Spotlight Feature: The Peach Cobbler Factory, Nashville TN

Anyone who's visited the Nashville Farmer's Market likely has at least sampled The Peach Cobbler Factory and they're glorious peach cobbler. It's sweet, gooey, tangy, soft, melts in your mouth, has a little bit of chew to it. It's the closetest any cobbler has been to tasting like my Granny's...trust me, that's saying A LOT coming from me!

We wanted to know a little more about The Peach Cobbler Factory and I think we got all the answers to the questions we needed plus a little more! Please read, the owner seriously has a great story...

First stop lets get your social media info taken care of, do you have an Instagram or twitter account?
yes!  @cobblerfactory on Instagram & Twitter. You can find The Peach Cobbler Factory on Facebook as well facebook.com/cobblerfactory.

PB Protien Cookies

I love cookies and I love peanut butter so it's only natural that I combine them, then add in some additional protien! 

For years I was scared to bake anything from scratch, I loved eating it just not making it. I was so intimidated by adding baking powder or baking soda, activating dry yeast the right way, or did I have the right tools to use (I'd give an arm for a lime green Kitchenaid Stand mixer). 

Ok back to the cookies, I love a good PB cookie and I've been experimenting with a recipes I concocted. Some were failures, some were just bleh, some didn't puff up, some burned up! But these came out perfect! 

Ginger and a Girl

Ginger is considered an herb and can be consumed in many different ways such as: 

minced, chunks, powder, ginger root, or crystallized to name a few. 

The top 6 medical implications that ginger can help with are: 

1. nausea/vomiting

2. dizziness 

3. arthritis 

4 morning sickness

5. menstrual cramps 

6. inflammation 

Week in photos

This time I have a wide variety of food photos from Nashville and Cincinnati!  Enjoy...

Gold Star Chili - Cincinnati, OH

Lovesless Cafe - Nashville TN

Kwality Eats - Cincinnati OH

Taco Bike - Nashville TN 

(Donate to her Kickstarter!!)

Cock and Bull - Cincinnati OH

Tavern - Nashville TN

Crumb de la Crumb 

Lastly...the Worlds Most Expensive Hot Dog 

Stay hungry my friends...

Ray B. 

Spotlight Features - Starts this week!

We at A Few Hungry Girls want to highlight businesses not just here in Nashville, but around the country! The purpose of these features are to introduce small locally owned resturants, food trucks, and bakeries/coffee shops to my audience and help grow their businesses!

I'm the queen of researching local restaurants when I'm traveling before I even get to the city! Granted I don't get to eat everywhere I research but it's nice to know I have backups! Does anyone else do this:

You: Where do you want to eat?
Me: I don't care, where do you want to eat?
You: Um I don't care where ever you want to eat...
Me: I still don't know...
You: I guess we'll starve.

So in an effort to aid in this we will feature menus, photos of their food, average price points, contact info, social media information, and locations!

If your a locally owned business and you'd like to be featured please contact us at: afewhungrygirls@gmail.com, subject "features".

Stay hungry my friends...

Ray B.

Who is Taco Bike and where can we get some?

Hopefully by now you've all heard about Taco Bike? If not here's the run down and you all need to know: 

Who: Taco Bike 

Where: Nashville 

Why: (IMPORTANT TO READ) 

Cayla, (the mastermind and avid cyclist) wants to bring organic breakfast tacos to Nashville. 

Philosophy/inclusion: "Taco Bike is also vegetarian-friendly, vegan-friendly, and gluten-free-friendly". She also will be using locally sourced fresh food and encouraging the use of bikes as a form of transportation 

The Catch: none, who doesn't love tacos. C'mon son you know want some! 

CALL TO ACTION: she is raising money to bring the South's first fully organic kitchen!! Can you say FIRST? She has reached over 1/2 her goal but she only has a few days to raise the rest! 

You don't have to live in nashville to support a great cause! Taco Bike has a kickstarter page (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1130287009/taco-bike/description) 

Or you can check out her website and sign up for FREE tacos (taco.bike). 

Or find her on social media: 

IG: @tacobikenash 

Twitter: @tacobikenash 

GO SUPPORT HER! We need this in Nashville and we need to support our local small businesses! Unless you want to eat Taco Bell breakfast tacos ::throws up::  

Stay hungry my friends... 

Ray B. 

Quickie Peaches and Cream Protein Smoothie Recipe

As you all know by now I'm a smoothie fanatic! They are quick, easy and don't require much prep work. When I get fruit and veggies from the farmers market I always cut them up and and individually freeze them! This is probably one of the best ways to keep food fresh and quickly available for cooking!

You also know by now I LOOOVE the Peach Truck Peaches! So we stocked up and I froze about 10-12 peaches for safe keeping, then I tried my hand at canning them. I still haven't tasted them... I'm a bit nervous! 

I digress...

Here's a quick easy recipe: 

Top 5 Instagram Smoothies

There's nothing like a great pre/post workout smoothie, or a yummy fresh smoothie for breakfast! I do enjoy spiked shakes but that's another post y'all!! Please enjoy my top 5 and hurry go follow them so you can make a shake with them fries!! 

