Decoration Day 2009

I was born a Robinson, raised a Robinson and will always be proud to carry the Robinson name.

For at the last one hundred years or so the Robinson's have gathered near the South Toe River in Yancey County, N.C. on the fourth Sunday in August for what is known as "Decoration". Truly a decoration it is, families come the distance to not only decorate the graves of their loved ones but to celebrate their mountain heritage, and eagerly connect with family they haven't seen since last August. When you are a Robinson, (or married to one) this is how you spend the fourth Sunday in August.

My grandparents, Wilburn and Doskie Gragg Robinson had 6 children - Marvin, 1912, Lavada, 1914 - 2008, John (my Daddy) 1926, Dale, 1928-2001, Thelma 19xx and Hazel 19xx. ( I know the birth date of the youngest 2 girls but I won't post). Three of the four living children were in attendance, the fourth came to NC to attend but had an emergency and had to return to Georgia on Saturday. Six of the 12 living grandchildren attended.

After visiting the Robinson Cemetery we came back down Highway 80 to our families cabin for dinner. (Yes, remember it is breakfast, dinner and supper.) I could not begin to tell you how much food there was, as always it was an abundance.

I heard my cousin Catherine say that everything she brought was one of her Mother's recipes. I thought this was the greatest tribute to Mary Nell, her Mother, who to my knowledge never missed a decoration day as long as she lived. Not only was my Aunt Mary Nell a wonderful cook, but she was the keeper of the family history. She did a incredible job of documenting the Robinson family history for which I will always be grateful.

After dinner we continued on down Highway 80 to visit (and decorate) my Grandmother's grave. Oddly, my grandparents are buried in different cemeteries. My Grandfather is buried with his parents (Mitchell and Katy Robinson) at the Robinson Cemetery in Yancey County and my Grandmother is buried with her parents (William and Mary Simmons Gragg) in the Simmons Cemetery on Buck Creek Road in McDowell County.


The photo posted above is just a handful of us that made the pilgrimage on this fourth Sunday in August.

From my perspective, it was a perfect day.



So, until tomorrow..........

S~~~

Movie Night

It's a stormy night on McCanless Creek.

Ronnie didn't practice tonight so we are planning to watch a movie. It was one we started to watch back in June but somehow managed to get sidetracked. Gran Torino with Clint Eastwood.

Supper was a bit on the comfort food side. We have been wanting lasagna for a couple of weeks. Since I got home a few minutes earlier than usual I thought tonight was a perfect time for it. We have decided we actually prefer our lasagna with cottage cheese instead of ricotta, but feel free to substitute.

Lasagna*

Tossed Salad

Honey Wheat Bread w/ roasted garlic butter

Lasagna

9 lasagna noodles - no boil
1 -26 ounce can Del Monte 4 Cheese Spaghetti Sauce(tonight I added 1/2 lb. browned ground beef, 1 tsp. Worcestershire and 1 tsp. brown sugar)

2 cups cottage cheese

3/4 cup sour cream
1 egg
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese

2 tsp. onion powder

1 Tbsp. dried parsley
12 oz. mozzarella cheese - sliced

Cover the bottom of a 9x13 glass dish with a thin layer of sauce. (I did this before I added the ground beef)

Mix cottage cheese, sour cream, egg, Parmesan cheese, onion powder and parsley in a bowl.

Layer 3 lasagna noodles over sauce
Spread 1/3 cheese mixture over noodles.
Add 1/3 of the sauce.
Lay 3 mozzarella slices over top
Repeat twice.

Bake at 375* for about 1 hour. Remove foil and bake 10 additional minutes.
Top should be light brown and bubbly.

So, until tomorrow........

S~~~

We Still Miss You, Frances

Today was a great day at work. We had lunch with a dear friend, Frances.
Frances worked with us at Accents on Asheville for a few years. When she came to us she had recently taken early retirement from Wachovia, where she was a manager. She was just looking for something part time and we desperately needed full time. I think she took pity on us, she took the full time position. She immediately became indispensable to us. From that first February day that she walked into our office we felt like we had known her forever. She did anything and everything we asked of her. She took care of us on a professional level, answering phones, handling our airport transfers, entering info into the system (at the speed of light), filling in when we were short on guides, running a multitude of errands and so many other jobs I can't list.
She also took care of us on a personal level, making sure we had lunch when we were too busy to leave, finding my stuff, (I am NOT a finder, she even had to locate my stapler on one occasion), making our excuses when we missed appointments like dental cleanings, etc. and being an all around best friend to Michael, Deb, Cyndi and myself.
It was a sad day when she left us to take real retirement and relocate to Athens, Georgia. In her own very dear way she left on firm footing and we will always be thankful for the time she gave us, but we will ALWAYS miss her.


