On today’s episode of a Healthy Bite, Paula Rizzo shares how lists can make you a healthier person. Paula Rizzo Paula Rizzo has been a best-selling author and Emmy-award winning television producer for nearly 20 years. She has produced health, wellness, and lifestyle segments with a range of top experts, including JJ Virgin, Jillian Michaels,...

A mistake at breakfast? You mean spilled milk, right? I'm talking about the choices we make to start our day off with the energy and stamina it takes to get things done!

Where are you when it comes to breakfast? Are you eating a meal fit for a King or do you skip breakfast altogether? No matter where you fall on this spectrum, one thing is for sure; traditional breakfast foods like cereal and pastries are not the healthiest choice.

By far one of the biggest mistakes with breakfast is eating typical breakfast foods. So many of these are over-processed and sugar-laden. I’m talking about the standard American breakfast of waffles, cereal, toast, muffins, bagels, and fast food sandwiches, which are by far some of the worst choices you can put on your plate. Eating a high carb breakfast is basically creating metabolic disasters all day. In turn, these metabolic disasters create excess body fat and diseases related to obesity. Many experts do stress the need for more protein but forget to warn folks of eating too many carbs. Research has shown that starting the day with high-quality protein sources can improve anxiety disorders, in addition to other benefits. - Replace High Carb Breakfasts to Feel Energized

Most people consume enough protein at dinner but need to increase their protein intake at breakfast. By the way, if you enjoy eating carbohydrates at breakfast, try complex carbs like beans, here's a delicious option: Energizing Breakfast Taco.

Other resources related to this podcast episode:

Avoid insulin resistance at all costs; check out 14 Things We Do to Lower the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

Avoiding childhood obesity Keeping Kids Healthy and Preventing Childhood Obesity

How to Teach Kids About Healthy Eating Without Food & Body-Shaming

Download Step 2 Make the Most of Breakfast

Read more about and join the Tasty Bite Cookbook Club here.

Make some delicious turkey breakfast sausage

How his diabetes diagnosis led to the creation of a low carb cereal

If you can't give up your bowl of breakfast cereal, try this low-carb cereal instead of the sugar-filled variety in the supermarket.

This podcast struck a chord for me as a mom and you may experience a similar feeling as you listen to this episode. Your child may have had difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep or experienced anxiety at bedtime and you know how exhausting that can be for the entire family. Even if bedtime has been smooth sailing, you will relate to the struggles many moms face; that is, being more present when our children need us.

Bedtime Struggles

Author Terah Boyd was struggling through a difficult time with her family. Out of the blue, her two-year-old daughter began having severe anxiety at bedtime. Forcing the toddler to comply quickly turned to misery. After a year of difficulties, this mom slowed down, took a look at herself, and found the answers. Later, her daughter was diagnosed with Autism and being neuro-diverse.

Learning to be Present

In this episode of a Healthy Bite, Terah shares these answers with parents and children—particularly those in the Autism community—through her new book, Showdown At High Moon: Queen Takes a Stand.

Society has created such a high standard, and most parents feel pressured to adhere. We are always rushing to keep up and stay on point, so we appear to be the perfect family. Often when we feel stressed, we go on autopilot as a coping mechanism. But when parents zone out, we can miss glaring or subtle signs that something is amiss with our kids. They may need extra attention, or they may be missing milestones and need professional help.

Terah was able to connect with her daughter by slowing down and truly paying attention to her daughter, setting her standards and ignoring critics, and entering a guilt-free zone. By doing these things, Terah set them both on a path for happier, healthier lives.

One night in the middle of a melt-down, I just started singing to her, I made up a lullaby right there on the spot. She responded well to it; we started singing it together every night; she would even sing it sometimes during the day. I could see it was calming to her. It was something to hold on to; I don't think she felt she had that before. We need to encourage our children to be confident and talk to their parents about their fears. And for children with Autism, we need to see the child before the diagnosis.

Showdown At High Moon includes the lullaby lyrics. Terah also recorded the lullaby so parents and children can use it as a comforting tool alongside this endearing story.

As I listened to this song, chills covered my arms as it completely took me back to my years as a young mother, putting my babies to bed. There were several lullaby albums that I listened to with my children and songs I sang to them. This song would have definitely been added to my collection.

