foods Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Southern Foods You Cannot Miss on the Gulf Coast

Paula — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 13:45:00 +0000

We were guests of Mobile, New Orleans, Coastal Mississippi and Gulf Shores while on this amazing 12 day girl’s trip. Meals, flights, accommodations and more were paid for by the tourism partners listed here. This is my honest opinion on the Southern Foods below. Whether it’s the Acadian influence, the flourishing port cities bringing easy access to imported spices, or the jubilant approach to cooking that makes the difference, there’s something unique and thoroughly magnificent about Southern Foods. Whatever the reason for the impressive range of dishes all throughout the Gulf Coast, the flavours of the south will knock your socks off and then some. The flavour profiles along the Gulf Coast are rich and multi-layered and any visit to the south should include several of these memorable dishes. Recently, we visited the southern US on a 12-day hosted girl’s trip. We explored New Orleans, Louisiana Northshore, Coastal Mississippi, Mobile, Alabama and Gulf Shores, Alabama. Three states in total over 12 days and so much amazing rich and fresh food. I knew going in that there would be great food, but I had no idea which southern foods I would love and which of those would leave me dreaming of a return trip as soon as humanly possible. Gulf Coast Favourite Southern Foods Beignets Fluffy and light, these are the bomb. We sampled three different varieties of beignets in New Orleans and each one was dramatically different. Of course, Cafe du Monde is world renowned for beignets, powdery light dough pastries, that are a bit like donuts but lighter and more exotic. Served covered in powdery sugar, it’s a challenge to eat these and not get that powdery goodness everywhere. When in New Orleans you have to try beignets at Cafe du Monde, but also lesser known beignets restaurant is the Ritz Carlton. Here the beignets are lighter and fluffier, hollow even and most importantly they come with dips. The sauces are vanilla, chocolate and caramel. Served this way, these beignets are quite simply irresistible. Finally, we had some crawfish beignets at the Treme Gumbo Festival. Tasty and warm, but more like hush puppies than beignets to be honest. Gumbo OH MY goodness. So here’s the thing. We attended a Gumbo Festival for a bit and I was lukewarm over gumbo. Then I ordered it in a restaurant in New Orleans and had the same reaction. I could take it or leave it, but was glad I tried it actually because gumbo is one of those southern foods you simply have to try, right? However, later that day during our girl’s trip to New Orleans, we did a cooking school lesson at The New Orleans School of Cooking. We made our own gumbo starting with a roux from scratch. I have never ever done that before. It requires patience, trust and a lot of stirring the pot. We took our time and we enjoyed the wine, or beer as we cooked. I started to think maybe this is the difference. Time and enjoyment, savouring the process and even just being mindful of where we are at that given moment making something extraordinary. Perhaps, that is the catalyst for great southern foods. Pimento Cheese Sounds questionable, right? Actually quite the opposite. We had fresh pimento cheese at several spots and I loved it, especially at Southern National. Creamy cheese with a kick. Royal Reds Big crazy prawns that were super delicious in Alabama. This might have been one of my favourite Gulf Shores Alabama foods. Huge tasty shrimp. Now here’s the thing. I have a spouse with a seafood allergy so we never ever have seafood at home. That means, when I travel solo or with the girls, I am all over seafood and I know good seafood. These are worth trying. Stay tuned for more on shrimp, because I sampled all the shrimp at pretty much every restaurant where it was on the menu. Muffuletta Even before we got to the Napoleon House, I heard rumblings of how much I would love this sandwich. I was a skeptic though, because honestly bread and sandwiches are not my thing. But this is unlike any sandwich you’ve ever had. It is a giant bun big enough to feed two or