"Why bless her little pea-pickin' heart", is a phrase that I have grown up with down here in the south and have heard to referenced to myself on many of an occasion. This is a phrase that all true Southern women add when they are saying something vaguely insulting. Nonetheless, I find it a strangely charming affectation.
I am sure that at times my neighbors have thought that I have totally lost it..what ever it is, or perhaps that I wasn't the smartest of human beings to start with and of that fact they probably have been correct. After all I have been known to work in my garden under the moon light, go fishing at night, and yes even go hunting at night but simply because it is just too hot and humid during the day. " Why her porch light doesn't shine very bright, why bless her little pea-pickin' heart!
My Mother could always take this phrase to new heights whenever I would pout or whine as a child, saying in Southern tones dripping with pure mock sympathy, "Well, bless your little pea-pickin heart, you have got it just so bad! Hearing this always made me realize that I was either being rude or ungrateful and sometimes both.
By now, my Bow knows all of my porch light's eccentricities so I feel that I have nothing to hide and have become something of an open book. After all, I have been known to wrinkle my nose at the idea of a dozen long stem red roses and a candlelight dinner for two at some romantic and expensive restaurant, but have squealed with excitement and delight when he brought me a Carrot Stick Fishing Rod.
So on this beautiful Sunday afternoon in September, "Bless all your little pea-pickin hearts", though I am sure that you are never rude or ungrateful but lovely and kind. Why if your comments about my blog are anything to go by, the readers of my blog are the soul of graciousness and gentle wit.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Well Kiss My Grits!
Now you know us Southerners are known for our Grits, and I am sure that all my Yankee friends, and Yes I do have a few, are still trying to figure out just what exactly this Grit thing is all about. Well pull yourselves on up a stool rights here at my kitchen counter and we will explore exactly how to make true Southern Grits.
Now I am here to tell y'all that there truly is no magic secret to great grits...and there are no short cuts either. Unfortunately what you may read on that label in the grocery aisle that says "Quick Grits" please be warned Do Not Pick This Up and certainly Do Not Purchase It! You will never make true Southern Grits using one of these packages, truly an impostor. All Southerners know far too well that great grits take time and the "Quick Grits" label simply means that the grits have been milled finer which causes the texture and flavor to suffer. Which means you will never see them in my house or served at my table.
Now fortunately great grits do not require a great deal of what I call "Active Cooking", just an occasional stir from time to time. Start your grits a full 2 hours before you plan to serve them, chose yourself an adult beverage, and go enjoy the company of your guests while the grits simmer slowly on the stove.
Now for the technical instructions, start with 2 cups of quality dry grits I particularly like Anson Mills Grits. Put the grits in a medium saucepan, add a generous pinch of salt and about 7 cups of water. Now here I have found that it is better to err on the dry side, its easier to add a little water later than it is to cook em down if you used too much. You may want to add one or two bay leaves, and you can also substitute 2 cups of chicken broth or beef broth for 2 cups of water depending on what recipes that you are using the grits for. Now bring your grits to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer. Now stir every 15 minutes or so, and when you've got them cooked and the texture is starting to become more firm and 1 cup of buttermilk which makes the grits creamy. Now if'in you are wanting you some cheese grits now is the time to add some fresh grated cheese, lets say about 1 cup, stir again and let simmer another 15 minutes and serve.
Now I usually make mine with some Poached or BBQ Shrimp and Fried Country Bacon mmm..mmm..good.
Now that is how you make yourself some real Southern Grits, enjoy!
Now I am here to tell y'all that there truly is no magic secret to great grits...and there are no short cuts either. Unfortunately what you may read on that label in the grocery aisle that says "Quick Grits" please be warned Do Not Pick This Up and certainly Do Not Purchase It! You will never make true Southern Grits using one of these packages, truly an impostor. All Southerners know far too well that great grits take time and the "Quick Grits" label simply means that the grits have been milled finer which causes the texture and flavor to suffer. Which means you will never see them in my house or served at my table.
Now fortunately great grits do not require a great deal of what I call "Active Cooking", just an occasional stir from time to time. Start your grits a full 2 hours before you plan to serve them, chose yourself an adult beverage, and go enjoy the company of your guests while the grits simmer slowly on the stove.
Now for the technical instructions, start with 2 cups of quality dry grits I particularly like Anson Mills Grits. Put the grits in a medium saucepan, add a generous pinch of salt and about 7 cups of water. Now here I have found that it is better to err on the dry side, its easier to add a little water later than it is to cook em down if you used too much. You may want to add one or two bay leaves, and you can also substitute 2 cups of chicken broth or beef broth for 2 cups of water depending on what recipes that you are using the grits for. Now bring your grits to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer. Now stir every 15 minutes or so, and when you've got them cooked and the texture is starting to become more firm and 1 cup of buttermilk which makes the grits creamy. Now if'in you are wanting you some cheese grits now is the time to add some fresh grated cheese, lets say about 1 cup, stir again and let simmer another 15 minutes and serve.
Now I usually make mine with some Poached or BBQ Shrimp and Fried Country Bacon mmm..mmm..good.
Now that is how you make yourself some real Southern Grits, enjoy!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
The True and Indomitable Spirit of the Southern Belle
Erstwhile but essential social graces of proper etiquette, penmanship, ballroom dancing, needle work, mourning customs may be lost to the ages; however, the true and indomitable spirit of the Southern Belle is alive and well. Albeit transformed and reinvented to meet the demands of a twenty-first century modern society moving at warp speed, in comparison to the previous more thoughtful and genteel pace of Southern Life for young ladies.
Belle, from the french "beautiful" most certainly does apply to today's modern Southern Belle who remains free to pursue the qualities of hospitality, the cultivation of beauty, flirtatiousness, and a certain upper class demeanor and taste. This same Southern Belle also allows for compassion, kindness, care for their fellow men and women, and all creatures on God's earth.
A strong sense of community allows the modern Southern Belle to leave behind old stereotypes such as the idle gossiper or the flamboyant surface beauty with little to nothing on the emotional inside, stale, selfish, and yes self centered. A knowledge of history reminds her to learn from the mistakes of the past and not repeat them. Curiosity allows new information to permeate new ideas and an ability to continually question motives and circumstances.
Southern Belles or True Grits (Girls Raised In The South), are today free from the vestiges of readying for the next Cotillion and are interested and active in local and national politics. No longer forced to ride side saddle as part of the silent majority, Southern Belles today care about the issues of inalienable rights, the economy, abuse of any nature, and world hunger and they are actively doing something about these issues by participating front and center to bring these issues to public awareness.
Yes, we may have lost our monogrammed stationary and laced handkerchiefs, but they have proudly been replaced by symbols of greater meaning like the Pink Ribbons representing the Susan G Koman Foundation for the Cure against Breast Cancer.
Today, striving to be a Southern Belle is a full time occupation with no room for part-timers. Today's educated, strong willed, and informed Southern Belles are "Bulldozers" disguised as "Powder Puffs", yes we still desire to be your Sorority Sister, Honorary Chairperson, Junior League, and a member of the Garden Club however, we are longer satisfied to be the window dressing but demand an ever evolving role with prospect for personal growth. We are making our mark on Society, and changing the world that we live in one day at a time. Yes, the True and Indomitable Spirit of the Southern Belle live on.
Belle, from the french "beautiful" most certainly does apply to today's modern Southern Belle who remains free to pursue the qualities of hospitality, the cultivation of beauty, flirtatiousness, and a certain upper class demeanor and taste. This same Southern Belle also allows for compassion, kindness, care for their fellow men and women, and all creatures on God's earth.
A strong sense of community allows the modern Southern Belle to leave behind old stereotypes such as the idle gossiper or the flamboyant surface beauty with little to nothing on the emotional inside, stale, selfish, and yes self centered. A knowledge of history reminds her to learn from the mistakes of the past and not repeat them. Curiosity allows new information to permeate new ideas and an ability to continually question motives and circumstances.
Southern Belles or True Grits (Girls Raised In The South), are today free from the vestiges of readying for the next Cotillion and are interested and active in local and national politics. No longer forced to ride side saddle as part of the silent majority, Southern Belles today care about the issues of inalienable rights, the economy, abuse of any nature, and world hunger and they are actively doing something about these issues by participating front and center to bring these issues to public awareness.
Yes, we may have lost our monogrammed stationary and laced handkerchiefs, but they have proudly been replaced by symbols of greater meaning like the Pink Ribbons representing the Susan G Koman Foundation for the Cure against Breast Cancer.
Today, striving to be a Southern Belle is a full time occupation with no room for part-timers. Today's educated, strong willed, and informed Southern Belles are "Bulldozers" disguised as "Powder Puffs", yes we still desire to be your Sorority Sister, Honorary Chairperson, Junior League, and a member of the Garden Club however, we are longer satisfied to be the window dressing but demand an ever evolving role with prospect for personal growth. We are making our mark on Society, and changing the world that we live in one day at a time. Yes, the True and Indomitable Spirit of the Southern Belle live on.
Yes, Scarlet "Tomorrow Is Another Day"!
This morning I did something that I have never done before. I consciously decided to stop reading, in my opinion one of the greatest novels ever written, Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind at the beginning of Part Five. Now I know this goes against the grain of every red blooded Southern Belle both living and deceased, and most importantly the author's intentions. I also know and understand from my studies of Margaret Mitchell that she wrote the last chapter of the book first, and the first chapter last. However, as it has been pointed out to me on many occasions, I have in fact read Gone With The Wind numerous times and seen the movie version more times than I care to remember, I do know how this story ends. Today however, I cannot bear to live through the heart-ache, no not today but maybe tomorrow. I have found myself on too many occasions agonizing enough over why Scarlet cannot see past her childish obsession with the stupid and helpless Ashley and recognize the greatness that is Rhett Butler!
