Cooking on the Road

With cooking demos in different cities, I've been traveling with almost every pot and pan I own. I seem to keep packing and unpacking spoons, bowls, and all my favorite tools that I will not cook without. I joined a large group of women at Lake Oconee, Georgia, for a Girls' Night Out complete with martinis for everyone. I had a delightful time and couldn't have asked for prettier scenery.
The United Methodist Church in Kennesaw, Georgia, invited me for a Ladies' Night Out. The event was "Christmas in July" and I ate more than my fair share of the impressive desserts they prepared. The Cream Cheese Brownies (from Beth Patrick) may be the best thing I've tasted in a while. I swear I must have eaten five of them before I went on stage.
The best part of my job is meeting new people. There is always an instant connection when two cooks meet for the first time.

Picking Okra

Our garden is in full swing and I seem to be picking okra constantly. It's my favorite vegetable, so we planted 7 plants. The green pods are popping up as fast as I can clip them. Our organic garden is truly the best inspiration for me in the kitchen. Of course, I've fried batches, made okra pancakes, and even had a mishap with roasted okra. My pods were apparently too large to roast and I almost lost a tooth trying to eat one.
This is an okra flower from one of the plants. It's my new favorite flower.