Oh my goodness! Where do I start? As soon as school was out for the summer, Katy, Papa and I made the trek to Shereveport, LA. for the "Author! Author" book event. I spoke about my book and Katy presented an interestting and professional speech regarding "Cooking With Sugar and Spice"---Macy and Katy's combined effort to write a children's cookbook. She told the audience of approximately 250 that she had been "cooking since I was a little girl." Katy is the ripe old age of 10. While there, she met many authors including Charlene Harris, author of the wildly popular HBO series, "True Blood."
As for the rest of my summer, we began what was to be a short and relatively inexpensive remodel on our home, which has turned out to be neither short or inexpensive. But isn't that always the case.
In May, we did a girls trip to New York City. My daughter Ashley, her friend Connie, my daughter-in-law Kayla, my two precious granddaughters Macy and Katy and I had five days of "kick up your heels" fun in the Big Apple." We ate everything from pretzels and hot dogs from the street vendors to a delicious and momentous meal at the world famous Tavern on the Green in Central Park. We even took a stretch limo to the restarant. The girls said we "partyed like rock stars." We did all the tourist stuff (Statue of Liberty, Top of the Rock, the theatre, etc.) and shopped and shopped and shopped. New York is a fabulous city!
But alas summer is winding down and school will be starting soon. I look forward to new faces and new friends and new recipes that I always manage to find through the great teachers/cooks I encounter.
Can't wait for the next Pulpwood Queens "Girlfriends Weekend." I will be cooking for the authors dinner on opening night and I'm thrilled to be doing so. I can hardly wait to see old friends and make new acquaintances there. Of course, I will be using recipes from my cookbook, "Praise the Lord and Pass the Biscuits."
Stay cool, stay safe and as Macy and Katy say' "Mix it all up."
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Pulpwood Queens Book Club Meeting
Whoohoo! We finally had the first meeting of the Lake Worth/Lakeside Waterlillies and Frilly Frogs Book Club. What a mouthful! Our leader, head queen and founder, Kathy Patrick of www.pulpwoodqueens.com sent us some wonderful books to read and discuss at our next meeting in April. It was so much fun! We talked about books we like, ourselves, (one of our favorite subjects) and planned a trip to the Texas Hill Country. We will be staying at Queen Bendies ranch house and from there we hope to see the wildflowers, eat some good food, visit a lavendar farm, LBJ's old homeplace, Wildseeds Farms and top off the road trip with a little suds and country music in Luchenbach. Yes, I will be the DD (designated driver) for the trip back to Queen Bendie's. We may be old but we're not stupid!! Just to mention our illustrious members of the book club, they are: Bendie Bolinger, Judy McClurkan, Carleeta Perkins, Diane Nutt, Joanne Woodard, Tresia Martin and me. We welcome additional members. We don't have the market cornered on fun and good books but we try. Hill Country here we come!
Author! Author!
I am so excited because Macy and Katy and I have been invited to speak at a book event in Shreveport, Louisiana. Katy will be speaking and representing their new cookbook, "Cooking With Sugar and Spice" and I will be speaking about my book, "Praise the Lord and Pass the Biscuits". You can view more by going to www.authorauthorshreveport.com This event will be held in Shreveport, LA, on June 12-13.
Also, on March 20, I experienced a most delightful event! I called in to Shellie Rushing Tomlinson's radio show. http://www.allthingssouthern.com/ We talked about my book and just had the best time. I am happy to say that she and so many of my author friends will be gathering at the author/book event mentioned above. Hope to see you there.
And if some of you are wondering why I'm a little crazy---can you be a little crazy or is that like being a little bit pregnant? Which I am not--pregnant that is. I would be on Oprah for sure if that were the case. Anyway back to why I am a little bit crazy. In the midst of all this, I have been continuing to work as a substitute school counselor in Fort Worth ISD. Just when I get to believing I'm really cool, especially for my age, I'm reminded just how old I really am. I subbed at a junior high this past week. Enough said!!
Also, on March 20, I experienced a most delightful event! I called in to Shellie Rushing Tomlinson's radio show. http://www.allthingssouthern.com/ We talked about my book and just had the best time. I am happy to say that she and so many of my author friends will be gathering at the author/book event mentioned above. Hope to see you there.
And if some of you are wondering why I'm a little crazy---can you be a little crazy or is that like being a little bit pregnant? Which I am not--pregnant that is. I would be on Oprah for sure if that were the case. Anyway back to why I am a little bit crazy. In the midst of all this, I have been continuing to work as a substitute school counselor in Fort Worth ISD. Just when I get to believing I'm really cool, especially for my age, I'm reminded just how old I really am. I subbed at a junior high this past week. Enough said!!
