Food
Pretty (big) ‘ole blueberry pie
What to do with all these lovely blueberries from Robertsdale? Hmmm. I think I’ll make PIE! The recipe itself isn’t important. You can find any blueberry pie recipe on the internet. (There’s a link to the version I based this on at the end). I wanted to do something really pretty for my family’s 75th…
Read MoreZucchini: the gift that keeps on giving
Southerners are the givin’est bunch of people you’ll ever meet. Anytime we visit one another, we always want to “take a little something.” And even though the “little” is often quite small, it’s truly the thought that counts. Unless of course, it’s zucchini. No one wants to look out their window and see you…
Read MoreTrue love found in the cafeteria
My college son returned home for the summer and I could tell he’d found a new love back at Samford University. It was a shock to realize he’d actually become quite fond of not one, but several ladies on campus. It’s true. The cafeteria staff has stolen my son’s heart. It’s difficult for me…
Read MoreLane cake’s a ‘Lame’ cake for our state dessert
In my never ending quest to sprinkle a touch of class on our dinner table conversation, I approached the topic of current events and informed my son and husband that the Lane cake had recently been named the official State Dessert of Alabama, to which my son replied, “Lame cake?” and my husband said, “Is…
Read MoreMy secret love of . . . gas station food
Forgive me, for I have sinned against the handbook of fancy Southern ladylike behavior. I can’t help myself, but I love sneaking off and eating . . . gas station food. I’m not referring to the new trend in gas stations where they’ve installed real restaurants with professional chefs. Such places have sprung up…
Read MoreFrito Pie is now classy!
I’d like to take a moment and give my sincere thanks to Chef David Bancroft from the celebrated Auburn, Alabama restaurant, Acre, for properly serving Frito Pie in a bowl and thereby taking the stigma out of eating the . . . how do I say it, “uncouth” dish. The first time I’d ever…
Read MoreBlack Bean Soup for Lent
Moon Pies are now just crumbs on our faces as Mardi Gras has come to a successful end. It’s time to straighten up and fly right, and our diets are a good place to start. Many people give up meat for Lent, at least on Fridays. I gave up all meat, every day, except…
Read MoreSouthern Food and Beverage Museum
The Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans was having a Cochon Sauvage event, which is a celebration and tasting of wild boar, so of course, my husband and I headed over for the fun. Why not? I’ve actually been wanting to tour the museum for a while, and was glad we finally…
Read MoreTorta for La Epifania
Since my son’s homeschool plan includes Italian, we signed up for the weekly email from Dianne Hale, entitled, “La Bella Lingua – Becoming Italian Word by Word.” This week, we learned that January 6th, the traditional day of Epiphany, is a huge celebration in Italy. “The final feast is l’Epifania, on January 6, which…
Read MoreHomegrown Bananas
I first noticed them this past summer, around June, just hanging around up in the banana tree about 8-9 feet off the ground. Baby bananas! Even though banana trees are common in this area, most people use them as a decorative, tropical addition to their yard because it’s rare for them to actually produce fruit.…
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