I know your first thought is do the the words Entertaining and Vacation even belong in the same sentence? I believe that they can go hand in hand with a little thought, planning and a fun attitude.

I am blessed that each year my parents rent a fabulous beach house for our extended family in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Just a few weeks ago 12 of us {8 adults and 4 children} gathered together to share a week together. One of my gifts each year is that I cook a few nights for my family. Besides being expensive, going out to dinner involves long lines, cranky children, and often noisy restaurants. We much prefer to stay at home and enjoy our beach view with some good home made food.

Often times rental homes can be lacking in dishes and decor.  I scour the house, use what they have and make it work.  Here you can see I have used the lighthouse cookie jar and matching salt and pepper shakers as my centerpiece.  I dug up some hidden away place mats and set the mood to dine at the table.

Bring what you can from home.

I shopped for most of what I needed at Trader Joe’s the day before leaving. Great food at a great budget! I have to drive an hour to get to the one closest to me and I find  it is well worth it. {Dear Trader Joe’s please open a store in Greensboro soon!} Bring some friends like I did and make it fun!

I also bring cooking staples from my own kitchen.  Essential condiments like olive oil, seasonings, salt and pepper are easy to pack and save you money by not having to repurchase.  {I always bring coffee from The Extra Ingredient!}

Keep the food simple!

This year I decided to go with roasted whole organic chickens.  Whole chickens are cheaper and very easy to prepare thanks to my friend Kendra at My First Kitchen! I was blessed to attend one of her recent cooking classes were I learned how super easy it is to roast a perfectly succulent chicken each time.  The leftovers are perfect for sandwiches too!

Here I am demonstrating the fine art of trussing a chicken!  {Again, thanks Kendra for teaching me!} Note the only scissors available were from my kids craft supplies we brought!  I should have added cooking twine to my bring from home list! No twine to be found in the near vicinity and I had to improvise with some kite string!

I also like to stop at Farm Stands on the way in to the beach. The best place to pick up fresh local produce.

Use all available help

While the chickens were in the oven roasting we took some time to chop our local produce and enjoy a drink together.  I love when others get involved with the meal!

Keep it FUN!

It does not have to be perfect to be fun and enjoyable.  If you need to just plop the pan on the table and serve from it….then go for it!

Wear a Cute Dress!

I got this one at Splurges!

Oh and my motto while on vacation…..The head cook does not clean up!

Today’s article was written by MJ and featured on the popular blog The Reluctant Entertainer….who by the way just published her first book! It is now available on Amazon.

When it came time to throw my in laws (who I adore by the way) a 50th Anniversary party, I knew what I had to do! Keep it simple, keep it beautiful and KEEP IT LOCAL! (Even if some of the most important family members were from out of town… giggle, snort!) When having a party of any sort there are several things you have to accomplish, but most important is that your guests feel welcomed and comfortable! What good is a party if everyone leaves thinking, “Boy, I am busy for the next 10 years if I get invited back there again!”?

Sooooo, I don’t feel the need to share my entire check list of things “To Do” (unless you so request an article about that too). I do feel the need to share with you, the Triad, where I got such cuteness, beauty and fun for the party we held at our house (saves a TON on rental fees). You can call me a lot of things, but cheap isn’t one of them! “We” (ie: me and the sis-in-laws) agreed it would be simple elegance to hold such a personal and meaningful engagement at home for family and friends to enjoy.

1. Use a local florist. I live in NW GSO, so I tried Oakridge Florist. (didn’t have to drive to far for pick-up and yes they deliver). Aren’t they beautiful? If you have time and live a bit closer, the local Farmers market would be an excellent choice as well! I did use my own vases to save a bit more and not clutter up my cabinets or recycles with more glass not needed!!!

