More Food & Drink
What I eat in a day on Noom
What do you actually eat on Noom? This is the question I get asked most about my healthy living journey and 130-pound weight loss on Noom. When people see my weight loss transformation, most are curious about what I eat and what I don’t eat. In this blog post I’ll...
Eight cool things to do in Grand Forks, North Dakota
With so many legendary things to do in Grand Forks, North Dakota, it might just be the coolest city you've never visited. When you roll into town, you're immediately greeted by a winky smile on the city's water tower - and the cool factor doesn't stop there. Grand...
11 reasons you must try Chaz on the Plaza in Kansas City
Forget what you think you know about hotel restaurants, because Chaz on the Plaza is different. While many hotels offer on-site dining that is just fine, Chaz on the Plaza in Kansas City's Raphael Hotel offers a true fine dining experience. With its upscale ambiance,...
9 ways The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City helps you relax and unwind
When you're ready to relax and unwind, the historic Raphael Hotel in Kansas City is the ideal place for a getaway. A sophisticated boutique hotel, it's just steps away from Kansas City's premier retail center, Country Club Plaza. Whether you're planning a couple's...
The best low-calorie egg roll in a bowl recipe
I think we finally nailed the best low-calorie egg roll in a bowl recipe. And better yet, we actually wrote it down! Egg roll in a bowl is a high protein, low-carb dish that is very satisfying and can be on the table in 15-20 minutes. With just 140-180 calories per...
6 of the best crostini recipes you’ll ever make
We're sharing six of the best crostini recipes we've ever made and you can easily make them, too! Homemade crostini are the perfect bite-sized appetizer for gatherings. But portions can also easily be sized down for just one or two people, like us. Made with...
8 delicious and healthy ways to eat potatoes
You may not think there are healthy ways to eat potatoes, and we know why. We're used to eating them as high-fat and high-calorie french fries or chips. If we don't fry them, we often load them up with butter, cheese, and bacon. But none of these are the potato's...
How to make this festive Christmas charcuterie board
Making a festive Christmas charcuterie board is actually not that difficult. Today, I'm sharing my tips for creating a beautiful board, along with a list of groceries you'll need. I love making Christmas charcuterie boards for parties and gatherings during the...
Nine great places to eat in Wichita as suggested by locals
We recently found several great places to eat in Wichita though we didn’t dine in at even one restaurant. Yes, it is possible, and we found a way to do it during the pandemic of 2020. In part because of my suppressed immune system and health issues, it had been nearly...
A few of our favorite foods to grill this summer
Looking for some new favorite foods to grill this summer? Like many of you, we've spent more time at home than usual this summer (and used our grill more, especially since we started using the Noom weight loss app. We've rounded up a few of our favorite grill recipes...
Easy recipe for making roti flatbread
I started making roti flatbread early in the pandemic and home isolation when our craving for Indian food reached a fever pitch. We missed the warm, soft flatbread we'd had at Indian restaurants so much that one day in desperation I Googled how to prepare it. I found...
Baking the DoubleTree hotel’s Signature Cookie recipe
We were thrilled that DoubleTree Hotels by Hilton recently shared its signature cookie recipe. During the Coronavirus pandemic, we haven't been traveling, and have missed these cookies filled with chewy, chocolaty goodness. DoubleTree guests receive the freshly baked...
How to make handmade Tuscan pasta and vegetarian sauce
Learning to make handmade Tuscan pasta isn't that difficult, especially when taught by Tuscans who make it all the time. While isolated in our home in Nebraska this week because of the coronavirus outbreak, we learned (via the internet) how to make handmade Tuscan...
Low-calorie mushroom wild rice soup recipe from a Noom nerd
This mushroom wild rice soup is one of my new favorites and is great for my Noom weight loss plan. If you're new here, my husband and I have lost about 145 pounds together (and 80 of those were mine) using the Noom weight loss app. One of the best strategies that has...
An over-the-top Valentine’s weekend at The Pioneer Woman Boarding House
We had planned to spend Valentine's Day the way we have most years; cooking a nice meal together at home and splurging on one of our "really good" bottles of wine. We tabled those plans when The Pioneer Woman invited us to spend Valentine's weekend at her...