For isn't that exactly what a great novel does? It draws you in, it ignites your imagination, and it takes you to another time and place completely. I have lived through the Civil War and the Reconstruction of the South with Scarlet O'Hara and I have longed for the good ol' days of the Antebellum Plantations and the period of life at Tara. I have become frustrated and angered by the other characters in the book, I have faithfully cheered Scarlet for her gumption and strong will, and I have fallen madly and hopelessly in love with Rhett Butler over and over again.
Having grown older and hopefully wiser, I had fully expected not to like Scarlet O'Hara this time around. However, I do so adore her she is selfish and short sighted; spoiled and greedy; and yet I must ask who is not? The fair Scarlet is fierce and passionate and I cannot help but to think, as I am sure Rhett does, what she would have been like had her world not fallen apart and hardened her heart. I can relate to Scarlet on so many levels, as my world has fallen apart on several occasions and yes has hardened my heart. Scarlet's character is so deliciously complicated and so imperfect that she literally jumps off of the pages. So much about Scarlet is self-biographical of each and every Southern Belle.
Yes, I can relate to Scarlet O'Hara. I have had people and events in my life that have affected me, made me less trusting, more guarded, a bit jaded, and yes even bitter at times. To quote Grandma Fontaine from the novel, " You have to always keep something to fear and something to love". I pray that I will always have something to fear and something to love in my life.
The first time I read Gone With The Wind, I was in the fourth grade the novel had been a gift from my Mother on her birthday to me, which was her favorite. The last time I held the same novel in my hand was this morning at the age of fifty three. I am sure that I will open up the cover and read this wonderful novel again and again just not today for I cannot take the heart ache today nor the memories. So despite 786 pages of pure genus and reading pleasure, I am closing the book and saying farewell to Scarlet O'Hara, Rhett Butler, Grandma Fontaine, and yes to the memories of my Mother, if only for today.
For isn't that exactly what a great novel does? It draws you in, it ignites your imagination, and it takes you to another time and place completely. I have lived through the Civil War and the Reconstruction of the South with Scarlet O'Hara and I have longed for the good ol' days of the Antebellum Plantations and the period of life at Tara. I have become frustrated and angered by the other characters in the book, I have faithfully cheered Scarlet for her gumption and strong will, and I have fallen madly and hopelessly in love with Rhett Butler over and over again.
Having grown older and hopefully wiser, I had fully expected not to like Scarlet O'Hara this time around. However, I do so adore her she is selfish and short sighted; spoiled and greedy; and yet I must ask who is not? The fair Scarlet is fierce and passionate and I cannot help but to think, as I am sure Rhett does, what she would have been like had her world not fallen apart and hardened her heart. I can relate to Scarlet on so many levels, as my world has fallen apart on several occasions and yes has hardened my heart. Scarlet's character is so deliciously complicated and so imperfect that she literally jumps off of the pages. So much about Scarlet is self-biographical of each and every Southern Belle.
Yes, I can relate to Scarlet O'Hara. I have had people and events in my life that have affected me, made me less trusting, more guarded, a bit jaded, and yes even bitter at times. To quote Grandma Fontaine from the novel, " You have to always keep something to fear and something to love". I pray that I will always have something to fear and something to love in my life.
The first time I read Gone With The Wind, I was in the fourth grade the novel had been a gift from my Mother on her birthday to me, which was her favorite. The last time I held the same novel in my hand was this morning at the age of fifty three. I am sure that I will open up the cover and read this wonderful novel again and again just not today for I cannot take the heart ache today nor the memories. So despite 786 pages of pure genus and reading pleasure, I am closing the book and saying farewell to Scarlet O'Hara, Rhett Butler, Grandma Fontaine, and yes to the memories of my Mother, if only for today.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
It's Good To Be Back Home.
Now in my fifties, which I view as both a blessing and a curse, I can look back upon my life and the years that have flown by too soon. It seems like only yesterday that I was playing with my friends in Springfield, riding horses at Bit & Spur Saddle Club, singing to the radio with my feet on the dash headed to the North Jetty's, and driving my first car, holding my Son for the first time, so many cherished memories.Yet here I am, and all those years, and cherished memories, friends and family are so far away it almost feels like a different lifetime. Today as I look back upon my life I must admit that I have truly been blessed.
Born in the South and brought up in steep Southern Traditions, I was taught at an early age the value of friendship and family. However, sadly like many of you have experienced I am sure, life moves forward, the demands upon you are increased, you become transplanted to another City another State, and some how some way the things and people that we cherished the most in our lives seem to slip away along with the years.
As I reminisce I remember a song that was recorded by John Prine called "Souvenirs", my favorite verse of the song is "I hate graveyards and old pawn shops for they always bring me tears, I can't forgive the way they robbed me of my childhood souvenirs". The verse holds so much truth for me for I have lost so much to pawn shops and graveyards through the years. Yet I have been so blessed and I cherish each and every memory.
Enter the age of the Intranet Highway and I find that I am thankful for Facebook for it has brought me back in touch with so many of my friends from my childhood, JR High School and SR High School. It is wonderful to sit and spend the day or evening conversing for hours over the Intranet with friends that I have not seen or spoken to in over 30 or 40 years, and yes these are my friends my cherished friends through my lifetime. To reconnect to the people that was once such a part of my life growing up, to learn about their life today and their families, as they learn about mine. To connect to family members that for one reason or another had been left behind but never forgotten. Yes, I am blessed with friends and family that loves me and accepts me with open arms just as they did so many years ago.
To my cherished loved ones I extend my sincere gratitude and my apologies. If I was ever cruel in my childhood ignorance, if I left you behind in my haste to become an adult, if as an adult I have not simply taken the time to just sit and spend time with you for all these things I am truly sorry. It was never my intention to be cruel, to hurt or harm you in any way, for each of you have made an impact upon my life. You are all apart of my life, you are etched permanently within my memories and kept within my heart and I love each of you.
It is good to be back home, even if I only get there through the Intranet Highway.
Born in the South and brought up in steep Southern Traditions, I was taught at an early age the value of friendship and family. However, sadly like many of you have experienced I am sure, life moves forward, the demands upon you are increased, you become transplanted to another City another State, and some how some way the things and people that we cherished the most in our lives seem to slip away along with the years.
As I reminisce I remember a song that was recorded by John Prine called "Souvenirs", my favorite verse of the song is "I hate graveyards and old pawn shops for they always bring me tears, I can't forgive the way they robbed me of my childhood souvenirs". The verse holds so much truth for me for I have lost so much to pawn shops and graveyards through the years. Yet I have been so blessed and I cherish each and every memory.
Enter the age of the Intranet Highway and I find that I am thankful for Facebook for it has brought me back in touch with so many of my friends from my childhood, JR High School and SR High School. It is wonderful to sit and spend the day or evening conversing for hours over the Intranet with friends that I have not seen or spoken to in over 30 or 40 years, and yes these are my friends my cherished friends through my lifetime. To reconnect to the people that was once such a part of my life growing up, to learn about their life today and their families, as they learn about mine. To connect to family members that for one reason or another had been left behind but never forgotten. Yes, I am blessed with friends and family that loves me and accepts me with open arms just as they did so many years ago.
To my cherished loved ones I extend my sincere gratitude and my apologies. If I was ever cruel in my childhood ignorance, if I left you behind in my haste to become an adult, if as an adult I have not simply taken the time to just sit and spend time with you for all these things I am truly sorry. It was never my intention to be cruel, to hurt or harm you in any way, for each of you have made an impact upon my life. You are all apart of my life, you are etched permanently within my memories and kept within my heart and I love each of you.
It is good to be back home, even if I only get there through the Intranet Highway.
She's A Grand Ol' Southern Belle an Ode to "Beulah Beal"
She stands proud and tall as she always has, constructed with love of mortar and brick she now celebrates her 100th year, and yet she still remains a Grand Ol' Southern Belle. She was constructed in 1911 and labeled "PS #11", the eleventh Public School constructed within the City of Jacksonville, Florida. Upon her Grand Opening she was christened with the name of "West Springfield Elementary". In the short time span from 1911 to 1920 she had made her mark on the community and was renamed "Beulah Beal Elementary", respectfully named after her first Principal, Beulah Beal and a name which suited her so much better than "PS #11" or "West Springfield Elementary". Yes she stands proud and tall and has witnessed many changes throughout her lifetime of caring for the students and families that have passed through her doorways.
She has witnessed segregation and with just one glance down her hallways she tells you the story of segregation between the whites and blacks in the South. Her separate water fountains and restrooms remained in service for over sixty years with the plagues that said "Whites Only" or "Negroes Only", truly a sad part of her history for she viewed all students equally.
She watched helplessly as the "Great Depression" affected the students that she cared so deeply for, for it was the children that brought life to her. She survived the "Fifties" with Bobbi Socks, Poodle Skirts, and Sock Hops in her Auditorium. Again she stood strong through the "Sixties" and she survived the riots of the "Seventies". During the "80's" her brick and mortar walls became a school for "Unwed Mothers" as a "Young Parents Center", and I know that she shed tears over this transformation which shook her to her foundation. Yes, she has seen many changes in her 100 years of serving the community of "Springfield" that came to love her. Today as she stands proud and tall she graciously undergoes yet another transformation being equipped with technology for the 21st Century, complete with WiFi and Computer Labs.
On her 100th Birthday I extend my sincere "Thank You" to this Grand Ol Southern Belle "Beulah Beal Elementary". In 1962, she welcomed me with open arms and nurtured me. Within her classrooms she taught me to "Pray" at the beginning of every day and to say the "Pledge of Allegiance" to our Country. Within her walls, on her steps, and on her playground I was taught the importance of Friendship, Respect, Fairness, Patience, Tolerance, Honesty, Values, and I learned. "Beulah Beal Elementary" helped me to grow into the educated adult that stands proud and tall before you today.
