Just Peachy!

Peaches, Peaches, get your freestone peaches!  This was the sound that could be heard echoing through the stands once upon a time.  Peach season is here.  Time to make peach ice cream, peach sorbet, peach cobbler and peach jelly (my mom's favorite)  It is also the new season of Top Chef which always invites me to be more creative in the kitchen.  Recently, I prepared a peach salsa to be served atop grilled Mahi Mahi.

2 cups peaches, 1 sweet onion or 1/2 red onion (my fav), dash of cider vinegar or lime (needs a little acid) 2 tablespoons maple syrup, a small piece of fresh ginger finely minced (or a shake of ground ginger) toss in blender and serve over fish.

*tip*  if you use the blender make sure your peaches are not overly ripe.  I prefer a chunkier consistency and may just chop everything next time rather than blending. The onions can be left out if you prefer to use it as a dessert topping.  P.S. I take full credit if your salsa is delicious...if not, well okay...it wasn't an exact recipe!

I love cookbooks, however,  I rarely follow the recipes exactly (except when baking) or I make something like the peach salsa with no recipe.  There are many fabulous websites with a variety of recipes.  I plan to can peach jelly in the next day or two.

Several, very near and dear to my heart, ladies taught me the basics of canning fruits and vegetables.  It is a labor intensive process however the sense of satisfaction over a row of freshly "canned" produce on the counter is immeasurable!

 
So thanks Betty for teaching Dot and me how to make pepper jelly and peach jelly.  Sadly, we lost Dot to ovarian cancer several years ago.  My dear Betty resides in a nearby nursing home and I am keeper of the memories. 

G.R.I.T.S Cooking and Apple Pancakes Giveaway!

If you don't like grits...you don't know one or haven't had them prepared correctly!  (it is not just a breakfast food...Girls Raised In The South)

Mr. Darling Husband whisked me away on an extended weekend mini vacation.  Just enough notice was given to reserve the Aunt Dee suite at The Baird House Bed and Breakfast located in Valle Crucis, North Carolina.  We had a delightful stay...Tom and Deede are so generous and gracious...the food was absolutely delicious.  In the spirit of sharing such an abundance of Joy, Adventure, Beauty and darn good food...I am hosting my FIRST ever blog giveaway contest.  So spread the word to make it more fun...leave a comment here or on facebook...what was your favorite unplanned event, trip or day...My grandkids will pick a name out of a hat on Father's Day and perhaps you will enjoy the following treats!  Seasons at The Baird House cookbook, stoneground buckwheat, whole wheat pancake mix, a pampered chef trivet and a few little surprises!   

Mr. Darling Husband is a bacon, eggs truck driver breakfast kind of guy.  He raved and raved about the German Pancake with apples!  Other samplings included in the cookbook...hashbrown casserole, creamy eggs with dill (rapturous expression), homemade buttermilk biscuits with homemade apple butter made from the apples on the 200 year old apple tree outside the window of the Aunt Dee room.  AND one of my favorite amenities...the cookie jar is always full with the BEST chocolate chip cookies ever and a butter pecan pound cake is always on the sideboard in addition to tea, cocoa and other beverages!

These apples are on the 200 year old apple tree! 

Ya'll join in for some good ole fashioned southern hospitality and charm!

p.s.  This cookbook is chock full of anecdotes, tidbits and history...all sorts of goodies.

FOURTH OF JULY

Tomorrow will be the fourth of July whereby our nation celebrates its independence from tyranny. We must all be thankful for the many blessings we share by living in the United States and having life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness readily available to us. I personally will have a long moment of silence to honor those who serve our country both past and present.

Dear Husband and I may spend the day at the Fogle Family Compound in Neeses, SC. There is a huge convergence of Fogles with singing, eating great food, water sports and much laughter. I still owe Uncle Bobby a couple laps around the pond. Just so you understand the depth of this promise...the pond is a full size, competition sized water skiing, swimming, fishing and boating sized pond!

We will enjoy a 4 day weekend. THANK YOU! I have lots of things to do around the house and I have tons of great books to peruse! YIPPEE!

We will celebrate Chloe's 4th birthday on the 4th. She shares her birthday with her other grandma, so Happy Birthday Chloe and Gayle!!!

Little Miss Firecracker, born on the 4th of July. Full of love, life, joy and laughter!!!


Happy Independence Day to you where ever you may be tomorrow! Have a Great One! Show some sparkle!!!

Warning! Food Issues & Such

I am a foodie! Surprise! I love to watch cooking shows and travel shows wherein they seek out really bizarre food. I like to cook when I have time to experiment. I LOVE stores like Williams-Sonoma, although that one is a little to much of a box store for me. Point me in the gadget direction and I am a happy camper, er, cooker? I like almost any kind of food, however I do have my limits. I have issues with texture. I cannot eat oatmeal unless it is in the form of a cookie, it absolutely will not go down and stay down! Jello makes me cringe, I don't like my food moving around or squishing between my teeth. Who thinks grapes and jello is a good idea? I can only eat certain types of yogurt. Pudding is in the questionable category. Fuzzy fruit makes me crazy, like my mouth itches or something. I like bananas but do not like anything that is banana flavored such as juice, smoothies and that sort of thing. I have issues from childhood with cooked spinach and Brussels sprouts. Still can't eat them! I want to like Tofu, really I do, I just haven't found the right recipe. Recently I tried to eat a "Thai spring roll" , while the taste was not bad, the texture put me over the edge. The wrapping was not the typical spring roll that I am accustomed to eating. The rubbery texture inside and out was just more than I could bear. I have decided many "Asian" recipes call for hot as heck sauces so that you don't notice the actual ingredients! I absolutely love Sushi and Seaweed Salad, my favorite being eel rolls, go figure. My daughter hosted a Pampered Chef Party at my home and I, of course, was in gadget heaven. Many guests later and a lighter wallet, I settled down to watch a little "food" television to wind down from the party before going to bed. Why would someone relaxing want to watch bizarre food shows? I have this whole I am repulsed but I can't look away issue! I am amazed at some of the food people will eat. I, for one, am not eating organs. You can keep monkey brains and sheep's eyes. No can do. What's up with eating pig's feet or chicken feet? I could very easily be a vegetarian! Liver is another traumatic food stemming from my childhood. Why did my mother think THAT was good for you? It seems to grow with every chew and is impossible to get down your gullet. I think organ meats or "sweet meats" and feet of any kind are best left to Voodoo rituals!!! Whatever will I do when I become a world famous traveller and am offered the delicacy of that country being sheep's eyeballs or whatever? You would not want to insult the host/hostess!

The utensils, plating and cookware is a whole issue for me as well. I like certain types of glasses and abhor others. I worked with a lady who absolutely refused to eat off anything but white plates. She was from the low country and had many "superstitious" beliefs. She had a very difficult time eating anything that she had not prepared. I can sympathize with her! Am I the only one with food issues? So, what are you having for dinner? Care to join me for some pickled pig's feet and hog jowls? Yeah, me neither.