I’d like to start with the fact that I don’t normally get emotionally involved or gush over dessert. Yes. I enjoy decadent treats in moderation: a piece of Victoria sponge or chocolate cake on occasion. I don’t, however, just lose my mind over sweet things…….until last week. It started out innocently enough. My dad is a fine gardener and always has […]
I’m not much of a mixed drink connoisseur. I usually find that I enjoy wine more: sparkling, white Burgundy, and Bordeaux styles. However, a few years ago, while visiting with friends in Yorkshire, England, I discovered a cocktail that even I realized was pretty good. I liked it enough to ask the bartender for the recipe. It’s called a Hendrick’s […]
Sex is good but not as good as fresh, sweet corn. ~Garrison Keillor Fresh, sweet corn is one of those treats you look forward to in the summertime, especially if you’re a gardener. There’s nothing quite like it! And, at the risk of sounding like “fifty shades of farmgirl,” I just had to include Garrison Keillor’s quote emphasizing how spectacularly […]
I love asparagus, not just because it’s delicious and has lots of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. I love it, because it’s perennial. No matter how long and cold the winter has been, that dutiful spring vegetable is one of the first signs of life in my kitchen garden every year. And, is it ever welcome! However, I must admit that […]
I met the lovely Becky last weekend at a charity dinner event and discovered that not only is she a fellow blogger, but she’s also a fan of Champagne. She is the author of BubblyBEE.com. This is a fantastic blog about Champagne and what to enjoy with it. I hope you will visit her blog. Cheers!
The first time I ever had red velvet cake was when Grandma Rieley served it for dessert at a family dinner when I was a child. I had never seen such a thing as red cake, and I loved it! It’s not a dessert that’s often found on restaurant menus–even in the South. And, grocery store versions just aren’t as […]
I found this recipe for tea cakes in a cookbook called Southern Cakes. It features some of the most delightful and delicious desserts associated with Southern baking: everything from sweet potato pound cake to red velvet cake. Reading this cookbook and admiring the lovely photographs of beautifully baked cakes so reminded me of Grandma Rieley. My grandma was a wonderful […]
This is one of my favorite vegetarian meals. I first enjoyed it a number of years ago while spending time in Kent, England. Farmguy and I were in the area to visit Hever Castle and Chartwell. For those who may not be familiar with these historic places, Hever Castle was the family home of Anne Boleyn (second wife of Henry […]
In Italy, gelato is sometimes served with a drizzle of olive oil on top and then a sprinkling of sea salt. It’s a surprising combination: the creamy vanilla gelato accented by the best quality olive oil and the savory enhancement of good sea salt. I first learned of this wonderful combination of ingredients from some friends who had just returned […]
This recipe for homemade dressing or stuffing has been passed down through the generations of my family: Great-grandmother Rieley, Great Aunt Florence, Grandma Rieley, Mom, and me. My family’s recipe for dressing has been modified minimally over the years and continues to be a favorite part of our Thanksgiving dinner. It’s even better on the second day due to […]
My name is Tonya, and I grew up on a 300-acre farm in rural Virginia that has been in my family for over 100 years. After graduating from college, receiving my master’s degree in speech and language pathology, and living and working in a small city for six years, I decided to return to the place of my childhood. Here, in this rural area, on this patch of green, where for four generations my family has farmed, gardened, and lived, I, too wanted to be a part of this continuity. As a fourth generation farmgirl, I have many interests that not only include, but also go beyond the basics of farming, gardening, sheep and chicken-keeping. It is all of this and more that I plan on sharing in this blog.
fourth generation farmgirl 