Michele from Beautiful Orchids shared one of her favorite dishes as her food story entry. Thanks, Michele! (The pics on Lake Michigan are great - looks like you guys had a great day of boating. Cheers!)
One of my favorite recipes is simple and delicious! It is spaghetti and homemade meatballs!!! This is one of my top dishes for serving guests. I find most folks like Italian food. I make my own sauce and meatballs. When I serve the dish I top it off with freshly shredded basil from my basil plant! Along with the main course is a crispy salad. We also have freshly grated Romano or Parmesan cheese...freshly ground pepper and a steamy loaf of bread...sometimes we have herbed olive oil for dipping too....we can't forget the semi-sweet Merlot....there is the atmosphere as well....candles burning and Italian music playing in the background!!!!!
Elizabeth, from Kentucky Mama, shared this sweet (in more ways than one) story about her grandmother's recipe. Be sure to stop by her blog - that gal is doing some serious home renovations!
One of my favorite recipes is my grandmother's brownies. She always made them for me growing up. When i got older, I was given a cookbook with that recipe written in it. she had cut it out of a newspaper the night I was born while she was in the waiting room. Neat story, huh?
More stories to come later in the week.
On the go. Always fabulous.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Fall Fashion
It's been unusually cool in Kentucky the last few days - it feels like fall is making an early appearance. Fall is my favorite time of year - the colors, football games, pumpkins, a pot of chili cooking on the stove. It's all good. But, one of the best things about fall is, of course, the clothes. If any of you received the Talbot's catalog the other day, you know what I'm talking about. I'm so glad to see that Talbot's got it's groove back. For a few years there, it went from classic clothing to down right matronly. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see the designs of their latest line - a lot of equestrian influences. Love it.I'll post more fabulous food stories later this week. I've been battling a cold this weekend, so I hope I'll get to feeling 100 percent soon.
Images courtesy of Talbots
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Food Story Addendum - Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits
Jessi at Halfway House blog e-mailed me the recipe for her Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits and pork chops at yesterday's request. Oh my - this sounds heavenly! Thanks for sending it!
Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits
Not sure where I found the recipe. Online somewhere.(I use this as a guide, and adjust as needed for type of cheese...but to me the key to the grits is making them with chicken broth and milk)
2 1/2 C Chicken Broth
1 1/2 C Milk
Salt and white pepper to taste (I sometimes don’t have white, so I use regular black pepper)3/4 C uncooked quick cooking grits
3/4 C smoked gouda cheese (or a little more if you like em cheesy)
4 TBSP Butter
1 – Bring broth, milk and seasoning to a boil
2 – Stir in Grits
3 – Reduce heat and simmer
4 – Stir occasionally
5 – Add cheese and butter
6 – Stir until melted and consistency is to your liking
Stuffed Pork Chops (from www.allrecipes.com) - I am approximate in my measurements when making this.
2 ounces smoked gouda cheese, shredded
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 C chopped parsley (I sometimes use dried, depends what I have)
1/8 TSP ground black pepper
2 (2 1/4 inch thick) center cut pork chops
1 TSP olive oil
1/4 TSP SaltGround black pepper
1 – preheat outdoor grill to medium heat
2 – In small bowl, combine cheese, bacon, parsley and black pepper
3 – Lay the chops flat on a cutting board and cut a pocket into the pork (be sure to leave sides in tact)
4 – Stuff the cheese mixture in the pocket and close with a toothpick.
5 – Brush meat with oil and season with salt and black pepper
6 – Grill for 5-8 minutes each side or until done.
ENJOY!!!
Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits
Not sure where I found the recipe. Online somewhere.(I use this as a guide, and adjust as needed for type of cheese...but to me the key to the grits is making them with chicken broth and milk)
2 1/2 C Chicken Broth
1 1/2 C Milk
Salt and white pepper to taste (I sometimes don’t have white, so I use regular black pepper)3/4 C uncooked quick cooking grits
3/4 C smoked gouda cheese (or a little more if you like em cheesy)
4 TBSP Butter
1 – Bring broth, milk and seasoning to a boil
2 – Stir in Grits
3 – Reduce heat and simmer
4 – Stir occasionally
5 – Add cheese and butter
6 – Stir until melted and consistency is to your liking
Stuffed Pork Chops (from www.allrecipes.com) - I am approximate in my measurements when making this.
2 ounces smoked gouda cheese, shredded
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 C chopped parsley (I sometimes use dried, depends what I have)
1/8 TSP ground black pepper
2 (2 1/4 inch thick) center cut pork chops
1 TSP olive oil
1/4 TSP SaltGround black pepper
1 – preheat outdoor grill to medium heat
2 – In small bowl, combine cheese, bacon, parsley and black pepper
3 – Lay the chops flat on a cutting board and cut a pocket into the pork (be sure to leave sides in tact)
4 – Stuff the cheese mixture in the pocket and close with a toothpick.