Long may you stand tall and proud and serve the community of Springfield Beulah Beal Elementary School!
She watched helplessly as the "Great Depression" affected the students that she cared so deeply for, for it was the children that brought life to her. She survived the "Fifties" with Bobbi Socks, Poodle Skirts, and Sock Hops in her Auditorium. Again she stood strong through the "Sixties" and she survived the riots of the "Seventies". During the "80's" her brick and mortar walls became a school for "Unwed Mothers" as a "Young Parents Center", and I know that she shed tears over this transformation which shook her to her foundation. Yes, she has seen many changes in her 100 years of serving the community of "Springfield" that came to love her. Today as she stands proud and tall she graciously undergoes yet another transformation being equipped with technology for the 21st Century, complete with WiFi and Computer Labs.
On her 100th Birthday I extend my sincere "Thank You" to this Grand Ol Southern Belle "Beulah Beal Elementary". In 1962, she welcomed me with open arms and nurtured me. Within her classrooms she taught me to "Pray" at the beginning of every day and to say the "Pledge of Allegiance" to our Country. Within her walls, on her steps, and on her playground I was taught the importance of Friendship, Respect, Fairness, Patience, Tolerance, Honesty, Values, and I learned. "Beulah Beal Elementary" helped me to grow into the educated adult that stands proud and tall before you today.
Long may you stand tall and proud and serve the community of Springfield Beulah Beal Elementary School!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Of Speaking Southern
Unfortunately like many of my fellow Southern Belles, the plantations of our Grandfathers disappeared years ago and we were forced to enter the working world in order to attempt to keep ourselves in the lifestyles of which we had become accustomed to. In today's society of the working class, of which we have become apart of, though not entirely of our choosing we find ourselves working with many Northerners as well as people from other Countries and no I do not mean the Northern Aggression States. These fine folks not being raised in the South seem to have some difficulty in understanding the basic English language, so I have listed some of the very basic sayings along with definitions which I sur hope helps.
1. "You are barking up the wrong tree!" - You are wrong!
2. "I'm as busy as a stumped tail cow at fly time."- I am very busy.
3. "Don't count your chickens till they hatch." - Know the results before you proceed.
4. "Gone back on your raisin" - Deny heritage.
5. "Got your feathers ruffled" - Upset and pouting.
6. "Happy as a dead pig in sunshine" - Has no clue.
7. "In a coons age" - Its been a long time.
8. "Like a bump on the log" - Lazy.
9. "Too big for your britches" - Taking yourself too seriously.
10. "That dog don't hunt" - Your story is not truthful.
11. "Don't let the tail wag the dog" - The Boss should be in charge not the workers.
12. "Mend your fences" - Settle differences.
13. "Sun don't shine on the same dogs tail all the time" - You will get what you deserve.
14. "Stomping grounds" - Familiar territory.
15. "Well shut my mouth" - Shocked and speechless.
16. "Directly" - In a little while.
17. "Fixin to" - About to.
18. "Reckon" - Think or suppose so.
19. "Piddle" - Wasting time.
20. ""Good Ol' Boy" - A Southern man that likes anything involving a challenge or expression of virility.
I sur do hope this helps some of you folks that are not from the South, I sur do kit mighty tired of explan'in myself everyday.
1. "You are barking up the wrong tree!" - You are wrong!
2. "I'm as busy as a stumped tail cow at fly time."- I am very busy.
3. "Don't count your chickens till they hatch." - Know the results before you proceed.
4. "Gone back on your raisin" - Deny heritage.
5. "Got your feathers ruffled" - Upset and pouting.
6. "Happy as a dead pig in sunshine" - Has no clue.
7. "In a coons age" - Its been a long time.
8. "Like a bump on the log" - Lazy.
9. "Too big for your britches" - Taking yourself too seriously.
10. "That dog don't hunt" - Your story is not truthful.
11. "Don't let the tail wag the dog" - The Boss should be in charge not the workers.
12. "Mend your fences" - Settle differences.
13. "Sun don't shine on the same dogs tail all the time" - You will get what you deserve.
14. "Stomping grounds" - Familiar territory.
15. "Well shut my mouth" - Shocked and speechless.
16. "Directly" - In a little while.
17. "Fixin to" - About to.
18. "Reckon" - Think or suppose so.
19. "Piddle" - Wasting time.
20. ""Good Ol' Boy" - A Southern man that likes anything involving a challenge or expression of virility.
I sur do hope this helps some of you folks that are not from the South, I sur do kit mighty tired of explan'in myself everyday.
Confederate Cornbread
My whirl wind trip over the 4th of July passing by so many of the Civil War Battlefields has me think'in bout some of those ol Confederate Recipes, so here is one that I know all you folks will enjoy!
Now Wheat flour was scarce in the South during the Civil War so soldiers baked bread from available ingredients such as white cornmeal. Although this recipe has been changed to include baking powder to make the cornbread fluffier, there was no baking powder available to the Conferderate Soldiers.
CONFEDERATE CORNBREAD
1 Tablespoon Butter
2 Cups White Cornmeal (Not Self Rising)
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
3/4 Tteaspoon Salt
2 Eggs
2 Cups Fresh Milk
1/4 Cup Oil
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9" square baking dish or a deep cast iron skillet with the butter. Combine the cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a small bowl whip the eggs with a fork and add milk and oil. Now , stirring only until the dry ingredients are wet, combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients. Pour cornbread mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake 20 - 25 minutes until slightly golden brown on top.
Serve with butter. This is also good crumbled over a bowl of fresh cooked Navy Beans, recipe coming next time!
My Bow and his family likes my Confederate Cornbread served with some of my Jalapeno Preserves which you can purchase by contacting me at LoridaJellyCompany@gmail.com, 1/2 pint jars are $6.00 and pint jars are $10.00 regular shipping rates apply.
Now Wheat flour was scarce in the South during the Civil War so soldiers baked bread from available ingredients such as white cornmeal. Although this recipe has been changed to include baking powder to make the cornbread fluffier, there was no baking powder available to the Conferderate Soldiers.
CONFEDERATE CORNBREAD
1 Tablespoon Butter
2 Cups White Cornmeal (Not Self Rising)
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
3/4 Tteaspoon Salt
2 Eggs
2 Cups Fresh Milk
1/4 Cup Oil
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9" square baking dish or a deep cast iron skillet with the butter. Combine the cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a small bowl whip the eggs with a fork and add milk and oil. Now , stirring only until the dry ingredients are wet, combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients. Pour cornbread mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake 20 - 25 minutes until slightly golden brown on top.
Serve with butter. This is also good crumbled over a bowl of fresh cooked Navy Beans, recipe coming next time!
My Bow and his family likes my Confederate Cornbread served with some of my Jalapeno Preserves which you can purchase by contacting me at LoridaJellyCompany@gmail.com, 1/2 pint jars are $6.00 and pint jars are $10.00 regular shipping rates apply.
Miss Mandy's Homemade Southern Vanilla Extract
This is a recipe that was given to me by my Grandma or "Miss Mandy", as she was affectionately known to everyone in Hart County Georgia. Grandma used to tell me wonderful stories about the Civil War and the Great Depression, as I would sit next to her on the settee.We lost Grandma back in 1964 at the age of 98 and how I would love to talk with her today about the life she lived. So here is Grandma's Vanilla Extract Recipe however, I have substituted Vodka for Shine, unless of course you have a good outlet for some fine Shine.
You will need 6 Vanilla Beans, which can be purchased at most grocery stores these days, 1 Pint Bottle of Vodka or Clear Shine, and several small bottles with screw on lids which you can purchase on line, in craft stores, or at some home goods stores.
MISS MANDY'S HOMEMADE VANILLA EXTRACT
6 Vanilla Beans.
1 Pint Vodka of Clear Shine.
Rub the beans with the dull edge of a knife to evenly distribute the seeds inside the beans, then cut the beans in half lengthwise. Place the beans in the bottle of Vodka or Shine, now you might need to take a little sip or two out of that bottle to have room for the beans. Seal the bottle tightly and set in a cool place for four to six months. You will need to shake the bottle at least once per month, or if you prefer every time that you notice the bottle always works for me. This will help the extract mix and mellow. The once clear Vodka or Shine will turn a nice deep brown. When the extract is ready to use I like to have several small bottles available that I have cleaned and sterilized with screw on lids to fill with the homemade vanilla extract. This also makes great Hostess Gifts, and Christmas Gifts when accompanied by a small gift tag. If you do give these out as Hostess Gifts, please label them as "Miss Mandy's Vanilla Extract", in remembrance of one fine Southern Lady.
I like to make several batches at a time because I keep them on hand as Hostess Gifts.
Enjoy!
You will need 6 Vanilla Beans, which can be purchased at most grocery stores these days, 1 Pint Bottle of Vodka or Clear Shine, and several small bottles with screw on lids which you can purchase on line, in craft stores, or at some home goods stores.
MISS MANDY'S HOMEMADE VANILLA EXTRACT
6 Vanilla Beans.
1 Pint Vodka of Clear Shine.
Rub the beans with the dull edge of a knife to evenly distribute the seeds inside the beans, then cut the beans in half lengthwise. Place the beans in the bottle of Vodka or Shine, now you might need to take a little sip or two out of that bottle to have room for the beans. Seal the bottle tightly and set in a cool place for four to six months. You will need to shake the bottle at least once per month, or if you prefer every time that you notice the bottle always works for me. This will help the extract mix and mellow. The once clear Vodka or Shine will turn a nice deep brown. When the extract is ready to use I like to have several small bottles available that I have cleaned and sterilized with screw on lids to fill with the homemade vanilla extract. This also makes great Hostess Gifts, and Christmas Gifts when accompanied by a small gift tag. If you do give these out as Hostess Gifts, please label them as "Miss Mandy's Vanilla Extract", in remembrance of one fine Southern Lady.
