Figgy Jam Muffins

Are you watching the Olympics? I like watching gymnastics even though I was never even close to being a gymnast...ever. I did take dance and gymnastics when I was little, and the balance beam terrified me. So even though I wasn't cut out for it, I think it's insane what the human body can do. Our women's vaulting looked ridiculous last night! And the men on the high bar? I just can't fathom what that feels like. But muffins, muffins I can fathom.

Because it's Monday and Mondays are hard, I'm showing you an easy fig jam muffin. You can buy the fig jam or make your own. These muffins aren't too sweet, so you won't get a major sugar high and then crash and burn halfway through your morning. Perfect for work mornings.

Instagrammin': July Edition

I've been trying to do this post for two or three days. I'm still in Alabama but returning to my beloved home state tomorrow. I know this is mostly a food blog, but I do like to share other snippets of my life.

I saved this little froggy from the pool at my grandmother's on the 4th of July. He was about the size of a nickel.

Citrus & Honey Custard

Hello, friends. I'm about 20 minutes from heading down to Panama City with Will. We haven't seen each other since March, and the poor guy has only been to the beach once this summer. It looks like we're going to have beautiful weather for our trip. That is, it looks sunny and therefore hot as the dickens.

So you'd think that this far into summer I'd have some sort of icy granita or ice box cake. Something that didn't require a stove. Negative. But! This isn't your average custard. Instead of eggs, citrus juice thickens it and allows it to set in the fridge. And it's only on the stove about five minutes. It's actually quite perfect for summer.

Bourbon Peach Milkshake

South Carolina...is kind of a whack-a-doo state. We're in the news quite a bit for crazy politicians (Who can forget the Appalachian Trail scandal that basically ended Mark Sanford's political career, which he seems to be okay with because he found lurve?) and unfortunate statistics. But one of the reasons I put up with our peculiar brand of crazy is the food. In the last week I've picked a bucket of blueberries and at least five gallons of tomatoes. South Carolina produces more peaches than Georgia, and they're better too. That's my completely biased opinion, and I'm sure many Georgians would argue vehemently with me. The one thing we can agree on though is that both our peaches are better than California's. Sorry, Cali.

Blueberry Poundcake

True story: I did not understand the Ryan Gosling obsession until I watched Crazy, Stupid, Love. That's probably because I was born without the gene that makes me obsess over The Notebook. In truth, I prefer the book to the movie because I think the ending is more poignant. Regardless, I look at pictures of Ryan Gosling from 2004...and I'm so not interested. Seven or eight years later and now we're talkin'. I think it's because he looks older and therefore more...sophisticated? Put-together? Eh, suffice it to say I'm much more willing to watch one of his movies now. Oh and Crazy, Stupid, Love won me over for reasons having absolutely nothing to do with him and everything to do with Emma Stone, Steve Carrell, and the girl who played the babysitter.

Flag Cake (Or Just a Damn Good Sheet Cake with Fruit)

 So...I know this looks a little late. The Fourth of July is over...by a week. Let's be real though, this wasn't getting to you in time to make it last week anyway. The thing is, you don't have to arrange the fruit in a flag shape. It just looks really cool when it is.

This cake, y'all, is bangin'. Moist, striking a balance between fluffy and dense. Like not an angel food cake but not a poundcake either. And my most favorite thing about a sheet cake- you don't have to take it out of the pan. Just cool it on a rack and frost that baby right in the pan. Boom.

Key Lime Meringue Bars

 Oh mercy, y'all. It's been a little cray-cray the past few weeks. One of the things about living in a vacation spot is that people like to vacation there. Derp. I've spent lots of time with extended family, friends of family, and the like. And it's all fabulous, don't get me wrong. It's just hard to blog is all. So I took an unofficial break. But! I made these lovely little key lime bars (twice!) because I'm a crazy person. Unless you live in like Seattle or some other lovely Pacific Northwest city, it's probably been hot as as the Devil's boiler room where you live.