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Pack Your Bags: A Traveler’s Look at the Inn on Biltmore in Asheville, N.C.

Location. Location. Location.  There is just something special about staying on property of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C.  In fact, it’s downright spectacular.

The Inn on Biltmore Estate

I’ve been a guest at the Inn on Biltmore twice now.  The first time was in 2009 during my last trimester of pregnancy with my daughter before I even started this blog, and, most recently, I took my entire family in February.  


The Inn on Biltmore is about five miles away from the Biltmore House. You can see the home from this terrace.



No question, the Inn on Biltmore exudes romance, and I personally prefer it as a couple’s retreat, but it certainly puts out the welcome mat for families, too. 

If you have an unlimited budget, then a suite at the Inn may be the option for you when traveling with your family.  It will give you the space that families sometimes need and crave, though it’s costly. At a quick glance, two nights in a suite can run $1,800 to $4,000 or more, depending on the suite and time of your visit.  

 The Hines Room

We stayed in a deluxe double room for two nights, which is a more affordable option for families.  Our room was elegant and suited our family’s needs for a short two-night stay.  The rooms are decorated in rich ivories with a burgundy accent, which is the main color of George Vanderbilt’s own bedroom in the 250-room French Chateau, Biltmore.

The bathrooms are spacious and luxurious, and they complement the elegance of the room.  The makeup mirror is a nice touch, and I love it when hotels provide scales.  Yes, I torture myself and get on them.




Guests are continuously supplied complimentary water and amenities for coffee and tea in your room.

Every morning in the Library Lounge of the Inn, guests can prepare a complimentary cup of coffee or tea, and wait for the morning shuttle to take them around the Estate.


Coffee awaits you in the Library Lounge


To me, this is the best part of staying on the 8,000-acre estate.  You truly feel as if you are a guest of George Vanderbilt, just like his guests felt over 100 years ago.  Once you park your car, it can stay parked, and you are shuttled around the estate like royalty. 


As you probably have noticed from past “Pack Your Bags,” my family has a hard time making breakfast before 10 a.m. in the morning.  We are just lazy people on vacation.  I give the kids cereal bars, make several cups of coffee in the room, eat a few almonds, tweet a little, and then we usually eat an early lunch.  This is what we did on our second day in Asheville.  We headed straight to the Stable Café adjacent to the Biltmore House for an early lunch.

There were many things that I didn’t get to experience at the Inn on this trip, such as afternoon tea and the spa. It just gives me another excuse to go back.  With just 48 hours on the estate, we spent our time on this trip touring the house, the winery, and Antler Farm for my features on Skimbaco Lifestyle.

 Dinner in the Library Lounge

We did, however, enjoy dinner in the Inn’s Library Lounge one night.  I have always been a fan of the cuisine served on the Estate.  In fact, one of my all-time favorite meals was served on the Inn veranda when my husband and I visited in the summer of 2009.  The Library is one of my favorite rooms in the Inn. 


The huge windows overlook the mountains and the Biltmore estate. 

The Inn fireplace is impressive.



The Library Lounge is the type of place where you want to enjoy a drink with your spouse, forget all of your obligations, and leave your kids at home. 

Our kids were with us, though, and we were the only ones that evening dining with children in the casual restaurant.  It was also later than we normally eat, but we didn’t check in to the Inn until almost 6 p.m. because my son had a final basketball game the day we left for Asheville.  


Staff welcomed my children by giving them a Biltmore Estate coloring book and crayons, and somehow my daughter managed to charm some of the other guests dining in the restaurant by doing a little impromptu ballet to the piano music.  I don’t think the other couples minded my children at all.  However, I did have to remind my two to lower their voices a couple of times.

The children’s menu at the Inn is more expensive than the other restaurants on the Estate, but it is expansive from a child’s filet for $22 to a grilled cheese for $10.  Once again, I am extremely impressed with the dining we experienced on this trip, and all our meals on the estate were divine.  Hats off to the chefs!  We also dined at Cedric’s Tavern one evening, and my son and husband continue to rave about the fish and chips.




