The Transition Continues....

Last week was week two of the transition from work to home. And I have to say, last week was a huge improvement over the week before. Instead of taking the attitude that we had to do something out of the house every day, I just let the day take us where it wants. Refreshing concept, right?

Last week the weather was gorgeous and we spent a lot of time outdoors. We took walks, hung out at the park, had a picnic in the backyard, planted corn and green beans with the help of my parents, and did a lot of swinging. And when I say a lot of swinging, it was more like a lot of pushing McKinley in the swing. That boy never grows tired of swinging! I may have just found the new arm workout. I'll keep you posted. 

I've been keeping longer hours at night to work on my blogs, check out Style My Way if you haven't already. It gets way more attention from me than this one, but I'm trying to remedy that. I'm networking, sending out tons of emails, reading up on other blogs that I love but don't get to read as frequently, and brain storming on my next business venture(s). And, I'm trying to find some me time in there as well. I've scheduled a few lunches and cocktails with friends, to bounce ideas off of and help me round out some of my thoughts, in hopes they don't think I'm crazy for dreaming. So far, I've had a lot of positive feedback. I've also been spending a lot of quality time with my parents, something I haven't done in a long time. It's been amazing!

My mom and are sewing up a storm. I've found yet another creative outlet, thanks to her, and I'm loving every minute. She's also been my sounding board for ideas, and so far, hasn't passed an ounce of judgement as I talk through things I've always thought about doing. If anything, she's trying to help me figure out the logistics of making some things possible, but also steering me down a different path if I happen to go astray! (Sometimes my dreams can go a little out of the stratosphere!)

I still find my fair share of challenges. I'm working on when to actually shower versus just shave the legs in the sink, which I find I do a lot. However, night showers are taking place of none at all. (That's a good thing!) I haven't worn real makeup in over a week, which is great for my pores, but not so great when you are a personal style blogger. I find that I hide behind large sunglasses to mask the fact that I'm simply wearing mascara. Though the application of makeup isn't terribly time consuming, I find that by the time I've actually gotten both of ready to rock n' roll, I just don't have the time to swipe on all the products I normally use. And I miss it. It's total vanity, but I just feel like I look like a better version of myself with some hint of color.

I'm still trying to find the art of Zen, but I'm just not one to sit and truly relax. I'm not itching to clean my house or do a load of laundry because I'm just not that person. I do feel guilty every now and then that I haven't picked up the mess off the kitchen table. And let's talk about that for second. How in the world does a kitchen table go from being completely clutter free to a total disaster area in less than 24 hours? It's like the missing sock when taking clothes out of the drying. But I digress....

I'm trying to be more patient when McKinley says he doesn't want to go anywhere and just let him do his thing at home. He truly is content with just rolling a garbage truck across the floor and I'm working at either joining him or just simply being in the room with him. I'm trying to come up with crafty things for us do to together, hands-on activities for him to do that stimulate the brain, reading more on a daily bases, and finding fun games that we can play. I do love that he loves being outside. I would much rather be outdoors as well and it helps us both burn off energy. And I can't wait for the weather to get warmer and the pool to open! I'm hoping to get there a lot more this summer. 

In the meantime, we're working together to make this some of the most memorable/quality time we can with each other. There are lots of hugs, snuggles, cuddles, kisses, tickles, and giggles which I love. But with those moments come tears, time-outs, frustration, and time apart. As the theme to the Facts of Life states, "You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life." And the fact is, I'm truly having the best time of my life!

Mom's Southern Cooking - Cooked Apples

One of my all time favorites sides is cooked apples! I love apple anything, but this sweet and tart recipe is simply wonderful! It combines all my favorite things; apples, butter, brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon! Doesn't that sound unbelievable? 

I remember the first time I made these for my husband. He devoured them! They have become one of his most requested sides, but always feels bad for asking because he thinks they're time consuming. They really aren't. It just takes a little time to cook them down. 

Here's what you need: apples (I use Granny Smith so that I can sweeten them to my liking), butter, brown and granulated sugar, and cinnamon.

Wash and dry your apples. Then core and slice. If you don't have a handy apple corer like this, cut them the way you normally would.

Place all your apple slices in a large sauce pot and add several tablespoons of water. Apples are already water based so you only need a little to help the cook. Cover with a lid, but allow a little steam to escape. Cook on medium.

I mentioned earlier that you needed to cook the apples down. What I really meant was that you needed to cook the apples to death! Make them mushy as seen below! Stir to make sure there aren't huge chunks of uncooked apple. Then, add about a tablespoon of butter. Stir to combine.

