Gone But Not Forgotten

Well, of course, the camo onesie has a story. In early 1983, I flew to D.C. with an infant nursing son in tow to visit a high school friend whose husband was a Marine. We went to a benefit silent auction and this was my contribution to the evening. Paid 40 bucks for it and worried if my husband would have a fit. It became my most favorite yardwork outfit for 2 reasons: mosquito and sun protection. Its best story was later that spring of 1983 when my dear brother-in-law did not have on the right clothes to help my husband trim back large trees, so he borrowed my camo. We were still new to the neighborhood, so the man from next door came over to investigate. SInce the onesie quickly become my favorite yardwork apparel and I was push-mowing our near 2-acre yard (and 5 months pregnant) when we first moved here in 1982, he naturally thought I was way up in the tree with the chainsaw. We are still laughing about that day. My mother-in-law had repaired the seat of my camo so many times that I did not have the nerve to ask her again. Therefore, I retired the jumpsuit officially last week. Lamenting its loss, I am pressing forward with my Wal-Mart Liberty overalls. The Few, The Proud, The Marine... not really...

Party Foul

Regrets Only, R.S.V.P., respond by (date)... multiple choice, you pick... yet the typical turnout for a mailed invitation these days hovers around 50%. When did it go out of style to say, "I am unable to attend?" With so many easy ways to communicate, it is the least an invited guest can do. A hostess has already spent money on an invitation and postage to you and is trying to prepare food and often party favors along with judging space issues. She would like to know if you are coming or not. Plain and simple. Think about arranging seating for 40 people and 20 show. Quick... while you are smiling, offering a beverage, putting out punch and cupcakes, be sure and remove HALF of your chairs and perhaps tables, too. People excuse themselves from any response by acting ignorant thinking, "What does r.s.v.p. mean anyway?" Or, "I get confused... what is Regrets Only?" The last two large events I have hosted have been very successful in that I had a good idea of my numbers to expect. Remove ALL questions/excuses by stating exactly what you need as a hostess. If you are hosting an event in the future, I would recommend that you use "Respond by (date)." Many people have not ever tried to have 50 people for dinner. Good luck to them whenever they do. Nice manners are still important even today.

Mary, Mary... How Does Your Garden Grow?

I have been asked what I am feeding my ferns to make them so massive... 40" diameter and over 3' high. The answer is quite simple... and cheap. When you purchase the $9.00 Boston ferns in the spring, they are pot-bound already... translation: no room to grow. Therefore, in July when it is terribly hot and you think they have died due to heat, they really have died because the roots are exhausted from trying to push through the original pot. Plus, the roots have no protection from the heat or any way to preserve the water you give them. Next spring when you buy your ferns take time to transplant them immediately into larger pots, giving them at least 3-4 inches extra all the way around, working Osmocote into the soil. Yes, the ferns will seem dwarfed and puny for awhile, but then in the late summer when all of your other annuals are spent from the heat, your ferns will be thriving. Mine will be beautiful until first frost in October. Happy planting!

God Gave Angels Wings & Humans Chocolate

Chocolate gives me that sort of lift. Back in the 1970s, I fell in love with a cake a friend's mom made regularly called Chocolate Chip Cake which had a bar of German's chocolate grated in it. I used to grate the bar on a cheese grater and took off skin since it required a fair amount of pressure to grate on the sharp metal piece. In 1980 when I had my first child, my husband gave me a Cuisinart, and my life was instantly better. No more of my flesh in the Chocolate Chip Cake. In 1999 Anne Byrn, native Nashvillian, published a cookbook entitled, The Cake Mix Doctor, and she printed with permission my cake recipe. In 2010 having sold 1.6 million copies, she released The Cake Mix Doctor Returns. Costco began selling her newest release, and she was interviewed in the May 2010 Costco Connection magazine. She was asked to choose her top 3 cakes, and yes, my Chocolate Chip Cake made Costco news. It has been a family favorite all of my married life for several reasons: 1) minimal number of ingredients, 2) freezes well, 3) travels by U.S. Postmaster well, 4) easy to serve in vehicle when traveling with family, and 5) most importantly, delicious!  In case you do not have a copy of The Cake Mix Doctor, here is the recipe for Chocolate Chip Cake. And with the new DARK CHOCOLATE chips, wow... surely you will be flying, too.

