Home At Last! with Patty Gironda

Smoky Bacon-studded French Toast

2012-01-15T11:24:00.003-05:00

Safely on their way home to Albany, Georgia, this weekend's contented guests enjoyed a peaceful anniversary weekend filled with shopping at Lenox Mall in Atlanta, dinner at a few local eateries and several movie dates!

After their leisurely departure we relaxed in the kitchen with a shared piece of French Toast-studded with crispy applewood smoked bacon and hand-blended syrup! In another "lightbulb" moment I mentioned that it might be time to experiment with our pan-fried breadpudding and it's back to the "lab"!

What sets my French Toast apart from other recipes is the heavenly blend of toasted pecans, neufchatel cheese, caramel mousse, and a teaspoon of buttery caramel.

Before grilling the crusty custard-soaked bread, I sprinkled both sides of my bread with cinnamon and brown sugar to create a nice crust! A quenell of praline cream and four hand-blended syrups-topped with roasted pecans create a luxurious morning treat!

Savory, Sweet Smoked Chicken

2012-01-09T21:58:00.000-05:00

Jacque Pepin's Chicken Liver Pate

2012-01-06T17:20:00.011-05:00

Every silky-smooth bite of this pleasing chicken liver pate was worth the extra calories! Created by my daughter-in-law's mother, Jill, the recipe captured everything I love about pate! A perfectly smooth pate enhanced by the addition of cognac.

The rich chicken livers pared deliciously with a dark berry compote made of strawberries, blackberries and fresh blueberries!

Recipe: Jacque Pepin's Chicken Liver Pâté

FAST
MAKE-AHEAD

1/2 pound chicken livers, well-trimmed
1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
1 small garlic clove, smashed and peeled
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon thyme leaves
Kosher salt
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons Cognac or Scotch whisky
Freshly ground pepper
Toasted baguette slices, for serving

In a medium saucepan, combine the chicken livers, onion, garlic, bay leaf, thyme and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Add the water and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the livers are barely pink inside, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
Discard the bay leaf. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the livers, onion and garlic to a food processor; process until coarsely pureed. With the machine on, add the butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, until incorporated. Add the Cognac, season with salt and pepper and process until completely smooth. Scrape the pâté into 2 or 3 large ramekins. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pâté and refrigerate until firm. Serve chilled.

Make Ahead

The pâté can be covered with a thin layer of melted butter, then wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 2 months

Coca-Cola Cured Ham

2011-12-14T12:13:00.005-05:00

This is a favorite Gironda family recipe for the holidays.

A Coca-Cola and apple juice brine penetrate a whole raw picnic ham-studded with juicy gloves of garlic for three days, before a gentle smoking in a new "gently-used" gas smoker!

8 hours at 190 degrees, and, finally, two hours in a slow oven with a baste of honey water.

Look out buttermilk biscuits, here we come!

Buttery Biscuits

2011-12-08T16:08:00.002-05:00

I keep promising myself that I will learn a new biscuit recipe! One that imitates a favorite Louisiana chicken fast food restaurant's famous buttery recipe.

The truth, I haven't! Instead, I fall back on this "no-fail" recipe shared with me by my Aunt Eva. Why I ever think I need to find a better recipe is beyond me.

I bake this tasty version in a black iron skillet to create a crunchy, buttery crust with a tender delicate inside. Sturdy enough to hold up to thick preserves!

No BrideZilla Here!

2011-11-12T12:12:00.005-05:00

Our weekend guests were a mature couple-both Clayton University professors who found love!

Married at our city's gazebo-steps away from Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast-the bride and groom toasted their new start with a sparkling Spanish Rose Cava, shared bites of chocolate and raspberry cake and a quick cup of my Home At Last! coffee before heading off to the Georgia Aquarium, dinner and a night at an Atlanta comedy club with friends! No BRIDEZILLA here! Bravo!

The bride wore a lovely taupe gown and cream veil complimented by a fresh bouquet of red and peach roses!

Breakfast was a special preparation of French Toast made from a homemade Orange Brandy and served with a warm raspberry syrup prepared from the leftover Rose Cava and fresh oranges, raspberries and bananas!

Newnan-Coweta Humane Society

2011-11-09T16:21:00.006-05:00

The Furr Ball takes place Saturday night at the Newnan Country Club and serves as a important fundraiser for these amazing volunteers; tireless in their efforts to adopt animals into safe, loving homes!

