Raines Realm

It was an overcast, cold day as I pulled into the dirt parking lot of Sweatman's Barbecue. The solid white, pig-shaped sign is simple and tells you everything you need to know. As I walked up to the front door, across the historic front porch, I was transported back to a simpler time. The smell of barbecue creating a spark of excitement in the anticipation of the meal to come. The restaurant is comprised of additions to an old house. You can still admire the rugged construction and smaller doorways in certain dining rooms. As you enter through the front door, there is a guest book filled with signatures from all over the world. The menu consists of an all-you-can-eat option, a one-time-though option, as well as to-go plates, and meats, hashes, and other delights sold in various quantities. The buffet consists of baked macaroni and cheese, baked beans, green beans, skins, rice, hash, chicken, white and dark meat pork, ribs, coleslaw, dill and bread and butter pickles, brea...

Sometimes, I can be pretty obsessed with my slow cooker. I love making big batches of delicious meals and then freezing half to enjoy later. It helps me save time and my family gets to enjoy a large variety of tasty dinners! I originally saw this recipe while I was watching How Jen Does It   on YouTube. She has some really amazing slow cooker recipes and this one really stuck out for me. I've changed a couple of things in her recipe based on my family's preferences and simplifying it to make it an even quicker dinner time option. A little tip when cooking in your slow cooker, spray it with nonstick spray first so that things don't stick. Nothings worse than saving the time cooking only to find yourself spending considerable time scrubbing over the sink after. I suggest serving this chicken over rice and topping it with sour cream and perhaps a little shredded cheese. You can use brown or white rice, whichever you prefer. Santa Fe Chicken Recipe ( Step-by-step vi...

It's that time of year, the time when colds and flus start running rampant. Isn't that all year? I digress... As with so many things this year, society is getting back to it's roots and rediscovering ancient elixirs. Rooted in Chinese medicine over 2500 years ago, bone broth is making a comeback. This "meaty miracle" will apparently cure what ails you. It's modern day claims include healing your gut, protecting joints, better sleep, improving memory and immune support, stronger bones, and increased energy. This gluten-free, cure-all can be sipped as a beverage in place of coffee or tea, used as a base for soups, or even added to smoothies. (Although that last one scares me.) In 1760 the editor of the Dublin Courier first recorded an instance of  beef tea, which is bone broth as we know it today. According to the "experts" is recommended for daily use. And during the cold and flu season, extra doses if you actually get sick. ...

It's that time of year, the time when colds and flus start running rampant. Isn't that all year? I digress... As with so many things this year, society is getting back to it's roots and rediscovering ancient elixirs. Rooted in Chinese medicine over 2500 years ago, bone broth is making a comeback. This "meaty miracle" will apparently cure what ails you. It's modern day claims include healing your gut, protecting joints, better sleep, improving memory and immune support, stronger bones, and increased energy. This gluten-free, cure-all can be sipped as a beverage in place of coffee or tea, used as a base for soups, or even added to smoothies. (Although that last one scares me.) In 1760 the editor of the Dublin Courier first recorded an instance of  beef tea, which is bone broth as we know it today. According to the "experts" is recommended for daily use. And during the cold and flu season, extra doses if you actually get sick. ...

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2017 may be the year of the rooster, but goat is predicted to dominate the dinner table. The U.S. is now catching up with the rest of the world when it come to this delicious protein staple. When I was in primary school, (many moons ago), we had a guest restaurant come in and cook for us. They made goat stew. There were a lot of kids that skipped lunch that day and out of those that ate it, there was only one who went back for seconds...yep, you guessed it, it was me. I've always enjoyed trying new foods and perhaps it was then that I realized I was a future "foodie". The goat stew was amazing. The meat was tender, the potatoes and vegetables adding just the right notes of flavor and texture. It was delicious! So, imagine how excited I am that it's finally trending for the new year. And why not? Many other countries already utilize this versatile, lean red meat. Its low in fat, cholesterol, and calories. Goat meat actually ha...