A Noom nerd’s low-calorie chicken tortilla soup recipe
So, I'm not a recipe person. Never have been. That's probably why I'm a terrible baker. I get ahead of myself. I don't read the whole thing. I add or subtract ingredients as I go. That's just me. But today, I made an attempt at crafting a recipe for a low-calorie...
Gift ideas for the home cook or foodie on your shopping list
Need some great gift ideas for the home cook on your list? We've got you covered. As regular readers of our blog know, we’ve been losing weight, but that has only made us focus more on the quality of food that we eat and cook at home. Because we want every calorie to...
Barbecue to Boba drinks: The best places to eat and drink in Kansas City, Kansas
A few weeks ago, we put on our stretchy pants and in a span of about 40 hours, sampled food and drinks from 20 different places to eat in Kansas City, Kansas. Yes, we ate a good amount barbecue - a local tradition and favorite. But we also tasted foods and beverages...
Eating our way through Kansas City, Kansas
We've been working hard at losing weight, but we'll be slowing down a bit this week. At least for 43 hours. We're headed out for a Foodie FAM called "A Taste of Kansas City, Kansas." Over the next couple of days, we'll be hosted by Visit Kansas City, Kansas, on a FAM...
Bars on the Celebrity Edge – A well researched guide
There are at least 10 bars on the Celebrity Edge - the cruise line's newest ship. In an effort to provide you with everything you need to know about the watering holes on board before your cruise, we immersed ourselves in extensive research on your behalf. And, we...
Cooking paella with The Pioneer Woman’s friend, Hyacinth, and The Chef & The Dish
This post contains references to our experience with The Chef & The Dish. We may receive compensation when you click on links to its products. How I ended up cooking with The Pioneer Woman's friend, Hyacinth, is an interesting story. When we bought a home where...
Ree Drummond’s ice cream shop: An inside scoop
Here's the inside scoop on The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond's ice cream shop in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Since we now have a home just blocks from The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, we've been anxiously awaiting the opening of Ree's latest venture -- Charlie's Sweet Shop. We were...
Tillamook Creamery, because ice cream and cheese
I love ice cream. And I love cheese. When Ann and I realized our trip along the Oregon coast would take us through a town named Tillamook, we wondered if God loved us so much that he put the factory of our favorite cheese right in our path. It turns out, He did! Of...
How to make a salty dog and a cucumber martini
This week, we are showing you how to make a salty dog cocktail and a cucumber martini. Just for fun, we took our Friday cocktail hour on the road again and set up the bar at Salt Creek Marketplace in downtown Pawhuska, Oklahoma. We just love this new boutique that is...
How to make a Manhattan and Classic Daiquiri
Do you enjoy indulging yourself every now and again? We do. One of our favorite ways to treat ourselves is with a well-crafted cocktail. We love using fresh juices and herbs along with good spirits to make a memorable beverage. There’s something exciting about mixing...
20 Things to do in Kearney, Nebraska while you wait on the cranes
Sitting in the blind you're amazed at the noise coming from the river. The cranes get louder and more frenzied, reaching a crescendo you simply weren't expecting. Suddenly, tens of thousands of huge birds take to the air, wings flapping, the squeaking even louder now....
Why every foodie needs to have the original Doe’s Eat Place on their bucket list
There's nothing like the original Doe's Eat Place in Greenville, Mississippi. Nothing. The entrance through the kitchen, two-pound steaks on a fiery open broiler, grease-stained floor boards, and lemon and oil soaked salad set it apart from any other restaurant in...
See what we learned (and drank) at Rock Town Distillery in Little Rock
Truth be told, I hadn't planned to do any day drinking when we rolled into Little Rock, Arkansas. But the federal government shutdown had shuttered the Clinton Library that we'd intended to visit so what's a boy to do? We needed a backup plan fast and happily...
The Pioneer Woman Mercantile’s first-ever whole hog dinner
We were so thrilled (and honored) to be invited to The Pioneer Woman Mercantile's First Ever Whole Hog Dinner. If you just let the name of that meal sink in for a second, you'll realize the potential for an overload of pure deliciousness. A whole hog, prepared by Chef...
