Food & Entertaining

Pass The Biscuits, Please

April 20, 2015~ Food & Entertaining

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst”
John‬ ‭6‬:‭35‬

Biscuits…I can’t think of any other food that evokes such vivid memories! My pretty Southern Mama was the certified “queen of biscuit makers”! Every morning of my childhood, she was up before anyone else preparing home-made biscuits! She would have never served canned or frozen biscuits, and had no recipe that she followed. I watched her over and over make her lighter than air biscuits, but I never mastered her technique! She kept a large bowl of flour covered in her cabinet for the sole purpose of making biscuits. She made a well in the center of the flour…added shortening and worked it in by hand…whole milk was added and mixed by hand…the dough kneaded three or four times…patted out by hand…and cut! She never used a spoon or rolling pin, simply made by hand! They were small, never thick, and the lightest and fluffiest I have ever eaten. Perfection is the best way to describe them! I use the exact ingredients and mine are good (according to Butch), but still no comparison to my sweet Mother’s! After Butch and I married, we ate at my parents’ house at least once a week until my Mother passed away. One of our favorite meals and definitely Seth’s favorite was her country fried steak, creamed potatoes, and biscuits with gravy!

There were several options that Mother offered with her biscuits……plain with real butter & grape jelly……home-made sausage gravy……Golden Eagle (soppin’) Syrup…to just name a few!

What I would give today- just to sit at Mother’s kitchen table and eat one of her melt-in-your-mouth biscuits made by her loving hands!

Last spring, Katy and I made a wonderful discovery in the form of Alabama Biscuit. Who knew that you could take the simple Southern biscuit and elevate it to gourmet status?! As soon as we walked in, we could tell this place was gonna be great–it was packed! It only took that one trip to make this a part of our Birmingham day trips! We have been looking at their latest menus and planning our next trip there! You can follow their Instagram here: Alabama Biscuit
The Alabama with maple butter sauce and soaked roasted pecans! Crispy pork belly, green onion-ginger jam, farm egg and cheese, daikon and red cabbage slaw, mint, cilantro…etc! Strawberry shortcake! The apple pie biscuit!Sweet potato pie with house marshmallow creme! Pancetta, pears, and Belle Chèvre! Peach cobbler! Peppercorn brisket, butternut squash, ginger-scallion relish, and sherry vinegar BBQ sauce! Fresh peaches, cardamom mascarpone cream, ginger maple butter sauce, and powdered cinnamon!

Katy and I on one of our many trips to Alabama Biscuit!

Since I am a food enthusiast (aka foodie-especially of our Southern cuisine) when I ran across Callie’s Biscuits on Instagram, I knew she was a must-follow! The next time I am in Charleston, I know where I will be for breakfast! Look at some of what she has to offer…

Shrimp and grits!Shortcake biscuit with sprinkles and house made icing! Blueberry biscuits! Pimento cheese!

And this is my spin on a gourmet biscuit…and how I enjoyed mine on Sunday morning… Nutella biscuit!

How do you prefer to eat your biscuits? The above examples are beyond amazing! But perhaps, you are like Butch, a home-made biscuit with butter, does it get any better!!

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh”
‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭51‬

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What’s Brewing?

April 16, 2015~ Food & Entertaining

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God”
‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭31

Coffee…one of my favorite and simplest pleasures in life! I cannot imagine starting my day without several cups. Unfortunately, Butch does not share my affinity for coffee…he has only tasted it once and says it was one time too many! My love for coffee has evolved over the years. As a young twenty-four year old working in a real estate office, I began to drink coffee-but not the same as I do now. Let me explain! I was the first person to arrive at work every morning and it became my responsibility to make coffee. After being shown how, I was the official “office barista”! At first, I didn’t drink it-but I was the only one who did not. So, to be social, I would endure a cup every morning. Granted, it was a cup of sugar and cream with a smidgen of java. My “coffee” was almost white! After a few months, I added less sugar and cream until finally I decided if I was going to drink it, I did not want calories added. Now, in my cup you will only find black coffee…absolutely no flavored creamers and no sugar for me!

Coffee has a culture of its own! The formation of culture around coffee and coffee houses dates back to 14th century Turkey. The 17th century saw the opening of the first European coffeehouse in Venice. My first taste of caffee or espresso was in Venice. As typical Americans, we had no clue how to order coffee in Italy. Breakfast on our first morning was eventful, to say the least. We were brought a caffee, which is served in a demitasse cup and is strong in taste with a rich bronze froth known as a crema on top. I initially liked it, but our traveling companions thought it was horrible! They even ordered hot water to weaken it. In typical American fashion, we tried to inform our Italian waiters how they should make coffee! That trip to Venice began my love for espresso! Italy is known as the best place to have and enjoy coffee! Paris is known for its cafe culture! To sit outside unhurriedly at a lovely Parisian cafe nibbling a buttery croissant, sipping an espresso, and people watching is a fascinating experience- wish I were there right now! During the 1920’s, famous artists and literary giants like Picasso and Hemingway, introduced cafes as stomping grounds for intellectuals. As fortunate as I have been to drink coffee on five continents, my favorite place is my kitchen! I have even brewed and tasted the most expensive coffee in the world–$160 per pound. My nephew Joel brought back the famous Kopi Luwak from a trip to Indonesia. He and I tasted it, just to say we had, and I drew the line there. The coffee gets its taste from the coffee berries that the luwak eats and passes through its digestive system! All I can say is yuck!! I think you all would agree.