I truly love making new sweet, savory, and healthy smoothies. I experiment with different ingredients. 

A few fruits include: mango, kiwi, melons, and lemons. 

Some veggies I like to use are: spinach, carrots, and sweet potatoes.

 I really only use a few spices that are fresh ginger, cinnamon, and allspice. 

For sweeteners I use either agave or coconut sugar!!

 And lastly for liquids I prefer to use almond milk (I don't do straight dairy so well) or POM juice or coconut water. I'll admit I thoroughly do not enjoy coconut water solo dolo I only like it blended. To each her own right? 

Anywho let's get to this list! Hope y'all and get those blenders ready!! 

5. Chocolate Peanut Butter from @healthy_bodymindspirit

4. Piña colada from @juicing_gina 

3. Banana foster from @deliciouslycleanvegan 

2. Salted Caramel mocha protein shake from @smoothieworld 

1. Peach compote with dried apple granola from @cocoasugar 

Stay hungry my friends...

Ray B. 

Avocado Garlic Jalapeño Aioli

First off this is one of the EASIEST recipes I've ever created and I know you'll all enjoy this!!

I meal prepped earlier this week and made Parmesan Turkey burgers then individually froze them for those on the go days! Then I got a coupon for free artisan bread from the grocery store... Of course I got ciabatta!! I knew I didn't just want cheese I need a sauce that made the sammich not so dry!

I came up with the idea to make aioli purely from the items I had in the fridge that included a really really ripe avocado that I didn't want to waste. This aioli was born, I also tried to make this a little healthier with the avocado!! 

Oh and I used my bread and better pickles on my sammich as well. That recipe is featured on an earlier blog post.

(See: Bread and Better pickles) 

Here's what I used: 

(Some spices not pictured)

1/2 ripe avocado 

2 garlic cloves minced 

1 tablespoon Lite Miracle Whip 

2 teaspoons Extra virgin olive oil 

4 jalapeños slices 

1 teaspoon Thyme 

1 teaspoon Onion powder 

1 teaspoon Paprika

Salt and pepp to taste 

1. Mix all ingredients until smooth and creamy. 

(Mix food ingredients) 

(With spices and EVOO added)

2. Store in a airtight container. Wait atleast an hour before using. This allows all the flavors to meld!!  

3. Serve. Enjoy with sammichs, chips, sweet potato chips, maybe a dip with appetizers. Or off your spoon :). 

Stay hungry my friends... 

Ray B. 

Jeni is much more than Splendid...I'm talking Sorbet!

For years I thought sherbet and sorbet were the same thing! I wasn't a big sherbet fan unless it was mixed with Sprite in a punch bowl at church functions. 

For all our purposes below are the definitions for sherbet and sorbet: 

Sherbert: noun

1. a frozen dessert made with fruit juice added to milk or cream, egg white, or gelatin. 

Sorbet: noun

1. a dessert consisting of frozen fruit juice or flavored water and sugar.

   
   

(Via google definitions)

Then I tasted Jeni's sorbets. The first time I had the pleasure of gracing their scoop shop was the 12 South location. I literally had a sample and ran (I illegally parked shhh don't tell). That day I got the Sweet Cream Biscuits and Peach Jam. 

But it wasn't until I visited the East Nashville locale did I get the full sorbet experience!! I felt guilty because I tried so many flavors knowing the entire time I was getting sorbets!

Let me back up...I didn't even tell you what flavors I fell in love with: Reisling Poached Pear and Cantaloupe & Sun Tea. I'll break them down one by one for ya! 

Reisling Poached Pear 

I'm a wine girl all day and all night, I love pears most days. This sorbet was so smooth and creamy but not in an ice cream sorta way. It has it's own flavor profile. The pear was sweet yet not too powerful, it also was tart yet didn't make me smack my lips together. The hint of Reisling also clearly shown through with each bite. It was like a glass of wine with pears in it. Perfection. 

It's my number one flavor of the year!! 

Cantaloupe & Sun Tea 

This is a very close second! Honestly I hadn't planned on getting this one but I went ahead and ventured out on a limb. This ice cream literally tastes like I'm eating cantaloupe chunks and drinking sweet tea on the side. Once again it's creamy, sweet, tangy, flavorful, and great flavor profiles. 

Jeni's has a special magic bowl where 2 completely seperate and distinct flavors can meld into one outrageously delicious flavor. You can taste the pear, the Reisling, the sweet tea, and the cantaloupe as individual flavors but all in one scoop! It's pure genius. It may have something to do with them being based out of my home state O-H-I-O!!! 

I mean we did produce the most US presidents and the first man on the moon. :) 

I challenge all of you to go to your local scoop shops and taste each flavor at least once if for nothing more than general knowledge of excellent ice creams and sorbets!! 

Thank you Jeni for bringing a piece of home to my new home...y'all rock! 

**all photos courtesy of Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream**

Stay hungry my friends... 

Ray B. 

My week in photos PT 3 (plus a little extra)

I'm a little overdue for my weekly pics nonetheless I hope you enjoy!! 

