Back in Business!

We have a stove, a sink, a fridge, a microwave, and a dishwasher! All the beautiful comforts of home and I’m one happy cooker. Yesterday I ran into my favorite local used book store and found the same book on the shelf that was waiting for me at the library. What a happy coincidence. It was an autographed copy to boot!  It’s not a brand new book, but since my love for Brennan’s of Houston is no secret, I’m thrilled to add The Kitchen Table to my collection.
The first recipe was incredible. I’m going to spending my summer vacation with this one I can tell! This morning I roasted fresh corn and jalapenos to go into the Corn Pound Cake. (Think “cornbread with honey in it, baked in a loaf pan”).
Next comes the Maque Choux. For you non-Cajuns, it’s a mixture of fresh corn, okra, onion, tomatoes, and peppers. This one is a little more upscale because it features shrimp. You finish it off with some Worcestershire, Tabasco, and a lot of butter! Randy Evans, you are my new best friend.

Toast the pound cake.

Plate and serve. 

One Year Ago Today

  Dear Emmeline,
You are the first daughter of a first daughter of a first daughter of a first daughter. You come from a long line of strong, talented, gifted, loving women. Your birth granted me entrance into that wonderful society known as “grandmothers” but you have many others who you won’t meet until you get to heaven.  You have a Nanny (Alice), a Great (Vera), a Grandma (Dorothy), a Grandma (May), and a Grandmommy (Ena). They came from New York, Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, and Arizona. They could quilt, garden, sew, tend, minister, and teach. Their laughs and their laps comforted generations of children.
Emmie, you have a heavenly father who loves you, an earthly father and mother who love you, and a whole slew of aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents who adore you. But your birthday, always close to Mother’s Day, will give me a chance to remind you of the special mothers who came before you.
Love,
Grandmommy

In My Own Little Corner In My Own Little Chair

…I can be whatever I want to be! That tune, from the musical Cinderella, has always been a favorite. Sometimes when life gets a little crazy it’s nice to have a place to run away to, even if it’s right upstairs.
Emmeline, turning 1 in just a few days, has had her world turned upside down because Katie and Josh are moving to a bigger apartment. They know that the end result will be wonderful, but all Emmie knows is that it looks like they are stealing her stuff and waking her up in strange surroundings. The day that Katie forgot the Blankie meant many tears for poor baby girl!
Our kitchen remodel is more than halfway finished. I’m still smiling in spite of the fact that we uncovered termite damage that needed fixing, the leaky upstairs toilet sprang a leak onto the kitchen ceiling and now the floor and tile need fixing up there, and my husband’s truck needed an expensive repair. It’s been the kind of week where I want my own blankie!
Guess what? Mom reminded me that I have two of them. She’s right (moms are like that aren’t they?) When I had surgery a few years ago her church made me a prayer quilt. It’s cheery yellow color reminds me that God is faithful and prayers were answered. Then there is the lovely afghan that Mom knitted for me. I know the hours of love and talent poured into that gift and using it feels like getting a hug from far away.
Emmeline, your mommy and daddy love you. Even when your world is turned upside down, they see the bigger picture. For those of you reading this who might also be a little discombobulated, I pray that whatever your “blankie” might be, that it serves as a reminder of the real people who love you, the ones the Lord has blessed you with. He sees the big picture, even when we don’t.
Hugs,
Renee

If You Give a Cook a Cabinet

If you give a cook a cabinet, she’ll need to get countertops.
If she gets new countertops, she’ll have to pick out a new sink.
A new sink means a new faucet too!
The new faucet needs to coordinate with the new oven, microwave, and fridge.
The appliances sit in the new cabinets which are going to need knobs and pulls.
If she gets knobs and pulls for the kitchen, she’s going to pick out new ones for the new bathroom cabinet as well.
When she sees that the knobs and pulls match the bathroom faucet, she’s going to realize that the door handles throughout the entire house are a dated, 80’s polished brass and she’ll want updated burnished bronze lever handles.
The new door handles won’t match the (shudder) polished brass ceiling fan, so it will have to go.
The new ceiling fan will have to match the new light fixtures.
The new lights should probably include one for over the sink as well.
A well-lighted sink will look great with the under-cabinet lighting.
But wait! She can’t have under-cabinet lighting unless she gets a new cabinet.
And if you give a cook a cabinet….

And We Have a Winner!

My favorite Frazzled Mom wants to celebrate Easter. She’s going to have some fun planning when she gets her new cookbook, Paula Deen Celebrates!, and her new cookbook holder. (Send me your mailing info and I’ll get it right over to James at CSN Stores. ) Thanks to all who helped me kick off my very first giveaway. I hope there are more to come!

Have a blessed day tomorrow. He is risen!

Hugs,

Renee

Hey Y’all, It’s a Giveaway!

I’m not doing any cooking in my now-packed-up-waiting-to-be-demolished kitchen. I can’t wait to see what the new kitchen will look like; it’s pretty exciting! Cabinets and countertops are only the beginning…I’m looking at kitchen tables, dining tables, even  home bars. (Aren’t these beautiful? Knowing us – a home coffee bar would be just our thing! ) One thing I do know, as soon as I’m up and running again, I’ll be getting out the cookbooks and planning something wonderful to celebrate!

How would you like to plan a celebration? I’ll help! Thanks to the good folks at CSN Stores, I’m hosting my very first giveaway. Enter to win  Paula Deen Celebrates!  Let’s throw in  a wrought iron holder as well so you can keep that recipe for Chocolate Molten Lava Cakes close at hand.

 

Required entry: Leave a comment telling me about something you’d like to celebrate.

Extra entries (let me know in separate comments):

*Link to the giveaway in your own blog.

*Follow my blog

Winner will be announced on Saturday!

How About a Giveaway?

Hey Y'all! I'm learning how to do a giveaway and you can help. Check back early next week for the announcement. Since my kitchen is about to be torn-up big time, I would love to help someone else get cooking. I'm emptying out my fridge and won't be buying any butter or cream for a while. My cooking is about to be put on hold until the remodel is finished. Hmm...I wonder what I'll cook first? Southern fried chicken? Peach cobbler? Meanwhile, I'm having fun planning my first blog giveaway. Talk to you next week!

Hugs,
Renee