Dining With Debi

05/26/2026

Black & Bleu Burger with Homemade Fries ...and homemade seasonings

Where do I start about today? Let's start by saying how great it is to find joy in such simple things. 🌸 No work today. WOOHOO! Cut my own hair 💇‍♀️. Returned an outfit at Walmart and walked away without getting another one that I don't need. 🤑 Washed the pile of dishes that my depression left behind 🍽. Had a much needed call with my sister Renee ❤️. Refilled my homemade seasoning jars 🫙 and made thee BEST Burger 🍔 and Fries 🍟... all while dancing around my kitchen 💃 to some nostalgic MSB and Chemical Brothers tunes 🎶! I know... what a crazy combo!

Speaking of crazy combos... can I tell you about this Black & Bleu Burger?! I knew I was going to make a burger tonight, but after refreshing my seasonings I decided on a B&B...I had all the ingredients. My favorite version is from P.J. Marley's in Medina so I looked it up on their menu and was quickly reminded they call it The Blue Devil... after my Alma Mater 💙. So that made it a big fat YESSS!! It's a blackened burger topped with bleu cheese, shaved red onion, sliced apple, and balsamic reduction. YUMM! Do not judge! Try it...trust me!!

And the fries take 12 minutes in the air fryer at 380°F. Toss them in olive oil and your seasoning of choice...I used my seasoned salt and a pinch of brown sugar. And if you know me, you know what's hiding on the fries since I hate ketchup ... bonus points if you get that answer!

How was your Memorial Day? Tell me your favorite Burger combo! 👇

05/11/2026

Meaty Monday. Don't really want to say what's on my mind, but I will say that making my favorite meal while listening to my favorite music is the best escape...even if it's just for a little while. The other thing I'll say is these beauties came from and they melted in my mouth. Now I'm going to escape for real because my annoying new neighbors have total disregard for the noise standards we have here. My walls are vibrating...too bad it's not better music, then I might not mind.

05/04/2026

Haha 😄

😭🤣

04/30/2026

Honey Garlic Chicken. So I've been posting on FB and just realized it wasn't cross-posting over on IG. So let's give a little love for this Honey Garlic Chicken 💜 with rice & broccoli that came together in about 15 minutes. It's cheap, easy & fast! Ummm...I could say something here, but I digress. I will say though that it's divine... and totally fed my soul!

And I will also say a big thanks to my girl for helping to motivate me off the couch after work instead of skipping another meal and doom-scrolling. And by the way... if you are a female entrepreneur, you need to connect with her over at - she is a rock star!

04/19/2026

About last night... there I sat at my table, alone again. And that's perfectly ok. No noise, no drama, no one talking over me or arguing, just peace and space to think...and of course, a great soundtrack of songs curated by Alexa (too bad FB won't let me add the music I want). And as I sat there, I realized it's time to let go. To let go of waiting on the outcome of something I can't control. I don't need the court to give me closure. I need to just let go in my own heart and soul to get closure. It's been holding me back. So I let it go!! I think I'm ready now to start again.

Yesterday was about healing and moving forward. Although I was flat on my back most of the day with this awful back pain, I pushed myself to get up and do what I love...Cook and Dance! Dancing in the Kitchen! (hey, I know someone who had a podcast with that name! 😉) Have you ever made homemade hummus and pita bread? SO delicious and super easy. The pita takes time to rest, but it's so worth it. Don't tell anyone, but I may have eaten two pieces of that pita before dinner! And this Greek Chicken Hummus Bowl was a perfect way to use some extra chicken that needed to be cooked and pulled it all together.

I'll post the recipes in a bit... but the point is... take some to rest and heal, and listen to your soul.

04/15/2026

I thought I posted this yesterday but I guess not. Yesterday was National Grits Day! I craved this all day and so glad it only takes about 15 minutes to make, because I needed to eat and get to Singo after work. Shrimp and Grits have made an appearance here before, but I must say these might be the best yet. I used chicken stock and heavy cream this time instead of water.

Tell me... do you prefer sweet or savory Grits? Do you even like them? For breakfast, I like them with butter and brown sugar. I never cared for cheesy Grits until a few years ago.

04/15/2026

True story!

04/08/2026

After a much needed conversation with an admired coworker today, this is what therapy looks like tonight. I really needed to hear what he had to say (more than he knows) and that he genuinely cares about my well-being. Thank you "T"!!

I also decided to sit at the table instead of the island tonight. Tried to get a different perspective. I've got this cute little table and never sit at it. Probably because it feels lonely here. I miss my kids sharing their high/lows of the day. It's painfully quiet. The only sound is Alexa playing some soundtrack from my past. So yeah, the perspective is different. But sitting here alone in the quiet is letting me hear what God is screaming in my mind. He makes us uncomfortable to make us move. Time for more change. Time for more happiness. Time for more courage. And with another trip around the sun upon me, it's time to actually do what I say. No more time to waste.

Sorry for the rambling. Now can I just tell you how easy and quick this meal was?! Baked Salmon with homemade Lemon Dill Sauce next to a Veggie Trio and Jasmine Rice. I love the fresh veggie bags from Publix that takes 3 minutes to heat up, and the rice took less than a minute. So now my soul is fed. Thank you God.

03/17/2026

Happy St. Patty's Day!
Corned Beef, Baby Red Potatoes (buttered w/parsley), Honey Glazed Roasted Rainbow Carrots, and Coleslaw.

This Corned Beef has been screaming my name all afternoon and reminding me of St. Patty's Days with my kids. But I have to say this might be my best combo yet! I'm not a fan of cooked cabbage, so the homemade coleslaw hits the mark instead. And this year I changed the carrots up a bit, because how boring it is when everything tastes the same?

May God grant you...
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you 🍀🙏🏻

02/05/2026

I spent the afternoon in bed feeling unwell (again), and needed something quick and easy that wasn't soup. Something with substance but not too heavy. Something that didn't hurt my brain to figure out. This Chicken Caesar with homemade dressing came together in about 15 minutes and totally hit the spot. And can we just savor the moment of how perfect these cutlets turned out? 😍 The key is to pound them thin for even browning. Finished with my splurge of Macarons from for a little sweet treat. Yummm!

Now don't come at me about why I'm unwell again! I'm working on that. But can I say that stupid autoimmune diseases suck and stress and lack of sleep tend to amplify what's going on in our bodies? I'm working on that also. So in the meantime, I'll be in the kitchen cooking up a little food for the soul and resting whenever possible.

Let me know if you're interested in the recipe for the chicken and dressing. And if you've got some tips to keep thyroid disorders in check, hit me up.