Please sit down and put your feet up, grab a strong cup (hopefully) of coffee, and enjoy these photos that tell the story of how my love for coffee has met me in many forms and in many places around the world!

I have so enjoyed my pixie espresso machine by Nespresso. It is so simple to operate and it makes excellent espressos, lattes, and cappuccinos!
Katy and I enjoyed scones and salted caramel lattes at an eclectic coffee shop in Rome (Georgia, that is). You can read all about our day trip here: When In Rome. What is breakfast without a cup of fresh brewed coffee? I loved everything at Triple Creek Ranch in Montana, including their coffee! Read more about our trip here: Triple Creek Ranch, A Montana Hideaway Cute cafe in Grayton Beach with vintage tables and great steaming hot coffee in a large and colorful mug! I had the best time all by myself in The Paris Market in Savannah. What a treat to take an afternoon break and sit at a French marble topped cafe table and drink a fabulous latte! Bliss! Read more about our Savannah trip here: Strollin’ Through Savannah. Last summer while in Austin, Texas, the thermometer went above the hundred degree mark! I normally don’t drink iced coffees, but I made an exception with this double chocolate chip creme frappuccino! What a guilty pleasure to indulge in the sweet coffee drink while sitting in a beautiful historic hotel lobby with gorgeous flowers on the table and a new book to read! Read about our trip to Austin here: Austin Thrills & Texas Hills Recently while Butch was on business, I took the opportunity, once again, to relax in a modern hotel lobby with a cup of coffee and my IPad! Well, not exactly relaxing, but blogging! A simple afternoon at home with my pick-me-up…espresso and a square of dark chocolate! Enjoying Italian roast coffee and one of my favorite writers! I have always heard about Turkish coffee. While in Ephesus, Turkey I had the privilege to experience it…and it is an experience! Notice the glass of water. Turkish coffee is served with water in order to clean the mouth before drinking it! It resembles a cup of thick dark chocolate. The texture was velvety smooth and I actually liked it! Coffee and dessert go together like-peanut butter & jelly…Batman & Robin…needle & thread…Coffee and dessert at home-French roast coffee with fresh peaches and blackberries over pound cake! Perfection! Pumpkin spice lattes with French macarons on my patio! Beautiful Eiffel Tower imprinted French butter cookies are a perfect accompaniment to a favorite Sumatran coffee! More French macarons (can you tell that they are one of my favorites?) with a flavored coffee called snickerdandy!! Coffee beans waiting to be ground at my favorite local coffee house! The Coffee Well, in our historic downtown, makes fabulous coffees, sandwiches, desserts, and provides a wonderful Christian atmosphere! Thank you Tammy! My coffee station! Love my hand made Moccamaster coffee maker that brews a great cup of coffee! I love a French press for an excellent cup of coffee. Many good restaurants offer a French press pot of coffee with dessert. Always a winner!

Tablescape Tuesday: Dogwood Dreams

April 14, 2015~ Food & Entertaining, Tablescape Tuesday

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭25

Years before I entered the blogging world, I was tablescaping my dining table for get-togethers in our home! Family and friends have always been so sweet with their comments about the table setting when sitting down for a meal. My late and dear friend, Bonnie Jean, was one of my best encouragers. She would often come for dinner and notice every detail and ask questions. I always enjoyed sharing with her the stories and memories of the pieces that would make an appearance on the table. When I joined Facebook, I would occasionally post tablescapes and people were so generous with their comments and likes! One of those is a sweet friend, Margaret who always commented-she even encouraged me to share my tablescapes in a book! Last August when we began blogging, I knew that I would share table settings, but I never thought it would turn into a weekly series called “Tablescape Tuesday” and that it would become such a creative outlet for me!

Since dogwoods are in full bloom now, I wanted to share a table with you that spotlights their branches! Dogwoods in the South are one of our most beautiful trees in spring! I enjoyed reminiscing as I pulled this together for you! So today, let’s go back at least three years for this energetic spring tablescape!

Dogwood is the star of this spring setting! The centerpiece is a moss-covered crystal cake stand with a bird’s
nest covered by an etched glass cloche. Along with the dogwood
blooms is a pair of crystal candle holders! The height of the vases keep the branches above site level when guests
are seated, so no view is blocked! Being able to see one another is
important, because next to the food, conversation
is the best part of get-togethers!

Placemats were found at TJ Maxx and the turquoise stemware was
a true find at Tuesday Morning. The Tracy Porter “Artesian Road”
pattern has made several appearances on the blog, as well as
the wicker chargers and tortoise flatware! Very simple setting but the dogwoods give it the “wow” factor! I absolutely love cutting something from our yard to use indoors!
This just says “welcome, spring!” On this particular Sunday, we had 14 guests! An interesting camera shot that is not usually seen on the blog! The dogwood branches were cut from this tree in our side yard! The dogwood bloom is a masterpiece of the Creator’s hand!