MarchMadness!!
Where do I start? Maybe I should start with the best thing in March. My precious granddaughters were at our house for Spring Break. They flew into Dallas on that Saturday and from the airport we went straight to The Galleria Mall---one of their favorite shopping spots. We bought new accessories for Katy's American Girl Dolls. We bought cute dresses, leggings, tops and some oh so fashionable new sweats as well as new necklaces and earring and sunglasses to go with the new wardrobe items. Papa was with us so we had to feed him and Macy's favorite restaurant in the area is the Grand Lux because of the sumptuous bennettes. So eat we did to fuel us for the marathon shopping we were about to do. Then when my wallet was nearly empty we went to the ice rink and they skated until Papa had had enough and implored us to leave for home.
On Monday we had an appointment with photographer extraordinarre, Megan Parks, http://www.meganparksphotography.com/, and did a photo shoot for Macy and Katy new book cover. Oh what a grand time we had! We all arrived at the lovely home of Marcus and Elyse Carter and invaded her kitchen with cookies, Mardi Gras beads, feather boas and various and sundry kitchen accessories. Megan worked tirelessly with the girls until we had an array of stunning shots. She also did pictures of me to update my look for future books and speaking events (which we will talk about later). After all this we were famished and decide that one of Auntie's burgers was definitely in order. http://www.skinnyshamburgers.com/
For the next two days we spent time at Connie and auntie's cabin on Possum Kingdom Lake, where we cooked out, fished, played frisbee with the dogs and slept late.
Alas, it was over all to soon and I put the girls on a plane back to Amarillo on Thursday. My consolation is that Easter is just around the corner and they will be back. Nana and Papa do love our girls!!
On Monday we had an appointment with photographer extraordinarre, Megan Parks, http://www.meganparksphotography.com/, and did a photo shoot for Macy and Katy new book cover. Oh what a grand time we had! We all arrived at the lovely home of Marcus and Elyse Carter and invaded her kitchen with cookies, Mardi Gras beads, feather boas and various and sundry kitchen accessories. Megan worked tirelessly with the girls until we had an array of stunning shots. She also did pictures of me to update my look for future books and speaking events (which we will talk about later). After all this we were famished and decide that one of Auntie's burgers was definitely in order. http://www.skinnyshamburgers.com/
For the next two days we spent time at Connie and auntie's cabin on Possum Kingdom Lake, where we cooked out, fished, played frisbee with the dogs and slept late.
Alas, it was over all to soon and I put the girls on a plane back to Amarillo on Thursday. My consolation is that Easter is just around the corner and they will be back. Nana and Papa do love our girls!!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
"I like onions, yeah, yeah!
Hey Friends, is today just beautiful or what!! Want to catch you up a bit. I've finished my second book--"An Unlikely Princess." Just getting it press ready. That's the hardest part. It is such a departure from my cookbook, yet I think its good.
My last day to work is Friday. I'm ready for a break. Have lots of things I'm eager to do. Book Club meeting is Monday evening, March 2, 6 p.m. at my house.. We will have some snacks/desserts coffee and tea, gossip and talk about good books. And boy do I have some good ones to reccommend after going to the Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend Weekend. Can't wait to tell ya'll all about that.
The town of Jefferson is so quaint and the folks there, so friendly. If ever you can, do go there and go to the Kornbread Sandwich Shop/Restaurant. Fantastic sandwiches! And go to Beauty and the Book Hair Salon and Bookstore. Owner Kathy Patrick is an absolute hoot. She is the leader/Head Queen of the Pulpwood Queens. If you go for the night, I can reccommend the McKay House Bed and Breakfast. It is owned by Hugh and Darla who make the best breakfast you could ever imagine. Of course, the main attraction is their son--Atticus Gregory Harper. Do you think they like books? He is quite a character. Bodie and I have made such good friends with this precious couple and feel that they are family. In fact during our last visit there, Bodie and I were napping and Darla, after knocking of course, came right in and sat at the foot of our bed and talked with us. It was just like having Matt and Ashley at home. We loved it!
For those of you who love CHOCOLATE the way I do, here's a little secret. The Sweet Shop on White Settlement Rd. (down near the old Mexican Inn) has sugar free Fudge Love, as well as other selections. It is wonderful!
And speaking of food, it's just about time for Bodie to fire up the grill and cook us something good. We're havin' crab legs and grilled onions. I'm gonna share the onion recipe with ya'll.