Supper tonight was quick since I felt like I spent the entire night in the kitchen last night.

Oven Fried Talapia*
Buttered Little Red Potatoes
Broccoli Teriyaki (not a great choice with fish)
Hushpuppies


Oven Fried Talapia

1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
Mix and let set aside at least 15 minutes.

1 cup cornmeal
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. thyme leaves
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. sugar

Mix milk, vinegar and mustard and let set for 15 minutes.
In a zip lock bag mix cornmeal with all the seasonings.
Dip fish fillets in the milk mixture and then in the cornmeal mixture.
Cover a baking sheet with foil and coat with vegetable oil. Place fillets on prepared pan and place in a 400* oven.
Bake for 10 minutes, turn and bake an additional 5 minutes or until fish flakes easily.

So, Until Tomorrow.............
S~~~

A Late Supper For Us

After fluffing off supper last night with a frozen pizza (Ronnie bet I wouldn't blog about that), I thought I should maybe redeem myself tonight.

I had seven beautiful red and yellow sweet peppers from our garden that I didn't want to waste, so I thought of stuffed sweet peppers. It has been years since I made these so I went in search for a recipe. I found multitudes that were not exactly what I was looking for, so, I used the closest one and added what I thought to be the missing ingredients. The best thing is I was reading that they freeze well, so I made a few extra for the freezer.

The problem that I have is that I made the rookie mistake of not reading the recipe all the way through. Cook time is 90 minutes plus an additional 15 uncovered. I am using convection which hopefully will speed up cooking time a bit. Keep in mind I got home at 6:10, saw Ronnie and the "babies" for a few minutes, changed into my play clothes and got in the kitchen at 6:40. I think the peppers will be done somewhere around 9:30. Now, don't get me wrong, we are accustomed to a late supper just not 9:30.

So at some point tonight supper will look like this:

Stuffed Sweet Peppers*

Creamy Rice

Lima Beans

Sugar Glazed Carrots

Stuffed Sweet Peppers

4 sweet bell peppers - halved- seeds and ribs removed
1 lb. ground chuck
1 - cup cooked rice
1- sweet pepper - diced
1- onion - diced
2 - garlic cloves minced
1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. celery salt

1 tsp. Worcestershire

1 Tbsp. pepper

1 egg - beaten
1/8 cup Italian breadcrumbs

1/8 cup Parmesan cheese

plain spaghetti sauce (jarred or homemade)
sharp cheddar cheese -shredded

Preheat your oven to 375*F.

In a large bowl combine ground chuck, rice, minced sweet pepper, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, chili powder, celery salt, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, egg, bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.

Using a 1/2 cup measuring cup - measure out a 1/2 cup meat mixture for each halved pepper and fill.

Place peppers in a baking dish and cover with your favorite jarred or homemade spaghetti sauce (about 1 cup per pepper half).

Cover and cook 90 minutes. Remove from oven and uncover. Sprinkle shredded sharp over top of peppers and return to oven uncovered an 15 additional minutes.

So, until tomorrow...........

S~~~

Supper at the Wild Moose

Tonight we started out to supper thinking we might go to Fatz. (Should we really eat at restaurant called Fatz?) We turned onto I-40 East and remembered the Wild Moose in Old Fort. So, we turned around at the next exit and headed West to Old Fort and the Wild Moose Cafe.
Boy howdy, we sure are glad we did. This was our second visit and won't be our last.
From the house made blue cheese dressing (Ronnie had the not house made raspberry vinaigrette and he thought it was really good.) to the incredible grilled catfish, everything we had was wonderful. Mostly organic offerings that also include prime rib, trout, shrimp, ribeyes, and other choices that I can't remember.
Tonight's special was one entree at full price and the second one half price.
Next time you find yourself hungry in Old Fort give the Wild Moose a try. You won't be sorry.

So, until tomorrow........
S~~~

Grocery Shopping

Where do you usually grocery shop? I would love to have Harris Teeter back. It was without a doubt my favorite grocery store, but about 20 years ago they decided Marion was not a profitable location and closed. So, that left us with Ingles and BiLo and a few years later Food Lion came along. I generally shop at the Ingles, I find the BiLo to be a bit more expensive and Food Lion to be much more expensive. My location of choice is Ingles in Black Mountain. Newer and much nicer than our Marion store, with the added convenience of being right off interstate as I drive home from work.