Come One, Come All and Let's Have a Ball...
a Fur Ball That Is!!
Date: Saturday, November 12th
Location: Newnan Country Club
Cocktails and Silent Auction: 6:00 p.m.
Three Course Dinner: 7:00 p.m.

College-Temple District in Newnan

2011-10-22T13:01:00.003-04:00

It's hard to believe that in a few nights we'll celebrate our eighteenth year of Trick or Treating in the historic neighborhood known as the College-Temple District in Newnan . . .one of the scariest neighborhoods for young treat-or-treaters" in all the land! Spooky!

Parents load up the kids on flatbeds, vans and pick-ups knowing that the kids will score "big time" and have plenty to share back at home.

We've seen more adults in the past few years-claiming their "begging" is for unseen children left behind in some imaginary location . . .uh-huh!

Fall Taste of Newnan

2011-10-04T16:19:00.000-04:00

It's that perfect time of the year in historic downtown Newnan, GA. Join us Thursday, 5:00 pm until 8:30 pm for the Fall Taste of Newnan and Chili Cook-off.

Favorite Photos

2011-10-02T21:20:00.005-04:00

These are all photos taken after taping an episode of Home At Last! Amazingly, I photgraphed these over fifteen years-in four different kitchens.

10% Off Veggie Patch Mums

2011-09-27T17:38:00.002-04:00

One of the prettiest places in Coweta during the Fall months is The Veggie Patch of Newnan! Always decorated and filled with beautiful flowering plants, their skilled buyers select the prettiest mumms in the south metro area of Atlanta! Print out this page and enjoy 10% Off seasonal mums!

What Would You Do If You Spotted A Ghost?

2011-09-27T16:00:00.002-04:00

Elizabeth Beers, owner of Tour With Elizabeth will share some of her favorite spooky stories during the Halloween and "Trick-OR-Treating" season!

Downtown Newnan and Oak Hill Cemetery are few of her favorite haunts-but let's get real-what would we do if a ghost snuck up behind us, tapped us on the shoulder or just appeared suddenly as Elizabeth was sharing the grizzly details of some unlucky ghost's earthly demise?

Unfortunately, I'm afraid I know what I would do. . . I would beat myself silly, "re-kill" the ghost and/or possibly injure others around me. Just sayin'!

My worst experience at a haunted house, EVER, happened in Clearwater, Florida about twenty-five years ago. One of the scariest I had ever experienced my body just shut down and refused to move in any direction. After an what seemed like an eternity a very kindly "ghost" or "monster" was forced by the organizers to come and escort my party and ME out of the black maze!

Fall Is In The Air

2011-09-25T17:47:00.001-04:00

The 2011 Coweta County Fair presented by our county's Kiwanis clubs has officially opened and visitors are pouring in. Corn dogs, smoked Kielbasa, cotton candy, and even banana pudding were a few of the fairs foods I spotted or enjoyed! Crowds were light Saturday afternoon but the beautiful weather promised a spectacular night under the midway lights!

WestGAtv.com

2011-09-18T00:01:00.002-04:00

Our new streaming site is offering logo and video services that are designed to drive traffic to websites and blogs!

$470 yearly fee includes a standalone page with unique address, up to three minutes of streaming video embedded on WestGAtv.com, WestGAtv.pegcentral.com and your personal or business website.

Check out our newest example at The Veggie Patch in Newnan.

Hard Peach Punch

2011-09-14T14:47:00.002-04:00

Unfiltered and maybe an hour away from ready this last batch of peach syrup was screaming for some vodka and lemonade! I always test my syrups but this was a "taking one for the team" moment in our 90 degree heat!

The addition of the slightly-sweetened whipped cream made the "task" a enjoyable experience and I am excited to say that my peach syrup made from Indian Blood Peaches is a great success. A drop of raspberry essence was added to this experimental batch and greatly enhanced the natural raspberry-like flavors of the peach!

Animal Rescue Road

2011-09-12T10:43:00.005-04:00

Dedicated, loving volunteers at the corners of Animal Rescue Rd and Boiled Peanut Pkwy continue their mission of saving lives by rescuing our area's throwaways and surrendered pets!

President LouAnn Nociforo Jones leads the pack in the fight and is seen here stirring a large vat of boiling peanuts.