Listening to Terah's soothing voice, I could feel how much heart she put into this lullaby and felt an immediate connection to her in the sphere of motherhood. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. Also, as a mother who is way past the bedtime struggles stage, and as one who has children on the spectrum, I can say that this phase of motherhood doesn't last forever and the goal of being present is one that is worth pursuing.

About Terah Boyd

Sparking growth and maturity in people's lives, Terah Boyd is an Autism Awareness Ambassador, Psalmist/ Inspirational Speaker, singer, and author. Two of her three children are on the Autism spectrum, and her daughter is also neuro-diverse.

Terah uses every opportunity to advocate for children with enhanced needs, especially when it comes to education. There desperately needs to be a reform of the educational system when it comes to options given to those who think differently than us. It is also so important to support mothers of those amazing kids. She offers advice on managing the many many challenges that come with parenting a child who requires more than average at her website www.terahboyd.com.

If your child has bedtime struggles such as anxiety or sleeplessne...

If you are struggling with unhappiness, one thing is for sure; you are not alone. A quick internet search will yield 8 billion results.

With all this information available at our fingertips, why are so many of us still searching for happiness?

I've spent a significant amount of time pursuing happiness. One thing I have discovered is that some of us are simply comfortable with our unhappiness. Over the years it has become our security blanket.

We may even self-sabotage, recreate scenarios, or replay old scripts that keep us in that familiar unhappy pattern. We identify with it.

The act of choosing to be happy may itself be a source of anxiety because anything unfamiliar is also uncomfortable. Allowing oneself to experience happiness may also stir up feelings of guilt; perhaps feeling that we don't deserve to be happy. Trusting that happiness will stick around may feel like risky business.

The bright side

You can train yourself to be happy. Here's one example: you wake up ready to enjoy the weekend but when you pull back the curtains all you see is a gloomy, rainy day. For many people, the first instinct would be to feel as if the weekend were ruined. What if, instead, you decided to grab a blanket, a cup of hot tea, and a book and curl up on the sofa listening to the rain?

It's all about perspective.

[Tweet "The pursuit of happiness is forged on the battlefield of the mind. - Gary Rogers"]

So, for today's "Healthy Bite", I've asked top experts to share their best happiness hack with you. You can listen to this podcast episode in the player at the top of this page, or you can listen on Spotify, iTunes, or Stitcher.

Two Steps to Being Happy

The very first person I asked was David Essel, and of course, he hit a home run with this response:

Stop complaining. Seriously that's it. Unless you're complaining to a professional or one very close friend, check out how many times that you complain, gossip, bitch about the pandemic, the administration, the scientist. One of the greatest ways to become happy is to do what's called "emotional regulation. "

A fancy term for, you have control over what you say, what you think, what you do. Emotional regulation says that we acknowledge a block to our happiness is our engagement with people who are conspiracy theorists, gossipers, negative in nature…and if we want to be happy, there are two steps to follow.

Number 1. Stop complaining. Entirely. Now that might mean you have to cut out social media, the media, news, etc. Do whatever you have to do to quit complaining.

Number two. Surround yourself with people that are better than you. This is a stretch for many of us. Make sure in your circle you have someone who is more successful financially, has a better body, a better relationship, a deeper connection to God… And by involving yourself with these types of people you will find happiness.

Hear the episode with David Essel: You Need to Know: Social Inclusion Starts from the Top Down

For more information visit talkDavid.com. Sign up for "David Essel's motivational minute," free; every Tuesday and Thursday, you'll get an inspirational video to bring your life to the next level. Everything is at www.talkdavid.com

David Essel, Counselor, Life and Business Coach, Success, Relationships, Marriage, Addiction Recovery, Speaker, Author, TV/Radio Host

 

Trust your Intuition

A favorite author in the field of psychiatry is Jill Sylvester. Not only did she write "Trust Your Intuition: 100 Ways to Transform Anxiety and Depression for Stronger Mental Health; she also wrote a novel, Land of Blue, a coming-of-age fantasy novel that takes readers young and old on a fascinating journey of the power of friendship, the love of family and ultimately, the choice to overcome darkness.

As soon as the wave hits, the one that threatens to consume with all of negativity and uncertainty, I sit in it for a second, in order to feel it, and not deny it,

Hey, new mom, you're going to want to watch the video of this podcast to see the "welcome to motherhood" unboxing. Part two with Seasons of Sisters founder, Shannon Covel is all about womanhood, from motherhood to menopause. The first episode was a "welcome to womanhood" and a little advice about talking with daughters about their first period.