I like to make several batches at a time because I keep them on hand as Hostess Gifts.
Enjoy!
Buttermilk Cake with Fresh Peaches and Cream
This is an old Southern favorite which I believe you will enjoy. You may substitute fresh strawberries for the peaches however in the South we always take advantage of what crops are currently in season and Sweet Georgia Peaches are currently abundant. I love to serve this cake for dessert for Sunday Dinner along with my Fried Chicken, Mashed Ppotatoes, Gravy and Creamed Sweet Peas. Now for all you city gals and guys out there and for some of you Northern folks this is what we call down South "From Scratch Recipe", which basically means there is no store brought cake mix here and we do not skimp on the ingredients.
You will need a 10" tube cake pan, a flour sifter, a spatula, extra butter and flour to grease and flour cake pan, and yes you may use your electric mixer. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
BUTTERMILK CAKE
1 cup butter softened.
2 cups sugar.
4 eggs, yolks and whites divided (in a separate bowl beat egg whites till stiff, set aside).
1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
1 cup buttermilk.
3 cups flour.
1/8 teaspoon salt.
3 tablespoons vanilla (not the imitation kind, this is a Southern recipe after all)
Mix softened butter and sugar well. Then add egg yolks. You will need to shift your flour, baking soda, and salt together. Now alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk into the butter/sugar mixture. Mix well and add vanilla. Gently fold in egg whites using a spatula and gently mix well. Bake in a 10" tube pan that has been greased and floured at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 5 minutes. Let cake cool in pan then place on a cake plate.
In a bowl slice up as many ripe sweet peaches as you have guests, set aside. In a separate bowl mix 1/2 pint of whole cream with 1 teaspoon vanilla till stiff.
Place the cake on the table along with the fresh sliced sweet peaches and the bowl of fresh whipped cream. Slice the cake for your guests and allow them to add the peaches and cream to their liken.
Enjoy!
You will need a 10" tube cake pan, a flour sifter, a spatula, extra butter and flour to grease and flour cake pan, and yes you may use your electric mixer. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
BUTTERMILK CAKE
1 cup butter softened.
2 cups sugar.
4 eggs, yolks and whites divided (in a separate bowl beat egg whites till stiff, set aside).
1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
1 cup buttermilk.
3 cups flour.
1/8 teaspoon salt.
3 tablespoons vanilla (not the imitation kind, this is a Southern recipe after all)
Mix softened butter and sugar well. Then add egg yolks. You will need to shift your flour, baking soda, and salt together. Now alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk into the butter/sugar mixture. Mix well and add vanilla. Gently fold in egg whites using a spatula and gently mix well. Bake in a 10" tube pan that has been greased and floured at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 5 minutes. Let cake cool in pan then place on a cake plate.
In a bowl slice up as many ripe sweet peaches as you have guests, set aside. In a separate bowl mix 1/2 pint of whole cream with 1 teaspoon vanilla till stiff.
Place the cake on the table along with the fresh sliced sweet peaches and the bowl of fresh whipped cream. Slice the cake for your guests and allow them to add the peaches and cream to their liken.
Enjoy!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
4th of July Holiday Road Trip
This story can only begin where all stories begin, so please bare with me. Just as I was looking forward to leaving work and to a long and leisurely 4th of July Holiday at home the call comes in, "Babe, when will you be home? Hurry up we are driving to York, PA as soon as you get here!" Of course being the dutiful and gracious Southern Belle that I naturally am, I accept my Bow's invitation of sorts showing all the enthusiasm that I can muster at the time. Goodbye four glorious days of doing absolutely nothing but relaxing!
Now you must understand that the term leaving as soon as I get home actually requires the following,me arriving at home and packing clothes for both of us, shoes, hair products, makeup, etc..etc..In addition leaving for a 4 day trip with a very loving 65lb lapdog (Sunflower) is just not a simple task as it involves a dog bath, packing her food (special diet), treats, Condo (yes, she has a Condo a very large pen that folds down flat). Naturally the packing is done by myself as my Bow has vanished not to be seen until we are loaded and ready to go.
Off we go to York, PA! It is around 8:30 pm on Thursday night and we are headed to York, PA with our dog Sunflower, in a truck hauling a car hauler in order to drop off a generator and pick up a car for a friend. Our route is I-95 North. Of course when you live in Lorida, Florida there is actually no direct route to I-95, so off we head South, yes even though I am a natural blonde I do know that York, PA is North of Florida! Our first stop is Okeechobee, Florida where one of the largest Seminole War battles took place, by the way the Seminole Indians are the only tribe that have never signed a treaty agreement with the United States. Now from Okeechobee we can actually begin to head North on 441 to 60 East and finally to I-95 North.
As we happily travel North on I-95 watching the extremely boring scenery, and yes part of the Florida landscape is boring, and watching cars headed South I ask my Bow where and what time he planned to stop for the night. "I haven't thought about it yet, I'll drive for awhile and see", this should have been my first clue. It is about 11:00pm and I have been up since 4:00am a total of 19 hours and counting...once again I inquire around the Daytona, Florida exit when and where did he plan to stop. "I will find a place up the road, I want to drive for awhile", on that note I fell asleep. I woke up again near the exits for Savannah, Georgia (which I highly suggest that everyone visits at least once in their lifetime) and that is when I discovered that his intent was to drive straight through to York, PA, it is official I am traveling with a crazy man! So it is back to sleep for me in the front of a truck...oh the Joy and comfort, I am so grateful that I remembered to bring my goose down feather pillows!
Ahhh Morning! After such a good night sleep I woke up somewhere on I-95 in South Carolina with a kink in my neck and swollen ankles, and yes the crazy man is still driving. Breakfast time which on the road means a fast stop at a McDonalds, I should say a stop at a McDonalds, after all we are in the heart of the South and absolutely and I do mean absolutely nothing is fast here including fast food. Thirty minutes later we are handed our breakfast in bags, the dog has been walked and watered and off we head North again on I-95. Now I must say that the scenery has improved and I do so love the Carolina's, I spent a large portion of my childhood in North Georgia and the Carolina's. This area is always pretty to the eye in any season.
In almost no time at all we are through the Carolina's, Virginia and are in Washington DC. Now I must say that being in Washington DC and crossing the Potomac on the 4th of July weekend is somewhat emotional when you think about everything our Country has been through.We travel on past the Washington Monument, the Pentagon, and the Capitol and they are truly breathtaking buildings.
As we travel along on I-95 North we drop straight down into downtown Washington DC on a Friday and on the 4th of July Holiday, please trust me this is not where you want to be unless you plan to stop and do some sightseeing! I highly suggest you take the bypass, which is what I believe I suggested to my dear crazy man. Approximately 10 miles and an hour and a half later we are headed to Maryland and somehow someway we manage to take the wrong turn on the George Washington Pike, we crossed the Potomac three more times until we finally got our directions correct. I also highly suggest you travel along the George Washington Pike at least once as it is absolutely beautiful and I discovered that is where the FBI Headquarters is located as well as the National Police Department.
Finally we arrive in York, PA around 6:00pm on Friday and we get the last motel room within 100 miles as there seems to be a regional children's soccer tournament taking place as well as the reenactment at Gettysburg, PA. The room was wonderful with a large jacuzzi right next to the kingsize bed and being the Southern Queen that I am I was in the jacuzzi within five minutes awwww this is good... the road trip is just melting away.
York, PA is a pretty area which I have had the opportunity to previously visit with the Harley Owner's Group and have toured the Harley Davidson Factory which is quite amazing, but that was another lifetime and another story. After breakfast at the hotel we head out to complete our mission. We deliver the generator and discover that the car is too heavy for the truck to pull as the truck has been lowered. So we now load up a larger generator and a tiller. We are back on the road by 10:30am, now let's look at that map and find an alternate route back!
It is Saturday morning and we decided to head towards Gettysburg, PA and I am very excited being a Southern Belle, I am natyrally fascinated by the history of the Civil War, or as I refer to it the Northern Aggression. Our travels takes us through Abbottstown, PA which is beautiful with buildings dating back to the 1,700's and which we have both decided that we will visit again.
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Leaving Gettysburg, PA we traveled along 80 and then turn onto 220 South through the Appalachians and Shenandoah Valley which was beautiful with light summer rains and no traffic so I would suggest this route for anyone traveling! My partner has finally regained his lost sanity and once again we stop for the night just South of Greenville, South Carolina.
Sunday morning and after a good nights sleep we are on the road once again headed for yes...I-95 South Florida and home. We travel once again on the road we originally headed North on, passing through South Carolina, Georgia, onto Florida through Jacksonville and on to Melbourne to 60 West and onto 441 South back to Okeechobee and finally home to Lorida around 8:00pm. It was a whirl wind trip and inspite of driving straight through from Florida to York, PA I would not have missed a single moment. We laughed, talked, dreamed, played with Sunflower who was a real trooper and never a problem, and we saw some wonderful sights that you can only see on a road trip in America.
Happy 4th of July America!
Now just a little more rest and I will be ready to go back to work on Tuesday...maybe.
Now you must understand that the term leaving as soon as I get home actually requires the following,me arriving at home and packing clothes for both of us, shoes, hair products, makeup, etc..etc..In addition leaving for a 4 day trip with a very loving 65lb lapdog (Sunflower) is just not a simple task as it involves a dog bath, packing her food (special diet), treats, Condo (yes, she has a Condo a very large pen that folds down flat). Naturally the packing is done by myself as my Bow has vanished not to be seen until we are loaded and ready to go.