Chocolate Chip Cake

• 1 box Duncan Hines Butter Recipe Golden Cake Mix
• 1 small box instant vanilla pudding
• 1 pkg. (6.5oz) chocolate chips*                                                                                          
• 1-4oz. pkg. Baker’s German's Sweet Chocolate
• 1 cup oil
• 1 cup milk
• 4 eggs                 
• Baker’s Joy cooking spray

1. In Cuisinart with steel knife inserted, drop (one at a time) 1” squares of German chocolate. Chop until fine.

2. Combine in large mixing bowl milk, oil & eggs.  Add cake mix, pudding mix, chocolate chips, & chopped German chocolate. Mix well.

3. Grease pans with Baker’s Joy cooking spray. Bake 325° in tube pan or 2 loaf pans for an hour or until done.

*tip: The “mini” chips work well if your choc. chips want to stick.

Something's Borrowed, Someone's Blue

Have you ever loaned something to someone and then never seen it again? It isn't that the person really stole it. It is simply put out of sight and forgotten about in the hustle and bustle of cleaning up after an event, often times  not by the borrower herself but by a helper... a husband, another hostesss, etc. Once the item is out of sight, the borrower generally goes back to normal life... the job, the yardwork, the next meal, children's ballgames and art lessons. Even putting your name on things does not guarantee borrowed items will arrive back home. A cookfriend of 34 years taught me something that I would like to pass on to you. She makes a written note in her "daytimer" when she has loaned something to someone because her experience was, like many of us, the item was not missed until she went to use it and could not find it. Too much time had passed to be able to recall to whom the item was loaned. I do not carry a daytimer anymore so I make a note on my calendar on the week after the borrower's event to begin looking for it. Worst case scenario, I initiate contact with the borrower to get item off my list and back where it belongs. Everyone is busy but we are all called to be good stewards of our resources. Do not feel bad creating a way of remembering to retrieve items for yourself! And, by the way, when you need to borrow something, what is the appropriate time to return it? Let's just say, if the owner has to contact you for it, it is late. Return items to people in a timely fashion as you would like your items returned to you... and in excellent condition.

It's Football Time in Tennessee

When our son was playing football at Auburn, we met many new friends and had so much good food at tailgate parties. Ten years later, we are still enjoying a recipe from a parent of another player, Gloria's Corn Dip. As you can see in the picture, even the littles like it! This dip quickly became our son's favorite and  is a regular at events in our home. Don't wait to have a Mexican dinner party to serve it - I promise that your guests will love it... very different with an incredible amount of cumin. Do not decrease... it is perfect just as recipe is written. 
Gloria’s Corn Dip

3 cans corn, drained         1 cup sour cream                        4 TBSP. cumin (NOT a mistype!)

jalapenos to taste              2 cups cheddar cheese                 chopped green onions

1 cup mayo      

                                                                             

Combine all and serve with large Fritoes. I buy the all ingredients (especially cumin) at Sam’s (they don’t have green onions) because I never make just one recipe. When doubling, I use that very large 6-pound can of corn. 

Magic In A Can

Whoever invented Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk is surely a wealthy individual. I have loved cooking with that velvety product for years. My mother used to make caramel pie with it just like O'Charley's Restaurant once served. Unbelievably, she cooked the unopened can over low heat for 2 hours in a water bath. I put a new twist to the caramel pie recently by serving the cooked caramel in pretty sherbet stemware topped with whipped cream with a wedge of baked pie crust on the dessert plate... sort of upside down caramel pie. I named it Caramel Custard. My granddaughter was visiting when I served it, and she went nuts over it. She even drew me a picture of it that night. It is very rich, so it doesn't take much for a serving... maybe 1/4 cup or so. Very elegant and 1 ingredient: MAGIC!

Caramel Custard

In large pot, cover Eagle Brand with water at least an inch over top of can. Bring to boil, then turn heat to simmer, keeping can covered with hot water at all times. I heated additional water in microwave to pour over. You will only have to do this a couple of times. After 2 hours, carefully remove can from pot and allow to cool thoroughly. Spoon into sherbet glasses and cover with plastic, then place in refrigerator until ready to serve. Top with whipped cream and a wedge of baked pie crust.

The First Of The Season

We enjoyed the first of the season's butter beans from my freezer tonight along with rump roast, fresh spinach and mushrooms, sliced homegrown tomatoes, and grapefruit sections. If you are interested in putting butter beans in your freezer, there are tips on the August 5th blogpost since they must be blanched before freezing. Today I took a bag out of the freezer, covered the beans with water, salt & pepper, brought them to a boil, then simmered for 90 minutes. These beans want to bubble up and out of the pot, so do what my mama taught me to do 30 years ago... take a stick of butter around the sides of your pot and lightly rub with butter. You won't use much butter at all. This will be plenty of flavoring for the beans, although my mama added additional butter to the cooked beans. Country cooking with a little more heart health in mind. Happy eating!

