Alabama Heritage Cooking Contest

I again had the honor of being a judge for the Alabama Farmers Federation’s annual state Heritage Cooking Contest. This year the theme was cookies. When my friend, Kim Earwood, asked me to judge and told me I’d be sampling about 30+ different cookies, I thought I was dreaming! Cookies are probably my favorite thing to eat.

We tasted many delightful confections, but finally made the decision to award first place to Ms. Dawn East of Cherokee County and her Butter Pecan Bars. These are a perfect treat with the crisp autumn air we’ve been blessed with…early for us down here in the Heart of Dixie! Make some this weekend and your friends and family will think you are quite clever.

Butter Pecan Bars
1 18-oz box butter pecan cake mix
1 stick butter, melted
1 stick butter, softened
3 eggs
1 8-oz cream cheese, softened
1 1-lb box powdered sugar
1 ½ cups pecans, chopped and toasted

Preheat oven to 300. Mix together cake mix, 1 stick melted butter and 1 slightly beaten egg. Press into a greased and floured 9x13-inch baking dish. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add softened butter, 2 eggs and sugar; mix well. Pour over cake mix layer. Top with pecans. Bake for 1 hour. Cool and cut into squares.

Where the food is...

Laughter is brightest in the place where food is.

- Irish proverb

If that's the case, then put on your shades, because my house has seen a lot of food lately! Family and friends joined me for a great evening of food and conversation. We had so much fun just being together, telling stories, sharing ideas, eating... and laughing. There's nothing better than looking around and seeing people in your home smiling and laughing. They are well fed, happy, and relaxed, so they can enjoy one another. It's a little bit of heaven on earth to me. Somehow I think that's what it's going to be like when we get to join in the Great Feast one day.

Feast your eyes on this menu and these photos taken by my fabulously talented friend, Robyn.

Hot Bacon and Swiss Dip

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Mini Beef Wellingtons with Horseradish Cream

Mexican Shrimp and Grits

Summer Succotash

Lemon Pepper Zucchini Skewers

Watermelon-Tomato Salad

Cucumbers

White Mountain Bread

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French Mint Tea

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Pound Cake Cookies

Death by Chocolate Cookies

Mini Beef Wellingtons

The buffet...where the food is.

I couldn't have pulled off this party without Mama!

My favorite photo--see how happy everyone is? Bright laughter, indeed!



Do you like having dinner parties, but don't enjoy the prep so much? You're in luck--Nourish will come right in and do the prep work for you! Then you can revel in the atmosphere and be a guest at your own party. Call me and we'll make it happen!

Who's Who

I'm getting to know the insides of a lot of different kitchens, and I love the stories they all tell! (I mean that in a good way, of course.) Seeing baby bottles out to dry, some doggie dishes for babies of the other sort, pretty dish towels, and my favorite, Who's Who On The Fridge. If your mug is on a family refrigerator, you've made it! You know you are tops on that family's list. (That or they're expecting you for a visit and want a few brownie points.) Generally people surround themselves with things that make them smile or inspire them. Here are a few loves on my fridge...

First off, we need to establish this fact: Southern Cookin' Makes You Good Lookin'. Friends in the Heart of Dixie, look around you! You are surrounded by beautiful people. If you are well-fed, you will be a lot happier, and doesn't that make for a good lookin' person? This sign was always a little affirmation as I made my way on I-24 through Tennessee, headed to college in Searcy, Arkansas.

Next is a Christmas scene from 1981 (or -2?) chronicling the beginning of my cooking career. Daddy--I mean Santa--stayed up most of that Christmas Eve putting together my orange and cream metal kitchenette. I even had a real cast iron mini-skillet! We still enjoy working in the kitchen together.

One of my most treasured photos is this one of my Aunt Deda. She was my Papa's sister, but she was like another grandmother to us. Miss Ada Margaret was a most excellent cook. This photo shows her making little cinnamon rolls. The left-over pie dough always became these delicious treats that we could eat without guilt any time. Aunt Deeder-Weeder always took time to do things the right way, and so her food was always the best. I always have her up as my Kitchen Muse. I love to think of her spirit being with me as I gin around in her favorite space.

I also have a few Dilbert cartoons that are horrifyingly realistic, some fab Chinese fortune cookie fortunes and souvenir magnets of my travels. A clean, neat refrigerator door was a nice, neat sight I used to think. Now I say, "Pish!" to that and fill it up with people and things that make me happy.