When we travel I make it a point to shop different grocery stores. When we visit Lacy I love to go to the Wegman's. It is a shopping experience par excellence. A toy store for cooks. When I traveled to Atlanta back in the old Fantasy Travel days I always tried to get to the Kroger. In Florida I like to hit Publix and Albertson's. I love the Piggly Wiggly in Charleston. Even on Edisto Island (hello Frances) the Piggly Wiggly is the place to see and be seen.
Then there is the high end selections, Fresh Market, Earthfare, Green Life, and in other areas Whole Foods. Do I need to tell you that I love all of these stores? Of course, last but far from least we have the Super WalMarts. I do like the grocery section in these stores, but the very best part of shopping here is that one stop does it all. Saves me time and perhaps a bit of money to boot.
Oh, oh I almost forgot, Aldi. I really do like Aldi, quality products, low prices, but limited selection.

Anyway, I said ALL that to say that this past weekend we shopped BiLo and I picked up some nice chicken breast halves for $0.99 a lb. So, supper tonight was:

Shredded Barbeque Chicken Sandwiches*
Barbeque Slaw
Bread and Butter Pickles (Aldi)
Parsley Potatoes

Shredded Barbeque Chicken

4 chicken breasts
4 cups water
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. celery seed
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. salt

Cook 6-8 hours on low heat in slow cooker. Cool chicken and remove skin and bones. Shred chicken and place in a 3 quart sauce pan.

Combine:
1 cup catsup
1 Tbsp. (heaping) grape jelly
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. prepared mustard
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup water (or strained broth)

Pour over shredded chicken and heat through. Serve on toasted rolls with pickles and slaw.

So, until tomorrow...........
S~~~

A Vote for Sissy and Texas Hold 'Em

There is a really sweet contest on line over at Cutest Dog Competition. Seeing as how Ronnie and I both get silly over our babies, we of course had to enter Sissy. I would love it if you would click the link below and vote for her.
At any rate, even if you just want to see some precious dogs this site is for you!!
(You can vote once a day).

http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/vote.cfm?h=A0D55ADC6B6F8FE37C456FAE451CFF21

Tonight is poker night at our house. We are expecting about 10 people for Texas Hold 'Em. We always have such a good time. It doesn't even matter if I lose. Yeah, right!!!

I made cheese wafers as one of the snacks tonight. It has been years since I made them and I had forgotten how good they are. It used to be I never had a party without cheese wafers or cheese straws. To be perfectly honest Mother usually made them for me. I mean it is the Southern thing to serve isn't it?

Krispie Cheese Wafers

2 sticks soft butter
2 cups grated sharp cheese
2 cups plain flour
2 c. Rice Krispies
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. sugar

Soften butter and cheese. In mixer add butter, cheese and all other ingredients. Roll into little balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Press with a fork. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

So, until tomorrow........
(wish me luck tonight)
S~~~

My intention was to get back and put up a supper post last night but time just somehow got away from from me. I fixed Ronnie's favorite for his birthday:

Soup Beans
Cole Slaw
Fried Potatoes
Cornbread
Cheesecake w/ Cherries

Tonight in my on going quest to economize supper was:

Tacos/ Taco Salad
Cheesy Rice and Beans* (Rice from Sunday - Mixed beans from last night)
Guacamole and Tortilla Chips

Cheesy Rice and Beans

1 small onion - chopped fine
1/2 bell pepper - chopped fine
1 tsp. garlic
2 cups cooked pinto, great northern or mixed beans
1/2 cup cooked rice
1 cup shredded cheese
1 tsp. hot sauce (or to taste)
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. sugar

Cook onion and bell pepper in 1 tsp. vegetable oil until tender. Add the garlic and continue to cook for an additional 2 minutes over medium heat.
Add remaining ingredients and heat through. You could also turn into a sprayed 2 qt. casserole and cook at 350* for 15 minutes.

So, until tomorrow...........
S~~~

Happy Birthday Ronnie

I married the most talented, hard working, thoughtful, handsome, emotionally strong yet tender hearted, intelligent man in the world. He is a fantastic husband, an amazing Daddy, a supportive partner and my very best friend.

I don't always make his life easy, quite the opposite I am sure. There have been many ups, a few downs, occasional frustrations and tremendous joys in our 31 plus years. Ronnie has weathered it all and come through with that timid little boy smile that I love so much.

The day Ronnie was born was a typical hot summer day in Yancey County, NC. His Mamaw, Aunt Judy (Jewell to everyone else in the family except Ronnie and Karen and later their families) and his Mother, Barbara were busy canning green beans. His Mamaw remarked to Barbara that she should not even think about having that baby until those beans were canned. Barbara obliged and around 3:00 pm after all the beans were cooling in the jars, her water broke. Ronald Jay was born that night at 8:10 pm.
Sadly, his Daddy was on an aircraft carrier somewhere in the South Pacific at the time. Ronnie's Aunt Judy (Jewell) wired the news to him but somehow communication was dropped and the message reached the Essex without the name of the person it was intended for. The radio operator broadcast the message that said "Bob and baby doing fine, Love, Jewell " the next morning. It was over a week before Ronnie's daddy found out whether he had a boy or a girl.