Gentle Reminder

It is not too late to get your peaches in the freezer. If you are new to my blog, you can reference the July 13 post to get a little procedure help. Several posts after that include suggestions on what else to do with your peaches besides the obvious cobblers and pies. Is there any question as to what I will be doing this week? These beauties are from Peach Park in Chilton County, AL, but you can get wonderful peaches at your local farmer's market still. Don't wait - you will love having them all year long! Post me or Facebook me if you have done yours already. I would love to know if this blog has helped you get started.

Perfect Pink Punch

At the request of several new blog friends, I would like to share a punch recipe with you. It is great for a daughter's birthday, a baby girl shower, a sip and see, a pink-loving bride, or just a girly girl party... (with, of course, the EXTRA ingredients). This punch only has 3 ingredients and the frozen part thaws into the mixture so nicely... like a slushee or something. A guaranteed crowd pleaser... for the young and the not-so-young. The frozen concoction can be done weeks in advance.
         
                                Perfect Pink Punch

2-46 oz. cran-raspberry juice, 1-32 oz. pina colada mix, 2  ltrs. Raspberry gingerale

extra ingredients optional: Malibu Rum or Vodka

In large plastic container, combine cran-rasp. juice w/pina colada mix & freeze in a glass bowl at least overnight. Remove from freezer at least 30 min. prior to serving. To serve, place frozen slush in punch bowl & slowly add gingerale. Add alcohol to taste, if desired. Serves 50.

Location, Location, Location

I have had a request from a lifetime cookfriend who claims that I actually helped her organize her first kitchen before I was even married! I have no recollection of the event, but she is quite certain it occurred. She even told me a couple of suggestions I made which she is still implementing 35 years later! The main principle to remember when trying to make your kitchen more efficient is to think: PRIME REAL ESTATE - most essential items in the easiest-to-get-to spots.  Here are a few tips that have helped me for years:         

1. Store glassware beside refrigerator with counterspace for easy serving. This also creates a separate work station that is not under your feet in sink area. When someone offers to help get the meal on the table, the answer is SURE! Do beverages!

2. Store silverware/plates nearest dishwasher. Plates are heavy and silverware is numerous.

3. Use a vertical file stand to store your cutting boards near sink area for easy access.

4. Store placemats near table for easy pull out and put away.

5. Use desk organizer plastic trays in drawers to keep small things organized. One tray for chip clips, twist ties, straws, rubber bands. I even use one compartment for my grands' silverware for easy finding. They love knowing I have silverware just their size. A tray in another drawer has barware accessories: wine corks, garnish picks, wine openers, citrus press, etc. Still another drawer has a utility tray of Sharpee markers, scissors, candlelighters, matches, batteries, adhesives (strapping tape, scotch tape, Gorilla glue), flashlights, straight-edge razor blades.

5. Place cleaning supplies under your sink in a plastic bin for easy removal if any leaks occur. Having things in bins also allows you to pull out numerous bottles at one time to get to other items way back that you don't need as often. Again, prime real estate in the front.

6. Keep disposable gloves under kitchen sink for handling raw meat. They are very cheap when you buy a box of 500 from Costco or Sam's. I like to use them for myriad chores: washing and preparing meat & produce, handling dough, boning cooked chicken. I like to keep my hands nice and out of the water & muck. 

As real estate agents tell us over and over, location - location - location. A good word when you are trying to put your kitchen in tiptop working order.

Brotherly Love

When my brother comes in town, we try to find a reason to celebrate something so that we can go to Sperry's. He always takes me there for my birthday for sure. Gotta have a filet... either Prince William's or one with the Béarnaise Sauce - wow. Sperry's is one of the very few restaurants to have a salad bar any more. One particular item on their salad bar is a favorite little delicacy I enjoy and have never been able to find in a grocery store: pickled corn. Well, guess what... I have found the pickled corn at the Nashville Farmer's Market. A whole new world awaits you if you have never been to the Market. Celebrate a sibling sometime... life is short and you won't have your parents to share forever. 