four people with ample meat and cheese and a layer of olive spread which doesn’t sound like it would be that exciting, but OH BOY it actually is spectacular. Consider Doing This Food Tour When You Visit – > Napoleon House and NOLA Food Tour Napoleon House is iconic and an essential part of any girl’s trip to New Orleans. This is the best place to have a muffuletta sandwich in New Orleans. A Muffuletta sandwich is a made with cured meats, cheeses and olive spread served on a warm seeded bun. Insanely delicious when done well, and Napoleon House does these extremely well. This is one sandwich I dream about all the time now and trust me that’s something because, as I said, bread is not my thing typically. Pimms Cup While you are at Napoleon House consuming a Muffuletta sandwich, add a Pimms Cup, a cocktail made with Pimms, a British gin-based liqueur with lemon-lime soda, and a slice of cucumber, which is über refreshing. Perfect with the Po Boy sandwiches and the Muffuletta. Grilled Oysters OH my word. I have basically only ever eaten raw oysters, but these at several spots were exceptionally tasty. Desire Oyster Bar had the most amazing grilled oysters! These are exceptionally fresh. I mean you can see them shucking them right beside the tables practically. Biscuits I am not a bread fan. To be honest, I often eliminate it from my diet entirely. But when traveling, I enjoy trying all of the local specialities. So, I had my share of biscuits when we were driving through three southern states on our girl’s getaway this season. A true southern biscuit is irresistible. Also, multiple times we heard SOP it. So, we needed to give the biscuits a try a few places in order to SOP it like a southerner. Bread Pudding Alright, so again I have already told you my bread story above. Not my thing. But at the New Orleans School of Cooking, we had a chance to make our own bread pudding. So, there you go. New fan made. I wonder if this is one of those things like red wine for me. I never really liked it because I simply hadn’t tasted a great one. In New Orleans, I tasted some exceptional bread pudding and then I made bread pudding with Margarita Ibbott and now I know what it should taste like. Rich and flavourful and it can’t be rushed. King Cake Tater Tots Oh, I know what you are thinking…Tater Tots? Really? How is this something southern to write about? How is this even a thing? Well, until I hit Alabama I actually thought people were kidding about this, but then someone ordered them at the extremely trendy new restaurant Southern National in Mobile. I held my tongue. In Ontario, at the grocery stores these are something we serve children occasionally, so what’s unique about them? Well, let me tell you. I then went to the Anchor Bar and Grill in Orange Beach and we had a scrumptious tater tots snack with it was either pork belly or brisket on top with some sort of savoury jelly and salsa with a kick topped by a sunnyside up egg. Sounds bizarre, but was genuinely a dish I could eat every day for a week. Moon Pies Marshmallow between two thin cakes. Yum. A classic. Go find the Moon Pie store in Mobile Alabama and stock up. Or go on New Years to Mobile and watch the gigantic Moon Pie drop from a very tall building in downtown Mobile. A tip of the hat to history and the Mardi Gras culture that Mobile is famous for. Debris This was a Louisiana Northshore treat at Liz’s Where Y’At? We were clearly all told that it was not negotiable. You need to try debris. Don’t let the kooky name distract you from ordering. We had a spectacular brunch meal at Liz’s. Read more about that here and then do me a favour and try the debris. Leave a comment below if you have ever had this. It’s not unlike burnt ends of a barbecue meal. You either love it or hate it. In some areas of the south, Alabama, in particular, the reliance on salt was a bit too heavy for my liking. But the fresh seafood, cajun spices and genuine appreciation of dining and eating as pleasure is infectious. Visit The South The Southern states are full of sprawling beaches and miles of coastline. But the food, for me, was a big drawing card. In some areas, it is too salty, but for the most part, it will keep you coming back for more.

