Vidalia Onion Museum

It's no secret here in Georgia that the sweetest onions are vidalias. Vidalia onions are the state vegetable, and you'd be hard pressed to find a store that doesn't sell them. In fact, there's even a town named after them. This weekend marks the 34th annual Vidalia Onion Festival as well as the grand opening of the Vidalia Onion Musueum.

The event begins today as noon, and the museum opens today starting at 3pm and will be open this weekend for tours. Chefs that will be cooking for the event include  Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill, Gerry Klaskala of Aria, Tracey Bloom of Ray’s at Killer Creek,  James Beard Award Winner Jeffrey Buben of Vidalia restaurant and Cookbook Author Gena Knox {a personal favorite}.

So, if you're in the area or just want to see some incredible ways to cook with vidalias, check out the new museum!

Happy Friday.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Southern, My Way

It's no secret that cooking is one of my favorite hobbies. I love the feeling of spending time in the kitchen and producing something so delicious that you look forward to making it again. You could chalk it up to my southern heritage, I suppose. A part of me just loves the simplicity and implied provision of setting dinner on the table. I get it honest. My mom is truly the best cook {and most outstanding southern woman} I know.

So imagine how excited I was when I received Gena Knox's most recent cookbook, Southern My Way from her PR firm located in Atlanta. Another southern soul with a passion for creating something from nothing, providing good food for her family, and supporting local farms in the process? Sign. me. up.

Knox's recipes are dear to my heart as they take a new turn on some of my favorite southern dishes. Recipes like Butterbean Bruschetta with Country Ham and Summer Seafood Stew over Parmesan Grits fuse southern cooking with unconventional flavors and produce quite a result. Her passion for locally grown produce and support for local farmers only fueled my love. I am a firm believer in supporting one's local economy. Not only because it impacts us directly, but because there's something special about knowing the hands that raised your food. Maybe it's an old-fashioned southern idealism, but it's something that both Knox and I cherish.

What really sold me on Knox's collection, however, was the fact that she included a section of breakfast recipes. I plan on making her Rosemary Biscuits with Honey Ham this weekend after having incredible success with last weekend's breakfast endeavor - Herb & Goat Cheese Scrambled Eggs.

{Crumbled gorgonzola & tomato salsa}

Note: I substituted Gorgonzola for goat cheese & served the eggs over lightly toasted whole grain bread. Perfection!

Saturday brunch will never be the same.
xoxo


Southern My Way courtesy of Melissa Libby & Associates
photos copyright Hiking in Stilettos
copyright Hiking in Stilettos