To Sweet Beginnings, and a Sweeter Journey

I began Caramelized two Thanksgivings ago. My first post, entitled "Sweet Beginnings," introduced my effort to "make life a little sweeter." It started as a simple mindset, and it has since turned into the mantra of my twenty-something life.

I have met immensely talented chefs, writers and role models around the country; I have experienced incredible events and collaborative opportunities; I have developed my passions of writing and photography; And I am still finding my voice. Thank you for reading and letting me experiment.

I look forward to continuing this journey -- my heart is full, and I hope your stomachs are, too!

Join me in celebrating at Madewell Saddle Creek next Thursday from 6:30-8 p.m. We'll toast with bubbly, shop with exclusive discounts, and enjoy sweets with Muddy's Bake Shop. RSVP (rsvpsaddlecreek@madewell.com) or send me a note that you'll be there. Can't wait to see, meet, and celebrate with you!

photo via camille styles

How to Sweeten the Season with Nature Nate's

As holiday desserts consume our Pinterest boards, and menu planning for holiday feasts become a top-of-mind task, I cannot think of a more appropriate sweetener to a holiday moment (or meal). Nature Nate's is a 100% pure raw and unfiltered honey from my good 'ole stopping grounds of Texas, and I've quickly found myself craving the simple sweetness in each drop.

I personally adore Nature Nate's relevance to my blog mantra, "sweet touches to everyday experiences." Its delivery, first of all, is quite charming; the hand-written label is enough to convince me to choose Nature Nate's over the generic product on my grocery aisle...before even tasting it! After adding the bottle to my pantry shelf, I have found countless reasons to use it: in my nightly cups of tea, in the scones recipe I'm trying out before Thanksgiving travels, and in a new vinaigrette I'm concocting for a kale and pomegranate salad. If you're in need of honey-infused recipes, look no further than the BeeSweet blog, which lists dozens of seasonal dishes, especially beyond desserts.

When I picked up a loaf of fresh pumpkin bread from The Fresh Market this past weekend, I drizzled a bit on each slice before serving to friends. And you bet I'll be adding the blueberry honey syrup to my next batch of buckwheat pancakes!

How will you sweeten your holiday season?

This post is in partnership with Nature Nate's, and ingredients were made possible by The Fresh Market. Thank you for being supportive of my sponsors!

featured image courtesy of Nature Nate's

Mosa Asian Bistro

Thursday, the beloved calendar date we are all itching to arrive, provides the time and space to stop everything -- work and the daily grind, especially -- and celebrate family. Whether around a table, in a football stadium, or over video chat, we collectively pause our routines to appreciate those whom are most special to us. Those who are the reason we're here today.

One family, in particular, celebrates and appreciates such values; not just on Thanksgiving, but every single day. It's apparent as soon as you walk through Mosa's doors on Poplar and White Station. You're greeted by Michelle or Alex, most likely, and then you peek over the 25 sauce-studded bar to find the man behind it all: their father, Eddie Pao. He's whipping up a fabulous lo mein that he's mastered since beginning the business 37 years ago.

Eddie and the Pao family represent one of the few long-standing, family-owned Memphis restaurant businesses that has sanctified tradition yet evolved through the generations. After sitting for coffee with Michelle, I witnessed her continuous commitment to updating the menus, refreshing the space, and perfecting the customer service that keeps diners on the meal plan for years and years to come. The face-to-face value creates loyalty, in my opinion. It's why I love grabbing basil rolls and sautéed vegetables to-go, just so I can catch up with sweet Michelle at the register. It's why my family deems it our go-to spot while everyone is out and about and in need of a centrally-located, reliable, and enjoyable setting for dinner.

Just as we value the family dinner table as routine, Mosa seeks to be a routine, everyday experience for its customers. With its price point, menu variety, and Asian farm-to-table specials, you can come to Mosa on a weekly basis without getting sick of it or breaking the bank. Personally, I go between the pad see ew, shrimp and broccoli with brown rice, and mushroom lettuce wraps. Always a basil roll or spring roll to start. Dumplings if I'm feeling extra hungry. The dozens of choices are fantastic for families, large parties, or a party of one on a weeknight.

The fresh vegetables, brought in weekly through a CSA program, are prepped for hours before the restaurant even opens. I'm in awe of Michelle's description of her team's day-to-day duties, which I hope to experience soon in-person. The bok choy and broccoli never arrive pre-cut. Eddie and his team hand chop the vegetables, formulate the 25 sauces, and prepare for catered affairs, take-outs, and tables seven days a week. It's remarkable!

For the party of five who has transformed customers into "family" for almost four decades, I encourage you to try the consistently delicious Pan-Asian fare, especially once Thursday passes and we'll all be sick of cooking! You'll be impressed with Mosa's fresh focus. It's about great food and great service.

photos by Sophorn Kouy

Mark Your Calendars this Holiday Season

For the time being (although, fingers crossed, it becomes a permanent necessity!), I have created a page (at the top) for upcoming Caramelized events. I'd love for you to join me in celebrating this holiday season, especially with two noteworthy shopping opportunities in Memphis. First of all, I  am honored to be co-hosting an evening of shopping and socializing at Madewell Saddle Creek on December 4 from 6:30-8 p.m. We'll be sipping bubbly, snacking on Muddy's desserts, and getting an exclusive look at the winter store collection! I'll assist your wardrobe styling needs and gift a select few shoppers with a holiday tea set DIY treat. (Hint: The sooner you arrive, the better your chance will be to receive one.)