 This is where the good stuff comes in! Not that butter isn't a good thing. Add several teaspoons of granulated sugar, several handfuls of brown sugar, and several dashes of cinnamon. Stir to combine. Taste to see if it's sweet enough. If not, add a little more of each sugar.

And that's it! You have cooked apples! Here is the finished dinner. We had a crockpot pot roast with new potatoes and carrots. So yummy and a perfect meal for the freezing temps and foot of snow we have on the ground!

Let me know if you make this dish! I love hearing your reviews.

Next up, my Grannie's Apple Dumplings. Talk about amazing!

Happy Eats!

Ugly Biscuit - In My Mom's Words

 When the morning biscuits were cut and resting on a pan blackened with age, my grandmother shaped the dough scraps into a small, flat cake.  And in a pre-dawn ritual that never varied, she whacked the cake three times with the butt of her rolling pin, creating a trio of crescent moons that rose into soft dimples when the bread baked.  The three whacks were my summer alarm clock, soon followed by the call of “breakfast” from my grandfather standing at the foot of the steps leading up to my bedroom.

One summer morning, long before sunrise, I thought I heard the three whacks of the rolling pin.  I decided to surprise my grandfather by getting up before he beckoned.  But when I made my way down the steps, I found the house still and without the faint odor of wood smoke from the kitchen stove.  This would be an even better surprise, I thought, rising before either of my grandparents, and so I sat down on the bottom step to wait.

 When I awoke the second time, my grandmother was gently shaking my arm.  I told her about hearing the three whacks of the rolling pin.  She laughed softly and said I hadn’t been dreaming.  What I had heard, she explained, were apples falling onto the tin roof.

Me at age three, my mom, and my great-grandmother

Mom's Southern Cooking - Biscuits and Gravy

A traditional Southern breakfast in my house was a big plate of biscuits and gravy. We didn't have it often, but when we did, I knew it was a big deal! I have always thought that biscuits were a labor intensive process, but it turns out it's rather easy. Not as easy as opening a can of Pillsbury biscuits, but easier than I had originally thought.

My mom made her first round of biscuits at the age of 10 while my great-grandmother Bessie Tedder looked on. According to mom and her mother, no matter how long it's been since you've made a biscuit, if you've made a biscuit, you can always make a biscuit. There's a sweet story I'm going to share later this week about my mom wanting to make biscuits at a much younger age. It's in her own words and it's a story she shared the year my great-grandmother passed away. My mamaw was an incredible woman!

So, let's get to making biscuits and gravy! This post is a little lengthy so hang in there! Here's what you'll need for the biscuits: Buttermilk, shortening, and self-rising flour. (The champagne and orange juice are optional, however we always cook with them!)

Measure out two cups of self-rising flour and four tablespoons of shortening. 

 

Now, take two butter knives and cut the flour and shortening together in a criss-cross method. Do this until all the shortening has been combined into the flour.

Now, using a fork, create a small well in the center of the flour.

And pour your 3/4 cup buttermilk into that well.

Use your fork to stirring the dry ingredients with the buttermilk. Stir until the mixture forms a dough in the bowl. (It will be sticky.)

Now, just go in with your hands and start forming a ball of dough. 

Once you have a nice ball of dough, it's time to start rolling it out. You want to roll it to about a 1/2 inch thick. 

This biscuit cutter was made by my great-grandfather, Earnest Tedder. It was originally a PET milk can. The story of how he made them is coming later as well.

When it comes to cutting your biscuits, simply place the cutter over the dough, push it down, and simply lift out. Do not twist! My great-grandmother said you don't want to "worry the dough" and that's what happens when you twist!

 

Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. You will get roughly 10 biscuits.

 With the little bit of extra dough, we make what we call the "Ugly Biscuit" and it's truly the best biscuit of the lot! Just roll out the dough slightly and form an oblong shape. Take the end of your biscuit cutter and make three half moon shapes. 

And here they are!! 

Now comes the gravy. Here's what you need: Grease (like bacon or sausage), flour, and whole milk.

After you've fried up bacon or sausage, set aside the grease from the pan. You can use the same pan or use a clean one. We used a clean one. 

 Add four tablespoons of grease to a pan and let it get really hot.

Once hot, add four tablespoons of flour. (To test the heat of the oil, add a little flour to the grease. If it starts to bubble, it's ready.)

Whisk together the flour and grease.