Off we go to York, PA! It is around 8:30 pm on Thursday night and we are headed to York, PA with our dog Sunflower, in a truck hauling a car hauler in order to drop off a generator and pick up a car for a friend. Our route is I-95 North. Of course when you live in Lorida, Florida there is actually no direct route to I-95, so off we head South, yes even though I am a natural blonde I do know that York, PA is North of Florida! Our first stop is Okeechobee, Florida where one of the largest Seminole War battles took place, by the way the Seminole Indians are the only tribe that have never signed a treaty agreement with the United States. Now from Okeechobee we can actually begin to head North on 441 to 60 East and finally to I-95 North.
As we happily travel North on I-95 watching the extremely boring scenery, and yes part of the Florida landscape is boring, and watching cars headed South I ask my Bow where and what time he planned to stop for the night. "I haven't thought about it yet, I'll drive for awhile and see", this should have been my first clue. It is about 11:00pm and I have been up since 4:00am a total of 19 hours and counting...once again I inquire around the Daytona, Florida exit when and where did he plan to stop. "I will find a place up the road, I want to drive for awhile", on that note I fell asleep. I woke up again near the exits for Savannah, Georgia (which I highly suggest that everyone visits at least once in their lifetime) and that is when I discovered that his intent was to drive straight through to York, PA, it is official I am traveling with a crazy man! So it is back to sleep for me in the front of a truck...oh the Joy and comfort, I am so grateful that I remembered to bring my goose down feather pillows!
Ahhh Morning! After such a good night sleep I woke up somewhere on I-95 in South Carolina with a kink in my neck and swollen ankles, and yes the crazy man is still driving. Breakfast time which on the road means a fast stop at a McDonalds, I should say a stop at a McDonalds, after all we are in the heart of the South and absolutely and I do mean absolutely nothing is fast here including fast food. Thirty minutes later we are handed our breakfast in bags, the dog has been walked and watered and off we head North again on I-95. Now I must say that the scenery has improved and I do so love the Carolina's, I spent a large portion of my childhood in North Georgia and the Carolina's. This area is always pretty to the eye in any season.
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| Traveling I-95 Washington DC |
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| Traveling I-95 Washington DC |
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| The Pentagon Building |
Finally we arrive in York, PA around 6:00pm on Friday and we get the last motel room within 100 miles as there seems to be a regional children's soccer tournament taking place as well as the reenactment at Gettysburg, PA. The room was wonderful with a large jacuzzi right next to the kingsize bed and being the Southern Queen that I am I was in the jacuzzi within five minutes awwww this is good... the road trip is just melting away.
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| York, PA |
York, PA is a pretty area which I have had the opportunity to previously visit with the Harley Owner's Group and have toured the Harley Davidson Factory which is quite amazing, but that was another lifetime and another story. After breakfast at the hotel we head out to complete our mission. We deliver the generator and discover that the car is too heavy for the truck to pull as the truck has been lowered. So we now load up a larger generator and a tiller. We are back on the road by 10:30am, now let's look at that map and find an alternate route back!
It is Saturday morning and we decided to head towards Gettysburg, PA and I am very excited being a Southern Belle, I am natyrally fascinated by the history of the Civil War, or as I refer to it the Northern Aggression. Our travels takes us through Abbottstown, PA which is beautiful with buildings dating back to the 1,700's and which we have both decided that we will visit again.
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| Abottstown Circle |
Our next stop is Mister Ed's Elephant Museum which is basically a candy store with the largest collection of Elephants that I have ever seen. It is a great stop just to stretch your legs and get some old fashioned candy we could not say no to the Squirrel Nuts, Mary Jane's, and Bit of Honey. Onward we travel to Gettysburg, PA. which I must say is one of the highlights of our road trip and I cannot wait to return and to spend more time just walking through the battlefields. I wish we had time to stay and watch the reenactment and spend a few days here, we will be back here on our next vacation!
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| Walls & Monuments at Gettysburg |
Cannon at Gettysburg
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| Ghost in Photo at Gettysburg, PA |
Leaving Gettysburg, PA we traveled along 80 and then turn onto 220 South through the Appalachians and Shenandoah Valley which was beautiful with light summer rains and no traffic so I would suggest this route for anyone traveling! My partner has finally regained his lost sanity and once again we stop for the night just South of Greenville, South Carolina.
Sunday morning and after a good nights sleep we are on the road once again headed for yes...I-95 South Florida and home. We travel once again on the road we originally headed North on, passing through South Carolina, Georgia, onto Florida through Jacksonville and on to Melbourne to 60 West and onto 441 South back to Okeechobee and finally home to Lorida around 8:00pm. It was a whirl wind trip and inspite of driving straight through from Florida to York, PA I would not have missed a single moment. We laughed, talked, dreamed, played with Sunflower who was a real trooper and never a problem, and we saw some wonderful sights that you can only see on a road trip in America.
Happy 4th of July America!
Now just a little more rest and I will be ready to go back to work on Tuesday...maybe.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Melinda Lou, that can't be you in that coffin?
Now Girls and Guys, I know we all want to look our best and I personally totally intend on leaving a good looking corpse, despite my age, when I depart from this earth. Why I would not even think of leaving my house without my hair done and my proper face on, (that is properly applied makeup for you Northern Girls). However, I do not believe that having a gallon of heavy cake makeup and a bucket of rouge applied to my face with a hairdo that I have never worn in my entire life, and an outfit that I absolutely would not be caught dead in is a proper look for my final appearance on this earth. Where do the Funeral Parlors find these make-up artists? Why my friend is already roll'in over in their grave and they hav'nt even made it there yet!
I am pleading with each and every living soul , especially all my fellow Southern Belle gal pals, to sit down right now and take the time to write a Living Will and a Final Request as to exactly what you would like to have done with your earthly remains, which I am sure is not looking like a clown in the local circus, unless of course you are a clown in the circus. I would suggest that at least every five years you have a good professional portrait done and keep a copy of it with your Living Will and Final Request, as it is becoming quite obvious that we cannot count on or trust our own family members to properly remember what we looked liked long enough to get us in the grave after we have passed through this life. Hopefully someone will pass the photo along to the Funeral Parlor Director and their make-up artist. May I also suggest that you purchase an outfit that you absolutely love, place it in a garment bag and label it " to be worn at my final appearance (funeral)", because your loved ones are liable to have you dressed in a bright purple, red and green flowered chiffon nightmare. You may also want to make a final request of your hair stylist and find a good make-up artist! Guys, this is also for you because no self respecting Cowboy wants to be dressed up in a baby blue suit, and no Southern Gentleman wants to be laid out in jeans and an old tee shirt, even if it was his favorite one!
Please friends and neighbors let's all do our best to leave a good looking corpse with proper makeup, hair, and hopefully wearing a proper outfit that we absolutely love so hopefully your friends and family will actually be able to recognise us as we lay in our coffins, and yes we will all be in one sometime in the future. Dear family members of loved ones, Please look twice and sincerely ask yourself, " is that what Aunt Bea, really looked like and would she really have picked out this bright purple, red, and green chiffon dress" ?
May I also speak directly on the concerns and issues of attending a funeral in proper attire. Being brought up in the South I was naturally instructed on the proper attire to wear to a funeral, which is certainly not a skin tight red dress that sits just below my derriere and barley covers my breasts. And, yes I recently saw a young lady attend a family members funeral in this type of attire. Why I swear she looked just like she was auditioning for a strip club instead of attending a funeral! A proper dress or suit for a lady to wear to a funeral is one that falls at or below the knee and is of a dark color that actually covers your body. For gentleman proper attire would be a suit or slacks with a sport jacket, not dirty jeans and a ragged tee shirt. Who are you showing your respect to, the person on the street corner or your friend or loved one in the coffin?
As for me, I am off to have a portrait done then off to Nieman Marcus for an outfit that I will absolutely fall in love with. Now where did I place that paper and ink pen to write that Living Will and Final Request?
Melinda Lou, now honey try not to roll over too much in your grave why you just might rip that new lovely bright orange and red rayon dress that your family bought for you and mess up that helmet hairdo. I'll be see'in you.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Antebelium Rules for the Southern Belle
It can be said that from a social point of view that the evry idea of a "Southern Belle", is an elitist title that was invented by wealthy plantation owners. Why the title itself has the very connotations of arrogance and self-importance. Yes, there is an air of arrogance and self importance to a degree in all Southern Belles or Southern Ladies, including myself.
There are many of what I refer to as "Antebelium Rules for the Southern Belle", and though sadly it is true that the tru Southern Belle has ceased to exist in today's society, there still lives a Southern Belle in all women that are born and raised in the South. The following are a few "Rules" that the proper Modern Southern Belle still abides by.
1. Never wear white shoes before Easter or after Labor Day, except of course as a bride.
2. "Thank You Notes", are a necessary component of being gracious and appreciative.
3. Never chew gum or smoke in the streets.
4. Never show anger in public, smile and act like a lady.
5. Act helpless and confused only when it is to your advantage; never let a man know just how clever and
capable you really are.
6. Be elegant and graceful.
7. When all else fails, Charm, Charm, Charm.
8. Always be careful who you talk about. Everybody in the South is kin to someone. No matter who you
bring up in conversation, you're bound to be insulting someones Aunt, Uncle, or third cousin twice
removed.
9. "Tacky", a term used by southern women to describe someone's behavior or appearance. Always dress
appropriatly and act like the lady that you were raised to be.
10. Smile politely and excuse the behavior of Yankees, after all they simply do not know any better.
11. Never, never under any circumstances call a man, trust me they will call you.
There are many of what I refer to as "Antebelium Rules for the Southern Belle", and though sadly it is true that the tru Southern Belle has ceased to exist in today's society, there still lives a Southern Belle in all women that are born and raised in the South. The following are a few "Rules" that the proper Modern Southern Belle still abides by.
1. Never wear white shoes before Easter or after Labor Day, except of course as a bride.
2. "Thank You Notes", are a necessary component of being gracious and appreciative.
3. Never chew gum or smoke in the streets.
4. Never show anger in public, smile and act like a lady.
5. Act helpless and confused only when it is to your advantage; never let a man know just how clever and
capable you really are.
