What's cooking, good looking?

Thanks for joining me at BlissLists...the blog where I share some of my favorite "finds" with you!

Today's post focuses on one of my other great loves...COOKING! I know some people are cooks & others are bakers....I love to do both! I was raised in the kitchen with my grandmother, who was from the "pinch of this, dash of that" school of (predominantly Southern) cooking. She made a MEAN apple pie and the best baked macaroni & cheese on the planet....none of that blue box, powdered cheese product stuff for this girl! I got the real deal....if only I had gotten some of those recipes in writing!

Since I didn't....I've had to improvise!

I've collected a bunch of great sources over the years, from cookbooks, to cooking blogs, to online foodie resources.

Favorite restaurants are too many to list here....I will pepper (haha!) future posts with  a few names to tempt your tummy!

Now, onto the list....

First, the cookbooks:

Some of my recent favorites are La Tartine Gourmande, anything by Giada DeLaurentiis, and Barefoot Contessa's Back to Basics and How Easy is That? I like seeing what the food is meant to look like, so I'm a sucker for pretty pictures....

which is how I got hooked on cooking blogs!

Some of my favorites are:

Joy the Baker (who has her own cookbook coming out soon!), La Tartine Gourmande, Lottie & Doof, French Revolution, and Over a Tuscan Stove.

Also, check out www.gojee.com for a host of recipes from various sources...the photos are mouthwatering!!!

I visited Seattle for the first time last summer and discovered a FABULOUS Olive Oil vendor in Pike's Market: Sotto Voce (www.sottovoce.com).Their website is currently under construction, but check back...you can order luscious Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar in several flavors...mix & match your favorites!

Another favorite is www.nudo-italia.com. You can order Olive Oil, pasta, condiments straight from Italy...even adopt your own olive tree! Great resource, great blog, great book about the couple who own the company....check out The Dolce Vita Diaries.

How about some honey, honey?

I learned about this resource on Kimberly Snyder's website (www.kimberlysnyder.net). In case you don't know her, she is THE nutritionist to the stars! She has a great book called The Beauty Detox,  and her "Glowing Green Smoothie" is to DIE for!  Anyway, her beekeeper of choice is www.WhiteOakApiary.com, located in upstate NY. Just ordered some honey and bee pollen....easy breezy & delicious!

So that's it for now, kids!

Hope you enjoyed my latest post.....would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, recommendations for future topics.

Have a fabulous weekend!

xox

Namaste......

I LOVE yoga!

It calms my mind, challenges my body, and soothes my spirit.

People who know me well can attest that I escape to my "yoga bubble" as often as possible....even when I can't make it onto my mat.

Therefore, I thought it fitting to start my Bliss Lists blog with some of my favorite yoga teachers and studios.

*Rich Logan is one of my favorite people on the planet! He is a phenomenal teacher and a kind soul. He's one of those people who makes you feel like you've known him forever, even if you've met only minutes before.

He has an extensive knowledge of the anatomical subtleties of the asanas and leads a really fun class! He teaches at YogaNow, Moksha, and Nature Yoga, here in Chicago.

Do yourself a favor and drop in on one of his classes....you won't be disappointed!

*CorePower Yoga studios are popping up all over Chicago! If you like a heated practice, but like a little more hands-on instruction than you find in a Bikram class, check out one of these studios. The teachers are great ( I have several favorites), the schedules are varied (classes start at 6 am!), and the facilities are clean!! PLUS you can get a free week of unlimited classes, if you are a new student. 

*Village Yoga, on Ashland, north of Chicago Ave. is a relatively new addition to Chicago's yoga scene. (www.villageyogachicago.com) The studio is intimate and the classes are fantastic... Alyson D'Souza rocks! If you're looking for a supportive, fun, and challenging class....this is the place! 

Plus, La Farine is right down the street, for a little post yoga snack.....another one of my favorites...but I'll save that for another day!

Hope you have enjoyed this post!

I would love to hear about some of YOUR favorites.

Until next time....

Namaste

xo

Welcome to Bliss Lists....

I'm so glad you're here!
I hope you will consider Bliss Lists your "go-to" spot for recommendations for new, hip, cool, and kooky sources.

I love sharing my favorite discoveries with friends: websites, restaurants, yoga studios, recipes, online shopping....the list is endless.....

I wanted to develop an ongoing list of my favorites....and that's how Bliss Lists was born.

I hope you will share your favorites as well.

You can never have too much of a good thing, right?

:-)

Pull up a seat, grab a cup of tea, and stay awhile.....
we've got lots of catching up to do!!