Lobster Bisque

I am about to learn what to do with fish stock!  My dear friend, Teri, is going to teach me to make lobster bisque with fish stock.  I love to eat it, can discern when it is "fake" bisque and am looking forward to learning a new trick in cooking!  Stay tuned and I'll keep you posted on this adventure.

Handwritten Notes

I love to send and recieve handwritten notes.  It is so special when someone takes the time to sit, compose a note, address it and place a stamp on it.  How delightful to recieve such a gracious thought from a friend.  Click on the Handwritten Notes in the title to this blog to take you to a wonderful site where you can order personalized note cards.  So head to the post office and buy some stamps and brighten a friend's day!

Fresh Flowers

Yesterday I splurged.  I bought a dozen roses at Kroger for $6.99 and put them in a beautiful rose bowl on my entry way.  There is just something about fresh flowers that make you smile.  Take a moment  - grab some flowers and stick them in a vase in your home.  You will be surpised at how that small little purchase can brighten your day!

Iced Tea

Because I am from the South, I learned to love iced tea!  I dont' particularly like it sweet but there is nothing more refreshing than an ice cold glass of tea with a slice of lemon or lime in it.  I recently purchased one of those big glass decanters with a spigot.  Lately, I have started filling it with tea and floating some orange, lemon or lime slices in it on the weekend. It is really a delightful piece in the kitchen and is always ready when company arrives. 

I suggest you try it!!!!!!

Sunday's Dessert

Yesterday I made an old fashioned chocolate pie.  My meringue actually stood up tall and browned up just right.  The problem is that I don't actually know what I did to make it better this time.  I did make sure my egg whites were at room temperature but they were last time too. I beat the whites a long time - maybe that made the difference.

Doesn't chocolate pie on a Sunday afternoon sound like a great old fashioned treat?

Another Great Meal

I have been so impressed with Stouffer's new campaign that the family that eats together has less problems with their children.  I really do believe that is so true.  My family always ate together every night at 6:15 immediately following the weather.  As soon as Vern Sterman went off the air - it was time for dinner.  I guess that is why I never watch the sports on TV.  Back to my original train of thought - we need to eat together at the table as a family without the phone, TV, internet or headphones.  We need to get back to sitting down at the table and conversing again.  I think the family meal is a lost art. 

Here is a great and easy recipe that you can use as the main dish for the meal.  Add a garden salad, some ice cold tea and you are good to go! 

Prawns in Pasta


2 lbs medium prawns

½ stick butter

2 c. fresh sliced mushrooms

bunch of green onions

1 pint of heavy whipping cream

1 c shredded cheese.

Cooked angel hair pasta



Sauté prawns in butter or olive oil. Add mushrooms and green onions and sauté slightly. Add cream and cheese. Heat over low heat until cheese melts. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over cooked angel hair pasta.

Cajun Dinner

I tried my hand at Crawfish Etoufee' this weekend.  It was delicious and so easy to cook.  Here's the recipe.  Takes about 45 minutes cook and prep time - very easy.

3 lbs crawfish
1 onion (chopped)
1 bell pepper (chopped)
2 stalks of celery (chopped)
1 stick of butter

Saute' these together.  Add 1 can condensed tomato soup and simmer for 30 minutes.  Salt, Pepper, and Hot sauce to taste.  Serve over hot rice.

Delicious!

Family Vacation

Join me over the next few days as our family embarks on a new adventure.  We leave in the bus in a few hours and travel as a family to the ski slopes in Red River.  By Tueseday, we shall be ready to kill each other.  Will keep you posted.

The Ultimate Party

I am going to get to plan the ultimate party at my home - another wedding.  I am so looking forward to watching true love bloom in my garden as my oldest and dearest friend/adopted sister marries her soulmate.  What an exciting day it will be.  Follow the blog as we transform the park and and the garden into a magical moment where two souls who have been alone come together as one!