Traveling with kids is never as relaxing as traveling with a spouse. This is why I still prefer a couple’s experience at the Inn.  There is more space in your room with two as opposed to four, even though my kids are small. My daughter kicked me out of the double bed I was sharing with her at 6 a.m. and yelled, “Get out of here, Lady!” Charming, isn’t she? Just keeping it real for you.








Ideally, as a couple, I would stay three or four days at the Inn and really soak up the amenities that the Estate offers.  With cozy nooks and amazing views, it is a place where you want to hang out for a while and soak up the atmosphere.

Kids don’t like to hang out.  They want to be on the go.  Staying on property at the Biltmore Estate for families is expensive compared to other places in Asheville, but the experience is like none other.  It would be the perfect base to explore all the outdoor amenities that the Estate offers its guests, such as rafting, hiking, fishing, and biking.  In the summer, the Inn has a great pool overlooking the mountains. I want to do all of these things, too, as my kids get older, so I definitely would stay on property again with my children.


If you are planning a trip to the Estate and can’t decide whether to stay on property or off property, I recommend experiencing a stay behind the gates. It’s worth the splurge. 

Room-only rates for a room like ours begin at $259 during the week.  Check Biltmore.com for packages for a family of four that includes audio Estate tickets, chef’s breakfast, and complimentary valet parking. 

Biltmore's Festival of Flowers will continue through May 31.  I personally think the summer is a great time to visit, too. 









Be sure to check out my series on the Biltmore.

Traveling with Kids to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC
Antler Hill Village on Biltmore Estate is Great for Families
Asheville's Biltmore Estate is a Must-See for "Downton Abbey" Fans
Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate

The Inn on Biltmore in Asheville, NC



Want to Go:
Inn on Biltmore Estate
Asheville, NC





 Disclosure:  While covering the Biltmore Estate, I received free admission to the Estate,  a complimentary rate for one night at the Inn, and additional nights at a special rate. All food costs were my own. 

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NC is All ABOUT that BEER

NC Beer Month is held every April


It's here. NC Beer Month is the place to be in April. I learned recently that my home state is the sixth most visited state in the U.S. We have a gorgeous coastline, scenic mountains, a wine region in the Piedmont, the number one golf resort in the U.S, and lots of history dating back to the first colony.

But now we are known for something else. North Carolina is becoming a star in the craft brew industry. We have about 100 breweries open right now, and more are opening this spring and summer.



Beer events are being held this month throughout the state. As a non-sponsored post with no ties to any particular destination or brewery,  I thought it would be fun to tell you some of my favorite NC brews, and name a few events that may be good #outaboutnc travel destinations for you.




I've come a long way with my beer drinking. In fact, I'm not sure I really liked beer 15 years ago. Someone probably handed me a Bud Light and well, that's just not craft beer. I don't think I need to say more on that. Through the years though, I've tasted my husband's craft brew stash, and have really developed a taste for it.  For the record, he loves it when I go on a diet and I leave his stash alone.  I buy my own beer, too and can sometimes be found in a craft brew specialty shop.  I am not an expert like my friends, The NC Beer Guys, but I have a few favorites that I'm going to share.

We ARE NOT drinking wine. We were at TASTE the Event in Durham, which will be held again this month. The glass given to you at the event is a wine glass. It's easier to carry around with your plate.  Here I am with the NC Beer Guys, and they dress like that at every event so they are easy to spot when you see them. 
 I don't know why I like these particular beers. I just do. I drink beer for the taste, and do not care about how it is brewed. You need experts for that so do check out the NC Beer Guys.

