Pass Me Some More Publix... Please!

   For a girl whose mama loved Walmart better than anything, it is hard to make changes. If you have read my blogposts in the past, you have seen a shoutout for Publix over their fresh pizza dough and hard-to-find coffee ice cream. But deep down, I enjoy paying less just like everybody else. Therefore, I am a regular at Walmart. Recently, however, I found myself in Publix when purchasing fresh raw shrimp for shrimp and grits, thanks to a new recipe from a dear cookfriend. Publix had the shrimp peeled AND deveined. Maybe this is available at other places, too. I just happened upon the species at Publix. So, I returned to Publix this morning for another upcoming date with shrimp and grits. I had scoured their sale ad online, so I had a very specific list. My first stop in the produce was to find the cantaloupes 2/$5. No sign to match the ad. A manager was summoned: "Mike" found the last one of the sale varieties, then GAVE me another regularly priced cantaloupe which he said was tastier anyway. Check. 
   Onto "James" at the seafood counter. He helped me again with the shrimp. When there before, he encouraged me to use the Wright's bacon in the shrimp and grits - more flavorful. Check. 
   Finally, I am in the frozen juice area looking for pineapple juice for my teapunch. I am startled by "Dan" who asks if I need help finding something. It has been YEARS since I have been offered help at any grocery store. Help? Yes, please. Check.
Boar's Head deli meat? Yes, please. 
Wondercloths for the kitchen sink? Yes, please.
Free cup of coffee? Yes, please. 
Thanks, Publix. I will see you again very soon.

100 Degrees... Sweet Tea, Please

Thanks to the Parke Company, we have a few less hackberry trees. After one fell this weekend, we decided to take care of a few others. Thought the crew might enjoy a little sweet tea. It does not have to be as sweet as you order in a restaurant, and I strongly believe that real sugar is far superior to the myriad fake sugars. We have no idea what is in those chemicals. Sugar is sugar and has been around forever. So I use it. Period.


Stacy's Sweet Tea
Bring to a boil a saucepan of water with
1 & 1/4 cups sugar. Once boiling, turn off heat & drop in 4 family size teabags. Put on lid and allow to steep at least 10 minutes or all afternoon. Pour into gallon jug & add water over the teabags in your saucepan to fill your jug. ALWAYS serve with sliced lemon or lime or both!