So, today on this beautiful August 3rd join me in wishing Ronnie a very special day.

Until Later.............
S~~

Sunny Sunday

Today has been so beautiful. After a few showers that we certainly cannot complain about, the sun came out and it is now one of those gorgeous Sunday afternoons that we dream about in January. It always seems that once July is gone I am more keenly aware of the lengthening shadows that slowly signal the end of my beloved Summer. It reminds me to appreciate every single warm day.
One of the many things that I love about Summer are fresh vegetables. We have fixed squash every way imaginable and have not tired of it yet. This morning as I was getting dressed Paula Deen and her brother Bubba were making a squash casserole that is a bit different from my norm. Luckily, I had just enough squash in the refrigerator to try it.
We thought it was really good, not as good as my Aunt Julia's recipe (posted January 2nd, 2009), but we consider that the holy grail of squash casseroles.

Supper tonight was:
Baked Chicken Livers
Rice and Gravy
Uncle Bubba's Cheesy Squash Casserole*
Tiny English Peas

Uncle Bubba's Cheesy Squash Casserole

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
6 medium yellow summer squash - thinly sliced
1 large Vidalia onion - thinly sliced
1 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cups grated Parmesan
1 cup shredded Sharp Cheddar
1/2 cup sour cream
Salt and black pepper
1 sleeve Ritz crackers crushed medium to fine

Preheat the oven to 350 degree. Spray a 2-quart casserole dish.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute the squash, onion, and butter until soft. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the Parmesan, Cheddar, and sour cream. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
Place in the prepared casserole dish and sprinkle the cracker crumbs evenly over the top. Bake for 20 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.

So, until tomorrow..............
S~~~

Sweet Tea - The House Wine of the South

We all love our sweet tea in the South. It's just one of the many things that makes us proud to be Southerners. One of the things that Lacy-Jay misses the most living up north is sweet tea. She can make it at home, of course, (we raised her right) but in restaurants most meals just cry for sweet tea.

I LOVE culinary nostalgia. One of my sweetest memories is iced sweet tea on Sundays. I was only allowed tea on Sundays, it was milk for me every other day except my birthday, which was Coke with meals day. Mother made the very best tea. Not that she did anything special, just the opposite. She did all the things that would make proper tea conoisseurs take the vapors. Like boil the water before adding the tea bags. Modern wisdom says bring your water just to the boiling point. Mother never used any gourmet Tazo or herbal teas either, I'm not even sure they sold those in Marion then, actually I am quite sure they did not. Our tea was "Dixie Home" brand, (orange and black pekoe at it's best). If you remember from earlier posts Mother did not buy store brands often, but this was one exception to the rule. This tea was the store brand at what our family called the "Dixie Store".

Sidetrack: As a junior high school idiot I remember being so embarrassed that my parents called it "the Dixie Store". Everybody knew it was the Winn Dixie didn't they? What I wouldn't give to have my Mother and that "Dixie Store" back today.

Anyway back to Mother's sweet tea. Mother not only boiled her water but she let the tea bags steep until she got around to finishing it up. Then she would take a spoon and press the tea bags with the back to get all the flavor from the tea. Lawdy Mercy all that bitterness.......................

Yeah right, all that bitterness right in to the best tea I ever drank. Another rule Mother had was never make tea in plastic. She was a few years ahead of modern wisdom here. We had a green 1950's Fiesta Ware pitcher that endured the generation. Bought at Sears long before I was born.

I wish I knew her tea to sugar ratio, but like so many other things she never measured her sugar in tea.

Cravin Melon said it best:

Don't try to offer me anything

What it comes right down to baby

Don't tempt me; I'm where I wanna be

Cause on the eighth day, God made sweet tea

Certain things in life I like to savor

Watchin' clouds and waitin' on the rain

If you ever question my behavior

Just a taste will make you feel the same now

Watch and enjoy................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGz4bcDyG1c&feature=related

So, until tomorrow.............

S~~~

The End Is In Sight

Well, last night it ended...... We sadly watched our last available episode of LOST. We actually thought we had 2 more discs and they turned out to be bonus footage. What a major let down.
The good news is now I am back to blogging more faithfully.
LOST has truly consumed us. We can't wait for the 5th season to come out on DVD in December.
Note to self: Finish Christmas shopping in November.
The 6th and final season is set for January or February 2010 so we will probably watch it in real time. I emphatically say it is the best television series ever created. (This from a true Cagney and Lacy fan).