Highland Brewing Co. in Asheville:  I am a huge fan of the Oatmeal Porter and the Black Mountain Mocha Stout. I also like the seasonal brew, the Thunderstruck Coffee Porter. I met Oscar Wong several years ago at a Tasting Event when I first started writing. Immediately, I became a fan. I am so excited because I'm going to Highland Brewery for Beer Month this weekend when I experience the Downton Abbey package at the  DoubleTree Biltmore. I don't think the Crawleys drank beer, but that's OK. I am adding this brewery to my experience.  And, I will get Cedric's beer at Biltmore. I love that beer, too and recently learned that Highland brews it for the Biltmore. No wonder I raved about that beer on my  last trip to Biltmore. Cedric's Beer can only be bought at Biltmore.


FullSteam Brewery in Durham.  Fullsteam is the type of brewery where I can say I love every beer that Sean Lilly Wilson produces. I've met the owner, Sean, several times now and have attended many events where Fullsteam is in attendance. To me, Fullsteam is like the RelaisChateaux Hotels in the beer world. It's just first-class taste and quality. Ironically, I first fell in love with The Working Man's Lunch, brew which is a nod to the working class Southern roots of our past where men would go to a gas station and get an  R.C. Cola and a Moon Pie.  Another brew I love is brewed just for Ashley Christensen's restaurants in Raleigh. It's Beasley's Honey White.  And of course, the Fearrington House Restaurant, has Fullsteam make seasonal brews just for them. Don't judge, but any time I attend a beer event, I linger at the FullStream table.


The Umstead Hotel and Spa Terrace
The Umstead Hotel and Spa Terrace will be great for NC Beer Month events. 

Umstead Untapped Series Events:  My favorite hotel in Cary-Raleigh, The Umstead Hotel and Spa is hosting the Umstead Untapped Series this month with Raleigh Brewing Company on Sunday, April 19 and with FullSteam Brewery on Sunday, April 26,  This will be one of the best and most relaxed beer events in the Triangle. The Umstead Terrace is awesome. Each event is $35 per person and includes a few savory bites from Herons.  I don't have a lot of personal experience with Raleigh Brewing Co. so it would be nice to learn more about them, too.  Also, pastry chef  Evan Sheridan will have a special dessert beginning April 8 called the "People's Porter Cashew Chocolate Cake."  This decadent brew is from Foothills Brewing Co. in Winston-Salem, and is Sheridan's favorite NC beer. Spa Director, Carolyn Doe, shared a favorite DIY Beer Scrub featuring NC Beer with us last month.

Aviator Brewing in Fuquay-Varina: I typically do not like an India Pale Ale. I don't know enough about beer to know why, but the interesting twist is that I like Aviator's Hogwild India Pale Ale. I also like their Devils Tramping Ground Tripel, but I never drink it outside of my home. The alcohol content is high and one beer is like drinking two. I learned more about Aviator at a special beer dinner at the Carolina Inn last year.



Trophy Brewing Co. in Raleigh: This is my absolute favorite brewery in Raleigh. It's popular though and so hard to get a table these days. The secret is out on how good it is.  I have liked everything I have tasted and the pizza is to die-for. I wrote about Trophy for Visit Raleigh this month. It's one of the few breweries in town that has a restaurant. See my list for Greater Raleigh breweries with restaurants. 

Mystery Brewing in Hillsborough: I have met the owner of Mystery Brewing several times, and even attended a beer dinner with him at the  Washington Duke Inn.  Will is a huge fan of Mystery Brewing, and loves every beer they produce. I'm a fan of Queen Anne's Revenge, named after Blackbeard's ship. Mystery Brewing also brews a special beer, Nanaline, for the Washington Duke Inn and it is one of my favorites. It's a great summer sipping beer by the golf course.

A photo posted by Leigh Powell Hines (@hinessightblog) on



Deep River Brewing Co. in Clayton: I have not been to Deep River Brewing Co, but I have tried several of their brews around town. I like what I've tried so much that I've gone searching for them locally. Clayton is about 45 minutes outside of Raleigh. You have to buy their brews at specialty bottle shops. Whole Foods and Harris Teeter will sell some in Raleigh, but the selection is better at the craft bottle shops.  I am looking forward to trying their spring and summer brews, Cottontown Lager, and Double D's Watermelon Lager. 
Brewgaloo is a great spring beer festival in Raleigh, N.C.
Brewgaloo is a great spring event in Raleigh, N.C. 