Stop by PetSmart in Newnan any Sunday between 12:30 and 3:30 PM and meet your next furever friend!

President LouAnn Nociforo Jones NCHS.org

Friend, Kathy Ward and I caught up at a roadside garage sale during Powers' Festival weekend and encountered a new litter of kittens and their unneutered mother! Please help save these precious companions by spaying or neutering! Be responsible friends to your pets!

Kathy Ward

Georgia Ann's Happy Garden

2011-09-10T09:24:00.002-04:00

Georgia Ann's Garden was a happy place to be. Bottle trees and ever-blooming varieties of drought-resistant varieties of colorful flowers-all fashioned from recycled cans.

Powers' Festival Food Vendors

2011-09-09T17:35:00.011-04:00

The food vendor displays were colorful and popular with the crowds! This was one of my favorites-filled with rustic charm! Great eye appeal and one happy woman matched her drink to her finger nails and polo shirt!

The menu was rustic, too! Roasted corn on the cob, smoked turkey legs, large baked potatoes with plenty of toppings!

You must admit this is a charming stand. I wonder if the booths earn awards? Hmmmm. . . .maybe next year! Great job guys!

2011 Powers' Festival Memories

2011-09-09T16:50:00.005-04:00

So many smiling faces this past weekend at the 2011 Powers' Festival in Newnan! Rain or the lack of sunshine didn't dampen the spirit of festival go-ers! This old man shared his love of dancing and happily performed for our cameras!

Good food was abundant and the new vendors brought some crowd-pleasing festival favorites like Blooming Onions and Gyros!

Veggie Patch Produce

2011-09-01T12:50:00.002-04:00

Unlike so many I'm always sad to see summer end! I've elected to "weather" the cooler months by discovering new activities that require cooler temps!

This fall's project list includes my usuals favorites-smoking chickens, making fresh sausage, curing fish! Limoncello! All fun things I love to do that really are so much more pleasant without the scorching heat!

I look forward to the Newnan Oktoberfest Beer Tasting, Fall Taste of Newnan and art walks showcasing local artists! There are so many opportunities to stroll our beautiful square when the cooler weather rolls in.

In other parts of the county cruisers gather for car shows, neighbors stroll the streets of historic neighborhoods during progressive dinners and many groups host wine tastings to raise needed funds for favorite projects.

It's really a beautiful time in South Metro Atlanta and a pleasant time to reflect on the front porch with a great glass of wine!

Newnan Jr. Service League Bargain Bash

2011-08-25T17:06:00.002-04:00

More fun things to do this Labor Day Weekend in Newnan, Georgia!

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-24T18:09:00.004-04:00

Hurricane Central at the Weather Channel has determined that Irene will be a major threat to the Eastern coastline of the U.S. We can thank our lucky starts that we could be missed here in Georgia.

It reminds me that we all need to be thinking about our Emergency Kits and posting important numbers in a safe place! Having a trustworthy tree removal company during emergencies is a MUST.

For those of us living in the south metro Atlanta area I'm posting one the most reliable and professional companies to trust during severe storms. Call Danny and Tina at 678-378-8420 and let them take a look at your dead, diseased and downed trees!

"Autumn is Awesome" Events in Newnan

2011-08-24T17:26:00.002-04:00

Rottie-loving Maxx

2011-08-20T13:20:00.002-04:00

Rottweiler-loving Mad Maxx

Mad Maxx doesn't wander far from home. And I know this how? Because he magically appears from nowhere when I cook on the kitchen porch!

Maxx is a gentle boy and perceives rottweilers as close family! He's enjoyed relationships with three rottweilers. He and Zena have enjoyed the strongest bond but every one of our rottweilers have been trained to accept Maxx as "their baby" and love on him as if he were "kin"!

He's lost so many of his family these past few years and now spends most of his time with our older blue-eyed white cat named Sister-but given the opportunity lavishes his friend Zena with loving hugs!

True to form he sat patiently as I prepared lightly-battered golden onion rings for Friday's dinner. Thanks, Maxx!

Powers Festival Free Ticket Drawing

2011-08-01T22:54:00.001-04:00

Powers Festival and the Coweta County Convention and Visitors Bureau are holding a "Free Ticket" Giveaway during the month of August! Every Friday in August 4 Tickets will be awarded-simply by sending an email to Patty@HomeAtLast.net with a message "I want to enter"!

