by Christi on February 27, 2009
I was looking at my blog statistics this morning and am happy to tell you that we have readers from 42 states and 12 countries reading this blog. Y’all are wonderful. The 3rd most visitors are from New York! Thank you to all you readers everywhere.
In my previous life, as I traveled for business, I found that there are wonderful, warm people all over the United States. I remember being at a little shop in New Jersey (where I bought my husband a big coffee cup that he still uses every day) talking to the store clerk. She asked me where I was from. I guess from my accent she surmised that I wasn’t from around there. We visited a little and I told her that the people from New Jersey had been very nice. She said “You’re kidding!” She was surprised that the people from New Jersey had been nice.
Now, you know, I love the South and don’t want to live anywhere else but I love visiting all over and meeting people from everywhere. I was surprised that we don’t have any readers from Wisconsin. Since they are not here, I’m going to tell a story on them. If you know anyone from Wisconsin, you can share this story with them.
I traveled to Stevens Point, Wisconsin to do some work for the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. I don’t remember the month but it was very, very cold. If I recall correctly, I was staying at a Hampton Inn. Because there was so much snow and it was so cold, I decided to walk across the street to a little pub for supper. Because I traveled alone so much, I was used to eating out by myself. I was seated and had ordered a drink when two ladies approached my table. They asked if they could visit with me a moment. Intrigued, I agreed. After being seated, they told me that they were local school teachers. They had traveled in Europe the previous Summer and remembered how the Europeans would invite traveling strangers to dine with them. They had discussed it among themselves when they saw me come in alone and had decided to do the same. They invited me to join them and their friends to share a meal. I was so surprised and pleased. I joined them and we shared good food in a warm place on a cold Wisconsin evening. Now, wasn’t that nice of them. I will always think of Stevens Point, Wisconsin as a warm and hospitable town thanks to those dear ladies. Who knew, Southern hospitality in Wisconsin?
Thank you to everyone who reads this blog. Although, I don’t know many of you personally, I count you as friends.
By the way, my husband is telling me I ought to write on weekends. I’m thinking about it, maybe just on Saturdays so I’ll still have a day off.
Today’s Lagniappe: Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup
I know it’s not Southern but telling the story made me think of it 
4 Tablespoons butter
1/3 cup chopped green onion, green tops and white base.
1/4 cup finely chopped carrot
1/4 cup finely chopped cabbage
1/4 cup flour
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup good Wisconsin beer
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 cups half and half (”half and half” is half heavy cream and half milk), heated
2 cups shredded aged Wisconsin Cheddar cheese (use aged cheese for better flavor)
(if you wish, one pound cooked sausage in bite-sized chunks)
- Melt butter in large, heavy pan
- Add onion, carrot and cabbage
- Cook and stir over medium-high heat until onions and vegetables become translucent
- Stir in flour, cook 1 minute, stirring constantly
- Add broth, beer and mustard. Stir well until mixture reaches a boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 30 minutes.
- Add hot half and half and cheese, and if you wish, cooked smoked sausage.
- Stir and warm gently until heated through and cheese is melted.
- 8 servings.
by Christi on February 26, 2009
My friend, Linda Howell, is a true Southern lady. She is warm and gracious and funny. Linda is an actress. She is a National Chautauqua Scholar who performs as Laura Ingalls Wilder and gives stunning performances as a part of the We the People Players who perform War Letters by Andrew Carrol.
I attended a meeting with Linda where a woman started pretty much telling us how she thought Southerners were uncultured. Oh my stars, that was funny. Miss Linda smiled and told her she was sorry that was her experience and then went on to tell her about several of the talented, successful people from our small town. I’m not sure that the other woman got it, but she had just been told off in the quintessential way that only a true Southern lady can do.
Linda is fun. After going to lunch together one day in January, she was saying that we needed to have good luck this year. She said “I know where there is a buckeye tree! – Let’s go get some.” She said this as she was passing the turn off to my street. She continued to her friend’s house and there, sure enough, was a buckeye tree. We got out and found a few to keep for good luck. Unexpected little side trips like that are not unusual when you are riding with Linda.
It’s good to have good friends.
Today’s Lagniappe: Mediterranean Salad
The weather is warm this week and it puts me in the mood for a good salad.