As a mother and grandmother, Shannon has had many years of experience in every stage of womanhood. She enjoys helping other women with her extensive knowledge of herbs and techniques for making every season more comfortable.

Listen to this podcast by using the player at the top of this page, or you can subscribe to A Healthy Bite on iTunes, for Android devices, subscribe on Stitcher, or you can even listen on Spotify!

Welcome to Motherhood

If you prefer to watch the conversation and see the unboxing, it is also available as a video version. The Welcome to Motherhood box is a wonderful gift idea for an expectant mother, whether it's her first or fifth! Every delivery is a reason to celebrate, and every mom deserves to be pampered after childbirth.

Five years ago, Amanda from Baby Bundle and I got together to make a few videos with tips for new moms. She gave us a lot of good information for mothers from conception through delivery.

Menopause and beyond

Shannon is working on a subscription box for women experiencing menopause symptoms, so be on the lookout for it in the future.

At my age, I'm learning to cope with Menopause Symptoms with a little help from my friends and medical practitioners.  For hot flashes, I use a hydroponic mattress pad that can go as low as 55 degrees Farenheight! Getting enough sleep, eating right, and incorporating the right form of exercise for your personal needs will give you a good foundation for a smooth menopause season.

Even when we are doing all the things to maintain health, this can be a trying season. We recommend working with a holistic practitioner to keep your body in balance and who can direct you to natural solutions for menopausal symptoms.

You might also like: Healthier menstrual choices for you and the environment

Today's episode is one of two podcasts about the seasons of womanhood. In this episode, Shannon Covel, founder of Seasons of Sisters, shares insights and tips for talking to our daughters about their first period.

Your daughter’s first period can either be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you, the mom (or dad), portrays it. Let’s face it, most women don’t look forward to a visit from Aunt Flo. Why is that? Because it’s messy and painful and makes us moody. But the good news is, there are things to help with the common discomforts. Why not bless your daughter with a first time box that includes all the items she needs to feel confident, clean and comfortable and opens up the door of communication for you to explain what she can expect.

Listen to the episode in your browser by clicking the play button above, or you can listen on the go with iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify. Although, we do a little show and tell during the interview, so if you want to see the unboxing, watch the video below. Subscribe on youtube or your favorite podcast player so you won't miss the next episode which is about the other seasons of womanhood from motherhood to menopause!

Show Notes for this podcast episode

2:36 - Introducing the box for the first time5:00 - My dread of talking to my daughter about menstruation8:00 - Period tracker printable11:30 - Unboxing20:00 - Herbs to help with PMS (stay tuned to Chats with Aunt Flo where Shannon will be writing more about herbs and how they work!)23:00 - Teaching our daughters to be proud to be a woman (body image, etc.).25:00 - Tips for mom to talk to daughter about her first period.

Welcome to Womanhood box is designed to celebrate a young girl’s first period and is the box you'll see in this episode. The Seasons box is a subscription box for the girl/woman who is already menstruating on a regular basis.

Great gift for the daughter in middle school, whether she has begun having her menstrual cycle or it's on the horizon, this box will prepare her. The average age for onset of menstruation is two years after breast development or around age 12. 

Talking to our daughters about their changing bodies may feel uncomfortable or even sad when we see that our little girl is growing up to become a woman. Yet it's important to bring up the discussion so she will be prepared. Sharing age-appropriate information with pre-teens, and even younger, will alleviate the possibility of her receiving misinformation from her peers.

You may want to keep it simple at first, explaining blood flow and other dynamics of the period talk or you could go into detail with the biology behind why her period starts.

The ovaries release the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Build up of the uterine lining is caused by these hormones is part of the process of getting ready for reproduction. (You could explain ovulation as well.) If that doesn't happen, the lining of the uterus then begins to break down and she has her period. Then next month the process repeats, resulting in her monthly period, although the first year she may not be regular. 

Details about the onset of progesterone production in the body and pubic hair growth may feel over the top, but it's better to start too young than too late as each girl's body is different and we don't know when that day will come. We want her to be prepared.

You may want to have things handy for her possible needs explaining why she might need or want them. For example, she might use a heating pad if she has bloating or cramps. Ibuprofen can help with a back ache. 

The Seasons of Sisters Period Box

The care put into each of the boxes Shannon creates will make your daughter feel loved and pampered. She has all the needs covered such as sanitary pads. Other options include tampons and herbal tea to help with mood swings along with varied hygiene products suited for the tween, teen or young adult.

