The Bible uses the word “share” and the concept of being generous throughout the entire Book.
Hebrews 13:16 – “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Proverbs 22:9 – ” The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.”
Romans 12:3 – “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Proverbs 11:25 – “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
Today I thought it might be time for me to do some sharing of my own. You might not want to check out all of my suggestions, but maybe at least one will strike your fancy.
A MARKET — A & V Seafood Market, to be exact.
I first heard about this “great place to get fresh seafood” during a cooking class held by Chef James Boyce at Cotton Row in Huntsville. Recently, I had a chance to check it out. The name is derived from the couple who own the business, Allen and Vickie Nguyen. The small shop at 2000 Cecil Ashburn Dr. SE is on the right as soon as you turn left from Carl T. Jones Highway onto Cecil Ashburn. Yes, it smells fishy, but all of the products are carefully iced, and the store is immaculate.
Vickie Nguyen, A & V Seafood Market owner
I had a great conversation with Vickie who obviously enjoys her business and her customers. She was quick to make accommodations for customer preferences, and Steve and I appreciated the large selection. We walked out with a dozen oysters, large filets of grouper and salmon, some tuna dip and 4 large scallops. We prepared the salmon and oysters for dinner that very night, after enjoying an appetizer of tuna dip and crackers. I have a recipe all picked out for the grouper and hope to imitate a YouTube video I saw of Chef Boyce preparing scallops. Can’t wait! If you are a seafood lover, I think you’d enjoy visiting this market. It is open 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
A KITCHEN GADGET — MiTBA Salad Cutter Bowl.
Do you sometimes avoid making a fresh salad for your lunch or dinner because you dread all of the vegetable chopping involved? If so, this is a gadget you might want to check out. I ordered mine from Amazon after seeing it on Facebook.
Basically, it is a colander with cutting grooves and a base. You put your salad fixings in the colander, wash and drain them. Attach the base, then, using a long sharp knife, cut through the grooves in one direction. Twist the base slightly, then cut through the grooves again. Voila! Your salad is chopped and ready.
The size is perfect for two people. To make salad for more people, you might need to go through the process a couple of times. A sharp knife is essential.
It’s not expensive, and I recommend it. I expect we’ll eat more salads as a result.
4 COOKBOOKS.
Yes, I am one of those people who LOVES cookbooks. That doesn’t stop me from Googling or using Pinterest to find something specific, but I still enjoy reading cookbooks. I especially like the ones written by people I know or cookbooks featuring regional specialties in places I have visited. In the last few months, mostly through my travel/food writing adventures, I have acquired 4 new cookbooks that are beautiful and are filled with amazing recipes I’m eager to try.
- Pizzazzerie Entertain in Style – I first learned of this one because my good friend Kay Dekalb Smith shared on Facebook that her daughter Evin Krehbiel was the photographer. Her photos are stunning. The book is filled with gorgeous table settings. I have my eyes on two recipes in particular that I want an excuse to make soon: Bacon and Pecan S’Mores and Hot Chicken Salad. Those of you who know me well, know that I’m a HUGE chicken salad fan, so it’s natural that I spotted the one in this book.
- What Can I Bring? by Elizabeth Heiskell. I had the opportunity to meet Elizabeth at an event in Birmingham and watched her make her signature Tomato Pie. She has a very engaging personality, and her Tomato Pie was awesome. Elizabeth appears often on The TODAY Show. You might want to check out some of the episodes and watch her at work.
I baked two Chocolate Chip Bundt Cakes from this book during the holidays, and everyone appeared to enjoy them. This book includes plenty of Elizabeth’s anecdotes and is a lot of fun.
3. Morning in the Mountains. This book has been compiled by members of the Asheville Bed and Breakfast Association. Steve and I will be staying in a couple of these B & B’s in a few months. The photos and the recipes have us salivating already. Almond Streusel French Toast is on my must-make list for an occasion soon. It sounds so good. You can order your copy through this link.
4. Gumbo Love by Lucy Buffett. I got this beautiful book when I was covering the World Food Championships in Orange Beach back in November. It seems that every visitor to the Alabama Gulf Coast makes their way to LuLu’s Restaurant at least once while they are in the area. This is her latest cookbook, and it tells lots of great stories, and she offers good advice for making gumbo, of course, as well as all kinds of seafood and Gulf specialties. I plan to use her recipe for Grouper with Balsamic Butter Glaze on the big filet I brought back from the A & V Seafood Market. It looks like a winner.
So, here are my recent findings that I wanted to share with all of you today. The kids gave me an Instant Pot for Christmas, and when I shared that info on Facebook, many friends were quick to share recipes and advice for using it with me. Their efforts made me feel good. Hopefully, learning about this seafood market, the salad cutter bowl or these cookbooks will make you feel good, too.
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