Everyday Living

Pass The Biscuits, Please

~ 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

pam closing

Linking with Pieced Pastimes, It’s Overflowing, Be Different Act Normal, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Pink When, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Craftberry Bush, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl,  Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, The Turquoise Home

Simple + {Natural} Southern Sunday No. 26

~ Simple + Southern Sunday

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!” ‭Psalm‬ ‭67‬:‭1-3sss24 It has been a challenging week to be out and about due to the monsoon season in northeast Alabama.  Well, we obviously don’t have monsoons, but I can’t remember so much rain…day in and day out.  On the flip side, rain does make for bright green grass and foliage!  There is always the  beauty of God’s creation in our country style of everyday living!  Many of the photos below were taken on our fourteen acres of property in the Appalachian foothills!One of Gadsden’s prettiest and most historic buildings is the Forest Cemetery Chapel built in 1936. It was constructed of rough cut sandstone quarried from nearby Lookout Mountain. The Gothic Revival style chapel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places! A vintage pair of rusty and mossy cast iron statues have lived at our home for a long time!A walk into our woods!Humpback whaler hosta with its blue-green foliage! Boys will be boys…but, why do they love to throw rocks into a creek?A perfect spring dinner-garganelli primavera with spring pea ragu, Benton’s bacon, wild mushrooms, and pecorino at Chef Frank Stitt’s Bottega Restaurant!The tiniest of detail on the hibiscus bloom before it fully opens!We found a pot of gold right here at Noccalula Falls!  You’ve seen the falls many times on our blog and it proves to be impressive from every angle!The fan-shaped leaf of the ginkgo tree!
 An old pot…broken and chipped…but with much character stands in front of our detached garage!Several years ago we threw out a dead floral arrangement into our woods and months later the bishop’s weed came back to life and has since climbed several trees. It is considered a menace and very hard to get rid of, but we are trying!  Stay tuned!
The splendor of a sunset!A budding knockout rose!Little dirty hands that love insects!The mate to our statue

“I was glad when they said to me,
‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’”
Psalm 122:1

final-closer-both-1Linking with Pieced Pastimes, It’s Overflowing, Be Different Act Normal, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Pink When, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Craftberry Bush, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl,  Cozy Little House

What’s Brewing?

~ 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! 

pam closing

Linking with Pieced Pastimes, It’s Overflowing, Be Different Act Normal, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Pink When, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Craftberry Bush, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl,  Cozy Little House