Grilled Onions
Wash and remove outside peel from whole onions. Core out the center but don't go all the way to the bottom. (Do it like you would for baked apples.) Fill center with 1 or 2 beef bullion cubes and as much butter as space will allow. Add salt and pepper to taste. Place whole onion in the center of a piece of aluminum foil and wrap foil around it like a bundle. Place on grill or in a 350 degree oven and bake for thirty minutes. Usually one onion is enough for two people. These are great with brisket, steaks, pork chops or grilled seafood.
Quote for the week: "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."
My last day to work is Friday. I'm ready for a break. Have lots of things I'm eager to do. Book Club meeting is Monday evening, March 2, 6 p.m. at my house.. We will have some snacks/desserts coffee and tea, gossip and talk about good books. And boy do I have some good ones to reccommend after going to the Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend Weekend. Can't wait to tell ya'll all about that.
The town of Jefferson is so quaint and the folks there, so friendly. If ever you can, do go there and go to the Kornbread Sandwich Shop/Restaurant. Fantastic sandwiches! And go to Beauty and the Book Hair Salon and Bookstore. Owner Kathy Patrick is an absolute hoot. She is the leader/Head Queen of the Pulpwood Queens. If you go for the night, I can reccommend the McKay House Bed and Breakfast. It is owned by Hugh and Darla who make the best breakfast you could ever imagine. Of course, the main attraction is their son--Atticus Gregory Harper. Do you think they like books? He is quite a character. Bodie and I have made such good friends with this precious couple and feel that they are family. In fact during our last visit there, Bodie and I were napping and Darla, after knocking of course, came right in and sat at the foot of our bed and talked with us. It was just like having Matt and Ashley at home. We loved it!
For those of you who love CHOCOLATE the way I do, here's a little secret. The Sweet Shop on White Settlement Rd. (down near the old Mexican Inn) has sugar free Fudge Love, as well as other selections. It is wonderful!
And speaking of food, it's just about time for Bodie to fire up the grill and cook us something good. We're havin' crab legs and grilled onions. I'm gonna share the onion recipe with ya'll.
Grilled Onions
Wash and remove outside peel from whole onions. Core out the center but don't go all the way to the bottom. (Do it like you would for baked apples.) Fill center with 1 or 2 beef bullion cubes and as much butter as space will allow. Add salt and pepper to taste. Place whole onion in the center of a piece of aluminum foil and wrap foil around it like a bundle. Place on grill or in a 350 degree oven and bake for thirty minutes. Usually one onion is enough for two people. These are great with brisket, steaks, pork chops or grilled seafood.
Quote for the week: "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."
Monday, February 16, 2009
"Children of the Mountains"
On Friday night I saw Diane Sawyers piece about the children of the Appalachian Mountain region. The abject poverty there was astounding. I guess I've had my head in the sand far too long because I really didn't know there were entire regions in this country that were so poor. I'm looking for a way to help--even if the help is small. In the days to come I will be posting info about ways each of you can give and maybe we can right this one wrong. I welcome your comments.
Quote of the Week: "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are. Anais Nin
Quote of the Week: "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are. Anais Nin
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Happy Valentines Day
Hey everyone! I'm so excited that I finally have a website. I hope some of you will "chat" with me on it. Today is dreary--typical of Texas in early February. But also typical is the hope that Spiring is just around the corner. My daffodils are beginning to bloom and that always cheers me. Hope you and your Honey have a delightful Valentines Day.
On this site I hope to post a recipe and a quote each week as well as other info. I'm going to start with truffles. Nothing says, "I love you" like chocolate!
TRUFFLES
Heat to boiling 1 cup heavy cream (whipping cream). Remove from heat and srit in 12 oz. chocolate chips. When completely blended, pour into 8"x8" buttered dish/pan. Cover with plastic wrap. Let chill in frig for two hours and then scoop out enough to roll into wasnut-sized balls. Then roll each ball in powdered cocoa, or ground nuts or chocolate sprinkles. Place in air tight container and store until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Quote of the week: The love we give away is the only love we get to keep.
On this site I hope to post a recipe and a quote each week as well as other info. I'm going to start with truffles. Nothing says, "I love you" like chocolate!
TRUFFLES
Heat to boiling 1 cup heavy cream (whipping cream). Remove from heat and srit in 12 oz. chocolate chips. When completely blended, pour into 8"x8" buttered dish/pan. Cover with plastic wrap. Let chill in frig for two hours and then scoop out enough to roll into wasnut-sized balls. Then roll each ball in powdered cocoa, or ground nuts or chocolate sprinkles. Place in air tight container and store until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Quote of the week: The love we give away is the only love we get to keep.
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