Additionally, contestants will automatically be entered into a separate drawing for a gift basket provided by merchants of downtown Newnan. (valued at over $500).

The gift basket will be awarded during the festival but the winner need not be present to win!

Double Chocolate Gelato

2011-08-01T22:36:00.003-04:00

So rich and creamy this recipe from 1968 almost doesn't need to be churned!

This is one of those recipes worth learning and adapting to fit a reasonable diet but I will admit that the fat content astounds me!

Easy Chocolate Ice-Cream Sandwiches

Louisiana State of Mind!

2011-07-26T20:08:00.001-04:00

I'm sitting here about to enjoy a glass of Pinot Noir-staring at a photo from last night's dinner. It evokes everything I love about Louisiana cooking and triggers many happy food memories from my life in New Orleans.

This particular recipe triggers memories of a favorite restaurant in the late 70's-early 80's, The River Bend Restaurant. It sat almost at the corner of Carrollton and St. Charles Avenues and offered really wonderful Italian-inspired dishes using local ingredients!

One of my favorites was the crisp lightly-breaded calamari with a wonderful dipping sauce of butter, lemon and plenty of garlic! The pasta dishes were creamy and well-balanced like my crawfish pasta picture featured here!

I made this pasta in the most traditional NOLA fashion! Olive oil, butter, cream, freshly-squeezed lemon juice, garlic and plenty of plump Beaudreaux crawfish! I blended a young asiago cheese with an aged parmesan for a sinfully satisfying pasta experience!

This easy recipe will be featured on an upcoming episode of Home At Last! where I used my own freshly-prepared linguine. I'll pair it with a decadent double chocolate gelato!

Lazy Breakfast on July 4th

2011-07-04T15:05:00.001-04:00

I don't find myself in much of a hurry to do much, today.

I'm luxuriating in the fact that I have a much-needed day off. There will be plenty of time to rush about madly preparing for the next guests at Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast or cleaning and preparing for a taping of Home At Last!

No, today, I'm drinking way too much coffee, enjoying a late breakfast of a simple potato scramble with fresh tomato, baby spinach, three peppers and a sprinkling of a freshly-grated cheese-just in time to almost be an early supper!

Zena, my sweet Rottweiler, is by my side and I'm grateful for the peace and quiet!

It's a great day to be a proud America! God Bless America and keep us safe . . .

July 4th Picnic-All Grown Up

2011-07-01T12:44:00.002-04:00

Orzo Pasta Salad with Fresh Baby Spinach

Blueberry Ketchup

Eager to experience a recent gift of Applewood-Smoke Bacon Burgers from Pine Street Market, I saw a chance to create a few of our family favorites. Ron loves blueberry ketchup and I adore Orzo Pasta Salad with Baby Spinach and vine-ripened tomato.

My fiery blueberry ketchup with minced garlic and shallot added wonderful texture to the pork with a little heat and sweet! The smokey pork burger was lean and flavorful but called for a strong, sweet flavor! The smooth orzo with mild flavors and fabulous texture kept everything grounded and well-balanced!

The final side that put it all over the top was a light summer salad of sweet, juicy Valencia orange slices with paper-thin slices of red onion and a homemade blueberry vinaigrette with a nod to the traditional by use of a scant teaspoon of stone ground mustard.

All in all, a perfectly grown-up July 4th picnic menu! Happy Fourth of July, y'all! Stay safe!

Rottie Heaven

2011-05-17T18:05:00.001-04:00

My wonderful rescue, eleven-year old arthritic Bear.

Pistachio Gelato

2011-05-10T16:50:00.001-04:00

Bargain Alert! A discontinued $20 Cuisinart Ice-Cream Maker with no instruction manual . . . I'm all over it!

All that was needed was a great Pistachio gelato recipe and my logical brain. Somehow, I figured out all the parts and functions and the results are an authentic creamy Pistachio gelato that rivaled most of what we've enjoyed in Italy!

My recipe was enhanced by the use of large farm-fresh golden egg yolks from Frisco Farms here in Coweta. I adjusted the recipe with a tiny pinch of salt and a scant teaspoon of vanilla for a balance of flavors.

Next, I'm going to a create a double-chocolate gelato with my own chocolate ganache, and next week . . . hmmm, maybe a Greek Yogurt Gelato with Caramel.