6. Be elegant and graceful.
7. When all else fails, Charm, Charm, Charm.
8. Always be careful who you talk about. Everybody in the South is kin to someone. No matter who you
bring up in conversation, you're bound to be insulting someones Aunt, Uncle, or third cousin twice
removed.
9. "Tacky", a term used by southern women to describe someone's behavior or appearance. Always dress
appropriatly and act like the lady that you were raised to be.
10. Smile politely and excuse the behavior of Yankees, after all they simply do not know any better.
11. Never, never under any circumstances call a man, trust me they will call you.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
We Be's A Goings Fishin!
Now there's no better sounds thans for a real southern county gal to hears the words "We Be's A Going Fish'in", but nots ats no 3:30 in the dang mornin! It's still as dark as a night sky can be out here in the country as we are a pull'in up to the boat ramp at Trails End Fishing Resort right here on Lake Istokpoga to unload the boat into the water on the canal. It sure was a long ride round to Trails End why it darn near took us a whole 5 minutes to gets over here. I sures is glad I's has my coffee with me.
Now it's be about 4:00 am here and the dang birds arn't even up out of the nests yet, much less that ol' sun a raisen outta that there East sky. What the ?%!#$&* am I a doing up at this time of the cotton pickin morning to go a fish'in? Why everyone knows that there ain't no respectable Large Mouth Bass gonna lets itself be caught afore daylight hours. What's that you be a sayin Mister Man? We gottas get to the right fish'in spot afore anybody else? It be's a 27,000 acre lake, doin ya really think some folks gonna be right there in da spot that ya'll done be thinkin bout? If'n ya'll haven't noticed there ain't no souls up on this here lake at this time of mornin but for us. Why's even the fish camp is still as quite as a country mouse in church on Sunday.
Now's ya'll gots to keeps in minds that whiles I tells ya'll mys story that my mans one of them theres professional fishing mans, why he be's the one and only Mark Beaver of Mark Beaver's Guide Service. So off'in we go racing out to that there secret spot on da lake, now bein the only boat on da lake this a mornin ya'll dones know we's gotta hurry. We's gets to that there secret spot rights in da middle of this here lake and it's still as dark as its cans be. I looks round ands I can sees a few lights a turning on in some of them theres cabins along da shore of the lake. I's is sure mighty glads I's has my coffee with me and one of them there thermos bottles for a back em up.
I settles on down into my fishin chair in da back of da boat of course whys do ya'll think any self respecting fisherman gonna gives up the front of da boat, nots even for his own lady! So's I gets my bait on my own hook and I's starts a fishin with my favorite carrot stick. Now for ya'll new fishermen and nons fishermen a carrot stick ain't be something ya'll eat. A carrot stick its be a new fancy fishin stick made from real carrot fibers and its be's a real pretty bright orange kinda like Gator orange for all ya'll Florida Gator fans, and this here thing it must not even weighs 3 pounds.
Wells after bout an hour here comes that ol sun right ups there in the East just likes its a pose to. And wouldn't cha all know them there Large Mouth Bass they a go to biting. Me and my man done caught us several 2 to 3 pound lil ol' bucks in a matter of no times at all. Looks likes da fishins gonna be's good todays.
Would'nt cha all knows it thats just bout nows I's is a wishin that I's hadn't hads all that there coffee this a mornin. I's gotta go Pee! You's sees my man he cans just go aheads and goes pee when he needs to out here on this dang lake, but all of you there gals done knows that it aint that easy forin us to be a goin pee whens we needs to. So heres be's my choices, there be's a bucket that I can sits on, but thats be kinda hard to do with the waves thats be a hittin da boat this mornin. Why's I'd probably fall rights off that there bucket with this here boat a rockin back and forth. So herin be's my only other choice is to sits on the sides of da boat and hold onto them there rails cause I done knows we's ain't a headin back to no fishin camp when da fish be's a biten out heres on this lake and I's jest cant's pees my britches. Yes sirre, I dones chose the only choice I thinks I has so I's puts my fishin stick down and sits on the sides of da boat and holds onto them there rails. Now jest bout the time that I can say ahhh, I's hears my reel and I's has got me a big ol fish a pullin line. So's I goes to a thinkin that I's can sits here and finish my business or I's cans catch that there fish. Wells its jest bout that time my fishin stick is headed towards the rail of da cotton picken boat and I's was not bout to loss my's carrot stick. I's jumps ups, my britches falls downs to my's ankles but I catches me that there Big Mouth Bass. Now'in I's takes a looks round after I caughts that there fish and I's knows that my face be's as red as my mans winter long johns and I's was be'ins so thankfuls that there still was not no other cotton pickin boats on this here lake. I's also be very thankful thats my man used him some better judgement and didn't goes a shootin any photos with my britches clear done to my ankles while I was a catchin that there bass.
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Nows wheres did I's put that there toilet paper?
Now it's be about 4:00 am here and the dang birds arn't even up out of the nests yet, much less that ol' sun a raisen outta that there East sky. What the ?%!#$&* am I a doing up at this time of the cotton pickin morning to go a fish'in? Why everyone knows that there ain't no respectable Large Mouth Bass gonna lets itself be caught afore daylight hours. What's that you be a sayin Mister Man? We gottas get to the right fish'in spot afore anybody else? It be's a 27,000 acre lake, doin ya really think some folks gonna be right there in da spot that ya'll done be thinkin bout? If'n ya'll haven't noticed there ain't no souls up on this here lake at this time of mornin but for us. Why's even the fish camp is still as quite as a country mouse in church on Sunday.
Now's ya'll gots to keeps in minds that whiles I tells ya'll mys story that my mans one of them theres professional fishing mans, why he be's the one and only Mark Beaver of Mark Beaver's Guide Service. So off'in we go racing out to that there secret spot on da lake, now bein the only boat on da lake this a mornin ya'll dones know we's gotta hurry. We's gets to that there secret spot rights in da middle of this here lake and it's still as dark as its cans be. I looks round ands I can sees a few lights a turning on in some of them theres cabins along da shore of the lake. I's is sure mighty glads I's has my coffee with me and one of them there thermos bottles for a back em up.
I settles on down into my fishin chair in da back of da boat of course whys do ya'll think any self respecting fisherman gonna gives up the front of da boat, nots even for his own lady! So's I gets my bait on my own hook and I's starts a fishin with my favorite carrot stick. Now for ya'll new fishermen and nons fishermen a carrot stick ain't be something ya'll eat. A carrot stick its be a new fancy fishin stick made from real carrot fibers and its be's a real pretty bright orange kinda like Gator orange for all ya'll Florida Gator fans, and this here thing it must not even weighs 3 pounds.
Wells after bout an hour here comes that ol sun right ups there in the East just likes its a pose to. And wouldn't cha all know them there Large Mouth Bass they a go to biting. Me and my man done caught us several 2 to 3 pound lil ol' bucks in a matter of no times at all. Looks likes da fishins gonna be's good todays.
Would'nt cha all knows it thats just bout nows I's is a wishin that I's hadn't hads all that there coffee this a mornin. I's gotta go Pee! You's sees my man he cans just go aheads and goes pee when he needs to out here on this dang lake, but all of you there gals done knows that it aint that easy forin us to be a goin pee whens we needs to. So heres be's my choices, there be's a bucket that I can sits on, but thats be kinda hard to do with the waves thats be a hittin da boat this mornin. Why's I'd probably fall rights off that there bucket with this here boat a rockin back and forth. So herin be's my only other choice is to sits on the sides of da boat and hold onto them there rails cause I done knows we's ain't a headin back to no fishin camp when da fish be's a biten out heres on this lake and I's jest cant's pees my britches. Yes sirre, I dones chose the only choice I thinks I has so I's puts my fishin stick down and sits on the sides of da boat and holds onto them there rails. Now jest bout the time that I can say ahhh, I's hears my reel and I's has got me a big ol fish a pullin line. So's I goes to a thinkin that I's can sits here and finish my business or I's cans catch that there fish. Wells its jest bout that time my fishin stick is headed towards the rail of da cotton picken boat and I's was not bout to loss my's carrot stick. I's jumps ups, my britches falls downs to my's ankles but I catches me that there Big Mouth Bass. Now'in I's takes a looks round after I caughts that there fish and I's knows that my face be's as red as my mans winter long johns and I's was be'ins so thankfuls that there still was not no other cotton pickin boats on this here lake. I's also be very thankful thats my man used him some better judgement and didn't goes a shootin any photos with my britches clear done to my ankles while I was a catchin that there bass.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Mamas Watermelon Rind Preserves
Never one to waste food, why that would be a real sin down here in the South, my Mama would make the best Watermelon Rind Preserves for us to enjoy during the winter months.Now needless to say there was a plenty of them there Watermelon rinds laying around during the summer. Now my Mamas recipe involved way too much time and labor with days of soaking the rinds in a brine. So I have taken the liberty of tweeking Mamas recipe a little, I don't she would be a minding too much especially if'in she had some on one of my Angel Biscuits.
Ingredients
8 Cups diced Watermelon Rind with most of the pink lesh and thick dark skin peeled and discarded
1 Cup Fresh squeezed Lemon Juice- seeds strained
6 Strips Lemon Peel
2 Cinnamon Sticks
1 Cup Water
2 Cups Granulated Sugar
1 Piece Fresh Ginger about 1 inch in length peeled and sliced then
2 Pint Size Wide Mouth Jars with lids and rims, washed and sterilized in boiling water for 10 minutes (make sure that water covers the jars completely with the jars standing upright. Save this water and keep it at a very low boil.
In a large pot combine watermelon rinds, lemon juice, lemon peel, water, sugar, cinnamon sticks and ginger. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to a low simmer keep covered and cook for approximately 1 hour or until rind is translucent.