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, let's set a goal to implement some eco-friendly actions.

Listen to the podcast episode for inspiration on celebrating earth day by clicking the player above or by going to iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify!

The Earth Day Theme for 2020 is Climate Action.

Yes, your individual actions do add up and they will make a difference! When we each stand-alone, we all stand together.

[Tweet "Here are 10 ways you can celebrate earth day today and every day."]

1 - Go organic

Every organic purchase is a vote you make with your wallet telling organic farmers and manufacturers that you support them. Purchasing products that have the Non-GMO Project Verified seal is an essential step in supporting organics.

Organics are crucial for protecting the earth, animals, and insects, as well as humans.

The dwindling butterfly and bee population are being affected by genetically modified crops. The dwindling insect decline is linked to GMO crops.

[Research] showed Monarch butterfly caterpillars were seven times more likely to die when they ate milkweed plants carrying pollen from Bt corn [genetically engineered to contain a pesticide], compared to conventional corn.

Choosing to avoid GMOs has a beneficial impact on the planet as much as humans. Botanical insecticides such as Neem, citronella oil, Eucalyptus, Garlic extract, etc. have been used successfully and are still being studied. Natural products have a lower persistence in the environment and, therefore, are considered environmentally and toxicologically safer than several of the pesticides currently used.

Choose Non-GMO Project Verified and organic products as much as possible to assist others who are also doing their part to help save the bees! Choosing organic helps to protect bees and butterflies, as well as other beneficial insects.

What the USDA organic certification means

Organic food is free of harsh human-made pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and hormones. Researchers have found higher concentrations of nutrients in produce grown organically. Another research shows that the omega-3 fatty acid levels were 47% higher in meat that was produced organically due to feeding methods.

Take a look at this article to learn to read labels in the supermarket so you can determine which products you want to put in your shopping cart. Let's take a look at the organic label. A product labeled organic means that the product has been made by following strict guidelines and has been inspected and certified as approved.

A farm or business must apply along with fees to be USDA-accredited by a cer...

Are you in a holding pattern during the pandemic?

Maybe it feels like you're in the Twilight Zone?

During my last appointment with Dr. J, my psychologist, I confirmed that I was handling things better than expected. We talked about my mindset, and she encouraged me to share these thoughts with you all.

So here we are.

Another chance for you to learn from my mistakes!

In the first half of my life, I had the tendency to put off living while I waited for my "real life" to start. Some people put off living while they wait to graduate college, others wait for marriage to begin really living.

Perhaps as a young adult, many of us "wait" to start living until we feel like we have accomplished something that deems us worthy of  "a real life."

Yes, I spent my teen years and early twenties telling myself that when I started my own family life would truly start. Always looking towards some future event as the starting point of life. Once I realized I had done this, it was too late to do anything about it - the time was already wasted and I couldn't get it back.

Still, it served as a good lesson for my current situation. Being "Stuck" at home.

Making good use of our time at home

While I am in self-isolation, instead of waiting for some unknown time when this pandemic will end, I choose to live.

Of course, the way I choose to live has it's limits, but I am in control of my attitude while I wait. I'm in charge of what I do with my time while I am at home. The obstacle, this virus, will not keep me from being useful or productive.

I will take on my life right where I am. What can I do with myself and what do I have to offer those around me during this time?

What I don't want to do is to start avoiding life.

In fact, no matter what I do with each day, no matter what YOU choose to do with each day: This Is Life. Regardless of your participation, or your lack of participation, in life - life is still happening!

Don't wait.

Live.

Yes, the world is spinning out of control it seems, but your life is real and it's now. Your life is not on pause while we are awaiting the end of this pandemic. Every day, life is still going on, whether you choose to hide from it, or participate in it.

[Tweet "Don't wait. Live."]

Make a plan

It's true, you can't go to the gym, but there are millions of online workouts that you can do for free. Walking is free. Do some form of exercise every day.

Maybe you can't have coffee with friends, but you can Facetime, Skype, or Zoom to see their faces. Start having a "happy hour" or "coffee time" with your besties. If they won't respond, keep reaching out, don't give up. Tell them that it's important to you that they keep in touch while you are apart!

You might not be able to go to work or work from home, but you could participate in a hobby or teaching others how to do something you are good at!

Yes, life is hard right now. Things are frustrating and challenging and tiring. No one is denying that.