Sweet Pops In Newnan

2011-05-07T14:21:00.001-04:00

This has to be one of the most expensive luxury items in America today! A moist bite of cake encased in a thick icing!

Not sure that it made the grade!

Spinach and Cheese-stuffed Mushrooms

2011-05-03T20:28:00.001-04:00

Do I really need to say anything?

Chicken and Waffles, Y'all!

2011-04-24T21:30:00.001-04:00

Atlanta enjoyed a glorious Easter weekend!

We hit the road and set out to discover some new things close to home. First on our list, Auburn Curb Market, right off the interstate in downtown Atlanta!

We were pleased to discover a variety of vendors offering fresh, fresh veggies along with meats, eggs, seafood and baked goods. I loved the friendly atmosphere and settled on some huge chicken wings, oxtail and smoked bacon!

We celebrated Easter dinner with chicken and waffles-the wings coated with some very good organic Kansas unbleached flour-mixed with semolina for extra crunch! I soaked the large wings in seasoned buttermilk for about six hours before dredging them in the wonderful flour mixture! We broke out a deep fat fryer that had been sitting in my gadget pantry for over six months and were delighted with the results!

The waffles were a delicious malt powder we purchase online-enhanced with an extra teaspoon of vanilla and pinch of salt!

Hippity, hoppity, y'all!

Golden Flatbread

2011-04-21T20:53:00.004-04:00

Golden flatbread straight off the Home At Last! set!

Fresh baby spinach with mixed greens, green olives, red onions, fresh slivers of garlic! And three cheeses.

Yummy!

Paired with Blood Orange Martinis and Blood Orange Old-Fashions-fabulous!

Hippity Hoppity

2011-04-20T11:42:00.001-04:00

Happy Easter From Home At Last!

FIRST he ate some lettuces
and some French Beans;
and then he ate some radishes;

Early Bloomers

2011-04-17T19:08:00.001-04:00

Strawberries are already on the vine! Spring is always filled with so many wonderful surprises and the 2011 Season is no exception.

Violent storms, drenching rains . . .I love the unpredictability!

www.WestGAtv.com

2011-04-04T12:25:00.003-04:00

By now I know many of my friends and associates understand my great passion for fine food, good wine and adventurous travel but there's another side to my personality that many don't know. . . I'm a "technology" junkie and love learning about new technologies that stretch the imagination and widen the audience for the love of storytelling!

While I don't expect many of you will ever have the need to understand the technology behind Home At Last! I do hope you will appreciate the potential to reach a new audience through streaming video that has "come of age"!

Our new streaming channel will feature community and entertainment at one simple location! Just like you already enjoy on your newly purchased ATSC-equipped TV's. No longer bound by cable restrictions and contracts WestGAtv.com will feature many of our popular programs-which can be enjoyed on your computer or better yet! on your newly-acquired ATSC TV with internet features!

More later . . .

Pine Street Market

2011-04-03T19:31:00.004-04:00

Finally, the sun has returned . . .along with all our Newnan Market Days vendors!

The tantelizing smell of the seared Applewood Bacon Burger produced by Pine Street Market was reason alone to hang out on their pretty corner of the square! Samples are generous and the owners, friendly!

Pine Street Market's picnic salami rivals any cured sausages I've enjoyed in Tuscany. Understandably, the salami was sold out by the time I arrived at the square! But there's always next month.

I have big plans for my precious pound of Applewood Bacon Burger. I'm anxious to give it a whirl as a spectacular dressed burger, BUT my initial plans are to add it to the list of ingredients featured on this weeks episode of Home At Last! Tuscan flatbread with spinach and tomatoes!

Mother Earth's Children

2011-03-21T17:37:00.002-04:00

As a small girl I loved Elizabeth Gordon's Flower Children-one of several volumes of children's poetry that was offered as a "gift with purchase" when a set of encyclopedias was purchased. I would sit for hours on the floor of my parent's closet studying the artwork and enjoying the short poems written by Elizabeth Gordon.

I have since managed to locate several of the old books online and once again enjoy reading the three volumes that I have collected: Flower Children, Mother Earth's Children and Bird Children.

Mother Earth's Children: The Frolics of the Fruits and Vegetables is open on my desk and I can still remember the emotions that I experienced as a small girl when I read the poems as I studied the "children".

One of my favorite pages was "Mrs. Peach". Here's what Mrs. Peach had to say back in 1939 . . .

