Only Fern

It's Sum..Sum...Summertime and Fern's calendar is no more (or less) out of control than it usually is.  With a full calendar this week, not to mention, she can't find the notebook with little notes of blog inspiration, she'll share with you a few of her favorite summer recipes as the #1 grilling day of the year approaches. Since the #1 Grilling Day of the Year has been mentioned, let's just clear this up right now--get BEEF on that grill, please.  There are 29 lean cuts of beef that won't break a diet, and there are many on that list that won't bust a budget either!  That's the unique thing about the responsibly raised beef in this country, there are options for everyone: conventionally raised and fed beef, grass fed beef, natural and even organically raised beef.  Please find something that fits your kitchen and your lifestyle and fire up that grill!! I mentioned favorite summer recipes, I should mention that I make some of these ALL year long.  D...

Who is on The Pioneer Woman 's blog today?! Brandi, Robynne , and I are! Last week I posted about the three of us road tripping to Austin to the book signing. This morning I wake up to find us on the blog, and we look fabulous!! I promised to write more about our adventure...Here. We. Go. I would like to mention that I took notes. I find myself doing that quite often, so that I may better tell the world what I have just witnessed. We arrived @ Book People 3 hours before the signing, and as luck would have it Ree was going to be early and sign books at 6, speak at 7, and sign more books after the talk. We acquired wristbands for the 6 o'clock "showing", bought our books, and perused the book store. I just love book stores--books, people watching, books, nifty little coffee places in the corners, books...I looked over the cookbook, I became very hungry, I added to my ultimate wish list, I was overcome with awe, and I drank the strangest iced tea ever (that's a ...

Sorry I have been away so long! We'll cover more on this later, as I need to squeeze in a quick blog and get on the road for a quick trip and much needed "therapy" (a steer show and all that goes with it)....I'll be back in town tomorrow afternoon...LOTS TO DO, LOTS TO DO. Last night, some very dear friends (Brandi and Robynne) and I made the trip to Austin for the Pioneer Woman 's book signing. It was SO MUCH FUN! I had never been to a book signing before, and I loved it. We were lucky enough to get in the "before the talk" signing group, so we were lucky enough to escape the madness right after the talk, catch a tasty dinner, and get on the road for home at not too late of an hour. The cookbook is beautiful, Ree is very kind, and her family is charming. I want to be a part of them. The youngest boy...I just love him. I wanted to put him in my purse, but the girls said he wouldn't fit. We also got lucky and Marlboro Man signed our cookbooks to...

It's Friday!! Okay, so that really doesn't count when all I have looming ahead of me is DISSERTATION! However, I do I have some weekend recommendations brought about by recent experiences. **please note, any day of the week is fine** 1) Boxed Wine. A recent find is 'The Black Box' boxed wine. One box of wine is equal to 4 bottles of wine. At my local H.E.B. it worked out to $5 and some change/bottle! Score! I tried the Cabernet Sauvignon. Not too shabby. The box claims that wine will stay fresh for up to a month. I say, "Who keeps open wine around that long??!!" 2) Eggs. Eggs were my staple one week recently. I think I ate eggs at least 4x one week. Not just any ol' eggs--I made scrambled eggs with tomato, onion, feta, and basil...scrambled eggs with tomato, bacon, mushrooms, onion and blue cheese...scrambled eggs with pico de galo and cheddar and avocado. The eggs with tomato, basil, onion, and feta were by far my favorite. Don't go t...

I had a great weekend. Spent Friday at the Texas State Jr. Hereford Show. Caught up with some old friends, made a few new ones, and got to hang out with the cows (my favorite part...it was cheaper than seeing a shrink). It was Fun In The Sun on Saturday at the Texas Reds Festival --a celebration of steak and wine! Tried most of the wine and missed the steak. I'm okay with that...I really enjoy the steak that I am capable of at home--Nebraska Beef and Cavender's Greek Seasoning--mmmmm delicious! It was VERY, VERY hot that afternoon, but Brandi and I persevered. Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards Landon Winery Inwood Estates Vineyard I've had in my possession a Wine for Dummies book. I've made it through a chapter or two, and I've set it aside for one reason or another. I think I need to get it back out. I went through the tasting on Saturday with this attitude "Fern, do you like it?" I answered "yes" to some, "mmm, okay" to many, and ...