Here we are again, yup, that's right #foodie friends, it's Friday and it's time to make a mess in the kitchen.
The @thebigsweed and I have been traveling south for over a week now and have been in the sunshine state since last Sunday. Our first stop in Florida was east coast, St. Augustine. It was not on our itinerary, but it was a place we always wanted to visit but just never made it there until this year.
With the sweed driving and me dosing off now and then, we made it to north Florida in record time. Now when I am at the wheel, I do not speed, yet I must have been sleeping, not at the wheel , but in the co-pilots' seat because my man must have had the pedal to the metal to pull into Jacksonville in record time. With St. Augustine just about 2 inches (on the map) 😀, south of Jacksonville and 2 days to spend before our first reservation in Siesta Key, Sarasota, west coast, we went for it.
What a wonderful place to visit, so much to see and do. A beautiful city with tons of history preserved there.
Now I don't do very much cooking while I travel. But since I love to cook back at the farm, I am always trying new dishes.
I then try to figure out what spices are in the "soup", so to speak.
Like the tourists we are, exploring the shops around town is always fun and that was just what we did.
This was my favorite stop to shop. Hang on to your aprons chefs, you are gonna love this sweet place.
The Spice and Tea Exchange was the name of this quant little shop.
You could smell the mouth watering aromas as you stepped onto the front porch.
Any spice, you name it, was there, cool wooden shelves displayed there spices, teas, sugar blends as well as salt blends.
Best part, each of their special blends could be smelt and tasted. They also provided recipe cards to use with whatever spices you bought.
By the time I left, I felt high and happy after sniffing such goodness.
Needless to say I left the shop with a bag full of teas, spice blends for both marinating and also dry rubs. Some as gifts to give to friends and family but also a nice collection for myself.
Plus a bonus for farm-mom, something I have wanted for awhile, just never got around to getting one.
Once we return to the #homestead, I will be sharing the magic that I will prepare in my kitchen with all these wonderful spices. Until then, let's have a cup of tea.
Thanks as always to our #foodfightfriday friends @jlspatts,@idig and @dandays, you gentlemen deserve some applause, you are great at what you do every week for all of us #foodie fanatics.
Have a great weekend all you foo foos, Enjoy!!