"Our family's not hard to suit," said Mrs. Peach. "We're simple fruit; We like most any kind of weather if the sun shines, and we're together."

So simple, so sweet!

Indian Blood Peaches

2011-03-19T20:45:00.001-04:00

I'm like a nervous new mommy waiting for the first blooms of my wonderful heirloom peach tree. Here's the first blooms! After carefully fertilizing and pruning, I'm anxious to see if the size of these delicious raspberry-scented peaches will increase. Keep your fingers crossed!

Simple But Fresh

2011-03-15T22:20:00.002-04:00

Sometimes, the simplest meal comes by way of the freshest ingredients.

This is freshly-prepared Italian Sausage-bought locally; seared in garlic oil with a few chives, steamed with beer and served up on a grilled sesame bun!

"I'm not in Kansas", anymore, thanks to a new market-close to home, making their own sausage!

A shout out to Food Outlet of Newnan, for offering fresh meats and good-looking, fresh-tasting, affordable homemade sausage!

Semolina Crunch

2011-03-13T14:44:00.001-04:00

I adore semolina bread and it amazes me that I am able to get so many delicious meals from one easy recipe. I have worked diligently on perfecting this recipe for over two years! I love that I now have the perfect toasting loaf as well as a tasty flatbread or cracker dough.

Last night I tried my recipe on a flatbread with no sauce. The flavorful flatbread derived it's salty goodness from freshly-grated Asiago cheese, garlic oil, cracked black pepper and kosher salt on top of my hand-stretched dough. The spinach was tossed lightly in olive oil and added to the dough along with black olives! The final topping was a few handfuls of romano cheese and a generous sprinkle of cayenne pepper.

The results-FABULOUS!

Thinly-sliced toasted semolina bread with strawberry preserves provided breakfast "afterglow"!

Fudge Truffles

2011-03-06T15:13:00.000-05:00

I've had the desire to experiment with chocolate candies using a new mold-thinking I might be able to set them out for guests of our Bed and Breakfast! These were made using only the microwave, a spatula, the new mold and an off-set spatula.

The recipe was adapted from the fudge my sister and I made as kids. Semi-sweet morsels, unsalted butter, heavy cream, sea salt and marshmallow cream.

Once I had my chocolate mixture poured into the mold I added salted pecan halves, cashews, filberts and almonds. The results were wonderful . . .a shell of pretty chocolate with a fudge center offering the perfect contrast of salt. Next batch, I've decided to
add a layer of creamy caramel!

Parrot Fish

2011-02-18T18:51:00.002-05:00

Asian-style Parrot Fish

Dark soy, sesame oil mixed with a little olive oil, freshly-grated ginger and garlic! Yum. A little chopped green onion and blood orange. Yes!

One of my last blood oranges was squeezed for a citrus marinade that made for a nicely-flavored and springlike taste! I might be rushing the seasons a little but this easy recipe would certainly be good anytime of the year!

The Parrot Fish has a nice firm texture with lots of flavor. The bones were easily removed from the meat and so the yield is very good. I grilled the fish on the infrared for about eight minutes and finished it off in a very hot oven!

Definitely worth a try!

Baby Pork Dumplings

2011-02-16T20:27:00.002-05:00

These pretty little dumplings are available at H-Mart by the bag.

I sear them frozen in a hot pan with an easy "throw-together" sauce of dark soy, garlic oil, fresh dried finger hot pepper, ponsu sauce and sesame oil. The dumplings add their unique flavor to my pan drippings-a very good start to a sauce that I build on in the pan as I stir-fry julienned pan pan zucchini, English peas and a very nice Asian green that I can't pronounce!

Severely Cracked Winter Feet

2011-02-16T10:41:00.002-05:00

It's always a challenge during the long winter months for me to stay warm and dry.

For others, it's a matter of keeping skin supple and smooth. Dealing with cracked skin becomes a terrible occupation for some during the frigid, wintry months.

For instant relief, I combine shea butter with avocado and olive oil, whipped together with vitamin C and E for a soothing, healing mixture. Cracked skin is healed and rehydrated in a few short days thanks to aloe vera gel.

I create a "chiffon pie" fragrance with the addition of culinary lime, lemon or orange oils. Pleasant and easier on the nose for those of us with sensitivity to carrier oils or perfumes.