2. Use local gifts/favors. I found these darling favor baskets at Michael’s (I know, I know… BIG chain, but I didn’t order on-line). I did however fill them with yummy yogurt covered party mix from Fresh Market. I forgot to take photos of the sweets, maybe Fresh Market will read this is do a Give*A*Way for our readers of the yummy goodness I filled the tiny boxes with. You don’t have to give party favors by any means, but I decided to add them as a festive touch to the white/cream color theme for decorations at each persons place setting. Also I found great paper goods at If it’s Paper on Battleground.

3. Use a local baker!!! Don’t get me wrong the grocery stores have delish cakes and cupcakes, but we ALL know what a personal touch you get from having your cakes custom made. I HAVE to share where I purchased this BEAUTIFUL cake, Parker’s Restaurant in Stokesdale!!! I also have to share with you that I saved 50% by having Cindy make my cake. I did go to a couple WELL KNOWN local bakers in town. When I thought I might want to give the “smaller” baker my business, I was SHOCKED by the savings!!! And the taste… it was PERFECTLY devoured and EVERYONE Oooohed & Ahhhhhd. Not a crumble left on a single plate.

4.Use a local home decor store. Yes, I said “home decor” and if you have not been to Total Bliss in Summerfield… it’s a MUST!!! Nancy and her store completely, 100%, live up to their name. All you have to do is tell Nancy your plans and she has something in the store you can use at a party, spruce up your house or just needing a simple gift for the “guests of the hour”. I found these darling place-card holders which I used as picture holder of the couple when they where younger.

5. Use a local caterer (or friend). I was fortunate enough to have a dear friend who happens to be Italian AND happens to have a portable brick oven to cook yummy, fresh to order pizzas!!! (Still trying to convince them to start a catering business for this SUPER FUN idea). We severed an incredible salad bar to go along with the pizza (thanks to my sis-in-law). What made this so nice? EVERYONE, young and old, got to have exactly what they wanted… on their pizza and their plate. Of course you can contact a number of incredible caterers to help with ALL your food and service needs for any size party… I was just fortunate to have such a contact!

6. And of course… a TERRIFIC local couple!!! Thanks Tom & Carole for showing us that 50 years is still obtainable, cherished and valued in this crazy world. You two are such a beautiful couple and I’m honored to be a part of this family!!!

Do you have any idea how much Kendra at My First Kitchen can rock some food? We do!! We have been to Kendra’s kitchen several times. Each time we leave we think it can’t get any better….but IT DOES! Read all about our fabulous time at the last class we took with her here.

A few words from Kendra about her upcoming class….

“Summer is the absolute best time for vegetables! There are so. many. options. But what do you do with them all? Let’s find out together. Come for a casual class centered around the bounty you find at the farmers market. We’ll grill, saute, braise, blanche, and roast until we are crazy full of yummy vitamins. It’s time for vegetables to taste good. Wanna come?”

If you want to come you need to e-mail or call Kendra ASAP! kendra@myfirstkitchen.net or 336-259-8386. There is only room for 6!

Saturday, July 24th from 11:00am to 1:30pm at Kendra’s house. There’s room for six, and everyone pays $36.00 each.

Today we are going to introduce you to some wonderful new flavors in town! Greater Expectations Catering and Meals to Go has some sweet {no not desserts!} additions to their store and SEEK was one of the first ones to get a taste! We also documented our day at GE in a video.  It is posted in our sidebar and our You Tube Channel. We just set up the camera and let it roll while we tasted away.  Hope you enjoy!

In addition to the full line of meals to go and incredible catering selections, Greater Expectations is now serving up fresh salads and wraps.  They are made fresh on the spot and ready to go in minutes!  So, instead of stopping at the drive through when you are hungry and need a quick fix, stop by GE and get a much tastier and healthier meal!

Is your mouth watering yet? Mine is as I remember each bite of the salads and wraps we sampled!  You can get the entire Fresh Express Menu on their website.  But here are a few of our favorites:

Strawberry Pecan Salad – Spinach with toasted pecans, strawberries & bleu cheese served with a light vinaigrette. A real deal for only $4.99!