I just want to encourage you to live. Don't stay in a holding pattern, waiting to start life again when this pandemic ends. We don't know how long that will be, so to stay healthy, the best thing you can do is to live life in a new and productive way.

If you need someone to talk to feel free to reach out to me and make sure you are on my email list because I'm sending out tons of encouragement right now!

Give Back with Chilipad

My friends at Chili are offering something special for the heroes keeping us all healthy and safe. Now until April 30th if you buy any dual zone chiliPAD or OOLER sleep system they will donate a single zone chiliPAD to nurses, doctors, and first responders as a thank you!

Read more about why chiliPAD is my favorite sleep hack and hear from the founder and creator, Tara Youngblood in this podcast episode.

Share this with your friends and save to your Pinterest Board!

If you're like a lot of people right now, you might not be sure what to do with yourself. You may have checked your screen time report only to find you've spent more time on social media or browsing websites than ever before. Maybe you are even looking for a distraction to keep you from checking the "numbers" so frequently. Why not use this time to write?

What skills and talents do you have to share with the world from your unique perspective? Are there stories you tell everyone you meet? Have you spent the last several years of your retirement traveling but still haven't compiled all those pictures and stories in one place?

Now is the time to share your uniqueness with the world!

People are online now more than ever before and they are looking for something to distract, encourage, and motivate! If you are interested in doing something that will help others during our collective time of need, consider sharing what you know with others.

Not only would you be helping others, but you'll also be helping yourself. Writing is very therapeutic. It can help prevent depression and even make you happier. Putting your thoughts down can clear your head and make you more resilient.

Depression and anxiety tend to cause rumination, having the same dreary thoughts over and over. But when you begin writing things down, whether it's directly about your life, as in a diary, or an attempt at an essay or story or even a novel, you get deeply involved in that task and tend to rise above the ordinary frustrations of your day. ~ Go Ahead and Write.

Writing is a form of art. When you write, you are using your imagination. You can write simply or more elaborately; it's up to you, as the writer, to decide.

Writing is the most powerful way to articulate the story of your life and set it into motion. ~ Writing is an art

There are experiences you have had, places you have gone, things you have seen, all are unique to you! Your spin on life, the way you do something, how you tackle a challenge, struggles you've faced, or how you implement a new habit are all information that might benefit someone else on this planet! Let your individuality shine.

So what I propose is to write.

Write about all the things that matter to you.

Share all your stories.

Compile all your favorite recipes or those handed down in your family.

Showcase your poems and short stories.

Gather your memories.

Display your style.

Organize your thoughts and share them.

Bestow your gift of storytelling on others.

Tell everyone "back home" what life is like where you live now.

Select your favorite memories and write every detail you can remember.

Journal your day-to-day life during this unprecedented time in history.

Convince others to care about your greatest passion.

You have the time.

Even if you are still working at home, you have those minutes that you would have spent commuting. I want to challenge you to spend 30 days writing. You can write whatever you want to, but just put words down every day.

Blogging is a great way to share your thoughts and ideas. It’s fun, exciting, and doesn’t require you to be an expert writer or an editor. ~ BizBudding, Inc.

If you need some writing prompts, you can

Rebecca Huff

10:14

Replicate Delicious Southern Cooking at Home with One of Atlanta’s Best Chefs

https://www.thatorganicmom.com/southern-cooking/

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 14:34:29 +0000

https://www.thatorganicmom.com/?p=17738

For those lucky enough to live near Buttermilk Kitchen, a fabulous brunch is just a moment away. As for the rest of us, there's Welcome to Buttermilk Kitchen by Suzanne Vizethann. 

Exploring the world through food is one of the best ways to explore various cultures. No matter where you live - if you ever wanted to try delicious southern cooking, you will most certainly want to add this cookbook to your collection. It is well thought out and easy to use, full of mouth-watering photographs and detailed recipes!

We received this cookbook back in February, and life has been absolutely, unpredictably crazy since then. When I initially spoke with Suzanne to record this interview, I had planned to visit her restaurant while my daughter Shawna was competing in a Taekwondo tournament in the area.

Unfortunately, I fell incredibly ill - I tested negative for the flu; however, my doctor insisted, due to my symptoms, I had some strain of the flu. It was terrible, and I still haven't fully recovered from the coughing.

