means you don't have to feel bad about drinking more than one...

You're welcome.

By now, maybe you have made my peach and blueberry sangria (if not that's ok you still can), and now you will have to try my peach mojito! It's ready in a jiff, looks super fancy, and is so delicious! Even Canean who isn't a mojito connoisseur like myself, but loves him some peaches, ended up loving this drink!

Listen, make it tonight...make it tomorrow, I don't care as long as you make it!

PostedJuly 11, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesCocktails

Tagslouisiana, peaches, mojitos, peach mojito, summer drinks, cocktails, cheers, lime, mint, fresh, refreshing

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