This Holiday Gift Guide was originally published in 2020 and has been updated as of December 2021 and includes a variety of products and experiences that are locally made and sold in North Carolina. All of the items shared in this holiday gift guide include products and experiences that I have sampled, purchased or have... The post Holiday Gift Guide: 11 North Carolina Gifts for 2021 appeared first on Food Diary of a City Girl ..read more

These breaded  fish sticks wrapped in Hawaiian crescent rolls are an easy and delicious five ingredient dish.  The entire meal takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. Scroll down for my crunchy fish roll recipe! Gorton’s Crunchy Breaded Fish Sticks are ideal for this recipe.   The size of the individual fish sticks make them perfect... The post Crunchy Fish Roll Recipe appeared first on Food Diary of a City Girl ..read more

This past April, I took an easy 45 minute drive to Siler City in Chatham County.  My stay would kick off at the charming Inn at Celebrity Dairy and would continue with an itinerary filled with multiple food and drink experiences sponsored by the North Carolina Wine and Grape Council.    Question: What do goats,... The post Travel Itinerary: the Best Things to Do In and Around Siler City NC appeared first on Food Diary of a City Girl ..read more

This easy summer salad features Gorton’s Butterfly Shrimp as the star of the dish with an easy air fryer butterfly shrimp recipe. Scroll down to read more! While cooking with Gorton’s is always easy, using an air fryer is a huge time saver!  I simply place Gorton’s Butterfly Shrimp on air fryer rack and air... The post Easy Summer Salad: Alba Salad with Air Fryer Butterfly Shrimp appeared first on Food Diary of a City Girl ..read more

Don’t let strawberry season pass you by without making this Strawberry Shrub Margarita Cocktail! Strawberry season is officially one of my favorite seasons.   Not only do I love the fruit, but the season is synonymous with spring for me.  After a long chilly winter, I look forward to adding the fruit in salads, cocktails and... The post Strawberry Shrub Margarita Recipe, a Refreshing Cinco de Mayo Cocktail appeared first on Food Diary of a City Girl ..read more

I have partnered with Coopers’s Craft to create a beautiful seasonal drink.  Scroll down to read about my Strawberry Bourbon Cocktail. I cannot think of a better way to welcome April than with a spring libation.  When I was asked to create a cocktail for Coopers’ Craft Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, incorporating North Carolina strawberries... The post Fruity Cocktails: Strawberry Bourbon Cocktail appeared first on Food Diary of a City Girl ..read more

A strawberry shrub is a concentrated fruit syrup that is mixed with vinegar.  Scroll down to learn how to make a strawberry shrub! If you have never heard of a shrub or drinking vinegar, don’t worry – neither had I.   I first heard of a strawberry shrub referenced in ‘Dirty John: The Bettty Broderick Story’. ... The post How to Make a Strawberry Shrub – a Step by Step Recipe appeared first on Food Diary of a City Girl ..read more

Looking for the perfect frozen cocktail?  This Sauvignon Blanc Slushie Recipe may be your go-to favorite.  Scroll down for the details! Spring is right around the corner and I definitely have the fever!  The warm weather has me reaching for my sundresses, flip flops and chilled beverages.  Along with the recent weather, this Sauvignon Blanc... The post Refreshing Cocktails: Sauvignon Blanc Slushie Recipe appeared first on Food Diary of a City Girl ..read more

This Kumquat Margarita is guaranteed to transform your winter blues into spring vibes.  Scroll down for the delicious and refreshing recipe! After recently making a beautiful Kumquat Simple Syrup, I knew that I had to create a Kumquat Margarita Recipe. The candied fruit in the simple syrup elevates this beautiful cocktail.  While the drink takes... The post Fruity Cocktail Ideas: Kumquat Margarita Recipe appeared first on Food Diary of a City Girl ..read more

This Kumquat Simple Syrup recipe will make a beautiful and unique addition to your cocktail bar.  Scroll down for the recipe! I first started eating kumquats when I was ten.  I was fascinated by the “little oranges” and how I could eat both the flesh and the skin.  The kumquat variety that I remember eating... The post How to Make Kumquat Simple Syrup appeared first on Food Diary of a City Girl ..read more