Buying In Bulk

With 4 children and a very hardworking husband, everyone had to help at our home. Though we did not have a farm to work, it took all of us to do meals, pack lunches, mow grass, and keep a home running efficiently. Part of operating on a budget meant buying in large quantity for maximum savings. Even with my children grown and out of our home now, I still use so many of those principles in my shopping because guess what... they come back! And I am so glad! When my firstborn went to college in Wisconsin, her friends inquired as to why she had under her bed a case of juice boxes and a 2# jar of peanut butter. Her response was, "I only know how to buy in bulk." I say, "Good Training!"

To Market, To Market, To Find A Fat Pig

Maybe not to find a fat pig but the butter beans were so beautiful at the Farmer's Market this week that I had to get some in the freezer. Tomatoes, peaches, and honey for my allergies were all part of the run this week, too. I took my rigged up pullcart so that I could be efficient in my shopping. The butter beans need to be blanched which is a very quick process. In your soup pot, bring to a boil water about 2/3 full in your pot. Have a timer handy and drop butter beans in the boiling water for 2 minutes. Then plunge beans in ice cold water in your sink, adding ice to cool down quickly. Drain quickly and thoroughly and place in 1 quart bags. Freeze flat, then store upright in baskets for using later. I bought a 10 pound bag of butter beans for around $35, and it yielded 6 full quarts of blanched beans. When you get ready to cook beans, cover them with water, bring to boil, then simmer for about 90 minutes with a little butter, salt, and pepper. Rub the inside of your pan with a bit of butter to keep from boiling over. Country Road... take me home... to the place... I belong... thanks, John Denver.

Best Bar In Town

Many years ago while living in Atanta, I had a boss with whom I shared a love of cooking. Her name was Ruth, and, no, I did not name one of my children for her. She did, however, share a recipe with me that her mother had named for her... Baby Ruth Bars. Whenever chocolate meets peanut butter, it is a happy moment. These incredible little morsels are very simple to make and can be stored for months in the freezer. My family agrees that they are the best bar in town.

Baby Ruth Bars

2/3 cup butter, melted                                                1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup peanut butter                                                  1/2 cup butterscotch chips

1 cup brown sugar                                                        2/3 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup corn syrup                                                       1 cup dry roasted peanuts

1 tsp. vanilla

4 cups oatmeal (1-minute kind)

In large Pampered Chef batter bowl, melt butter in microwave. Stir in peanut butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and GOOD vanilla. Combine well. Mix in oatmeal. Using disposable glove on your hand, press batter into greased11x16 stone bar pan or baking pan of your choice (I use butter wrapper to grease). Bake 400 for 12 minutes. While crust is baking, melt peanut butter with chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in same (unwashed) batter bowl, using 1 minute intervals in microwave until melted. Add peanuts when chips are melted. Pour onto crust immediately when it comes out of oven. Cool completely and cut into 1x2" bars. Great for freezer.                        

Pimiento Cheese, Yes Please

My husband's mother makes a concoction of homemade pimiento cheese that I fell in love with about the same time I fell in love with her son almost 34 years ago. Using only 5 ingredients, it is very simple and loved by all of my family and friends. It is a constant companion on beach trips and is often present at family gatherings at our home. It does require a good food processor to grate the cheese. I have put my own touches on MIL's (mother-in-law's) recipe over the years, so tweek it as you see fit. I prefer the Black Diamond brand of sharp white cheddar cheese available at Sam's, and I also prefer Hellman's mayonnaise. You can clean out your cheese drawer with any other bits and pieces of cheese you may need to use up, too.


1.5# block of high grade cheddar cheese
2 - 4 oz. jars diced pimientoes
some juice from the jar of sweet pickles
mayonnaise to taste
lots of pepper


Serve as sandwiches or with crackers or in celery boats (or on a spoon right out of the jar).

Needing A New Buzz?

I've got a buzz that you might want to know about. Mosquitoes are a problem for me. They do not bother my Beloved, but they find the most isolated places on my body to make their mark. A friend introduced me to the OFF Clip-On Fan last summer, and I am here to say that it works, especially with fresh batteries. I also have a deer population problem inside the city limits where I live, so I have to spray regularly to keep the deer from eating all of my landscaping. The OFF Clip-On Fan is my newest companion while I work in the yard. Maybe the OFF spray doesn't bother you, but it is sticky and stinky. The fan is neither, and it generates the cutest buzz. The initial cost may seem high, but once you have your device and only need refills and batteries, you are no longer putting the chemicals on your skin. Try it sometime. It is a different sort of buzz for sure.