1/2 lb. small new red potatoes
1/2 C. olive oil
2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
1 crushed garlic clove
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. ground pepper
6 C. mixed salad greens
1 large tomato, cut into thin wedges
1 green pepper, cut into thin rings
1 small purple onion, cut into thin rings
1 cucumber, thinly sliced
1/2 C. feta cheese, crumbled
Directions
Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water about 25 minutes or until they are tender. Drain well, and cool to warm. Thinly slice and place them in a serving bowl. In a jar or measuring cup combine the oil, lemon juice, garlic, basil, oregano, pepper and salt. Mix well with a whisk or place the lid on the jar and shake. Pour over potatoes and marinate for 1 hour. Drain the marinade off into a measuring cup, and set aside the potatoes. Place the greens in a large salad bowl. Arrange the potatoes, tomato wedges, green pepper, red onion, cucumber, and Feta cheese over the greens. Serve with the marinade on the side for a dressing.
by Christi on February 25, 2009
Well, all of the Mardi Gras decorations come down today. My husband is sad about this. He really enjoys the Mardi Gras season. He is ready to have another party! He suggested St. Patrick’s, I countered with Kentucky Derby. I think the first Saturday in May will be sufficient time for our friends to recover from the Mardi Gras party (not to mention me).
Of course, there are plenty of opportunities for family celebrations in that time as well. I love the Easter season – definitely family time. The return of Spring! It makes me happy just to think of the blooming dogwoods and redbuds and daffodils and forsythia.
Okay, I’ve talked myself into the mood for more party planning but it will have to be after Easter. I think I’ll go out and buy some seeds to get started for the Spring and then start thinking about a Kentucky Derby party!
Today’s Lagniappe: Baked Potato Soup
12 slices bacon
2/3 cup margarine
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
7 cups milk
4 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 green onions, chopped
1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
- In a stock pot or Dutch oven, melt the margarine over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk, whisking constantly until thickened. Stir in potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
- Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Mix in bacon, cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until cheese is melted.
by Christi on February 24, 2009
In the midst of all of the bad economic news, something has to give. When things are tough is the time when we have to make time for fun. I learned this in a major way from my best friend. She died from breast cancer on Christmas day 2005. No matter how bad things were, she made sure that she had opportunities to have fun. I remember talking to her on the phone on time. She told me that I was too stressed and that I needed to have more fun. She told me this often. The last time she told me about having fun was a week before she died. She was actually planning a party – from her bed. She had called a caterer and sent out invitations and was really looking forward to it. We were planning to go to this party (she lived in Nashville and we lived in Arkansas). She told me we should have a great time but she hoped we wouldn’t be disappointed. I know she knew she wouldn’t be there.
I think about her every day and know how much better she made my life. When times are tough, I can smile and remember to have fun in her honor. She would love that.
Do at least one fun thing today.
Today’s Lagniappe: Bubble Blowing Recipe
- Combine 1/2 cup dishwashing detergent, 4 1/2 cups water, and 4 tablespoons of glycerin in a large container with a cover.
- Mix well, then allow the mixture to rest, covered, until ready for use.
- Pour bubble solution into a shallow container. Dip bubble wands — such as cookie cutters, shaped pipe cleaners or wire — into the solution and blow!
Tips:
- Joy is usually the recommended brand of dishwashing liquid.
- For best results, use distilled water.
- As an alternative to glycerin, some recipes recommend using white corn syrup.
by Christi on February 23, 2009
Oh, the Mardi Gras party was fun. We had lots of great food and drinks. My friend Darlene made 2 kinds of hurricanes, the traditional and a blue hurricane. We had mint julep punch and the winner of the drink category was boozefish sangria made with homemade strawberry wine by Debra Alexander.
We had jambalaya, bacon-wrapped, pepper-jack stuffed, grilled shrimp (I’ll have to get that recipe for you – yummy), crab dip, andouille in a blanket, and much more including the award winning gumbo by Edna Rhoades.
My friends Mark and Kim Sheaner got the baby in the King Cake. Lots of laughs and lots of fun. The pics are posted on flickr, here is one of them:
Mardi Gras Fun!
Today’s Lagniappe: Boozefish Sangria (This is not Debra’s recipe, she used her own homemade wine.)
cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup juice
1 1/2 cups orange juice
3 1/2 cups red wine
1/2 cup brandy
1 cup sparkling water
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 orange, thinly sliced
1 apple, cored and thinly sliced
- In a small saucepan, add the water and sugar.