Ok, so I seem to remember this was a cooking blog, right? So, it must be time to start cooking again. Quick meals were the norm during our LOST stage. I have almost depleted all of my freezer meals so those will have to be replenished as well.

I have always had an interest in the Once A Month Cooking (OAMC) concept. Even started a folder of recipes at one time. The idea is spend one weekend a month and freeze meals for the coming month. The only problem is I don't want to spend an entire weekend in the kitchen. Even as much as I love to cook that is a bit much. So, I prefer to double up on entrees that freeze well and have them in reserve for those days that time will not permit anything more.
What might be fun though is to have a few friends join me in the kitchen and we could work together and divide our efforts.
Let me know if you have any experience here, I would love your input.

Here is a OAMC recipe that I plan to try soon:

Orange Glazed Chicken (OAMC)

8 boneless skinless chicken breast (or whatever your family prefers)
2 cups French dressing
3 cups ginger ale (do not use diet)
2 cups orange juice
2 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

Marinade chicken in French dressing in refrigerator for at least 1 hour, overnight is even better.
Remove from marinade and brown in a small amount of vegetable oil over medium high heat.
Combine ginger ale and cornstarch. Divide chicken in what ever proportions work well for your family. Divide sauce and pour over chicken. Cool and freeze.

On serving day:
Take chicken out of the freezer in the morning and place in the refrigerator. When ready to cook, preheat oven to 300* and bake 1 - 1/2 hours, basting at least twice during cooking.
Serve over rice.

Supper here tonight was Shrimp Pitas*. Something light and refreshing for the last of July.

Shrimp Pitas

2 cups frozen salad shrimp - peeled and deveined
3 radishes - chopped fine
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 small cucumber - peeled and chopped fine
1 tsp. lemon juice - fresh if you have it
1 tsp. Old Bay
1/4 tsp. sugar
3 Tbsp. Ranch dressing

Combine all ingredients and chill.
Serve in pita pockets with very cold finely shredded lettuce.

So, until tomorrow............
S~~~

I Am A Bad Blogger

It's true. I have been a terrible blogger. Lacy just called during supper and reminded me how bad I have been.
Lots of reasons, (notice I say reasons, not excuses), LOST, the beautiful weather, LOST, my biggest group of the year this week at work, LOST, and general laziness.

We have been eating lots of our freezer meals and vegetables from the garden, so there haven't been a lot of recipes to post.

One very important situation I want to share.
You have heard me talk about my very best friend in the world Jan. She lives in Tennessee now and we don't get to see each other as much as we like.
She emailed to let me know that her 12 1/2 year old granddaughter, Haley, was very badly burned last week. She was boiling eggs and knocked the pot of boiling water off the stove burning her from the waist down. She is in the burn unit at Bowman Gray in Winston Salem.
Please, please keep her in your prayers. It would mean so much. I will keep you posted when I hear an update from Jan.

Be patient with me. We are in the last season of LOST that we have on DVD and the next one isn't out yet. I promise to be better, hopefully I will be back tomorrow!!

So, until tomorrow............
S~~~

Retro Recipes

Don't you just love recipes that remind you of growing up. Today I came across a a cake recipe that reminded me of my aunt Mary so much. She made this cake often when I was young. This got me to thinking about other recipes I associate with people.

Ronnie has a memory of his Grandmother Taylor making something she called "sweet bread". She had passed long before we were married so I never had this dessert, but try as I might to duplicate it I cannot. Apparently she was one of those wonderful cooks who never needed a recipe. From what I can gather from Ronnie and other family members this was a very simple, plain type cake that she baked in a single layer in a cast iron pan. He remembers it being a little crunchy around the edges. My sister in law, Karen, remembers that she sometimes made chocolate sweet bread as well. If by chance you had a grandmother that made "sweet bread" Ronnie would be forever grateful if you could share the recipe.

So, in memory of my Aunt Mary enjoy this wonderful cake.

Pistachio Cake

1 pkg. white or yellow cake mix
1 pkg. (4 serving size) pistachio instant pudding mix
3 eggs
1 c. club soda
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. chopped nuts

FROSTING:

1 1/2 c. cold milk
1 envelope Dream Whip
1 pkg. pistachio pudding mix

Combine all ingredients in large mixer bowl. Blend, then beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool and frost.
For the Frosting:
Pour the milk into a deep bowl. Add the Dream Whip and the pistachio pudding mix. Beat slowly to blend. Gradually increase speed until mixture forms peaks. Spread on cake.


So, until tomorrow.................
S~~~

Logan County Hamburgers

Tonight I am fixing Logan County hamburgers from Katie Lee Joel. (She recently became Billy Joel's Ex.) Lacy is fascinated with celebrities, me not so much. I think everyday people are much more interesting. Anyway, Lacy found this recipe and mentioned it to me.
I was intrigued because everybody loves hamburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches. What better than a combination of both?