Jerk Portabella Mushroom Salad – Jerk spiced portabella tops a spring mix salad with cucumbers, tomatoes & carrots. Again, only $4.99!

Spicy Turkey Salad with Strawberry Salsa – Spinach with Spicy turkey, bleu cheese & strawberry salsa. Amazing and only $6.99

Thai Chicken Salad – Spinach with cilantro, cucumbers & carrots, topped with Asian-marinated chicken breast and drizzled with spicy peanut sauce. This is a great salad!

Any salad can be made into a wrap too! Choose from Tomato-Basil, Jalapeno Cheddar, or Spinach wrap.

Don’t forget that GE also has a Take and Bake Menu that changes monthly and HUGE list of Catering Menu selections. Just a few more days left until that July 4th holiday. You know it is a BIG day for our country and there is always lots of celebrating. Do you know what you are serving yet?

GIVE*A*WAY

Get on over to Greater Expectations or give them a call and get your menu planned before it is too late.  To help you out GE is giving away a $25 gift certificate to use at GE! It is super easy to win

1.  Leave us a comment here on SEEK and let us know what you like best on the new Fresh Express Menu.

2.  For a second entry join the Greater Expectations FaceBook “Like” Page. It is a great way to keep up with all the menu’s and specials!  Leave a comment on SEEK that you joined.

Greater Expectations Catering & Meals to Go
New Garden Crossing
1577-C New Garden Rd
Greensboro, NC 27410
(336) 790-8711
mary@greaterexpectationscatering.com

Hey, food friends. It’s Kendra. Remember me?

Did you know that our lovely state of North Carolina is the leading producer of sweet potatoes? In the US at least. That means as citizens of this great state, it is only our duty to eat these lovely orange tubers in all their glory. And if you hit either the Curb Market on Yanceyville or the Farmers Market on Sandy Ridge, you’ll have your pick of freshly-dug sweet potatoes that are as close to your backyard as you can get… unless you grow sweet potatoes in your backyard.

There are so many ways to cook these – roast with garlic, red pepper flake, and thyme; cut into strips and broil fries; bake with marshmallows at Thanksgiving – but my favorite way (at least this week) is to steam, mash, and mix with tons of butter. Not rocket science, but rocket science has never been this delicious either.

First step? Peel and cube the potatoes. Make sure they’re about the same size. That way they all cook at the same time.

Next, grab a bamboo steamer (I have a little how-to on my site if you don’t know how to use one), place the potatoes in the trays, and steam for about fifteen minutes until a fork pierces a piece without it falling apart. You see that picture up there? That’s a well-cooked sweet potato. The same color throughout, not brown, and itching for some butter.

(By the way, if you don’t have a steamer, feel free to put the potatoes in a saucepan, cover with water, and boil for 12-15 minutes. Steaming just locks in more nutrients. No biggie either way.)

Now comes the fun part. Grab a fork or similar mashing utensil, and mash away. Then mix in butter (I’m talking 3-4 tablespoons for two-ish cups of potatoes) and salt. Keep adding both until it tastes amazing. Depending on the sweetness of your potatoes, whether or not you use salted or unsalted butter, and how sweet/salty you like things, you just need to add a taste. It’s a fun process; don’t knock it.

Be proud to be a North Carolinian. Eat your sweet potatoes. Support your farmers. And for the love, use lots of butter.

We have always had a fondness for The Extra Ingredient.  That fondness has grown by twofold as we’ve gotten to know owners Art and Martha Nading.  They opened The Extra Ingredient in Greensboro in 1985. They are proud to say that after 25 years their store continues to be an independently owned and operated kitchen and gourmet store.  The only one of its kind in the Triad.  They are not only passionate for their business, but for the community they serve as well.