With a slotted spoon remove the rind from the syrup and place in the sterilized wide mouth jars. Increase the heat under the pot and boil the syrup for 10 minutes or until thicken. Use a funnel and pour the syrup over the rind in the jars filling jars to about a 1/4 inch from the top. Use a butter knife to remove any air bubbles that may be locked within the mixture in the jar. Wipe the rim of the jars, place on the lid and rims and tighten, but not too tight. Place the jars back into the boiling water that you used to sterilize the jars, make sure that water covers the jars by at least 1 inch. Reduce the heat under the pot to medium and let the jars sit for 10 minutes in the hot water. Remove jars using a tong and sit on the counter to cool. Once you hear the "Ping" of the jars sealing you can finish tightning the lids. Your Watermelon Rind Preserves will keep for about 6 months on the shelf and for about 1 month in the refridgerator once opened.
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Now don't go a throwin out that there left over syrup, remember Mama doesn't take kindly to a wastin any food. Pour the left over syrup into a sterized bottle, put it in the refridgerator and use it for some homemade buttermilk pancakes on Sunday morning afore ya'll head down the road to Church and a visting folks.
Ingredients
8 Cups diced Watermelon Rind with most of the pink lesh and thick dark skin peeled and discarded
1 Cup Fresh squeezed Lemon Juice- seeds strained
6 Strips Lemon Peel
2 Cinnamon Sticks
1 Cup Water
2 Cups Granulated Sugar
1 Piece Fresh Ginger about 1 inch in length peeled and sliced then
2 Pint Size Wide Mouth Jars with lids and rims, washed and sterilized in boiling water for 10 minutes (make sure that water covers the jars completely with the jars standing upright. Save this water and keep it at a very low boil.
In a large pot combine watermelon rinds, lemon juice, lemon peel, water, sugar, cinnamon sticks and ginger. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to a low simmer keep covered and cook for approximately 1 hour or until rind is translucent.
With a slotted spoon remove the rind from the syrup and place in the sterilized wide mouth jars. Increase the heat under the pot and boil the syrup for 10 minutes or until thicken. Use a funnel and pour the syrup over the rind in the jars filling jars to about a 1/4 inch from the top. Use a butter knife to remove any air bubbles that may be locked within the mixture in the jar. Wipe the rim of the jars, place on the lid and rims and tighten, but not too tight. Place the jars back into the boiling water that you used to sterilize the jars, make sure that water covers the jars by at least 1 inch. Reduce the heat under the pot to medium and let the jars sit for 10 minutes in the hot water. Remove jars using a tong and sit on the counter to cool. Once you hear the "Ping" of the jars sealing you can finish tightning the lids. Your Watermelon Rind Preserves will keep for about 6 months on the shelf and for about 1 month in the refridgerator once opened.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Good Ole' Watermelon Juice
This is one of my favorite Summer drink recipes when the Watermelons are plentiful and sweet, like they are now.
Ingredients:
1/2 Seedless Watermelon, about 5 to 7 lbs cut into cubes
16 Ice Cubes
1 Liter Bottle of Sprite or Gingerale
In a blender puree about half of the Watermelon with 8 Ice Cubes, slowly add the flavored soda to the blender. Pour into some mason jars and enjoy. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
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Now for those of you that prefer a little stronger beverage reduce the soda by half and add a Citrus Flavored Vodka...Now thats some fine Watermelon Juice!
Now hold on Pardner, don't ja go a throwin them there Watermelon Rinds away, I show ya'll what to do with them tomrrow. Just'in put them in one of them there zipper bags and place em in the frdige.
Now where did I put that there bottle of Vodka?!?
Ingredients:
1/2 Seedless Watermelon, about 5 to 7 lbs cut into cubes
16 Ice Cubes
1 Liter Bottle of Sprite or Gingerale
In a blender puree about half of the Watermelon with 8 Ice Cubes, slowly add the flavored soda to the blender. Pour into some mason jars and enjoy. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
Now hold on Pardner, don't ja go a throwin them there Watermelon Rinds away, I show ya'll what to do with them tomrrow. Just'in put them in one of them there zipper bags and place em in the frdige.
Now where did I put that there bottle of Vodka?!?
It's hotter here than a June Bride in a Feather Bed
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Fathers Day, Daughters, CBS Sunday Morning, RC Cola's & Slim Jims
Happy Fathers Day!
I never really knew my biological Father, though I did see him a few times during his lifetime he never had time in his life for me. Today looking back on my childhood I realize that I was luckier than most little girls were, you see I actually got to pick who would be my Daddy. As I look back and remember this Fathers Day the man in my life that stepped in and became my Father on Easter Sunday 1960, when I looked at him and asked him if he would be my Daddy. At the time I was of the very intellectual age of 3. That is the day that William Edward Debnam became my Father, and I have never regretted one day of being his Daughter.Yes somehow at the ripe old age of 3 all of my instincts told me I needed a Father in my life, and that Ed Debnam would be the best Father any little girl could ever wish for.
I instantly became Daddy's Very Spoiled Little Girl. Everyday of my childhood life began with Daddy making me breakfast which was normally pancakes with ham or bacon. During the school year he would take me to school, pick me up from school for lunch, take me back to school after lunch, and again pick me up after school. Daddy would give me 6 cents every afternoon after school and I would go to the drugstore and get a cherry coke the real kind from the old time counter fountain machine. Now you need to realize that when I was attending Beulah Beal Elementary School, the school was only 1 1/2 blocks away from our house.
I loved and still cherish the weekends that I spent as a child with my Daddy the best. Saturdays were always reserved for either Fishing, Hunting, or just going swimming sometimes Mama would come along but usually it was just me and Daddy. On our Saturday outings breakfast would be an RC Cola, a bag of peanuts and a Slim Jim and if we were headed fishing we would drive by the entrance of the Jacksonville Zoo and get 2 bags of boiled peanuts. To this day that is still probably my favorite breakfast. Sunday mornings were the best, after breakfast and reading the comic sections of the Sunday Jacksonville Times Union together, I would sit in the big leather chair next to my Daddy and we would watch CBS Sunday Morning together before going to church. After all these years it is just not Sunday morning without turning on the TV and watching CBS Sunday Morning.
I lost my Father on Thanksgiving Day 1978. I cherish each and every day that he dedicated his life to me as my Father and every wonderful memory that he created for me. Every little girl should be as lucky to have a Father that is as dedicated to her as my Daddy was to me.
Happy Fathers Day Daddy, I love and miss you.Your loving daughter,
Claudia Sue.
I never really knew my biological Father, though I did see him a few times during his lifetime he never had time in his life for me. Today looking back on my childhood I realize that I was luckier than most little girls were, you see I actually got to pick who would be my Daddy. As I look back and remember this Fathers Day the man in my life that stepped in and became my Father on Easter Sunday 1960, when I looked at him and asked him if he would be my Daddy. At the time I was of the very intellectual age of 3. That is the day that William Edward Debnam became my Father, and I have never regretted one day of being his Daughter.Yes somehow at the ripe old age of 3 all of my instincts told me I needed a Father in my life, and that Ed Debnam would be the best Father any little girl could ever wish for.
I instantly became Daddy's Very Spoiled Little Girl. Everyday of my childhood life began with Daddy making me breakfast which was normally pancakes with ham or bacon. During the school year he would take me to school, pick me up from school for lunch, take me back to school after lunch, and again pick me up after school. Daddy would give me 6 cents every afternoon after school and I would go to the drugstore and get a cherry coke the real kind from the old time counter fountain machine. Now you need to realize that when I was attending Beulah Beal Elementary School, the school was only 1 1/2 blocks away from our house.
I loved and still cherish the weekends that I spent as a child with my Daddy the best. Saturdays were always reserved for either Fishing, Hunting, or just going swimming sometimes Mama would come along but usually it was just me and Daddy. On our Saturday outings breakfast would be an RC Cola, a bag of peanuts and a Slim Jim and if we were headed fishing we would drive by the entrance of the Jacksonville Zoo and get 2 bags of boiled peanuts. To this day that is still probably my favorite breakfast. Sunday mornings were the best, after breakfast and reading the comic sections of the Sunday Jacksonville Times Union together, I would sit in the big leather chair next to my Daddy and we would watch CBS Sunday Morning together before going to church. After all these years it is just not Sunday morning without turning on the TV and watching CBS Sunday Morning.
I lost my Father on Thanksgiving Day 1978. I cherish each and every day that he dedicated his life to me as my Father and every wonderful memory that he created for me. Every little girl should be as lucky to have a Father that is as dedicated to her as my Daddy was to me.
Happy Fathers Day Daddy, I love and miss you.Your loving daughter,
Claudia Sue.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Civil War Roast Leg of Pork circa 1871
This recipe is best cooked in a large cast iron pot over an open flame/campfire and can be cooked in a modern oven or Bar B Q grill with the judicious employment of aluminum foil. Whole legs of pork can be difficult to find in todays supermarkets, however you should be able to get one at a local butcher shop. You can always hunt and butcher your own hog, if you do you only want to use this recipe on a young Hog or on a Sow as the Boar Hogs are extremely musky and require a different recipe to take the musky taste out of the meat.
Ingredients:
1 fresh leg of pork ( 3 to 5 lbs)
1/2 cup boiling water
Browned flour (rue made with butter, milk, and flour and cooked down till it is thick and brown)
Pepper & Salt
Juice of 1 lemon
Score the skin of the leg of pork with a knife in parallel lines running from side to side. Place the pork in the pot with the boiling water, heat gradually until the fat begins to ooze from the meat, place a cover over the pot. Quicken the fire to a red steady glow, coals should be white. Cook over the open fire for approximately 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours depending on the size of the leg of pork, baste the meat often with its own gravy, this keeps the skin from turning hard while cooking. When the roasted leg of pork is done remove it from the pot, skim the fat off the top of the gravy in the pot, add 1/2 cup of boiling water to the gravy and slowly add the browned flour, add salt and pepper to taste and the juice of 1 lemon. Slice the roast leg of pork and place on a platter, laddle gravy over the roast and enjoy.
