Stone-Ground Grits and Nora Mill Granary

Nora Mills Granary Storefront

Nora Mill Granary Storefront

Grits are a Southern classic, made from ground corn kernels and simmered until they get thick and creamy. While usually served for breakfast, grits can also be presented as a side dish, or as part of a main course for lunch or dinner (for example, in shrimp and grits).

The most flavorful grits—way better than instant grits—are stone-ground grits. I was first introduced to stone-ground grits in college when my mother-in-law sent me a bag. My husband and I weren’t big grit eaters at the time; we had mostly eaten instant grits while backpacking, so we imagined grits as more or less a bland texture or base. read more

Banana Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins

Banana Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins

Banana Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins

I always like to start the weekend off with a nice breakfast. There’s something quite satisfying about having a leisurely breakfast, in which you can really appreciate the food. This weekend I made banana mocha chocolate chip muffins, and they were wonderful.

I got the recipe from The Cheese Board: Collective Works, which is an amazing cookbook featuring recipes from The Cheese Board–a much-loved pizzeria, bakery, and cheese shop in Berkeley, California. While I haven’t visited the physical store, I have recreated many of their famous baked goods at home with the help of this cookbook. I highly recommend it for those who like to bake and love the smell of fresh bread! read more

Breakfast on the Wall – Game of Thrones Style

Breakfast on the Wall, Game of Thrones

It’s about time that I introduce some otherworldly cuisine on Flavorful Journeys and what better place than Westeros—the primary setting for George R.R. Martin’s epic A Song of Ice and Fire series and the popular Game of Thrones HBO television series. Here’s a little insight into The Wall for those not familiar with the series:

***Forewarning this comes from Season 3, Episode 6 and may contain spoilers***

As you can see the Wall is an inhospitable frozen fortification, monumental in size and scope. The Night’s Watch guard the Wall and man do they have it rough. read more