There is something for everyone in The Extra Ingredient! Aisles of pretty colors, gadgets galore, specialty foods, and the best smelling {and tasting!} coffee. Our favorites are Snickerdoodle and Blueberry Cinnamon! Not a coffee drinker? EI has you covered with tea too!

EI has the most delicious selection of Juliska Tableware. Rich with Juliska’s signature detail, this fine stoneware comes in six inviting colors, {We want them all!} with artfully layers scallop and round shapes. You can mix and match the colors and shapes! Think this stoneware is just for special occasions? You can use it everyday….it can ago straight from the freezer into the oven on 450 degrees – also guaranteed for microwave and dishwasher use. This vitrified ceramic is highly resistant to chipping and breaking.

Gift Registry @ The Extra Ingredient:

Do you have a special occasion coming up? EI has a full Gift Registry Service. Their service is interactive online and will provide you and your family and friends with online access to the list and online purchasing of gifts.

The Nading’s also put their hearts into a fabulous bi-monthly newsletter that is delivered via e-mail.  We love the newsletter because it is full of recipes, tips, upcoming events and specials!  This month they are talking about all types of greens and include some wonderful summer salad recipes. Get over to The Extra Ingredient website and submit your e-mail address so you too can receive this wonderful e-mail publication!

Get the recipe for this salad from the EI Newsletter!

The famous Extra Ingredient Sidewalk Sale is taking place on June 26th at their store located at 801-D Friendly Center Road at the Friendly Center. Get discounts of at least 50% during the sale between 9 am and 6 pm.

GIVE~A~WAY

The Extra Ingredient wants to give back to you too! In the spirit of summer they are graciously donating a Cuisinart 1 1/2 Quart Frozen Ice Cream/Yogurt Maker to one of our readers. To qualify you must do the following: {Do all 3 and you get 3 chances to win!}

Win a Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt/Ice Cream Maker!

1. Join The Extra Ingredient Facebook “Like” Page and leave a comment that you did here on SEEK
2. Sign up for The Extra Ingredient E Newsletter and leave a comment that you did this here on SEEK
3. Share this article on your Facebook page and leave a comment that you did this here on SEEK

This is Kendra from My First Kitchen! We had the extreme pleasure of attending one of her cooking classes a few weeks ago with several other fabulous women. Kendra arose bright and early that morning and headed to the Farmers Market downtown. She purchased fresh meats, veggies, and sweet potatoes from local farmers. She talked to each farmer and got the story behind the food they were selling. She then went to a grocery store and bought the identical ingredients she had purchased at the Farmers Market. Our quest to cook the two groups of food side by side began! Would we be able to tell a difference?

After gnawing of some incredible appetizers she had prepared, we got busy trussing the chickens. How fancy does that sound? With passion and exuberance Kendra taught us the super easy skill that made all the difference in the flavor of the chicken. We put the local bird and the bird from “somewhere else” in to roast and moved on to sweet potatoes and greens.

Gotta say I wasn’t too sure about these greens. I had never been successful with them and had just about written them out of my diet, still knowing how wonderful they are for you. Well, let me say that Kendra knows how to cook some greens! We made kale and mustard greens. They were exceptional and so easy to make!

With the aroma of the roasting chicken in the air we peeled and diced the two groups of sweet potatoes. We immediately noticed a big difference here. The store bought sweet potatoes did not have much color compared the the Farmers Market potatoes, and they seemed dry and a bit old. We also worked on some pork chops as well. Amazed at the difference between the two groups yet again!

Tasting time finally came….we plated up our two groups of food and dug in!

The difference between the local plate and the grocery store plate was unbelievable!!! Hands down the local meats blew me away!  We scarfed down every bit of the local plate!  I was even tempted to pick the plate up and lick it.  The food from the grocery store was definitely very edible, and had I not known that something much more blissful existed, I would have been quite content.  However, once I had tasted the fresh local flavors, I was introduced to taste buds I never knew I had!