Mas Tacos Por Favor - Nashville TN 

Elote

Nashville Sweets (@nashvillesweetsshop)

Thin Mint Cake 

OKC Thunder cake

@katina_liberation

PB brownie cheesecake bars 

ML Rose - Nashville TN 

Blueberry Cobbler Stout 

Carolina Sweets 

Nash Vegas 

A Few Hungry Girls 

Easy DIY Chicken lomien  

Crown Royal Peach Cobbler 

@chefseanbrasel 

Umami Peking Duck 

Stay hungry my friends...

Ray B. 

Easy DIY Chicken Lo-Mien

According to my boo this dish is what snagged him in the beginning! It's pretty simple and takes about a 30 minutes start to finish, perfect for the hungry girl or guy on the go AND it's pretty inexpensive!! 

Ingredients: 

Spaghetti noodles (I used 1/2 a box but if cooking for more people use a whole box) 

1/4 cup soy sauce + 2-3 tablespoons 

2 teaspoons minched ginger 

2 cloves minced garlic 

2-3 tablespoons cornstarch 

2 teaspoons sesame seeds 

7 chicken tenders 

Salt and pepp to taste

Let's cook! 

1. Start boiling your water add a pinch of salt and olive oil. Heat skillet to medium hear add olive oil, chicken, salt and pepp, garlic, ginger and 1/4 cup of soy sauce. 

2. Add noodles to boiling water. As your chicken begins to cook cut into bite size pieces. The chicken is wayyyy easier to cut up when cooked as apposed to raw. 

3. When chicken is cook thoroughly add cornstarch and remaining 2-3 tablespoons of soy sauce. Stir until sauce thickens and chicken is evenly coated. 

4. Drain noodles but leave about 1/2 cup of noodle water in the sauce pan. 

5. Incorporate all ingredients. Stir. Eat. 

**add sesame seeds when plating** 

This meal is basically 5 steps and takes roughly 20-30 minutes and tastes great!! No more ordering take out right? 

Stay hungry my friends. 

Ray B. 

Hot boxing...

Hot boxing...it's not what you think, we don't live in Colorado!! Instead it's the complete opposite...it's a fast paced kick boxing gym located locally in the trendy upbeat Gulch area. 

I discovered Hot Box Nashville months ago I just never pulled the trigger! I don't mind working out, I just get increidbly bored!! So bored that I don't want to go anymore...don't judge :(. 

Anywho, the ONLY THING easy was getting signed up. I called set up a time and showed up 15 minutes early. We were quickly greeted by a nice and energetic employee. They did our wraps and sent us off to our room, heated between 82 and 86 degrees for an hour, cool right? 

 The instructors were great!! They kept a watchful and encouraging eye on us the whole workout. Even taking time to go over combos one on one with us. Don't get me wrong that damn class was hard. But it's the type of hard you need to reach your fitness goals, and to a certain extent it's self paced. Honestly, I wasn't nearly as self conscious or insecure as I thought I'd be. That was very refreshing!!!

 (Me and J post workout...evidence we survived) 

All in all it's a great place and we even signed up to go next Saturday ( @ 11am, if anyone wants to join but make sure you GET SCHEDULED prior to the class )! You can get more info at: www.hb4.me

Stay hungry (and in shape) my friends.

Ray B. 

DIY bread and BETTER pickles!

I have a weird relationship with pickles. I mean I don't hate them but they will sit in my fridge for 3 years if I have no need for them. But not these bad boys. I actually ate them poolside solo dolo as in not on a sammich or anything! I got these cucumbers from a patients family who was has a garden. I was floored when I saw the veggies they gifted me!! 

I won't lie the only sammich I enjoy eating with a pickle is a Krusty Krab Burger (that was for all you Sponge Bob affectionados). Ok just kidding it's a spicy chicken sandwich from Chic-fil-a, with Polynesian sauce on the side. :)

These pickles were quite easy to make. They came out fabulous, sweet, salty, tart, crunchy and a beautiful mustard yellow color! Whenever I hear canning for some reason I thought it was this looooong and drawn out process my granny did when preparing for Y2K. You all remember that... 

Here's how I made them:

Ingredients: 

6-8 small to medium cucumbers 

1.5 cups of sugar 

1 cup white vinegar 

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 

1 tablespoon sea salt 

1 teaspoon mustard seed

1 teaspoon celery seed 

1.5 teaspoons turmeric 

1 large Ball jar (I used re sealable plastic lids instead of the metal ones) 

1 small Ball jar (just in case) 

1. Cut cucumbers into desired shape and sprinkle with salt, mix and refrigerate about 1 hour. 

2. Mix spices, sugar, and vinegars into a medium sauce pan. Cook on low-medium heat until sugar has dissolved. Let simmer while you wash the salt off the cucumbers and drain. Then place them in Ball jars. 

3. Turn off heat from liquid mix and CAREFULLY pour mix into jars until they are full. I put the liquid in a different cup with a lip so I could pour without wasting the liquid or worse...burning my precious hands. 

4. Cover jars. Place in fridge until cool. After an hour you can eat them but they tasted much better after 24 hours! 

I hope you enjoy these bread and better pickles as much as I did!! 

Stay hungry my friends...

Ray B.