Five ideas for finding unforgettable pizza
Americans eat 3 BILLION pizzas every year! That means that every single day we eat enough pizza to cover 100 acres of land. In order to do this, we consume it at a rate of 350 slices per second! I have done my part to support this national love affair with pizza, and...
Celebrating New Year’s Eve at Coast in Gulf Shores
We celebrated a lovely New Year's Eve at Coast Restaurant in Gulf Shores, Alabama this year. It was a great place to stop and spend the holiday while traveling from our home in Oklahoma to Florida for a cruise. The nice folks at The Beach Club Resort & Spa offered...
Pivo Brewery and Blepta Studios: Hand crafted beer and beer crafted art
When we sat down at Pivo Brewery, in tiny Calmar, Iowa, I was excited to taste a few craft beers at this new tap room. Then, owner Craig Neuzil came over to my table with eight (!) beers in sampling glasses. I was sure I'd told him it would just be me doing the...
5 things I’ve learned about Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
When I left my career as a middle school principal, I gained some immediate benefits. I traded in my neckties for t-shirts and long meetings for behind-the-scenes tours. Recently, though, I learned of another great switcheroo that came when I left my job in public...
We learned how to make risotto with The Chef & The Dish
This post contains references to our experience learning how to make risotto with The Chef & The Dish. We may receive compensation when you click on links to its products. We've always wanted to learn how to make risotto. So, when The Chef & The Dish reached...
The Chef & The Dish Skypes a chef right into your kitchen
This post contains references to our experience with The Chef & The Dish. We may receive compensation when you click on links to its products. The Chef & The Dish brings world-class chefs right into your kitchen and it couldn't make me happier. Lasting...
Tips for your visit to Prosecco Road: #4 Savor the food
When we were in Italy this summer tasting the bubbly wines along Prosecco Road, it was easy to be laser focused on the next wine tasting. However, to go to the Prosecco region and only concentrate on the wine would be a shame. That's because Valdobbiadene had some of...
Tips for your visit to Prosecco Road #3 – Get to know your wine
A slow journey along the Prosecco Road allows you really get to know the wine you are drinking in a way not found in other parts of Italy. Because it doesn't have the masses of tourists found elsewhere in the country, visitors to the Prosecco region can really immerse...
Tips for your visit to Prosecco Road – #2 Stay at an Italian agriturismo
If you're wondering what an Italian agriturismo is, don't worry. You're in good company. I had no idea they even existed before our trip to Italy this summer. In fact, it wasn't until I stayed in one that I gained a good understanding of what they are and how they can...
A unique wine tasting in the woods and our stay near Montepulciano, Italy
When we went wine tasting in Tuscany (can I just interject that I've dreamt about saying those words for quite some time) I had no idea what to expect from our visit to the town of Montepulciano, other than we would likely be tasting Vino Nobile, the typical wine of...
Five tips for wine tasting in Tuscany
I’ve done wine tastings before. You pull into a winery, hear all about their wonderful product while sampling a flight of four to five wines poured out in small, two-sip portions 10 seconds apart, decide whether to buy, and then head out the door. So, when we set out...
Our incredible private tour and cooking class in Chianti with Italy Unfiltered
After spending a day on our own exploring beautiful Siena, Italy, our hosts Deb of Italy Unfiltered and her husband Massi the Driver picked us up at our hotel and we began our complimentary tour of Italian food, wine, and culture in the Chianti Region. As we got in...
How I fell into a Tuscan food coma – Part 2
This is Part 2 about our complimentary delicious Tuscan food tour with American, Deb, of Italy Unfiltered, and her Italian husband, Massi the Driver. To read Part 1, click HERE. Time to walk off some of that delicious Tuscan food We left the bakery, simultaneously...
How I fell into a Tuscan food coma – Part 1
I intended to write this post about our incredible first day with hosts Deb and Massi yesterday, but I accidentally slipped into a Tuscan food coma. In all fairness, it isn't my fault. I mean, they took us on a foodie tour of Siena, and it was a grueling delicious...
10 things we love about Kinkaider Brewing Company in Broken Bow, Nebraska
Central Nebraska’s Kinkaider Brewing Company is quickly becoming one of the most popular destination craft breweries in the Midwest. Located at the edge of the rolling Sandhills in Broken Bow, Nebraska, Kinkaider was founded by four small-town Nebraskans, three of...