We also did a cost comparison on the two groups of food. Yes, the local ingredients were more expensive. However, these chefs unanimously decided that it was well worth it. {Not to mention the health and environmental benefits.}

Are you ready to take Kendra’s next class? She is working on getting a few more lined up for the summer! She can also do special requests if you get a group of 6 friends together.

If you were to take a class, what kind of class would you like to take? Please leave a comment and be sure to visit My First Kitchen for lots of mouth watering recipes and pictures!

Need at Memorial Day Weekend Recipe? Try some of Kendra’s Mouth Watering Ribs on the Barbie!

Chances are you have heard all the latest buzz about one of the hottest spots in Greensboro these days.  These girls can not get enough of this place and here is why….

The words FRESH. LOCAL. GOOD., greet  you as you pull up to The Iron Hen Cafe… FRESH. LOCAL. GREAT., is what you experience with all the tasty items on the menu!!! Lee Comer, owner operator, has wisely chosen her foods {their origin and taste}, her location {easy to get to right off Wendover} and her staff {eager to serve} to give the Triad the best it has to offer locally. The menu boasts 80% of its flavors coming from the local area! Lee is very proud of this fact and the people who frequent the Iron Hen agree!  Their continued support also comes from the the Iron Hen’s excellent menu choices!!!  We have sampledquite a few of the choices, but still have many more to go….darn!

And that’s not all… they start the day serving great coffee (full service coffee bar, YUMMERS!!!),  and a full breakfast menu until 11 am.

French Toast on local bread... now that's FRESH!

Next you can move through their incredible lunch menu, loaded with so many wonderful selections! We have found that it pays to get there a little EARLY. The secret is out on this hot spot so you won’t be the only one flocking the joint!

House favorite... Creamy Tomato Basil Soup!!!

Quinoa with Goat Cheese and Vegi's!!!

The Iron Hen offers daily specials as well. We could go by and simply order off this board sitting on the sidewalk and never even make it to the regular menu. The salads, sandwiches, soups and more are simply what the south is ALL about. As you can tell, Seek is smitten by Lee and her gang!!! Make sure to join their Facebook Page to keep up with the daily specials!!!

Burgers... need we say more?

Craving some Iron Hen at the end of your day?  They have you covered with the latest addition of DINNER, served up until 9 pm and you can even get a cold beer with it! What more could you ask for in a local restaurant? We know, a second location (he he he)… who knows! And let’s not forget the IH offers catering as well, this is one well rounded joint!!!

Oh yea, this Wednesday, May 19th, make sure to get a glimpse on TV of the Iron Hen Cafe. Lee and her cute self will be on Fox8 for Recipe Wednesday! We’ll make sure to DVR it and share it with you on Seek (if Fox 8 is kind enough to share on their site!!!)

Iron Hen Scramble

Let us remind you again that they plan on their menu remaining 80% local (and isn’t that what Seek the Triad is ALL about?!?!?!)… Lee uses J&S Farms, The Goat Lady Cheese, Gorilla Granola and Guilford Mill Grains to name a few. So why wouldn’t you want to try this perfect spot for you next breakfast, lunch or dinner outing? You get GREAT food, incredible service, support your local economy (double) and relax knowing it’s all healthy and happening!!!

For those still a little “green” with envy, all the IH togo products are compostable. Lee goes as “Green” as possible, no one is allowed to use disposable stuff in her store from her staff!!! The plastic cups, lids, and straws even come from corn, meaning it is completely compostable.  When you get home with your togo box, it comes from completely recycled paper so you don’t have to feel so guilty when you toss the empty container (and trust us it WILL be empty)!

Hot Fresh Cut Fries with Sea Salt

One last thing we’d like to mention… Lee and Iron Hen will be having their First Annual Hoot’Nanny , benefiting ALS!!! The event will be held May 26th, their will be tons of food vendors, games for the kids (free with adult ticket), Blue Grass Band, Beer/Wine and more!!! For more information, please contact Lee Comer~ 471-5205 or at ironhen@hotmail.com. Lee’s mom passed away from ALS and this is a fitting way to pay tribute to her mom and from other families affected by this disease.