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Make These Fun Winter Crafts and Recipes Now!

Paula — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 14:13:18 +0000

Are you working through the winter blahs? Here are some of my favourite winter crafts and recipes to help boost your mood this month. With every passing day we get that much closer to Valentine’s Day and Family Day here in Ontario too. That means time to celebrate just a little. I love having that short little break in February. It’s a pick me up and a chance to ski or go have fun outdoors with my family. Whether you are indoors or braving the chilly weather and the snow, there’s a lot to do this February. Stuck on where to start? Here’s an awesome roundup of some of the best crafts and recipes this month. No time to be bored with this many great ideas to share on the Pintastic Pinterest Winter Crafts and Recipes Weekly Post! Welcome to the Pretty Pintastic Party, where every post is pinned & features are pinned by everyone! First, let’s meet the crafty hosts: This Month’s Winter Crafts and Recipes Pinterest Party Creative Team: Shelly from Lynchburg Mama Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Jamie, Kerry, & Lucy from Coffee With Us 3 Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram Annie from Annie’s Noms Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Paris from My Big Fat Happy Life Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Evelyn from Eclectic Evelyn Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Stephanie from Happily Homegrown Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Carol from Through My Front Porch Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Jamie from As For Me and My Homestead Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Michelle from Powered by Mom Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Jessa from Sparkle Living Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Gail from Frugal Family Adventures Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Kallee from Creative Southern Home Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Paula from Thrifty Momma’s Tips Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Nancy from The Mama Maven Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Kerri from Raising Three Savvy Ladies Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Lesa from Misfit Mama Bear Haven Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Here’s what your party hosts have been up to this week. An InLinkz Link-up Now on to the Pintastic Pinterest Party!! This is a super relaxed party.You show up with your fabulous posts and we pin every single one! We only ask one thing from you… This week’s Features: Exceptional Winter Crafts and Recipes How to Gift Plants in Easy, Cute Brown Paper Bags from Dazzle While Frazzled 5 Minute Air Fryer Donuts from Fluster Buster Valentine Confetti Gift Wrap from White House Crafts 50+ Delicious and Festive Valentine’s Day Recipes from Mama of Many Blessings DIY Hair Clips Tutorial from Domestic Bliss Squared Pigs In A Blanket with Cheese Dip from Lou Lou Girls Easy Valentine’s Popcorn from My Mommy World Free Monthly Habit Tracker from Morning Motivated Mom Don’t Forget to Share and Leave Me a Comment Here too: Enjoy! If you make something from this winter crafts and recipes roundup please come back and let me know how it turned out. I love to hear from readers and will do my best to reply. The above Valentine’s Day popcorn looks incredible. Must try it here. Oh, and I am not usually a Pigs in Blankets kind of girl, but this Pigs in Blankets recipe in a skillet surrounded by dip looks divine! If you were featured, we invite you to grab a featured button. <div align="center"><a href="https://www.coffeewithus3.com/" title="Pretty Pintastic Party" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.coffeewithus3.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ppp-feature-button.jpg" alt="Pretty Pintastic Party" style="border:none;" /></a></div> Everyone else grab a button and help us spread the word about our party!! Thanks! <div align="center"><a href="https://www.coffeewithus3.com/" title="Pretty Pintastic Party "><img src="https://www.coffeewithus3.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/button-new.jpg" alt="Pretty Pintastic Party " style="border:none;" /></a></div> As a thank-you for linking up, we will pin your post to The Pretty Pintastic Party board. Please follow the board in the link above to see all the great food recipes, crafts, DIY, and more! By linking up, you agree to let any of the hosts use your pictures and links if they decide to feature your post. Your photo may be used for promotion on any of their social media outlets. If you include your e-mail in the linky form below you will be added to a weekly reminder e-mail when the link party goes live. Your e-mail will not be added to any other lists or given out. Sharing is Caring Please share the love by visiting other posts that link up. Make some new blogging friends by sharing, pinning, and commenting. Thanks for participating in this link-up and for following your hosts. See you again next week. An InLinkz Link-up

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Best Ever Canadian Maple Bacon Cupcakes

Paula — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 10:08:09 +0000

Well, could there be a more Canadian cupcake than these Maple Bacon Cupcakes? I don’t think so, but if you have an idea send it to me and I will try to find it or try to make it. For one, I love maple. It’s such a great way to add flavour to so many desserts and main courses too. And it’s so very Canadian. Right now I have a cranberry maple salad dressing here that is to die for. Brought it back from Quebec when we were on a food and market tour of Ile D’Orleans there recently. So many great foods and wines to sample. Then of course this salad dressing which to be honest I might be hogging. Anyways, these Maple Bacon Cupcakes are the ones! The thing you have to make this summer and share. I know you won’t really want to share them when you taste one. But have courage and be kind. Sharing is caring you know. And just think of all the kudos and gasps when they give them a try. Did you know that Quebec makes about 75 % of the world’s maple syrup. It’s true. I think the rest of it is made in Vermont. Either way both destinations make amazing maple syrup and both are pretty creative at using it to make great foods and treats. Check out this amazing Quebec Food Tour I took recently for more details about maple syrup products. The most Canadian cupcakes of all time - Maple Bacon Canadian cupcakes - these will impress the heck out of your guests or family members. Not sure where to get Canadian maple syrup? Well, you can visit Canada or you can order that baby from Amazon just like everything else on earth. LOL. HERE YOU GO – > CANADIAN FINEST Maple Syrup | 1 Rated Maple Syrup on Amazon – 100% Pure Certified Organic Maple Syrup from Family Farms in Quebec, Canada – Grade A Dark (Formerly Grade B),16.9 fl oz (500mL) is SO worth it. Maple Bacon Cupcakes for the Win I think these are just quirky enough and delicious enough to be a dramatic hit this summer. Then again Maple in the winter is a great flavour too. Maple lattes with these Maple Bacon Cupcakes. YES Please. DON’T FORGET TO check out my Best ever Butter Tarts post too. This post contains affiliate links as a service to my readers. If you make a purchase via one of the links here I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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Avoid Migraines by Avoiding Foods that May Trigger Them