Who's on your fridge?

Giveaway Winner!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered! From reading your comments, you are all in serious need of my services. Even though today there is only one winner, I hope that we might be able to work together in the future.

So... the winner is J. Denise Murray! She says, "I would love a nourishing chef prepared meal because  I'm trying to lose weight to increase the years in my life, I drive 2+ hours a day to work & home, I drive additional hours & miles on the job, I have elderly parents to see after & by the time I get home the last thing I feel like doing is cooking. And...then the problem starts. Bags & boxes & drive-thrus are the quickest avenue to meals and the WORST as far as nutrition!"

You speak truth, my friend! Our society has made it too easy for us to eat badly. But with Nourish by your side, you can take charge of your well-being once again.

Also, in case you are wondering what became of Emily Thames and her bevy of fan club entries, she did get a consolation dinner on Friday night after all.  

I really appreciate all the encouraging comments, too. It means a lot as I start this adventure. And thank you again for taking the time to enter the drawing. Look for more opportunities later this year!

Supper giveaway!



Pastitsio and Fashoulakia. In English, that's a Greek lasagna
of beef, pasta and cheese with a creamy white sauce,
and the classic Greek green bean dish.
The green beans' piquant taste pairs well with
the rich, delicious, comfort of the pastitsio.
And would you believe this plate has
less than 10 grams of fat?

We all know there's no such thing as a free lunch. There IS, however, such a thing as a free supper! Nourish Personal Chef Service is going to give away a free supper to one lucky winner. That is, an entree and a side dish tailored to your food preferences.

Here's how to win:

1. Like Nourish's Facebook page.
2. Leave a comment on the wall or on this blog answering the question "What would you like best about having a personal chef?"
3. Do this by August 12. Winner will be announced August 13.

Get an extra entry when you share this giveaway on your blog or Facebook profile! (Let me know so I can look too.)

Now, I know you'll have a million reasons why you'd like a personal chef, but just leave it at one for this drawing. For instance, a personal chef...
- goes grocery shopping for you
- plans your menu
- gives you 12-15 hours a week to do what you want to do rather than be in the kitchen
- cooks for you
- prepares food to meet your special nutritional needs (low-fat, gluten-free, etc.)
- offers a good variety of foods
- keeps you from cleaning a big kitchen mess...

And when you have delicious meals from Nourish in your freezer, you...
- don't have to go out to eat
- eat food prepared with your specific tastes in mind
- eat whenever it's convenient, 5 pm or 11:30 pm!
- get a hot meal on the table in about 15 minutes
- don't have to wash up pots and pans
- say goodbye to the question "what's for dinner?"

And these are just a few positives when you have a personal chef.

Will the Greek supper be your choice if you win? Good luck!

A song of satisfaction

We recently celebrated a birthday in the office. I brought in some Blueberry Lemon Squares, which happen to be one of my favorite things to make in the summer. Buttery shortbread, tart lemon and rich blueberries all sing together in delicious harmony! At the end of the day, there wasn't a crumb left. And I thought I heard an even greater chorus around me. Yes, the happy tummies of my co-workers were continuing to sing the Song of the Blueberry Lemon Squares! Joy, joy! Who knew a simple melange of butter, flour and sugar could transport one to such great heights?

Gentle reader, this is your lucky day. I am going to share this recipe with you so that you, too, can conduct a choir of buttery, sweet voices. You will spread joy, and you will come home with an empty dish.

Blueberry Lemon Squares
For the crust:
1 c butter, softened
1 c powdered sugar
1 tea. vanilla extract
2 c all-purpose flour
1/8 tea. salt

For the filling:
1/2 c sugar
3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 lemon (juice and zest)
1/8 tea. salt
3 eggs
2 c fresh (or frozen) unsweetend blueberries

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

To make the crust, coat 9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. Use your mixer on low to beat together butter through vanilla until just fluffy. Add salt and flour and beat until mixture forms small crumbs. Press crumbs evenly over the bottom of the baking dish. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Reduce oven to 350 degrees.

Meanwhile, make the filling. Use your mixer to whisk together sugar through salt and lemon zest. Add eggs and lemon juice, then whisk until smooth.

Spread blueberries in an even layer over crust. Pour the filling over the blueberries. Bake 30-40 minutes or until filling is puffed. Transfer to wire rack and cool completely. Cut into squares.

...do you hear the music yet?

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