Now serving Dinner!!!
New hours:
M-F…7-9
Sat…..8-9
Sun….8-4
(Coming Soon Mike-Night Sunday 6-9)

fresh and homemade DAILY!!!

Location:
908 Cridland Road,
Greensboro, NC 27408
Phone: 336.617.7105 Fax: 336.617.7108
E-mail: ironhen@hotmail.com

When we were first told about Christina and her new venture, Seek knew in a second that we were going to love this girl!!! Christina has started her 12 month wedding plans and has decided that not only is she going to blog her adventures, but it’s ALL LOCAL!!! Can you believe it Triad? She will being guest writing about her finds, her plans, her ideas and her suggestions for other brides in the Triad!!! SO make sure to tell your friends who are in their own wedding plans so they can follow along as well… ALSO, make sure to leave Christina some “comment love” as well and let her know your favorite local places for a “bride to be” to shop, register and find the wedding of her dreams!!!

A Girl Named Christina

HONESTLY, I AM YOUR TYPICAL AMERICAN GIRL. I grew up in a small town where I couldn’t go to the grocery store without running into at least 5 people I knew. I graduated with a semi-high rank from high school. Went to college where I changed my major, count them, three times and where I also met the man of dreams. I am 25, on the verge of 26 and I am planning a wedding for next spring. It is through this experience I plan on changing the face of the wedding industry… one city at a time.

After a few unfulfilling jobs I landed a career that many girls would kill for. I am the manager of a new, local paper boutique in Greensboro, North Carolina (Ashleigh’s Fine Paper). I work with two fabulous ladies, that are more like sisters than coworkers. I have, within the last 8 months designed invitations for an event sponsored by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, worked on invitations for a Maya Angelou event in New York and helped nearly 30 brides find the absolute perfect wedding invitations.

The Wedding Industry

The wedding industry is a $40 Billion per year industry. Okay, I just want to make sure you heard me correctly… $40,000,000,000.00 PER YEAR! That is twelve 0′s folks. Do me a favor and hang on to this figure in your head… and let me give you some reference. The 3/50 Project, When you spend locally, the money stays local. $68 of every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores stays in the community in the form of payroll, taxes, etc. When you shop at a nation chain, the retained value goes down to $43 and when you shop online $0 return to the community. You do the math. It pays to shop local.

Connect the Dots

*Say the average wedding costs $20,000. Say within the great city of Greensboro there are at least 2,000 couples that plan to be married this year.

*If these brides bought their goods at national chains, they would spend $40 Million, of which $17.2 Million would stay in the city of Greensboro.

*If these same brides used locally owned independent stores for their dress, cake, flowers, favors, invitations,etc. $25.2 Million that would stay in the city of Greensboro!

*That is a difference of $8 Million that would stay in your community, fixing your roads, employing your neighbors, bettering your schools and making your community a better place to live and shop.

THE AHA MOMENT

After three months of burning up the keys on my laptop searching for every fabulous wedding vendor in a 5 state radius a light bulb went off. Not one of those new LED or what-cha-ma call it bulbs that are perfectly energy-efficient and glow a tinted blue hue. A huge, pull with a big long chain, hear it crackle when starts lighting up, honker of a light bulb came on in my head.. A COMPLETELY LOCAL WEDDING!! Let the adventure begin…

SO were we right Triad? Trust us on this… there will plenty of tips, advice, photos of eye candy and maybe we can even scrounge up a few Give*A*Ways along the way for ALL you local brides and brides to be!!! Make sure to follow Christina on her own personal blog at www.marymelocal.blogspot.com. She will have more weekly information you’re NOT going to want to miss!!!

Also, make sure to check out our own local business community (modeled after the 3/50 Project) called Buy Triad First.