5 – Brush meat with oil and season with salt and black pepper
6 – Grill for 5-8 minutes each side or until done.
ENJOY!!!
Friday, August 28, 2009
More Food Stories
As I noted in yesterday's blog, some wonderful readers submitted recipes and food memories as part of my cookbook giveaway. They were all so wonderful, that I just had to include them in a series of posts. So, here are a couple for today:
Southern Comfort
Great blogger, fellow Kentucky girl and UK fan, so you know she’s from good stock.
One of my favorite recipes (and the most requested in our household) is the Milk Chocolate Candy Bar Cake - which is actually a Southern Living recipe! This cake is absolutely delicious, and the icing is so sweet, but light and airy at the same time. Plus, how can you go wrong with a bag of chopped Hershey bars?? My mom (who is known to state, "I've never made a Southern Living recipe that didn't turn out good.") first made this for my husband for a birthday, I think. Since then, he always requests it for birthdays, holidays, Fridays, etc. I'm always happy to make it because I know it is his favorite dessert, and in today's busy world, it's nice that loved ones appreciate the little things in life like a terrific chocolate cake.
Here's the link to the recipe:http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=257448
Halfway House
The lovely Jessi over at Halfway House submitted this story. Jessi, if you’re reading, please send the recipe. It sounds amazing!!
I make great cheese grits. And while you southern ladies may think this is a given, I am a northern gal, married to a southern guy. He says I am making my way through learning the ways of the South. (I make Smoked Gouda grits and generally serve with pork chops stuffed with bacon and gouda - yummy!)
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
Southern Comfort
Great blogger, fellow Kentucky girl and UK fan, so you know she’s from good stock.
One of my favorite recipes (and the most requested in our household) is the Milk Chocolate Candy Bar Cake - which is actually a Southern Living recipe! This cake is absolutely delicious, and the icing is so sweet, but light and airy at the same time. Plus, how can you go wrong with a bag of chopped Hershey bars?? My mom (who is known to state, "I've never made a Southern Living recipe that didn't turn out good.") first made this for my husband for a birthday, I think. Since then, he always requests it for birthdays, holidays, Fridays, etc. I'm always happy to make it because I know it is his favorite dessert, and in today's busy world, it's nice that loved ones appreciate the little things in life like a terrific chocolate cake.
Here's the link to the recipe:http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=257448
Halfway House
The lovely Jessi over at Halfway House submitted this story. Jessi, if you’re reading, please send the recipe. It sounds amazing!!
I make great cheese grits. And while you southern ladies may think this is a given, I am a northern gal, married to a southern guy. He says I am making my way through learning the ways of the South. (I make Smoked Gouda grits and generally serve with pork chops stuffed with bacon and gouda - yummy!)
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
And the Winner of the Cookbook Giveaway is...
Entertaining Mom!
Miss E. helped draw the winner last night after dinner - she was so excited to be part of the giveaway and "photo session."
Here is what Entertaining Mom submitted for her entry:
I have many recipes that I adore… A favorite? It would actually not be mine, or my mother’s but my husband’s Paella recipe. It’s his mother’s… frankly he makes it MUCH better than she ever does! LOL… but this is a recipe that involves the whole family. Everyone jumps in and helps. We cook it only for special occasions because it is so labor intensive and so long, but well worth the results. I do not have the recipe on the food blog… yet!
My children love to cook and help out in the kitchen. They have been exposed to all sorts of foods from the get-go and I am sure that’s why (for the most part) they are not fussy children. Food has played such an important role in my youth too… my grandmother always threw the most elaborate, glamorous dinner parties and I remember thinking from a very early age that “That’s what I want to do too!”
She told me a story about how she had had a fabulous Pressed Duck in France. Back in the States she didn’t know how to “press” her duck so she wrapped it in plastic bags and drove over it several times!!!
Congrats to Entertaining Mom on the giveaway. Hope you enjoy the cookbook and that it inspires many wonderful dishes!
And, thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway. We're not finished yet, though. Because so many of you included great stories about favorite recipes and what they mean to you and your families, I'm going to include these in my blog over the next few days. Thank you for sharing such happy memories with me!
Have a wonderful Thursday everyone!
Miss E. helped draw the winner last night after dinner - she was so excited to be part of the giveaway and "photo session."
