Backstory: quite a bit has gone down since my last Dec. 26th post. First of all, we are all well into the new year now, with all its messy glory, and the historic Dank House is ours! I have officially named our little 2.5-acre homestead “Smoke and Charm Farm” and I could not be more…
Cooking in Transit
What has every place we’ve ever lived in have in common? The kitchen is the heart of our home. However, I’ve been struggling to adjust to this apartment kitchen, and I’m not exactly sure why it’s been so difficult for me to adapt. Perhaps it’s because I don’t have my cast iron, which I normally…
Smoke & Charm (Farm)
Last night, a dear friend reached out to say “Happy Holidays!” and also casually mentioned they had been hoping to see a post from me but hadn’t. And, no, they haven’t because it’s been a while since I’ve written anything. Actually, “a while” is a bit of an understatement. It’s been more like seven months,…
Scrambled Hash Tacos
When 5:56am feels like sleeping in, then you know you’ve been working hard for the money. Not long after our newest alarm kitty sounded off this morning (thanks Mister!), my stomach started grumbling for breakfast. Since I had a red potato trying to take root in my pepper basket, fresh made restaurant style salsa in…
Gochujang BBQ Chicken
I’m three weeks into my TJ’s training, and I’m loving it! Am I sore in muscles I didn’t know I had? Yes! Am I unapologetically napping after early morning and late night shifts? Yes, again! But, the Crew has been so patient and generous during my training that I’ve pushed through the aches and pains…
Spiced Maple Black Garlic Roast Chicken, Braised Shallot Au Jus, Tillamook Polenta, Crispy Lavender Lemon Pepper Kale
Yesterday morning I woke up to a bright blue sky streaked with pinks and oranges. The sounds of birds singing and cats purring, along with Dixon snuggling my knees, made my heart feel as warm as the sunshine falling through the open window. It motivated me to get outside, get my hands in the dirt,…
Strawberry Balsamic Smoked Chicken
Spring Equinox fell on March 20th this year, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited for winter to end (and I lived in Massachusetts for five years)! I gated up my deck, opened the slider and all the windows in the house, kicked off the winter gear, and bounded about in the backyard…
Coffee Stout Braised Beef
Spring is finally here, but for my last winter dinner I decided to go with an old school, down home kinda’ comfort meal. Braised beef is nostalgically delicious and especially so when root vegetables, like turnips and radishes, join the sultry party. Serve this succulent beef with rice or mash or whatever you like and…
Chili Paneer
I pretty much watch every video Padma Lakshmi posts on Instagram, and so I was craving paneer pretty badly and threw this solo dinner together in less than 30 minutes. I highly doubt my take on this popular Indo-Chinese dish is anywhere near as tasty as Padma’s fresh, handmade paneer, but it was close enough…
Rice Noodle Bowls with Lemongrass Smoked Pork Chop
Once we’re all properly vaccinated, the first thing Imma’ do is make a beeline for my fav Vietnamese restaurant, order all the things, and slowly relish mask free dining! Until then, recipes like this fresh and flavorful noodle bowl will have to suffice. Per usual, I utilized the raw veg I had on hand already,…
Smoke & Charm Farm 