Brewgaloo Festival in Raleigh:  If you attend just one event during Beer Month, put Brewgaloo on you list. This is one of the best local beer festivals that gives you the flavor of most of our NC breweries in one place. When I last spoke to the organizer, Shop Local Raleigh, 73 N.C breweries are are scheduled to be in attendance along with 50 food trucks and an assortment of live bands.

The event will take place on April 25 in City Plaza. Get tickets here. 

Today's post is part of #IGTRAVELThursday. Please visit some of the other links to learn about travel around the world via Instagram. This hashtag was founded by my business partner, Skimbaco Lifestyle. 


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Luxury Spa Secrets: DIY Beer Body Scrub Recipe

Spa Secrets: NC Beer Body Scrub Recipe using NC Beer and Lemon Essential Oil. EnjoyLifeOils.com


In North Carolina, we love our craft beer and our luxury spas. Well, let's rephrase that sentence. I love my craft beer and luxury spas. Luckily for me, we have some of the best craft brews and luxury spas right in my backyard, so to speak. The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary developed an NC Beer-infused body scrub for spring in honor of the upcoming NC Beer Month this April. Spa Director Carolyn Doe developed this scrub recipe using her own favorite beer, Weeping Willow Wit beer from Mother Earth Brewing in Kinston. This body scrub will help soften dry winter skin, pull out breakout-causing impurities, and even help shield against harmful UV rays.

This probably won't surprise you, but I happened to have the exact same beer in my own fridge, and all the other ingredients needed for this lux at-home treatment.  

Weeping Willow Wit is ingredient in Beer Body Scrub


Here's what you need for your at-home spa

DIY Beer Body Scrub Recipe

Ingredients:
·         5 oz. of Epsom Salt
·         1-2 tbsp. of Olive Oil
·         1 tbsp. of Weeping Willow Wit Beer (or your favorite beer)
·         2-3 drops of Lemon Oil (I use Young Living -Enjoy Life Oils)
·         1 Basil Leaf (chopped finely)

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, combine the Epsom Salt and Olive Oil. Slowly add in the Beer and wait until it settles in the bowl. Mix in remaining ingredients. Prepare a warm shower and gently apply the scrub in circular motions over your legs, exfoliating the skin to a smooth finish. Breathe deeply and absorb the gentle aromas. If you experience breakouts, apply to your shoulders and back to soothe and remove impurities in the skin. After each use, store the remainder in an air tight container and keep refrigerated.


I enjoy learning about at-home spa recipes that I can use in between real spa experiences so I love it when the Umstead contacts me with tips. I was also excited to see a new use for Lemon Essential Oil. 


It is extremely important that you buy any essential oil from a luxury spa that sells therapeutic grade essential oils,  a reputable dealer or manufacturer like Young Living Essential Oils because you want the the absolute best quality for the benefits. Never buy oils on ebay or Amazon.com because Young Living, a company that has been in business for over 20 years prohibits these type of Internet sales. You need to be confident that you are receiving therapeutic-grade oils and products that are indeed from the company. Since the Skimbaco Lifestyle team started the Enjoy Life Oils team, I have learned more about essential oils and really trust the Young Living's Essential Oils Seed to Seal quality commitment and am confident that I'm receiving high-end products delivered to my doorsteps. Since becoming a member, I have been creating many spa moments in my own home and I love it.  You can learn more  on the website Enjoy Life Oils, founded by my Skimbaco Editor, Katja Presnal. 

The Lemon oil I use costs $14.80 for 15ml and $11.25 at the wholesale/membership price. If you want to purchase Young Living essential oils today or join as a wholesale member to save 24% on all purchases including shampoos, vitamins, and supplements, visit Young Living and use my number 2481355. I'll be sharing some of my new health routines in months to come. 