Dreary Sunday

I had so many plans for today!  But I slept late - till nearly noon.  We met some friends for a late lunch - and it was great.  I sat by the fire with a new friend and enjoyed getting to know her better.  I helped a young man write a paper - and it was worth it.  I cooked dinner for my husband - and he enjoyed it.  I relaxed in front of the television with my hubby - and cleared my head.  I suppose it is true that the best laid plans.......however, I was busy today and I really enjoyed being in my home with my friends and family.

I would encourage you to enjoy whatever life throws your way!

The Patio

As we roll into spring, we begin to think of sunny days and flowers.  I always think of Garden parties when spring arrives.  I love to host little outdoor patio parties as the afternoons heat up.  As night falls, there is nothing better than sitting by a fire pit and watching the stars.  Although we probably will have a few more days of bad winter weather, I am so looking forward to spring, the flowers, the sunshine and wonderful afternoons on the patio!

The New Year

As January draws to a close, it reminds me that I have 11 months left to exercise, eat right, spend more time with family and all the other resolutions I try to faithfully follow each January.  My favorite resolution is to eat healthier.  I think to do so, I must not eat out as much at night.  I really would like to have to some more good and simple recipes.  If you are following the blog, post one on here for me!

Weekends

This weekend I'll be traveling to Midwinter Conference in Austin.  As a rule, I really enjoy staying home and cooking in my kitchen.  However, I so enjoy seeing so many of my clients and friends at this annual conference each January.  It is three days filled with training sessions, meetings, and receptions.  It is tiring, long  and provide little opportunity for sleep.  However, the opportunities to renew old friendships, make new ones and mingle with clients in a beautiful city make it all worthwhile.  We are blessed that we have good clients, and wonderful employees.  Looking at the glass half full always makes me smile.

It's Christmas

Today has been fun.  Watching the grandchildren play.  Enjoying my "grown-up"kids visit, laugh and reminisce.  I so enjoy listening to them sing carols, read the Christmas story from the bible, and talk about which of Jane Ann's deserts is the best.  Now they are all gone, the kitchen is clean and I am sitting by the fire looking forward to a week long vacation with my Jake!  What an amazing holiday this has been.  I think the more I focus on the reason for the season - Jesus - the more I enjoy Christmas Day!

God bless you each and every one!

The Weather

Today is a gloomy day outside.  I am tired, worn out and exhausted from work, the holiday season, and parties.  As much as I love to socialize I am thankful that there is no event this  morning that requires me to get out of bed, dress and shower before noon.  There is something wonderful about laying in your bed in your favorite cozy pajamas with the Saturday newspaper or your laptop and relaxing!

Family Meals

As the holidays approach, we often reflect on what we shall have for the holiday meal. One thing I have learned over the years is that it does not matter what you serve but that everyone gathers together to sit around the table and fellowship as a family.  It does not have to be on a specific day or at a specific time, but that from time to time, we gather together to come as a family and break bread.

Enjoy your holiday!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

Great Friends

On occasion, we forget how much fun it is to just host a group of friends at your home.  Your home doesn't have to be spotless.  The menu does not have to be extroidinary.  You are not required to use your best china. But more importantly, you are not required to plan, plan, plan for a gathering.

Some of the best parties I have ever been to were impromptu parties with a few friends who enjoyed good wine, good fellowship and good conversation.  The only important thing you ensure that your guests remember is that they enjoyed themselves in relaxing atmosphere.  Guests rarely remember whether you used cloth or paper napkins, crystal or plastic cups, or your fine china as opposed to disposable plates.  What they will remember is that you made them feel welcome and you were hospitable.

Many times my guests always inquire what they may bring.  Recently I hosted a covered dish dinner.   Everyone was to bring enough food for six people.  The food was amazing, ample and from many types of cuisines.  It doesn't matter whether the dish is a casserole, vegetable, salad or dessert.  What matters is that there is plenty of great food and everyone enjoys sharing a favorite dish.  You should try it sometime.