Start adding the two cups of milk, slowly, to the pan. Add a little, whisk, add a little more, whisk. Once you have a nice gravy formed, add the remainder of the milk.

Whisk, whisk, and whisk until there are no lumps! Add a little salt and pepper to taste. Add a lot of pepper if you're like us!

 

And here it is! 

And here is our traditional Southern breakfast! A post to come on cooked apples! 

 Remember that secret ingredient from the Macaroni and Cheese post? As a child, my dad would add a little sugar to the top of my biscuits and gravy and I thought everyone did that! Apparently, it all started with his grandfather. He was a bee keeper and he put honey on his. So, sugar was passed down to me and that's how I eat mine today. Again, don't knock it 'til you try it!

And that's it! One of my favorite breakfasts! And honestly, so easy to make. Doesn't it look yummy?

Happy Eats!

Mom's Southern Cooking - Butter Noodles

My mom was forever making chicken. Chicken, chicken, and more chicken. And I often replied, when I asked what was for dinner, "Chicken again?" But, it's super versatile and inexpensive! And even though we ate a lot of chicken, my mom was great at varying up the sides. One of my favorites was butter noodles. Another really easy recipe for a quick, yummy side.

I made a new recipe from the Sandra Lee magazine, an apple and fennel pork butt in the slow cooker, and wanted to keep the sides relatively uncomplicated. I thought the pork, apple, and fennel were fancy enough. I decided on steamed green beans and butter noodles. (Don't get excited. The steamed green beans came in a frozen steam-in-the-bag from Green Giant!) The noddles, I made on my own.

Here's what you need: Egg Noodles, Butter, Seasoned Salt, Black Pepper, and Parsley Flakes (not shown. I couldn't find them in my mess of a spice cabinet).

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add a nice amount of salt to your water. (This is the only chance your pasta/noodles will get a healthy dose of flavor). Cook to past al dente. You want a soft noodle for this recipe!

Once done, drain your noodles and add to your serving bowl.

Simply add a small amount of butter, seasoned salt, and black pepper to taste. Add a small amount of parsley flakes for color! Voila! Your side is ready!

Now, here's the God's honest truth. I didn't take a picture of the final meal because after I took the pork out of the crock-pot, it looked so gross to me! So gross, that I didn't even eat it! I dined on green beans and noodles. My hubby dug in, cleaning his plate, but he did report that it wasn't his favorite meal. If I were going to serve a roast, next time just make it like I always do. He loved the sides though!

Let me know what you think of the butter noodles. One of my favs!

Happy Eats!

Mom's Southern Cooking - A Simple Fruit Cobbler

As I continue my quest to cook like my Southern mother, last night I made a super, simple cherry cobbler. She first made this cobbler at the age of 15 when she learned the recipe in home ec! Now, when I think of mid-week desserts, I think of not eating desserts during the week because they can be too complicated to make. Not the case with last night's cobbler!

If you've seen Steel Magnolia's then you know all about this cobbler. It's a cup, a cup, a cup, kind of dessert and one you can easily remember. No need to write it down. Just remember, a cup of self-rising flour, a cup of sugar, a cup of whole milk, and a stick of unsalted butter (melted). It's that simple.

Here's what you need: Self-Rising Flour, Sugar, Unsalted Butter, Whole Milk, and the fruit of your choice. The best ones are cherry, peaches, blueberries, blackberries, or a mix of berries. 

Per my mom, mix the flour and sugar together before adding the milk. If you add the milk before mixing, the flour clumps up. I believe her!

Once the dry ingredients are mixed, add the cup of milk. Now, if you are baking, you must measure! And remember, measuring cups for the dry ingredients. A glass measuring cup for liquids. It's a must!

Melt your butter in a little under a 9 x 13 baking dish while the oven is preheating to 350. 

Swirl the melted butter around the pan to coat, and then add the butter to the batter.

Add the batter to the pan. Drain your berries, and then add them to the batter. (If using frozen fruit, make sure it's thawed before using.)

 Spread the berries around as evenly as you can.

Sprinkle a little sugar on the top of the batter, if desired. It's not a necessary step.

Bake for an hour at 350. Tent with aluminum foil if the cobbler starts to get a little brown. 

Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream! What was so great is that this went in the oven at the start of dinner, and once dishes were loaded and washed, the cobbler was out and had cooled long enough for a bite! Honestly, this is the best, and easiest way, to serve your family a little unexpected treat in the middle of the week!

Happy Eats!