This spa treatment was designed by the Umstead Spa for NC Beer Month in April. It will not be on the spa menu, and it can only be enjoyed by you at home. Mother Earth Brews can be found all over North Carolina, Georgia, and of course, at the brewery in Kinston. 


Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and any online Young Living Essential Oil purchases will result in compensation. My goal is for you to live life to the fullest and for you to buy quality products either in your local luxury spa or with a reputable company like Young Living. Now go get pampered.  

 Linked up with Small Victories Sunday Linkup.
Fit Triangle Mom


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Cooking with Fresh Produce: Spinach and Grape Quinoa Salad Recipe

Spinach and Grape Quinoa Salad Recipe courtesy of Papa Spud's At-home Produce Delivery Service.


I've been traveling this week so I did not have a lot of time to post much here this week. I feel like a hamster spinning on a wheel some days, and it almost seems as if I don't get much accomplished at all. There is always a new load of laundry to do. There is always a meal to create or little people asking for Pirate Booty to be placed in a bowl several times a day. There is always something new placed on my center kitchen island that makes the area even more cluttered. Just ask my husband about how I frustrate him with this. He finally had it cleaned off while I was in Pinehurst North Carolina speaking about social media in travel and tourism industry at the 2015 N.C Governor's Conference on Travel and Tourism, but once I returned, it became cluttered again.

A quick and easy cooking with produce recipe. Spinach and Grape Quinoa Salad courtesy of Papa Spud's produce delivery service.


I did clear off a spot yesterday to make a new recipe kit from my Papa Spud's produce box, which arrives every Tuesday. As you know, I've been writing about cooking with fresh produce for a month now  I'm what you could call "a new at-home produce delivery convert." Fortunately, for our farmers, there are a lot of these types of services in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill market. I'm not here to say one service is better than another because I don't know that information. What I want is produce at a an affordable price, flexibility, and great tasting food. My needs are being met by Papa Spud's. N.C is a top agriculture state and I want our farmers to thrive. These produce delivery services help to do just that, and I like it.

I chose to become a Papa Spud's customer because it is the service I discovered first, and I gave it a try. It's really that simple. I've been a satisfied customer since my first order arrived in December, and I love how it has helped me embrace a new way of healthy eating via fresh produce. If you really start to change your eating habits, and how you buy produce from the store then I think there is room to use two services with different delivery days spread apart especially when more local produce becomes abundant. I supplement my produce now at a grocery store, and still my buy milk and eggs there. I could add those items to my produce box, too if I expanded with more credits.

I love the idea of produce coming straight to my front door. I like recipe planning in advance while sipping coffee or wine at home. I like being able to pick the produce I want in the comfort of my home. The flexibility and choice selection with Papa Spud's are ideal for me. I do not have the energy to get dressed on a Saturday morning to try and find spaghetti squash for a recipe to only learn that spaghetti squash was at the market last week. With Papa Spud's, I know bok choy is available so I plan a recipe that uses that vegetable.

A quick and easy cooking with produce recipe. Spinach and Grape Quinoa Salad courtesy of Papa Spud's produce delivery service.

Papa Spud's has a community that shares recipes for you to use as a resource, but the service also lets you order recipe kits as part of your weekly credits. These kits typically run about 6.00 credits. In the two months that I've been a member, I've ordered two kits and have loved each one  The kit supplies the exact amount of things you need for the recipe and you are asked to supply staple ingredients like salt, pepper, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, etc.  You will know exactly what you need to supply before you order the kit.

I ordered the Spinach and Grape Quinoa Salad kit this week. How many times have you had to buy a bunch of parsley in order to use just a little bit for a recipe. In my house, the parsley perishes before I can use it all because I didn't plan three recipes with parsley as an ingredient. The recipe kit eliminates waste in the kitchen, which in turn cuts your costs.

This particular recipe kit serves two people. You could increase the quinoa amount, and adjust the seasonings accordingly to make larger serving.

A quick and easy cooking with produce recipe. Spinach and Grape Quinoa Salad courtesy of Papa Spud's produce delivery service.