My husband ended up taking off work to take my daughter to the tournament; therefore, I did not have the opportunity to visit the restaurant. Sad that I missed out on visiting the restaurant and watching my daughter win two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal! Eating at Buttermilk Kitchen is still on my bucket list for "things to do when the craziness ends." 

Put visiting Buttermilk Kitchen on your bucket list!

Do you have a bucket list for when life returns to normal? If you don't, why not start writing down all the things you want to do once things settle down again, because it will, and you want to be ready! You could even start a Pinterest Board for your Bucket List - - here's mine that I started a long time ago.

The day after my husband and daughter returned from the tournament, she came down with a fever. Within hours she too was experiencing the illness that I had been battling. Because of our back-to-back illnesses, we were "in quarantine" for two weeks before everyone else began sheltering at home.

Our home test kitchen

Due to our extended time indoors, we were able to whip up lots of recipes in this cookbook. Many of the recipes contained in the cookbook contain what I consider everyday kitchen staples for the average home cook: flour, milk, butter, potatoes, and such. There's a section that will teach you how to make any type of egg - scrambled, poached, fried, etc.

Poached eggs, hashbrown fritters, bacon

My eleven-year-old daughter made these hashbrown fritters, and then I did the frying. They turned out quite lovely; my boys made them disappear within minutes.

Suzanne put together an extensive section all about what to stock in your pantry and how to source it locally - just the way she does in her restaurant. So, if you aren't sure what types of foods to stock in your kitchen, she's got your back!

With Welcome to Buttermilk Kitchen, we dive what I consider to be the best of southern cooking! If you've always wanted to master a perfect biscuit, pancake, waffle, grits, or sawmill gravy, you'll want to add this cookbook to your collection.

This cookbook will have you cranking out delightful meals your friends will rave about for days. Your family will be begging you to make more Cobbler Biscuit French Toast and Johnny Cakes with liquid gold.

Welcome to Buttermilk Kitchen joins the trend toward healthier comfort food, balancing traditional dishes that use the very best seasonal ingredients, and creative recipes incorporating new spices and flavor combinations. Many of the dishes work for lunch or dinner, as well as breakfast or brunch. It is a cookbook that home cooks will find they can use every day of the week, any time of the day or night. ~ Goodreads

Recipes we want you to try:

Coffee Rub

Alabama Ranch

O.G. Buttermilk Biscuit

Caramelized-Banana Oatmeal

Vegan Banana BreadGranola

Hashbrown Fritters

Salty Dog Mimosa

Delicious, Budget-Friendly,

For those lucky enough to live near Buttermilk Kitchen, a fabulous brunch is just a moment away. As for the rest of us, there's Welcome to Buttermilk Kitchen by Suzanne Vizethann.  - Exploring the world through food is one of the best ways to explore ...

Buttermilk Kitchen, a fabulous brunch is just a moment away. As for the rest of us, there's Welcome to Buttermilk Kitchen by Suzanne Vizethann. 

Exploring the world through food is one of the best ways to explore various cultures. No matter where you live - if you ever wanted to try delicious southern cooking, you will most certainly want to add this cookbook to your collection. It is well thought out and easy to use, full of mouth-watering photographs and detailed recipes!

We received this cookbook back in February, and life has been absolutely, unpredictably crazy since then. When I initially spoke with Suzanne to record this interview, I had planned to visit her restaurant while my daughter Shawna was competing in a Taekwondo tournament in the area.

Unfortunately, I fell incredibly ill - I tested negative for the flu; however, my doctor insisted, due to my symptoms, I had some strain of the flu. It was terrible, and I still haven't fully recovered from the coughing.

My husband ended up taking off work to take my daughter to the tournament; therefore, I did not have the opportunity to visit the restaurant. Sad that I missed out on visiting the restaurant and watching my daughter win two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal! Eating at Buttermilk Kitchen is still on my bucket list for "things to do when the craziness ends." 

Put visiting Buttermilk Kitchen on your bucket list!

Do you have a bucket list for when life returns to normal? If you don't, why not start writing down all the things you want to do once things settle down again, because it will, and you want to be ready! You could even start a Pinterest Board for your Bucket List - - here's mine that I started a long time ago.

The day after my husband and daughter returned from the tournament, she came down with a fever. Within hours she too was experiencing the illness that I had been battling. Because of our back-to-back illnesses, we were "in quarantine" for two weeks before everyone else began sheltering at home.

