Kara's Sights & Bites
Kara’s Sights & Bites: Lighten up! It’s time to celebrate spring
Mother’s Day may have come and gone, along with a few college graduations, but there are still plenty of special occasions occurring from now until summer. High school graduations, bridal showers and milestone birthdays are just a few of the reasons to celebrate the special people in your life. And it’s a good time overall…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: No-pan dinners mean no dishes to wash; easy, delicious meals
Ordinarily, I will entertain an alternate train of thought…but on this topic, I stand first. One of – if not THE – worst parts of cooking is dealing with the pile of dirty pots and pans that multiply during and after the cooking process. Inevitably, the sink is piled high with large objects to wash,…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Make your own meatballs and roasted chicken
By Kara Kimbrough Saying anything negative about local supermarkets goes against my beliefs. The 12+ years I worked for a supermarket chain still rank near the top of best work experiences of all time (flying around in the private jet didn’t hurt) and gave me a lifelong appreciation for neighborhood grocery stores. Fast forward to…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Gulf Coast’s history, funnel cakes are just two reasons to visit
By Kara Kimbrough The history of the Mississippi Gulf Coast has always intrigued me. When I briefly (emphasis on brief) entertained the thought of earning a Ph.D., the origin on the area’s founding and its first inhabitants is the only topic I considered for a dissertation topic. Academic goals aside, I still love reading about…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Hattiesburg offers history, hummus, hot chcken and hundreds of roses
By Kara Kimbrough One of the most amazing things about Mississippi is that there’s always a hidden gem just around the corner. A place I didn’t know existed until recently is the amazing Mississippi Armed Forces Museum on the grounds of Camp Shelby just outside of Hattiesburg. If you’re a history buff with special interest…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Forget pricey vacations: Enjoy free picnic areas during balmy spring
By Kara Kimbrough Dilemma: a tight budget doesn’t allow room for a flight to an expensive vacation spot. But here’s a thought: there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the beauty, warm sun and cool breezes of spring for the price of a tank of gas. One of the best ways to have fun…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: It’s OK to have fun with the Easter meal
By Kara Kimbrough Christians celebrate Easter for one reason: to commemorate the resurrection of Christ three days following his death. As long as we remember this important fact and celebrate its true meaning, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a festive Easter brunch, lunch or dinner filled with favorite dishes. Likewise, I don’t see…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Mississippi’s state parks are some of the best in the U.S.
By Kara Kimbrough It’s officially spring, which means our electric bills will soon skyrocket as air conditioners began operating at full capacity. Scratch that…on a more positive note, it’s spring – time to get out and explore beautiful spring foliage found throughout Mississippi. Regrettably, many city-dwellers lack easy access to a place to wander…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Easter lunch should be special, not stressful
By Kara Kimbrough Sitting down to a bountiful lunch on Easter Sunday has been an American tradition for decades. However, for many, it can be a stressful day, juggling church services, family time and other activities with cooking a special meal complete with an often-tricky baked ham. But it really doesn’t have to be…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Start planning now for (some form of ) Easter cheesecake
By Kara Kimbrough Easter is on the horizon and that means it’s time to start thinking about cheesecake. Some think about (and make) cheesecake all year long, but for the most part, the thick, cream cheese-laden dessert makes its annual springtime debut on the Sunday dinner table when Easter rolls around. The world-famous cheesecake…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: An old classic – cast iron – makes a comeback
By Kara Kimbrough Seconds away from pulling a frozen pizza from the supermarket freezer case last week, I glanced at the nutritional info. Learning that a couple of slices, or roughly one-fourth of the pizza, contained close to 800 grams of sodium sent my blood pressure soaring without taking a single bite. Realizing that…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Super Bowl 58 wasn’t a total loss
By Kara Kimbrough Super Bowl 58 has come and gone, quickly replaced last week with Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras hype. But that didn’t stop me from putting into practice some really good tips I picked up at a Super Bowl gathering I attended. Since they’re ones that can be utilized all year, not just…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: It’s not too late to celebrate Valentine’s Day