Carnagie Library In Newnan

2011-02-14T20:35:00.001-05:00

I'm excited to have the opportunity to speak as a guest of the Armchair Travelers Series at 2 PM on Friday, February 25th at the Carnagie Library in Newnan.

Blogging about food is certainly a passion of mine but being able to share my international travel experiences and passion for the Tuscan culture is up near the top of fun things that I enjoy! I hope you will make plans to stop by and enjoy the presentation.

The presentation will include video and photo montages from years of travels around central Italy; including our friends and the wonderful villages of Florence, San Guistino Valdarno, Figline Valdarno and Terranouva.

Goodbye Winter, Come On Spring!

2011-02-12T16:29:00.006-05:00

After an exhausting day working on three computers I decided to take a moment to relax in the brilliant sunshine that we are enjoying around North Georgia!

I headed out to the pool with a Hot Salted Chocolate topped with a buttery caramel and proceeded to soak up some sun.

Zena, usually content to play by herself at the pool was happy to have a little company! With great anticipation she and I wait for our Atlanta weather to warm into the mid to high 60's this week! Come on Spring!

Easy Hot Chocolate with Fresh Whipped Cream and Caramel Sauce

Serves 2

1 heaping tbsp chocolate morsels
2 tbsp hot cocoa mix
2 cups skim or low fat milk
pinch of salt

Whisk mixture until chocolate is completely melted and milk is hot but not boiling. Pour into pretty mugs, top with whipped cream and drizzle of caramel topping from you know where!

Tender Porchetta

2011-02-10T18:21:00.001-05:00

After ten hours of very slow roasting the porchetta is finally ready! With steam still coming off the tender pork I sliced a few bites-unable to wait another second!

The first bite was a delicate, delicious morsel sweetened by the ground fennel! The finish was "all Tuscan" boldly flavored with a combination of young rosemary sprigs and smashed garlic! It was a "magic carpet ride" back to our favorite Friday market in Terranouva, Italy in central Tuscany!

We spent the better part of the afternoon shopping for the perfect roll due to the fact that we ate my Tuscan rolls before the pork was even halfway through the roasting process. I'll have to double up on the roll recipe next time to ensure an authentic experience.

Tuscan Rolls - Second Rising

But for now I am experimenting with several breads that I was able to buy locally . . .Panera's sourdough roll-soft on the inside with a crunchy top. Second, I wanted to make a crunchy Panini using Panera's Semolina loaf but they were sold out so I opted for a whiter French loaf, and finally I chose a seedless Kaiser roll with a much lighter crunch.

Porchetta and Fried Polenta

2011-02-08T17:14:00.003-05:00

Butterflied Pork

Seasoned With Fresh and Dried Herbs

Fresh Garlic and Rosemary

Tied Porchetta Marinating For Roasting

I'm seriously doing some "armchair traveling" in the kitchen this week!

Old photos and video shot during our trips through Germany, Switzerland and Italy have caused wonderful food memories to resurface and off I run to the kitchen to see if I recreate some of our favorites!

My first porchetta sandwich was savored at Terranouva's weekly market-held every Friday on the town square in central Tuscany. I remember the young woman explaining the process as we waited for our crispy pork sandwich served on a nicely crusted roll. As we enjoyed our first bite of the heavenly pork she waved us back and presented us with a neatly wrapped package filled with Fried Polenta!

Sure that we had just been presented with a piece of heaven we strolled the market "ooh-ing and aah-ing" through the stalls filled with fresh fish, cheese, cured meats and fabulous chocolates!

My pork is butterflied, seasoned and tied. I rubbed the entire piece with plenty of garlic olive oil before adding the herbs. I also added fresh rosemary, thyme, a tiny bit of fresh oregano and fresh crushed garlic before rolling and tying the pork. It will marinate in the refrigerator overnight before I roast it for six or so hours at a very low temp (about 190 degrees).

Champagne-infused Roasted Pear Salad!

2011-02-05T16:22:00.004-05:00

And finally we are ready to eat!

The champagne-infused roasted pear is fabulous with the toasted walnuts and blue cheese! Yum! I love the idea of this as a nice snack or appetizer plate.

I simply simmered the pears in one cup of water, one cup of champagne, 2 tablespoons of sugar-and a faint pinch of salt for about five minutes. I drained them and seared them in 1/2 tbsp of Olivio or equal olive oil to butter.