Papa Spud's Spinach and Grape Quinoa Salad 

1/4 cup quinoa
1/2 cup water
2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice, seeds removed
1.5 Tbsp. olive oil
3/4 tsp. salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1.5 oz. spinach, cut into thin strips
15 oz. Italian parsley, coarsely chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
4 oz. red grapes
Chopped pecans  and/or feta cheese (optional)

Rinse quinoa. Prepare as directed. You could also increase amount here. The 1/4 cup does not produce a lot of quinoa.

Combined fresh squeezed lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and garlic in bowl. Mix well. Pour mixture over quinoa while it is still warm. Add spinach, Italian parsley, and celery. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill for 30 to 60 minutes.

Serve quinoa salad topped with whole red grapes. Add pecans and feta, if desired.

And on a side note, I had never ordered grapes before from Papa Spud's, and if grapes are available this week, I am going to order some because they were crisp and delicious.

I am really excited about the upcoming months because spring and summer is our peak produce months. It's only going to get better.

Here are all the posts in our series:

Eating Fresh Produce: Simple Ways to Get in Your Vegetables
Cooking with Fresh Produce: Three Simple Recipes Using Kale 
Cooking with Fresh Produce: The Right At-Home Delivery Service Offers More Than Just Produce

If you want to sign up for Papa Spud's at-home produce delivery, please use my referral link.

Produce Delivery in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill


My thanks to Papa Spud's for sponsoring this cooking series on the blog. My opinion of the service was not influenced by the sponsorship. I was a satisfied paying customer before the sponsored series, and I will continue to pay to use the service. I will share more recipes in the future and will share my referral link. Every member of Papa Spud's has one. If you join, you will have one, too and can earn additional produce credits if someone signs up within 30 days of viewing the link.  Be sure to follow my Pinterest boards, for produce-inspired recipes.

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Cooking with Fresh Produce: The right at-home delivery service offers more than just produce

It's Friday, and I'm about to sit down and customize my at-home produce delivery with Papa Spud's for next week.

In case you have missed any post in this series, all you need to know that I started ordering at-home produce delivery at the end of last year, and it has been a life changer for me. 

These are the first posts in the series: 

Cooking with Fresh Produce: The right at-home delivery service offers more than just produce; Papa Spud's Home Delivery


Going with an at-home produce order service was certainly a new type of experience for me. Let's just say it perhaps took me out of my cooking shell a little bit. First off, I'm not a true foodie.I don't even try to be.Yes, I interview some of the best chefs in the world and dine in top resorts for my travel writing, but I'm just an ordinary person who likes food. I have friends who are true foodies, and when I'm with them sometimes, I feel as if they are corresponding in a foreign language around me. 

When I dine in a restaurant, I never wonder how I could replicate the dish at home. I really only care about these four things: 

1. Was the food good?
2. How much did the meal cost me?
3. Am I eating good, whole foods? 
4. Is the dish worth the calories? 

That's basically it   It's pretty simple. I go about getting my at-home produce the exact same way. I look at what is affordable for that week. I make a meal plan, and order my items based on my weekly meal plans. I basically plan those meals after I see what is available at Papa Spud's. After I complete my order then I go to a regular grocery and pick up anything else I may need. 

Roasted cabbage with cashews: Cooking with Fresh Produce
My favorite lunch. Roasted cabbage with cashews. Toss in olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. 

To recap, I order a regular size box weekly from Papa Spud's. At $23.69 weekly, that includes 20 food credits. That price can get you a good amount of produce, but it's not enough to get you a lot of produce plus some of the extras that Papa Spud's offers its customers weekly. 

Papa Spud's offers dairy, eggs, cheese, organic meats, seafood, chocolate, specialty items, pastries, breads, grains, and pastas. The variety that Papa Spud's offers it customers is fantastic.It also changes based on demand and suppliers. For example, I knew I was entertaining one week when I first joined in December so I ordered the Honey Fig and Goat Cheese from Hillsborough Cheese  Company to use an an appetizer. It ate 5.50 of my credits for 4 ounces that week. It was fantastic and it was worth the splurge that week. I would gladly do it again for a special occasion. 
With my 20 credit limit, I stick to the produce basics, but I do order organic chicken thighs and legs quite often in my order. It's great-tasting naked chicken from Joyce Farms, which is headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C. 