I am also thrilled to be sponsoring the Memphis Indie Holiday Market at Muddy's Grind House on Saturday, December 13 from 11-5 p.m. The vendors are the best of the best -- I can't begin to brag on the local talent I have recently discovered through this curated collection of artists, designers, and makers!

In addition, I'll be managing my own market booth. I plan to sell little things in tiny jars to elevate holiday sips and sweets. How do y'all feel about sugared cranberries, hot cocoa mix, oatmeal mix, dried citrus, lavender- and espresso-infused sugars with attached recipe cards and holiday entertaining tips? If you have any other mason jar gift ideas, send them my way...

featured image courtesy of umami girl

Sea Bass with Chickpea Puree and Parsley Sauce

I'm the Bon Appétit and Food & Wine fan who dreams about (and drools over) each issue's recipes, rips them out for later use, and completely forgets about them after the fact. However, when Zoe and I invited a few friends for dinner earlier in the month, I spent one evening sorting through dozens of torn pages and narrowing them down to the finest. This sea bass recipe stood out among the rest; and boy, does it still stand out. The chickpea puree leftovers made for a fabulous post-work appetizer and wine accompaniment the following day, and the parsley sauce added just the right amount of color and flavor to the mix.

I served my fillet with a green bean salad with mustard seeds, roasted fingerling potatoes, and some sautéed portobello slices.

Makes 4 servings

1 cup olive oil 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest 4 six-ounce sea bass fillets Salt and pepper 4 fresh bay leaves 4 small rosemary sprigs 1/2 teaspoon minced rosemary 2 cups Italian parsley leaves 2 tablespoons lemon juice Two 15-ounce cans chick peas, rinsed and drained 1 small garlic clove

1. Preheat oven to 400. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium baking dish, mix 1/4 cup olive oil with 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest. Season fish with salt and pepper. Add fish to marinade, and nestle with bay and rosemary leaves between fillets. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2. In a blender, combine parsley with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of water. Puree until smooth. With the machine on, gradually add 1/2 cup oil until incorporated. Season sauce with salt and pepper.

3. In a food processor, combine chick peas with garlic, minced rosemary, 1 cup water, remaining 1/4 cup oil, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Puree until smooth. Transfer puree to a medium saucepan over low heat. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm on stove.

4. Remove fish from marinade. Place on baking sheet. Roast for 12 minutes, until just cooked through. Spoon chickpea puree onto plates and top with fish. Drizzle with parsley sauce and serve immediately.

P.S. The parsley sauce and chickpea puree can be made ahead!

adapted from food & wine

How to Host Holiday Guests with Room & Board

The middle of November has already arrived, and it's about time to turn your hostessing preparations from holiday stress into holiday cheer! Thanks to Room & Board, this collective list serves as your tool for out-of-town visitors throughout the season. From sprucing up the apartment with flowers, to serving bites and sips upon their arrival, these stress-free ideas will provide ultimate memories and the utmost holiday comfort. It's all in the details, too, which makes the tasks totally doable and (surprisingly) enjoyable. You might even be lucky enough to treat your home to a Room & Board accessory of your own...Scroll through my hostess list, note the accessories (all made in the United States by artists), and pick your favorite piece for the enter-to-win giveaway, which will arrive just in time for the holidays!

1. Freshen up with florals.

Arranged in the shore rectangle planter, I tend to choose softer floral colors since a) I'm such a matching maniac, and b) The flowers will not overwhelm or clash with merry holiday decor. I have found plump white hydrangeas to work well with any occasion, whether casual or formal.

2. Stock the pantry.

It is never a bad move to restock the pantry for any possible situation. Sweet, salty, crunchy, and smooth. . .I recommend using good bowls for easy clean-up snacks to hold over guests until dinnertime. My go-to stockers, right now, are wasabi peas, dried berries, almonds, and yogurt- or chocolate-covered raisins.

3. Serve a signature drink.

Remember those nostalgic instances while visiting grandparents? Without fail, I was always offered a glass of lemonade. The gesture, while traditional in fashion, expresses ultimate hospitality -- and a reason to toast! Of course, adding liquor is an option, especially depending upon the person and time of his/her arrival. A lovely morning mimosa after an early flight could be the ultimate relief of jet lag, and a cider wouldn't hurt for a colder evening. Whether drinks are placed on the kitchen counter, coffee table, or guest room nightstand, use the ply walnut tray to transfer any glasses and garnishes.

4. Create ample warmth and lighting.

A lamp and a candle do wonders in any setting; they not only physically brighten the room, but they brighten moods and ambiances. I tend to choose a more natural candle scent, such as lavender, for the therapeutic aroma. And a modern, minimalist table lamp would look fabulous in any guest bedroom. To keep guests extra cozy during winter nights, these horizon throws are made of soft, strong wool, which insulates without the bulk.

5. Make the "list."

Rather than being overwhelmed with questions on nearby locations and must-see spots, provide your guests with an easy-to-follow, reliable list for family favorites and new discoveries. Name your favorite nearby local cafés, shops, etc. The "list" will be reused countless times, even if it only took you a few moments to put together. I like to place my list on top of a stack of magazines, which can vary according to your guest. Bon Appetit for relatives...Vanity Fair or InStyle for the girlfriends...pick and choose nighttime reads as your guest would like.

Guess what? If you're on our "list" -- meaning you follow Caramelized and Room & Board on Facebook (or Instagram, if you're feeling fancy) -- you are in the drawing for a Room & Board giveaway. The winner will choose the accessory of her choice from my holiday list, just in time! The entire Caramelized collection is on a Pinterest Board, for easier access. Follow the instructions for your chance to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway