Kara's Recipe Column

Kara’s Sites and Bites 48 hours in NYC: fall foliage, food and unexpected fun By Kara Kimbrough A dream of visiting New York City in the fall, combined with a brief fall break, a free hotel stay and an $11 flight triggered a last-minute decision to fly to the Big Apple. Despite spending less than…

By Kara Kimbrough Fall’s finally here and football season is in full swing. The tantalizing aroma of wings, dogs and burgers grilling in the late afternoon sun is almost sweeter than your favorite team’s victory. Colorful tables filled with sausage balls, pulled pork sandwiches, pigs in blankets, football-shaped cheese balls, dips of every description and…

By Kara Kimbrough It’s hard to believe, but a little more than half of 2026 has already slipped away. The halfway point (give or take a few weeks) is a good time to reflect on new supermarket, restaurant and food items on my favorites list. So, without further ado…here’s what I’m loving in 2026…so far,…

By Kara Kimbrough America’s 250th birthday is finally here! This momentous milestone that only rolls around every two and one-half centuries deserves special recognition. Whether you’re entertaining a crowd at a backyard barbecue or plan to watch fireworks shows on TV, this once-in-a-lifetime occasion deserves more attention than a regular 4th of July holiday. A…

By Kara Kimbrough America’s 250th birthday is next week and for those of you who, like me, are excited about this milestone in our nation’s history, I’m happy to report that July 4, 2026 lands on a Saturday. It’s the perfect opportunity to take a weekend trip to celebrate and enjoy the festivities in one…

By Kara Kimbrough Filling up the car with gas in advance of a road trip during the long Memorial Day weekend ahead was not a problem in previous years. But this year…well, that’s a different story. Without dwelling on the pain we’re all feeling at the pump, I decided to share a few tips to…

By Kara Kimbrough The month of March is shaping up to be a great one, filled with some of my favorite things: Daylight Savings Time; a few day trips, culminating with a few stops along the Mississippi Gulf Coast; new food and treasure finds; spring break courtesy of a school-related job and of course, the…

Celebrate Super Bowl LX, Valentine’s with special foods By Kara Kimbrough       A few years ago, the Super Bowl did American men a favor by landing right in the middle of Valentine’s Day weekend. The excuse that there was “simply no time” to go out for a special Valentine’s meal due to the…

By Kara Kimbrough I can’t enter 2026 without sharing the best food and travel finds that made 2025 one to remember. Besides discovering some true gems on supermarket shelves that I’ll use in ’26, ‘25was also filled with delicious restaurant meals and amazing travel adventures. Here are a few of my favorites from ’25; 1.    Pleasures…

By Kara Kimbrough A week in western North Carolina offered breathtaking views of the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains as well as a chance to explore charming towns like Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Lake Junaluska, Clyde and Canton, all within scenic Haywood County. Seeing the mesmerizing stacked blue layers of the Blue Ridge was an…