The Freshest Place on Earth

I'm finally catching up from vacation. I lost internet connection after the first few days of my trip, so consider this the second installment of Vacation Eats.

I won't go into detail about all the things I went without while traveling to see my family over the last couple of weeks, but while I reminisced about the comforts of my childhood, I desperately missed those I have now—at home.

I especially missed fresh fruit and vegetables.

Louisiana is considered the "sportsman's paradise;" it's printed on the license plates, so it must be true. One of the main reasons for my trip, actually, was to go hunting with my grandfather, and over the 11-day trip, I indulged in many culinary treats, including a wide range of meats: fried catfish, brisket, pan-fried venison and squirrel (no, really—it's delicious), and smoked wild boar.

I also had my share of snacks, staple breakfast fare (bacon, eggs, and flaky biscuits), and starches. What I didn't eat is a raw vegetable or a piece of fruit. That's one of a handful of reasons I'm glad to be home.

I can list dozens of things I love about Fresno, but the most prevalent is that something fresh is growing here year-round. And in a few weeks, that means citrus!

Fresh foods don't get spotlighted much during the holidays—and I am in no way turning my eye or stomach away from the sweets, savories and butter-laden holiday dishes that keep me warm through the winter—but my travels have sparked a new interest in fresh eats for colder weather. For inspiration, I've ordered a box of goodness from RipeNow. I'll also try to get to a farmer's market later in the week.