This Clear Lake, Iowa deli ranks #1 despite only being open 17 1/2 (ish) hours a week
Trip Advisor’s #1-ranked restaurant in Clear Lake, Iowa, is only open 17 and a half(ish) hours a week. Might not seem like the best business model, but the sisters who own and manage Starboard Market have made it work quite well in this quaint Midwest town – for 19...
A very filling agritourism progressive meal from the Plains Safaris conference
I went on my first agritourism progressive meal today. Let me just say, I'm now a big fan. Ann and I are attending the Plains Safaris: A conference on tourism and conservation in the Great Plains in Kearney, Nebraska, this week. When I saw that one of the...
What I love most about The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, OK
It's Valentine's Day and that gets me thinking about all the things I love. My incredible family. Our fantastic church. The privilege of blogging about midlife travel. My electric mattress pad warmer. And yes, Edna Mae's pancakes at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. I...
The secret to that good Handy’s fountain pop in Pawhuska, Oklahoma
When we agreed to come to Pawhuska, Oklahoma, for the National Indian Taco Championship, we asked locals what we should do when we got to town. The first thing anyone told us was to go to Handy's to get a fountain pop because it's really good, and because they, "have...
5 things we learned judging the National Indian Taco Championships in Pawhuska
As you may have heard, earlier this month we were invited to be celebrity judges for the National Indian Taco Championships in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. We'd been invited by the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce to join six others (who had much greater celebrity status than we...
TripAdvisor’s most hilarious manager responses from Robert J. at Peppermill
With more than 500 million candid traveler reviews, TripAdvisor has quickly become a go-to online resource for many travelers, including us. We often roll into a new city with cell-phones in hand, searching for a top-10ish restaurant to stop for dinner. We typically...
The secret to The Village Pie Maker pies
Note: Since the publication of this post, Village Pie Maker was sold to a new owner, and the pies are now made at a facility near Omaha, Nebraska. We've tried the pies since the sale, and they are just as good now as they were then. I am the first to admit, I am not a...
Yes, we’re going to be celebrity judges at the National Indian Taco Championship!
Between the two of us, we've got some interesting titles on our resumes. Sports writer, lifeguard, vice president of public relations, athletic director, lobbyist, middle school principal, travel writers, and bloggers. And now, we get to add ... wait for it ......
My attempt at conquering a Vitek’s Gut Pak
When David Ridley of Waco Tours recommended the Gut Pak at Vitek's BBQ, I knew that was where I wanted to go for lunch. Sure, he had a couple other suggestions, but the name piqued my curiosity and after spending two days at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile and Magnolia...
I like big buns and I cannot lie
Let me cut to the chase. One of the main reasons people visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Okla., is to eat. Sure, there are colorful serving bowls to admire, plates to purchase, and recipe books to thumb through. But for me (and I suspect many others)...
Six reasons to take your wife to The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
I had my doubts when Ann told me she wanted to visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Okla. For me, I couldn't see how this would be time well spent. I envisioned a crowded store with mostly middle-aged women roaming around, oohing and aaahing at spatulas and...
Our visit to The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond’s Mercantile
About 12 hours after Steve finished his last school board meeting and his ended his career as a middle school principal, we were on the road for a much-needed (and anticipated) vacation. First stop – Pawhuska, Oklahoma to visit The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond's...
The Joy of Sidewalk Cafes
I have always loved travel. As a Spanish teacher, I thought it important to share my love of travel with my students. So, together with a German teacher colleague from across the hall who shared that belief, we planned a European tour for our students. It was hugely...
We’ll toast to that!
National Martini Day is apparently celebrated each year on June 19. I tried to research this holiday and was unable to find the creator or origin of National Martini Day -- but that's not going to stop us from toasting it! While we aren't big drinkers, on the...
Love me some koh-lah-chee
Cherry is my personal favorite. And it has been since I was a little girl and was first introduced to kolace, usually at the home of my great-grandmother, Olive (Moravek) Rashleigh. She was Czechoslovakian and whenever we got together for family gatherings at her...
Inspiring the next step on your journey