I order the legs and thighs because they are affordable for my credits. My kids love drumsticks, and one pound of chicken legs equal 3.00 in credits. I am able to get meat and lots of produce with a 3.00 meat credit price. That's a win in my book. 

Since working with Papa Spud's this month to help share my experiences, I've been given a few extra credits to experiment with on my orders. But, I'm not going crazy with them. The past few weeks, I've been averaging about 34 to 37 credits weekly, which is a good 15 credits over my typical allotment that I signed up for in the beginning. It's higher because I've been getting more meat and pasta with an occasional sweet treat. 

Gluten-Free banana nut mini muffin in N.C.
The mini loaf from JP's Pastry. 
Last week, I decided to get a mini gluten-free banana nut bread from JP's Pastry, an online gluten-free wholesale bakery in the Raleigh area. I can eat gluten, but the bread sounded tasty so I thought I would try it for a breakfast for the kids. I had the extra credits so I decided to use 4.00 extra credits to get the one mini loaf as it was named.  When it came on Tuesday, I giggled because it was certainly mini or smaller than I had expected. 

I think I was expecting a small loaf that would feed a few people. The mini-loaf equaled in size to an oversized, large muffin. No one else ate that loaf, but me because they never had the chance to see the loaf. I devoured that mini loaf like I had never eaten sweet, wonderful bread before. It was probably one of the best breads I have ever tasted. It was simply delicious. Would I purchase the mini muffin loaf again in my box? Maybe,  for a special treat, but the price of the one muffin doesn't warrant the splurge from what I need to get out of my produce box weekly. 

My overall goal has been trying to reduce my regular grocery store items so I need to stick with items that I can use for meal planning. 

Cooking with Fresh Produce: The right at-home delivery service offers more than just produce


You can, however, buy additional credits with ease each week if you needed to do so. However, for this particular item, I'm more likely to take a coffee break in one of the coffee shops where the breads are sold locally. I would like to enjoy that expense along with a nice conversation with a friend. Muffins at that price range are still more about the overall, dining experience for me and I'm not ready for that type of personal expense at home. I really don't need the extra calories either, and one muffin would not feed the kids either. I would have had to get 2 muffins for 8.00 credits and that is just not a good budget move. 

When this series is over, I am seriously thinking of moving to the Family Size Box of 40 credits at a cost $45.09, which includes delivery and taxes. I think it would be the best bet for my family especially now that I've gotten used to how the system works. You don't have to use all your credits in one week either.  They do carry over credits weekly, which means you can go out of town, and hold your order. 

Papa Spud's partners with many local suppliers, and eventually I would like to replace some staple items like honey for Wake County's own The Pleasant Bee honey.  I order Melina's Fresh Pasta quite regularly now. It sells out very quickly, but I was able to snag some of her ravioli last week that I've not tried yet. 

Korean Beef Rice Bowl: Using Papa Spud's Produce Delivery


This week, I'm sharing one of the recipes I cooked from Leigh is Cooking with Farm Fresh Produce Boards. I prepared this Korean Beef Rice Bowl using sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini,spinach, onion, and grass-fed beef which was about 8.00 credits for one pound. This recipe was a Pinterest winner. I loved it. My kids complained. They said the sauce was too sweet and I had to make them cheese toast. 

If you want to sign up for Papa Spud's at-home produce delivery, please use my referral link.  I will be concluding my weekly series next week, and we'll be talking about the recipe kits that Papa Spud's offers. 

Disclosure: Papa Spud's is sponsoring this special cooking series on the blog. I am a Papa Spud's customer, and will continue to be a paying customer after this special series is over. I have been very pleased with all of my orders. 


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