Our home test kitchen

Due to our extended time indoors, we were able to whip up lots of recipes in this cookbook. Many of the recipes contained in the cookbook contain what I consider everyday kitchen staples for the average home cook: flour, milk, butter, potatoes, and such. There's a section that will teach you how to make any type of egg - scrambled, poached, fried, etc.

Poached eggs, hashbrown fritters, bacon

My eleven-year-old daughter made these hashbrown fritters, and then I did the frying. They turned out quite lovely; my boys made them disappear within minutes.

Suzanne put together an extensive section all about what to stock in your pantry and how to source it locally - just the way she does in her restaurant. So, if you aren't sure what types of foods to stock in your kitchen, she's got your back!

With Welcome to Buttermilk Kitchen, we dive what I consider to be the best of southern cooking! If you've always wanted to master a perfect biscuit, pancake, waffle, grits, or sawmill gravy, you'll want to add this cookbook to your collection.

This cookbook will have you cranking out delightful meals your friends will rave about for days. Your family will be begging you to make more Cobbler Biscuit French Toast and Johnny Cakes with liquid gold.

For those lucky enough to live near Buttermilk Kitchen, a fabulous brunch is just a moment away. As for the rest of us, there's Welcome to Buttermilk Kitchen by Suzanne Vizethann. 

Exploring the world through food is one of the best ways to explore various cultures. No matter where you live - if you ever wanted to try delicious southern cooking, you will most certainly want to add this cookbook to your collection. It is well thought out and easy to use, full of mouth-watering photographs and detailed recipes!

We received this cookbook back in February, and life has been absolutely, unpredictably crazy since then. When I initially spoke with Suzanne to record this interview, I had planned to visit her restaurant while my daughter Shawna was competing in a Taekwondo tournament in the area.

Unfortunately, I fell incredibly ill - I tested negative for the flu; however, my doctor insisted, due to my symptoms, I had some strain of the flu. It was terrible, and I still haven't fully recovered from the coughing.

My husband ended up taking off work to take my daughter to the tournament; therefore, I did not have the opportunity to visit the restaurant. Sad that I missed out on visiting the restaurant and watching my daughter win two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal! Eating at Buttermilk Kitchen is still on my bucket list for "things to do when the craziness ends." 

Put visiting Buttermilk Kitchen on your bucket list!

Do you have a bucket list for when life returns to normal? If you don't, why not start writing down all the things you want to do once things settle down again, because it will, and you want to be ready! You could even start a Pinterest Board for your Bucket List - - here's mine that I started a long time ago.

The day after my husband and daughter returned from the tournament, she came down with a fever. Within hours she too was experiencing the illness that I had been battling. Because of our back-to-back illnesses, we were "in quarantine" for two weeks before everyone else began sheltering at home.

Our home test kitchen

Due to our extended time indoors, we were able to whip up lots of recipes in this cookbook. Many of the recipes contained in the cookbook contain what I consider everyday kitchen staples for the average home cook: flour, milk, butter, potatoes, and such. There's a section that will teach you how to make any type of egg - scrambled, poached, fried, etc.

Poached eggs, hashbrown fritters, bacon

My eleven-year-old daughter made these hashbrown fritters, and then I did the frying. They turned out quite lovely; my boys made them disappear within minutes.

Suzanne put together an extensive section all about what to stock in your pantry and how to source it locally - just the way she does in her restaurant. So, if you aren't sure what types of foods to stock in your kitchen, she's got your back!

With Welcome to Buttermilk Kitchen, we dive what I consider to be the best of southern cooking! If you've always wanted to master a perfect biscuit, pancake, waffle, grits, or sawmill gravy, you'll want to add this cookbook to your collection.

This cookbook will have you cranking out delightful meals your friends will rave about for days. Your family will be begging you to make more Cobbler Biscuit French Toast and Johnny Cakes with liquid gold.

Welcome to Buttermilk Kitchen joins the trend toward healthier comfort food, balancing traditional dishes that use the very best seasonal ingredients, and creative recipes incorporating new spices and flavor combinations. Many of the dishes work for lunch or dinner, as well as breakfast or brunch. It is a cookbook that home cooks will find they can use every day of the week, any time of the day or night. ~ Goodreads

Recipes we want you to try:

Coffee Rub

Alabama Ranch

O.G. Buttermilk Biscuit

Caramelized-Banana Oatmeal

Vegan Banana BreadGranola

Hashbrown Fritters

Salty Dog Mimosa

Delicious, Budget-Friendly,