Growing up it was not unusual for us to have hamburgers on plain white bread. Daddy fixed them that way often. I have always liked hamburgers prepared this way as I am not a big bread person. I always buy rolls, usually the big onion rolls, not sure why.
*Note** I am making one change to the recipe. I am rolling the ground beef very thin and cutting them square.

Logan County Hamburgers*
Grilled Corn
Fried Squash
Cucumbers and Onions (in vinegar, brown sugar, water and dill)
Sliced Cantaloupe


Logan County Hamburgers

1 lb lean ground beef
1 medium sweet onion, half grated (remaining half slice thin)
1 large egg - lightly beaten
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
12 slices white bread
12 slices American cheese
pickle (optional)
ketchup (optional)
mustard (optional)


In medium bowl, combine beef, grated onion, egg, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Form into 6 (4-inch) patties.
Spread 1/2 tsp. butter on one side of each bread slice - set aside.
Brown in a large heavy duty skillet over medium-high heat.
Cook burgers through, turning once.
Transfer to a plate-lined with paper towels.
Drain fat from skillet.
Add 3 bread slices, buttered side down, and layer each with 1 cheese slice, onion slice, burger, another cheese slice and bread, buttered side up.
Cook reducing to medium-low heat, turning once, until bread is golden brown, about 4 minutes.
Repeat to make 3 more sandwiches.
Serve with condiments, if desired.

So, until tomorrow.............
S~~~

The Dog Days of Summer

I am probably one of the few people who will admit to loving dog days.
The warm humid weather is perfect for me. Both Ronnie and I were born in dog days.
Last Friday, July 10th was my birthday and every single year, with the exception of only 2 that I can remember, it has rained at least a few drops. Now keep in mind that I am the girl that loves the rain. Mother and Daddy always remembered that it came a terrible thunder storm on the day I was born and the hospital (the old Marion General) went to generator power. Anyway, we always wait for the rain on my birthday, and we were not disappointed. On our way to dinner on Friday evening we got rain.

Also, dog days bring fresh vegetables from the garden. Tonight for the first time we will have enough green beans from the garden for supper. We have had lettuce, onions, squash, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes but now we have fresh green beans.

So, supper tonight is just vegetables, yum...............

Fresh Green Beans (greasy cuts shorts)
Greek Lemon Roasted Potatoes*
Squash Casserole
Cucumber Salad
Cornbread

Greek Lemon Roasted Potatoes

6 large potatoes cut into wedges, peeled or not, your preference
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice (more or less depending on taste, freshly squeezed is always best)
1 Tbsp. chicken bouillon dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 garlic cloves pressed (or garlic powder to taste)

Peel and cut potatoes. Place in a 9x13 pan, combine remaining ingredients and pour over potatoes stirring well to coat ever piece.Bake at 425 for 1 hour. Stir every 20 minutes or so.
Squeeze little more fresh lemon juice on for more flavor.

So, until tomorrow..................
S~~~

Day Best Forgotten

I have no clue about supper tonight. My simple plan is not to cook, maybe have chocolate for supper!!

This has been the day better forgotten.............
First thing a VERY difficult client at work and then my uncle had MAJOR issues on an unsuccessful attempt to fly home from Orlando to Asheville.
What happened to the days when it was fun to fly???

So, until tomorrow.........
S~~~

We Have Been "Lost"

I guess it is confession time. I know I have been a really bad blogger recently.

The last few weeks we have been “LOST”. “Lost” as in the series.
Even though it has been on television for several years I have had no interest whatsoever in watching. You see, I never watch nor read any fantasy or science fiction. As I have said before I can read the phone book but I always draw the line on the reality side.
That is until we went to visit Lacy-Jay and Bashar in late April. They sent us home with the first four seasons of “Lost”. My sister in law, Karen has watched from the beginning and I knew this was her addiction, but I never dreamed in a million light years that it would become mine too, Ronnie yes, me, no way!!
The discs sat around on our shelf for a few weeks with Lacy prodding us daily about watching. Finally, one Sunday afternoon Ronnie talked me into sitting down with him, promising that if I just watch an episode of two and hated it he would watch the rest alone. The rest is history. We have planned our lives around watching “Lost”. I have never, ever, been as involved in anything on television as I am “Lost”. You can never, and let me repeat never, see what is coming next.
Ronnie saw the cover of a magazine in the grocery store that said this is quite possibly the best written television series ever. Far be it from me to question that statement.
Anyway………………. we are in the middle of the third season of the four we have.
If we feel lost now can you just imagine how lost we will be when it is all over???