Paula — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 12:36:42 +0000

Avoid migraines by avoiding triggers. Because prevention really is worth a pound of cure when it comes to these debilitating headaches. Many people get migraines, but some might not know diet can play a role in these excruciatingly painful headaches – the kind of headaches that leave you locked in a dark quiet room, praying that the headache will go away. While the diet and migraine link is not a precise science, there is a lot of discussion and study around the fact that certain foods can worsen a pending migraine. I’ve found that one of the best ways to avoid migraines is to avoid foods that can trigger them. Avoid Migraines by Staying Away From These Top Offenders Migraines can severely interfere with your daily life. While the food and migraine link is not precise, many people like myself, who suffer with migraines, often feel them beginning. Some people get signs clearly before the migraine flares. I often feel severe sinus pressure before a full blown migraine. And for me weather is sometimes a strong predictor of a potential migraine ahead. My mother also suffered migraines. Together we both recognized certain foods as triggers and would strive to avoid those foods periodically to manage the migraines a bit better and lessen the number of migraines we both had. This is a list of common foods associated with migraines. If there are foods here that you know don’t trigger your migraines, by all means continue to enjoy them. Here are a few triggers that can leave you incapacitated in your bed sometimes for days on end. First, let’s take a look at the trigger foods, and then we’ll get a little more in-depth with the main offenders. Most Common Trigger Foods Dark Chocolate Aged Cheese Citrus Fruit Alcohol – Most Commonly Wine Less Common Trigger Foods Cured Processed Meats (Ham, Hot Dogs, Etc.) MSG (Chinese Food, Soy Sauce, Packaged Foods) Aspartame Asian Foods (Because of MSG) Snack Foods (Because of MSG) Fatty Foods Ice Cream and Other Frozen Treats Food Dyes Coffee, Tea, Pop (Because of Caffeine) Some Dairy Products Whew. Yes I know, it is quite a list. That’s one reason I cautioned that not all of these will trigger everyone’s migraines. However, knowledge is power if you want to avoid migraines. Now let’s take a look at why the most common offenders are connected to migraines. Why Avoiding These Foods Helps Avoid Migraines Why do these foods have potential to worsen migraines? Let’s take a look. Chocolate Chocolate has several ingredients that scientists believe may contribute to migraines. Phenylethylamine is thought to alter blood flow in the brain and/or cause the release of other chemicals that can trigger a migraine. Here’s the part to remember. The darker the chocolate, the more cocoa. The more cocoa, the more phenylethylamine. That equals to darker chocolate being more likely to trigger a migraine. In addition, chocolate also contains caffeine, a known migraine trigger. Caffeine If you want to avoid migraines, consider cutting out caffeine – but slowly. It’s been known for years that caffeine’s stimulant action effects the central nervous system and causes blood vessel constriction. In people with chronic migraines, that constriction can lead to the onset of a migraine. Even worse, cutting out caffeine can cause one as well due to caffeine withdrawal. If you drink lots of caffeinated products, slowly cut back until you’ve cut them out completely. You may recall that I dramatically altered my caffeine intake a few years ago due to high blood pressure. As a result I have experienced fewer migraines. That’s been a positive for me. Now I only ever have a maximum of two coffees a day. MSG MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a common ingredient in a lot of restaurants AND in many packaged foods like frozen foods, soups, processed meats, snacks, tomato and barbecue sauce, and even salad dressing. In animal studies, MSG caused blood vessel constriction, and as we just talked about with caffeine, blood vessel constriction can lead to migraines. Cured Meats Cured meats are also a common trigger for migraines. And since migraines are such an obnoxious ailment, it probably comes as no surprise that the reason cured meats trigger them is the polar opposite of caffeine and MSG. Cured meats contain nitrites for the preservation of color and flavor and to prevent botulism. These nitrites cause a release of nitric oxide which widens the blood vessels. So you can get a migraine from both the contraction AND expansion of your blood vessels. My migraines started when I was about 32. The exact same time my Mom’s started. She was also about 32. She struggled with them for years. Mine have, in the past, been very bad and I have learned to avoid several foods as a result. A few years ago I trimmed my caffeine intake dramatically. At that time I also trimmed sodium intake and began limiting prepackaged foods too. For a time I also removed gluten and MSG and found a huge reduction in frequency and severity as well. Oh I know gluten is not on here technically but I am advising you what I found helped. Reducing gluten or removing it entirely, cutting caffeine intake and eliminating pop as well made a huge impact for me. Now I rarely get them. Sometimes they still hit me, but much less seriously than before. Avoid Trigger Foods to Avoid Migraines Migraines are painful, debilitating, and generally wreck your day (or days). And while we can’t completely rid ourselves of them, we can help avoid migraines more often by cutting out the common foods that can trigger migraines. If you have issues with migraines, consider trying a food trial, slowly cutting out the foods that are known to trigger them one by one. When you find a food that triggers migraines for you, remember it and try to stay away! One of the easiest ways to avoid migraines might just be by changing your diet.

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