Some people tolerate their family, some people like their family and other people love their family. I loooove my family. So when I learned that I would be attending a conference in Atlanta, I tacked on a few extra days so that I could stop in and see my aunt and uncle, Sue and Steve, and my cousins, Shea, Luke and Jessie.

My cool Aunt Susan picked me up at the airport, took me to Chipotle for lunch (because she knew I’d be hungry) and then to Costco to pick up a few things for dinner. We stopped and played in the clothes section and ended up buying the same t-shirt. We couldn’t help it. We’re related it, so it made sense that the same color looked good on both of us. Then we wore them and took a photo, couldn’t resist that urge either!

(Isn’t my aunt a beauty? You’d think she was my age!)

I love being with Aunt Susan and her family because they’re just like my family. I walked into the house, was greeted with hugs and kisses and we never left the kitchen area. We didn’t start cooking right away, but Aunt Susan, Shea and I put on aprons almost immediately. Shea whipped a few Americanos for us and we girls sat on the couch and talked while the boys finished sanding the deck.

Nearly two hours later we headed back over to the kitchen, talked some more and switched from coffee to wine. Aunt Susan had a lovely menu planned and with all hands on deck, it didn’t take long to throw it all together. It was fitting that the entire menu had come from family – my Aunt Jeanne had told Aunt Susan she had to make this meal.

So we cooked. And talked. And drank. And set the table beautifully. And had a wonderful meal.

(This family is so stylin’)

But the Roasted Tomato and Parmesan Grits were the star of the show. I think everyone had seconds (maybe thirds). You can’t come to the South and not have grits! But these grits were North meets South. New York City grits.

We stayed up until well after midnight and I’m sure we could have been up all night, but we went to bed. In the morning Aunt Susan and I went for a long walk and then breakfasted on her homemade scones and fruit salad.

While the scones baked, I wandered the house taking photos of my Uncle Steve’s art. I want to own one of everything he has painted.

I left happy…and full. That’s the way it should be with family, especially when you’re in the South.