This in turn has caused me to be “lost” in the supper department too. Meals have been fast and furious with both of us cleaning up the dishes in order to get in as many episodes as possible before bedtime.

Tonight I am posting a couple of recipes that are stuck in my “to be tried” stack. If you aren’t “lost”, maybe you would want to try them and post your comments!!
Enjoy.


Zucchini Soup

1 cup chopped onions
2 T. butter
3 cups sliced zucchini
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
½ cup half-and-half

4 slices bacon, cooked until crisp, then crumbled
In a large saucepan cook onions in melted butter until tender. Add sliced zucchini and chicken broth and bring to a boil. Simmer until tender (about 15 min.) Add salt and pepper. Cool slightly. Pour mixture into blender and puree it. Stir in half-and-half (or milk). Return to saucepan and reheat, but do not boil. Garnish with grated cheese, sour cream, and bacon bits.
Makes 6 servings.


Olive Garden Salad

Olive Garden Salad Dressing:
½ c. mayonnaise
1/3 c. white vinegar
1 tsp vegetable oil
2 Tb. corn syrup
2 Tb. Parmesan cheese
2 Tb. Romano cheese
¼ tsp garlic salt – or one clove garlic, minced
½ tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp parsley flakes
1 Tb. lemon juice

Salad:
1 large head romaine lettuce
slices red onion
black olives
2-4 banana peppers
2 small tomatoes, quartered
½ c. croutons
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
For homemade croutons:
4 slices sandwich bread
1 clove garlic, minced
3 Tb. butter
salt and pepper
dried parsley flakes

Mix all dressing ingredients in a blender until well mixed. If this is a little too tart for your own personal tastes, add a little extra sugar.
Chill one salad bowl in freezer for at least 30 minutes. Put lettuce in bowl. Place on top of lettuce red onions, black olives, banana peppers, tomatoes, and croutons. Add some freshly grated Parmesan cheese if you like, and add plenty of Olive Garden Salad Dressing on top.

For homemade croutons:
Cut off crusts of sandwich bread, and cut bread into cubes. Melt butter in small saucepan and add minced garlic. Toss sandwich cubes in the butter and spread out in a pan. Sprinkle salt and pepper and parsley flakes to taste. Bake for 15 minutes at 350°, turning half way through baking.

So, until tomorrow..........
S~~~

"I Think it Was The Fourth of July"

Saturday in the park I think, it was the Fourth of July
Saturday in the park I think, it was the Fourth of July
People dancing, people laughing
A man selling ice cream
Singing Italian songs

[Foreign Content]

Can you dig it? Yes, I can
And I've been waiting such a long time.... for Saturday
Another day in the park
I think, it was the Fourth of July
Another day in the park I think, it was the Fourth of July
People talking, really smiling
A man playing guitar and singing for us all
Will you help him change the world
Can you dig it?
Yes, I can
And I've been waiting such a long time....for today
Slow motion riders, fly the colors of the day
A bronze man, still can tell stories his own way
Listen children all is not lost
All is not lost, oh no, no
Funny days in the park
And every day is the Fourth of July
Funny days in the park
And every day is the Fourth of July
People reaching, people touching
A real celebration
Waiting for us all , if we want it, really want it
Can you dig it? Yes, I can
And I've been waiting such a long time....for the day

Chicago, 1972 - Chicago V

What an appropriate song for a gorgeous Fourth of July Saturday. It also happens to be one of my favorites.

I hope everyone has big plans for today, cookouts, spending time with friends and family, music, fireworks................ and most of all celebrating our Independence.

I haven't done a lot of cooking this week, with the exception of putting up freezer meals. I love to have something I can take out of the freezer and have supper ready in a flash on those days when I have exhausted every brain cell I have left. All that falling out of the bed when I was a kid demolished most of them I'm certain. Those that were left after sticking two bobby pins in a receptacle and being knocked across the room. I was raised by an overly protective mother who would NEVER let me have a coke with my meals except on my birthday and Kool Aid was a big no-no, but somehow covering wall receptacles was unheard of. My parents were/are both intelligent people and I think they assumed they would have a child that possessed the same large amounts of common sense they were so richly blessed with. When I did the dumb things that most children manage to do a puzzled look would pass between them that clearly questioned where this alien child came from.

Now back to the reason I actually write this blog......................

What I did make yesterday was Rosemary Infused Cucumber Lemonade. Wow. We loved it
A few months ago Deb and had lunch at Curras Dom and they had a cucumber lemonade type drink that we enjoyed. We both wanted to try it but were a bit unsure so we ordered tea as well. We didn't drink the tea. Thursday Ragan and I were talking and she was writing an article (she is the entertainment editor at the Hickory Daily Record) about fun drinks for the holiday. She mentioned a cucumber lemonade that a caterer in Hickory makes that gets rave reviews. She had promised to send Ragan the recipe but failed to do so. (Her loss, why pass up free advertising?)
I went on line and found several recipes for cucumber lemonade and combined several to come up with this recipe. I love the rosemary in it, rosemary is my favorite herb.
Give it a try, I promise you will be pleasantly surprised.