By Kara Kimbrough There’s a good chance you’re reading this on Valentine’s Day or maybe the weekend following the day when a special meal of some kind is required with your significant other. Even if it’s too late to make a restaurant reservation, there are still a few options left to create a…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: New York City didn’t disappoint, even in January
By Kara Kimbrough I’ve previously shared my love of visiting New York City. However, traveling to the chilly island surrounded by water in the dead of winter, aka January, was not something I’d seriously considered. After a visit last month, it may now be one of my favorite times to visit. The reason…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Whatever you do, don’t call ’em casseroles
By Kara Kimbrough Delivering dinner at the end of 2023 to friends who’ve helped me with various needs throughout the year proved to be more challenging than anticipated. Upon asking about the favorite foods of the male in the equation, I was told, “No chicken.” OK, there went my idea for chicken spaghetti.…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Cold weather rekindles cornbread’s popularity
By Kara Kimbrough One thing you can always count on when frigid temperatures envelope Mississippi – grocery store shelves are swept bare in mere hours and everyone begins sharing photos of whatever it is they’re cooking. In the case of most of my acquaintances last week, it was soup, stew, chili and without…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: What’s old in the food world is new again
By Kara Kimbrough Just when I think there’s no way on earth anyone can create a new recipe, the internet surprises me. I own and regularly peruse many cookbooks, but similarly spend time checking out “trending” recipes online and on social media sites. Unbelievably, new and in some cases, recycled recipes pop up almost…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: 2023 was a very good year for new supermarket products
By Kara Kimbrough As promised, I compiled a list of my “favorites” from 2023 – included are new supermarket products and hidden gem restaurants that deserve a look in 2024. Without further ado, here’s what captured (and held) my attention in the previous year. 1. Yellowstone Coffee, Steak Rub/Seasoning and Chili – First, full…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Favorite recipes of ’23
By Kara Kimbrough In case you were waiting for it.…my annual “Favorite foods, supermarket products, restaurants and destinations of 2023” is coming next week. I’m still trying to pare the list down to a manageable level. In the meantime, I’m sharing a couple of my favorite recipes from the past year that you’ll definitely want…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Celebrate New Year’s Eve, Day with fun traditions
By Kara Kimbrough I’ve shared this in previous columns, but it may bear repeating. I don’t believe in luck, but instead, put my faith in God’s grace and blessings for the coming year. However, like any good Southerner, starting 2024 off without sampling at least one of these traditional New Year’s dishes – cabbage,…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Last-minute Christmas gifts for the foodie and traveler
By Kara Kimbrough Christmas is almost here, so technically, your shopping needs to be complete. However, if you’re like me, there are always a few last-minute gifts to buy. Here are a few suggestions for the food-lover, home chef and traveler (and some may fit into all three categories) on your list. If you…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Gaither star, Mississippi native honors late mom with a new cookbook
By Kara Kimbrough “Reggie and Ladye Love Smith…” when you hear the names that are often printed or spoken together, you might know them from one of many different places and events. Reggie may be remembered as someone with whom you grew up in Jones County. Same with Ladye if you’re an Iuka…
Read MoreKara’s Bites & Sights: A bag of homemade Christmas treats might be a lifesaver
By Kara Kimbrough Borrowing a phrase from a former college student of mine who once said, “Wow, you lecture a LOT about stuff you’re passionate about!” I’m continuing my series (not lecture) on the joys of gifting others this Christmas with homemade candy, cookies and other treats. I even have a story from Christmas…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Shop local; bake and create in your kitchen
By Kara Kimbrough It’s time for my annual “Please stop sending all your hard-earned money to large out-of-state conglomerates with no interest in Mississippi” plea. On a more postive note, I’m also asking you to at least consider baking some of your Christmas gifts. But first, the shopping dilemna. I don’t consider shopping at…
Read MoreKara’s Sights & Bites: Fall food needs to be fast…and fun
By Kara Kimbrough Using the first letter of the all-too-brief season, fall is filled with festivals, football, family time and fun activities in the span between six months of searing heat and the cold, rainy weather that accompanies winter. Finding time for preparing food can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be a…
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