- Set temperature to medium-high and bring sugar-water to a boil.
- You want to keep boiling until you dissolve the sugar and the syrup is clear. This takes about 10 minutes.
- In a large container, pour in the lime juice and orange juice.
- Then, stir in the sugar syrup and mix thoroughly.
- Next, add the wine, brandy, sparkling water, lemon slices, orange slices, and apple slices.
- You want to let the Sangria sit for 10 minutes.
- Pour into a tall glass and garnish with a lime
by Christi on February 20, 2009
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma chere amio!
Jambalaya, Crawfish Pie, File Gumbo . . . This song has been in my head all week. This is what comes from planning a Mardi Gras party. My husband, in an effort to make this clearer to me found 101 versions of the song on the internet and played them all for me. Isn’t he sweet? I didn’t know there were so many artists who sung the Jambalaya song.
I guess it is appropriate to have that song in my head as I am making the King Cake and other goodies, but, what about when I am planning a business seminar or talking to clients on the phone? People may wonder what I’m smiling about.
When I go for walks, I always have a song in my head that plays over and over whether I want it to or not. Does anyone else do that? Anyway, the party is tomorrow night. I’ll be sure to post pictures next week and, once this party is over, I’m getting a new song!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Today’s Lagniappe: Cajun Crawfish Maque Choux
12 fresh ears of corn cut
1 lg. onions, chopped
1 lg. bell pepper, chopped
2 pods of garlic, minced
salt and pepper
1 c. onion tops, chopped
1 c. parsley leaves, chopped
1 can Rotel tomatoes, diced
2 lbs. Crawfish tails
1/2 c. salad oil
1 stick butter
Shuck corn away from cob (cut corn away) and have ready.
To cook Corn: In a cast aluminum pot, heat salad oil then add corn and smother-cook until tender.
Smother bell pepper, onions, garlic, celery, parsley and onion tops until tender but NOT brown. Add corn and a small amount of water. Cook covered for about 20 minutes, stirring occassionally, until all ingredients are cooked.
In another aluminum pot, melt butter. Add the crawfish, Rotel tomatoes and the juice. Cook until crawfish are red, about 10-15 minutes. Add corn mixture to this. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for about 20-30 minutes for flavors to mix well. Serve hot over rice.
by Christi on February 19, 2009
chaotic daisy
I see that I forgot to add my daily lagniappe yesterday and, in fact, didn’t really write a post yesterday. Ever had one of those chaotic days when you just couldn’t get it together? Yesterday was one of those days for me. Hopefully today will be better – I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
I am today from my computer that it is sitting on my dining room table while the freshly cleaned carpet in the office area is drying. The office furniture has created quite the little obstacle course as it is sitting in the dining area as well.
Today, I need to start cooking for the Mardi Gras party. I need to make the king cake the pecan praline cheesecake, the cheese olive roulades, the mini crawfish pies and the shrimp balls. I could probably do some of this tomorrow after my morning seminar.
I sound like I’m complaining but I really do love cook and I’m really glad that my carpet is clean and I’m happy to be doing the seminar and I’m really happy to be having the party. I think what I need to do is just take a break, have a cup of coffee and a slice of my delicious banana nut bread and read for about 30 minutes to let my mind kind of settle.
I’m currently reading the Miss Julia series by Ann B. Ross. Just the kind of book I need right now. Thank goodness it isn’t one of Daniel Silva’s books in the Gabriel Allon series. I love those books but they are not books that would help settle my mind.
Okay, maybe I can turn chaos into calm.
Today’s Lagniappe: Brennan’s Bananas Foster
Yummy and easy to make.
* ¼ cup (½ stick) butter
* 1 cup brown sugar
* ½ teaspoon cinnamon
* ¼ cup banana liqueur
* 4 bananas, cut in half
lengthwise, then halved
* ¼ cup dark rum
* 4 scoops vanilla ice cream
Combine the butter, sugar, and cinnamon in a flambé pan or skillet. Place the pan over low heat either on an alcohol burner or on top of the stove, and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the banana liqueur, then place the bananas in the pan. When the banana sections soften and begin to brown, carefully add the rum. Continue to cook the sauce until the rum is hot, then tip the pan slightly to ignite the rum. When the flames subside, lift the bananas out of the pan and place four pieces over each portion of ice cream. Generously spoon warm sauce over the top of the ice cream and serve immediately.