Rosemary-Infused Cucumber Lemonade

Makes 4 glasses

3 large cucumbers
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary, plus 4 sprigs for garnish
1 cup Sprite Zero
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1-2 Tbsp. agave syrup

Cut 12 thin slices of cucumber for garnish. Peel and chop the rest of the cucumber; transfer to a food processor, add rosemary and puree. Pour the puree through a fine-mesh strainer set over a medium bowl or large measuring cup. Press on the solids to extract all the juice. Add water, lemon juice and agave syrup to the cucumber juice; stir until the agave is dissolved. Divide among 4 ice-filled glasses. Garnish with cucumber slices and rosemary sprigs.

And for after the fireworks....................

Cucumber Mojito

Makes 4 glasses

6 limes
1 cup packed mint leaves, no stems, plus 6 sprigs for garnish
3 large cucumbers - peeled
½ cup sugar
1 1/2 cups vodka, light rum or gin (rum for the mojito purist)
tonic water

Thinly slice 3 limes and place in large (4 cup) glass measuring cup. Juice the rest and add juice. Add mint leaves. Slice 2 cucumbers and add, then add sugar. Muddle ingredients. (Use a wooden spoon with you don't have a muddler) Add vodka, rum or gin. Place in refrigerator to steep 30 minutes or longer.
Peel remaining cucumber and cut lengthwise into 6 spears.
Fill 6 large glasses with ice. Strain mixture into a pitcher. Fill glasses ½ full. Fill glasses with tonic water and stir, garnish each glass with a sprig of mint and a cucumber spear.

My best wishes to all of you and your families for a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

So, until tomorrow..............
S~~~

Catching Up, Again

Wow. It has been a while, huh?

Ronnie and I have been off from work and just enjoying every single day.

I want to be June Cleaver, sans Beaver. I wouldn’t know how to raise boys.
I really think I could be a housewife. That would be a dream. I love cooking and taking care of our house. I have actually had time to read a complete book and half of another one. I love it!!

Time to enjoy the dogs and watch the hummingbirds. Feeling sane instead of rushing all the time. You know the drill, rush home from work, rush to cook supper, rush to throw in a load of clothes, rush to get a bath and maybe, just maybe….. on a good night you have an hour to do what you want to before time to get into bed so you can get up and do it all over again tomorrow.

Lacy-Jay and Bashar (photo above) were home for a few days and we enjoyed having them here so much!! We have been so excited the past few weeks as it appeared that they were re-locating back to the Raleigh area. They were house hunting and getting ready to put their townhouse on the market when they returned to PA. Well, we all know about best laid plans. Two days before they were to arrive here Bashar got the call that they were sending them to D.C. Lacy was (is) devastated. So, are we. Hopefully, it will just be one year and then Raleigh. We are keeping our fingers crossed.

Nonetheless, we had a great visit. I fixed her favorite supper when they arrived on Wednesday (last week), chicken stew(posted). On Thursday we went to Asheville to do some shopping and have supper at PF Changs. This was the day that Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died. We were just walking in PF Changs when we saw the news about MJ on the television over the bar. Lacy said she will always remember where she was when she heard the news. Much the same way that our generation will always remember where we were when we got the news that Elvis had passed. On Friday we had an early supper at one of Lacy’s (and ours) favorite places, My Father’s in Black Mountain. After supper we came home and made homemade ice cream (more on this later) and invited Daddy and Florence over to visit with Lacy-Jay and Bashar.
Saturday we went we see Ronnie (SideStreet) play in Hickory.

Not that I think you are interested in what we did, just explaining my lack of posts. Why tell a short story when you can give detail? I used to work with someone who said her husband went around the block to get across the street, I guess I have that same problem.

Now, back to the ice cream. I made a new ice cream recipe that I really loved. The name is a bit strange but the ice cream is fantastic. I actually made two sixes and added a tablespoon of my homemade vanilla as my ice cream maker is a small tabletop Cuisinart.

I hope you enjoy this for the fourth!!

Three Sixes Ice Cream

3 cups sugar
3 cups heavy cream
3 cups whole milk
3 bananas - mashed
3 oranges - juiced
3 lemons - juiced
vanilla to taste

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, heavy cream, and whole milk. Stir in the bananas, orange juice, lemon juice and vanilla.
Pour into ice cream maker and freeze by manufacturer’s directions.

So, until tomorrow……….
S~~~