Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Rue La La

You can find some amazing kitchen and other fashion finds at this great website.  It is listed on my favorites now.  You can click on the link and join at my invitation.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Miss Ann's Pimento Cheese

When I was growing up, my across the street neighbor, Miss Ann, made the very best pimento cheese in the world. She was a great cook and always had great snacks at her house. In fact, when I was feeling “snacky”, I would wander over to her house and nibble. One of my favorite things was her pimento cheese. It was just the perfect snack on a triscit cracker. She was such a great Southern cook. She has given me permission to share her recipe on my blog. I hope you and your friends enjoy this delightful recipe as much as I have over the past few years.




Miss Ann’s Pimento Cheese Spread
1 pound of American cheese (grated)
1 small pimento (chopped)
1 pint of Helmann's Mayonaise

Melt cheese in double boiler, add pimentos and mayonaise. Stir until is all melted and creamy. Yummy on bread or crackers.

Chicken Salad for Andrea

Well my darling niece, Andrea Blair, is looking for a chicken salad recipe. You know I think recipes are really just a list of ingredients, but here goes.


1 whole chicken, boiled and deboned (or you can use 2 large cans of chunk white chicken, drained and flaked)
2 stalks of celery (chopped finely)
3 tbsp of sweet pickle relish
1-2 tsp of seasoned salt
1-2 tsp of sea salt
2 tbsp black pepper
¼ to ½ c of mayonnaise (not miracle whip) depending on the consistency you like the salad
¼ c. slivered almonds
Optional: ¼ c of halved seedless purple grapes or apples chopped finely






Enjoy on some great gourmet crackers or home baked bread. I also wrap them up in lettuce wraps as well or you can use tortilla for wraps.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Heading Home

I have had the most wonderful vacation.  I have seen beautiful foliage, eaten amazing food and enjoyed the conmpany of several good friends and my darling husband.  I can honestly say that no matter where you travel, there truly is no place like home.  I am anxious to get to my house and sleep in my own bed on my own sheets with my own pillow.  I am anxious to get sit on my sofa and let my sweet dog lay his head on my lap.  I am anxious to get to my house and pilfer through my kitchen for something not luxurious, decadent or sinful.  But mostly I am anxious to return to my home to sit in the solitude and be grateful for all that I have and for the many blessings I have received.

I can honestly say that when you hear, "There is no place like home", it must have ben said by someone who has just returned from vacation.


Have great rest of the week.  I'll sling a new recipe or two up in a day or two.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Martha's Vineyard

What an amazing yet surreal place to travel.  The homes are not austentatious at all - really some are just shacks.  But this place gives new meaning to location, location, location.  It must be an amazing thing to never worry about money, to walk into a store and pay $650 for a plain soft navy sweater and to live in on an island that costs $50 to get off of without a  car.  It is a great lifestyle for those who are blessed by financial security but it does bring one back to reality when thinking about having to pay $20 to simply check just one bag at American Airlines.

Oh well......back to reality on Wednesday even though it was a magical trip!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

New England

Yesterday was just gorgeous.  We took the scenic route from Boston to Maine.  We found this great little roadside restaurant in Rye, NH called Petey's.  I found out something about lobster that I did not know on this trip.  There is softshell lobster and hardshell lobster.  The softshell lobster is pretty cheap.  You can get a one pounder in a restaurant up here for about $8.  That price usually includes fries and coleslaw.  The hardshell ones are about $18.00 a pound.  The difference is the softshell lobster is much easier to get into but it has more water in the body so you are really getting a bit less lobster.  However, I have discovered that you can enjoy the softshell just as much as the hardshell.  They make everything with lobster up here from lobster rolls, lobster bisque, loster salad, lobster bites to fried lobster. 

I also discovered a new dish that I had never tried before called smelts.  Smelts are little tiny fish that have been gutted and have their heads cut off.  They are deep fried whole and served with a side of fries.  I am not really sure what kind of fish they are but in the south we eat "fiddlers".  These are tiny catfish cooked the same way.  The smelts are about 3 - 4 inches long where the fiddlers are about 6-8 inches long. 

So far, the trip has been gorgeous with the fall foliage and delightful weather.  Today the high is supposed to be 55 and we are heading to Kennebunkport for a day of shopping and eating.  I'll keep you posted on my seafood journey!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Salmon

You know I think we forget from time to time how good fish can be for us.  Obviously it is best just cooked over an open fire on the grill or baked in the oven.  However, from time to time we love to add a great sauce to some fish to "dress it up."  This usually works well when you have company and you can show off your culinary skills.  Here is a great sauce for Salmon that I recently discovered.  I thought I would share it with you.

Sauce for Salmon


1 melted stick of butter
1/4 c  ketchup
2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
2 tbsp dry mustard
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp orange juice

Combine all ingredients and heat slowly for the sauce.  Drizzle over a grilled or baked salmon fillet.  If you really want to dress up the plate, put the sauce in a squeeze bottle and drizzle a pattern on the plate, place the fish on the pattern and then add the sauce to the top of the fish.  You can also add a touch of mint on the side for looks.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Cheese

I have had such a blessed weekend.  My son returned from Alaska.  I spent the weekend with him and so enjoyed his company.  However, I am back at home, working and ready to cook again. 

I can't over emphasize the greatness of cheese.  It makes all things better.  Cheese also serves as a great snack when you have friends drop by your home.  I am always looking for new and interesting cheeses to try.  I have discovered that Costco has an excellent cheese selection.  I recently tried some garlic chedder cheese from there that was just out of this world.  I would invite you to consider (as my dear friend, Kay, woud say) buying a small block of cheese and sharing it with a friend.

About Me

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Having been raised with manners and class by a real Southern Belle (which by the way has nothing to do with money), I spend my time trying to make my company always feel welcome and comfortable in my home and at social gatherings I often attend!!!!!!!!