Here is what Entertaining Mom submitted for her entry:
I have many recipes that I adore… A favorite? It would actually not be mine, or my mother’s but my husband’s Paella recipe. It’s his mother’s… frankly he makes it MUCH better than she ever does! LOL… but this is a recipe that involves the whole family. Everyone jumps in and helps. We cook it only for special occasions because it is so labor intensive and so long, but well worth the results. I do not have the recipe on the food blog… yet!
My children love to cook and help out in the kitchen. They have been exposed to all sorts of foods from the get-go and I am sure that’s why (for the most part) they are not fussy children. Food has played such an important role in my youth too… my grandmother always threw the most elaborate, glamorous dinner parties and I remember thinking from a very early age that “That’s what I want to do too!”
She told me a story about how she had had a fabulous Pressed Duck in France. Back in the States she didn’t know how to “press” her duck so she wrapped it in plastic bags and drove over it several times!!!
Congrats to Entertaining Mom on the giveaway. Hope you enjoy the cookbook and that it inspires many wonderful dishes!
And, thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway. We're not finished yet, though. Because so many of you included great stories about favorite recipes and what they mean to you and your families, I'm going to include these in my blog over the next few days. Thank you for sharing such happy memories with me!
Have a wonderful Thursday everyone!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Summer Memories
I’ve been tagged by The Entertaining House (great blogger) on favorite summer memories. So, here it goes:
Favorite Summer Movie – You may laugh at this, but I’d have to say "Dazed and Confused." Set in the summer of 1976, it focuses on a group of high school kids who are about to be seniors and some who are about to be freshmen. It’s hilarious.
Favorite Summer Cocktail – Mojito (especially the ones made at the Roadside Café in the Outer Banks)
Favorite Summer Song – "Red Red Wine" by UB40
Favorite Summer Outfit – Anything seersucker, sundresses
Favorite Summer Reading – Novels by Anita Shreve make for a good summer read, as does anything by Penny Vincenzi or Pat Conroy. I also enjoy some classic W. Somerset Maugham during the summer.
Favorite Summer Moment – Lying on the beach, hearing the waves crash, knowing that I don’t have to be anywhere but there. I also like dusk when you can hear the crickets, see the lightning bugs and hear kids in the neighborhood playing hide-and-go-seek or freeze tag. That’s quintessential summer to me.
I now tag these following fabulous blogs to offer up their favorite summer memories:
Favorite Summer Movie – You may laugh at this, but I’d have to say "Dazed and Confused." Set in the summer of 1976, it focuses on a group of high school kids who are about to be seniors and some who are about to be freshmen. It’s hilarious.
Favorite Summer Cocktail – Mojito (especially the ones made at the Roadside Café in the Outer Banks)
Favorite Summer Song – "Red Red Wine" by UB40
Favorite Summer Outfit – Anything seersucker, sundresses
Favorite Summer Reading – Novels by Anita Shreve make for a good summer read, as does anything by Penny Vincenzi or Pat Conroy. I also enjoy some classic W. Somerset Maugham during the summer.
Favorite Summer Moment – Lying on the beach, hearing the waves crash, knowing that I don’t have to be anywhere but there. I also like dusk when you can hear the crickets, see the lightning bugs and hear kids in the neighborhood playing hide-and-go-seek or freeze tag. That’s quintessential summer to me.
I now tag these following fabulous blogs to offer up their favorite summer memories:
Also, a reminder that you have until 5 p.m. today to enter the Southern Living cookbook giveaway. It's full of amazing recipes and would make the perfect addition to any cook's kitchen! Little Miss E. will help me draw the winner. Stay tuned this week for the announcement!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Hummingbird Festival
Remember summer days as a kid when you didn't have a care in the world and it was all about frolicking and having fun? I think about that when I look at this photo of my kids and nephew.
We had a great visit with my sister-in-law and her boys last weekend. On Saturday, we took a jaunt out to Oldham County to do a walk-thru at Yew Dell Gardens (that's where this photo was taken), in preparation for this coming Saturday's Hummingbird Festival.
As I've mentioned before, my husband invented an eco-friendly hummingbird feeder and he, along with his sister and father, created a side business in selling these feeders. On Aug. 29, Yew Dell will host it's second annual hummer fest, and our feeder company is a sponsor. So, if you're in the area, come out and join us!
We had a great visit with my sister-in-law and her boys last weekend. On Saturday, we took a jaunt out to Oldham County to do a walk-thru at Yew Dell Gardens (that's where this photo was taken), in preparation for this coming Saturday's Hummingbird Festival.
As I've mentioned before, my husband invented an eco-friendly hummingbird feeder and he, along with his sister and father, created a side business in selling these feeders. On Aug. 29, Yew Dell will host it's second annual hummer fest, and our feeder company is a sponsor. So, if you're in the area, come out and join us!
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