I would suggest a side dish of white rice and perhaps some collard greens and fresh sliced tomatoes.
3 Men, 1 Coyote, 1 Hog and a fly on the barn door.
Picture this if you can, 3 Men, 1 Coyote, and 1 Razorback Hog. Seems like a recipe for some type of disaster doesn't it? My normally intellegent man ran through the house holding his rifle just before dark and yelling I'll be back there is a dang coyote headed through the pasture to Uncle Lewis'. Note that I said normally intellegent that is until there is the slighest possibilty of a wild critter that he can hunt down and with any luck shoot. Now don't get me wrong when you live in the country and have cattle, chickens, and the like the only good coyote is a dead coyote. So, I just shook my head and fiqured that there pour coyote already had the jump on him and he was just a waisting his time. As I watched he headed down the drive in his pic-em-up truck with dust just a fly'in. What he had no way of knowing was that two of his buddies just saw that same dang coyote and went to chasing it in their four wheeler through the pasture. Are ya getting the big picture now? Well my intellegent other half goes on to Uncle Lewis' and sets himself up at the cattle pens sees that dang coyote sets up and takes aim with his rifle. In the meantime his two buddies see the coyote they set up and take aim with their rifles about a hundred yards away. Now keep in mind that they still don't know each other is about hunting the same dang coyote. Well just about the time his buddies are going to shoot at that cotton pickin coyote here comes a blazing in front of them a razorback hog so naturally they turn their attention to the hog and immediatly start shooting at the hog and miss. Now this happens at the very same time my other half shoots at the coyote and misses. Needless to say that the all them there shots from them rifles done scared off all them there critters, no one hit what they were shooting at, and I believe all three of these otherwise intellegent men went home to clean out their darn britches. What I would have given to have been a fly on the barn door.
Now that there razorback hog that they missed has me a thinkin bout a roast leg of pork recipe I have from the Civil War...now where is that recipe....
Now that there razorback hog that they missed has me a thinkin bout a roast leg of pork recipe I have from the Civil War...now where is that recipe....
Friday, June 17, 2011
.22 longs and Squirrel in Onion Sauce
Cast Iron Skillet - absolutely mandatory for this recipe, why Uncle John would roll over in his grave if'n y'all used anything else.
2 tbs butter
1/4 cup brandy ( or flavored shine)
1 tbs dried parsley
2 cups chopped onions
2 tomatoes, sliced thin
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 squirrels, cut into quarters just like a chicken
2 cups water
salt & pepper to taste ( I prefer sea salt and white pepper)
In Cast Iron Skillet melt butter,add squirrel quarters and brown lightly over high heat. Remove squirrel set to the side. Lower temperature of skillet slowly add brandy (or shine), parsley, onions, and garlic. Raise heat to med-high and brown onions and garlic. Reduce heat again to simmer add tomatoes cover and cook for 15 minutes. Add browned squirrel quarters and water. Cook uncovered until tender about 45 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
All you need now is some fresh mashed potatoes, fried green tomatoes and some buttermilk cornbread with candied jalapeno jam from Lorida Jelly Company. Mmmm now thats some mighty fine eating!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
For the Love of Wedding Gowns
It is 4:30am and I am slowly sipping on my first cup of French roast coffee of the day as I blindly stumble to my bedroom in the dark hoping not to wake my boyfriend who is still snuggled in the bed fast asleep. As I open the closet door and begin searching through the closet yet once again for something to wear to work there it was starring back at me my Wedding Dress, a reminder of a past life, a past love, two broken hearts, and broken dreams.
I can not help but wonder and ask myself why have I held on to this Wedding Dress for so long? I have no daughter to pass it along to, no nieces or cousins that would want to wear a second hand Wedding Dress, especially one without a fairy tale ending. Any other dress would have been long gone to a consignment shop, charity, or yes even to the trash. What makes women cherish our wedding dresses so much that we hold on to them even after our marriages are long over?
My full length gown was a tall, ultra slim column of shimmering fabric trimmed with hand made Italian lace and pearls. The dress was quite expensive for its time, this belle epoque vision graced the cover of Bride magazine in 1985. At the time in my size 4 dress I looked like a beautiful illusion from a magazine, but as we all know illusions always fade, even the beautiful ones.
I'm over it! Now after twenty-six years of hanging around in my closet, being moved from one new home to the next, that georgeous dress and all the accompanying illusions and dreams are going to a better place - a place where everything is an illusion and I would not have it any other way. I am donating my Wedding Dress to the local Little Theatre and finally that dress may be seen for the first time, by an audience yearning for a happy ending. I hope that the theatre can use the dress in an upcoming production, if not maybe it will become lampshades and napkins I really don't care. But before it leaves my home..,maybe just maybe... one more time...I will again try it on...I still believe in and I am looking for the Fairy Tale, after all, there are several different versions of "...and they lived happily ever after."
I can not help but wonder and ask myself why have I held on to this Wedding Dress for so long? I have no daughter to pass it along to, no nieces or cousins that would want to wear a second hand Wedding Dress, especially one without a fairy tale ending. Any other dress would have been long gone to a consignment shop, charity, or yes even to the trash. What makes women cherish our wedding dresses so much that we hold on to them even after our marriages are long over?
My full length gown was a tall, ultra slim column of shimmering fabric trimmed with hand made Italian lace and pearls. The dress was quite expensive for its time, this belle epoque vision graced the cover of Bride magazine in 1985. At the time in my size 4 dress I looked like a beautiful illusion from a magazine, but as we all know illusions always fade, even the beautiful ones.
I'm over it! Now after twenty-six years of hanging around in my closet, being moved from one new home to the next, that georgeous dress and all the accompanying illusions and dreams are going to a better place - a place where everything is an illusion and I would not have it any other way. I am donating my Wedding Dress to the local Little Theatre and finally that dress may be seen for the first time, by an audience yearning for a happy ending. I hope that the theatre can use the dress in an upcoming production, if not maybe it will become lampshades and napkins I really don't care. But before it leaves my home..,maybe just maybe... one more time...I will again try it on...I still believe in and I am looking for the Fairy Tale, after all, there are several different versions of "...and they lived happily ever after."
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Indian Fry Bread
This recipe was passed down by a friend of mine who is a full blooded Seminole Indian and lives at the Brighton Reservation outside of Okeechobee, Florida. The recipe was one of her Grandmothers. It goes great with Swamp Cabbage!
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup instant powdered milk
3/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp lard / crisco
3/4 cup lukewarm water
vegetable oil for frying
Mix together flour, powdered milk, baking powder and salt. Cut in lard/crisco until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add water and knead lightly for 1 minute. Turn out mixture onto a well floured surface and knead until a smooth ball forms. Divide dough into 8 equal parts and shape into balls. Cover with an inverted bowl and lest rest for 10 minutes. Roll balls out into 6 inch circles, poke a hole in the center of each circle and fry in 1 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet (you may use any skillet I simply prefer cast iron) at 375 degrees. Fry one circle at a time on both sides until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve hot!
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup instant powdered milk
3/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp lard / crisco
3/4 cup lukewarm water
vegetable oil for frying
Mix together flour, powdered milk, baking powder and salt. Cut in lard/crisco until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add water and knead lightly for 1 minute. Turn out mixture onto a well floured surface and knead until a smooth ball forms. Divide dough into 8 equal parts and shape into balls. Cover with an inverted bowl and lest rest for 10 minutes. Roll balls out into 6 inch circles, poke a hole in the center of each circle and fry in 1 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet (you may use any skillet I simply prefer cast iron) at 375 degrees. Fry one circle at a time on both sides until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve hot!
Granny Williams Swamp Cabbage
This is a recipe from "Granny Williams" personal cookbook which was given to me by her youngest Son several years ago. "Granny Williams" was a real southern lady born and raised in Florida, spending most of her adult life in Okeechobee. This recipe is also a favorite among "Cracker Cowboys".
Simple ingredients, however I would suggest using a seasoned cast iron pot to slowly simmer your Swamp Cabbage in.
3 Hearts (heads) of fresh cut cabbage palm, sliced thin about 1/4 thick
1/4lb of salt pork (white bacon)
2 tbs sugar
1/4 cup of butter
1/2 cup of evaporated milk or whole cream
salt & white pepper to taste
Fry the sliced salt pork in your pot, add the sliced cabbage palm, barely cover with water. Add salt and white pepper to taste. Bring to a boil reduce to a slow simmer and cook approximately 1 hour or until tender. When done add butter and cream. Serve in bowls with soup spoons so you don't miss one drop of this Swamp Cabbage. Now that's real southern eating.
Simple ingredients, however I would suggest using a seasoned cast iron pot to slowly simmer your Swamp Cabbage in.
3 Hearts (heads) of fresh cut cabbage palm, sliced thin about 1/4 thick
1/4lb of salt pork (white bacon)
2 tbs sugar
1/4 cup of butter
1/2 cup of evaporated milk or whole cream
salt & white pepper to taste
Fry the sliced salt pork in your pot, add the sliced cabbage palm, barely cover with water. Add salt and white pepper to taste. Bring to a boil reduce to a slow simmer and cook approximately 1 hour or until tender. When done add butter and cream. Serve in bowls with soup spoons so you don't miss one drop of this Swamp Cabbage. Now that's real southern eating.
Day one!
Welcome to my blog!
Today begins my blogging career so to speak. It is day one and so much to do with very little time. Over the next several days you will discover several changes to my blog including wonderful old fashioned recipes, a link to order old fashioned jelly and jams (no preservatives), and several new pages dedicated to eras of recipes.
Please keep checking back as I just may post one of your favorite recipes!
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