The Lousisiana Crawfish Etouffee is authentic, rustic and gets a double yum-yum! That's four yums, y'all!

Crawfish Etouffe

2011-02-04T17:26:00.004-05:00

Crawfish Stock

I'm preparing for a taping of my show tomorrow and Crawfish Etouffe is on the menu!

Because I live in a house with a person allergic to most crusteceans-I am estatic to make this for Home At Last viewers and ultimately, dinner!

What is it about the small, fresh-water, lobster-like crawfish that makes him okay with one crustecean-but not the next? It's a mystery! I have to wonder if the mercury levels in the fresh water are substancially lower than the salt water crusteceans.

I'm pairing the crawfish etouffee with a salad of roasted beets, (thanks Linda), a champagne "caramelized" pear and my last few blood oranges. I am planning a light blue cheese dressing and a few toasted walnuts!

I'm all about the beautiful waltz in my head when it comes to pairings! I can sense the sweetness of the caramalized pear alongside the beautiful raspberry-scented Moro orange sections and know that they will bring a nice balance to the spicey Etouffee!

Rudesheim, Germany

2011-02-03T20:41:00.006-05:00

Tuna Fish and Cheese Pasta

I remember exactly where I was when I first tasted this heavenly pasta! Surprisingly enough, it wasn't Italy!

Bacarach, Germany, a small town along the Rhine River, wasn't my favorite German city but I enjoyed it's proximity to many fascinating historical sites and wineries-including Rudesheim and Koblenz.

A Room With A View

Rudesheim was a quick trip from our roomy apartment in a quiet neighborhood of Bacharach.We enjoyed the narrow streets lined with pretty timbered buildings-each of them filled with wonderful crafts that made the trip worthwhile.

Beautiful hand-blown glass, Christmas shoppes filled with traditional glass ornaments and handcrafted nutcrackers made for a nice day of shopping. Restaurants offering traditional German fare as well as salads and light pastas made for an easy day-trip!

Lovely Orzo

2011-01-30T23:47:00.000-05:00

I have a mild stomach bug and haven't been able to eat much for four or so days! So, that means one thing for me. Soup! And more Soup!

My favorite is a simple broth of chicken, orzo and spinach with fresh diced tomato and a squeeze of fresh lemon! Gentle on the stomach with plenty of broth, this easy soup is ready in under an hour and is a budget-stretching recipe!

Babycakes Corn Muffins

2011-01-25T15:44:00.005-05:00

Being the queen of gadgets that I am, I am constantly on the look-out for gadgetry that makes cooking meals faster and more functional. There are times when only the use of the hands and old-fashioned techniques will do, but on-occasion I discover a tool or gadget that makes my love of cooking even more fun.

My new yellow Babycakes individual cupcake baker is one of those useful gadgets. I have experimented and enjoyed the creativity of the machine and appreciate that it bakes up smaller portions 8 servings at a time!

Cooking for two people has always been a challenge for homecooks-especially if leftovers aren't a family favorite. While I think some foods are actually better "the day after" not everyone agrees, causing dinnertime to become more of a challenge. Out of frustration families opt to eat out more or serve high-fat, low-fiber prepared meals at home.

Consider instead a healthy high-fiber, low fat soup with chicken and white beans served with two corn muffins prepared in the Babycakes grill and you'll serve up a fresh, wholesome meal ready in under a half-hour!

Only four chicken wings (skin removed) flavored the veggie-rich soup. Fresh celery, carrots and spinach added additional flavor!

Vampire's Kiss Blood Orange Martini

2011-01-23T20:39:00.003-05:00

100-mile treks and patience finally yielded two boxes of luscious Moro Blood Oranges. Finally, I was able to serve my Vampire's Kiss Blood Orange Martinis.

I made a syrup of champagne and black raspberry and transferred the cooled syrup to a bottle with a pourer. Same with the strained blood orange juice.

Vampire's Kiss Blood Orange Martini

1 1/2 oz vodka

1/2 oz Champagne syrup

1 oz blood orange juice

Place ingredients in a shaker with cracked ice. Stir until well-chilled and strain into pretty martini glass.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast

2011-01-15T15:28:00.007-05:00

I long for the beach and warm sun along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

I adore the 27 miles of well-groomed beach that is only steps from the car door. I appreciate that I don't have to be surrounded by hoards of sunbathers and "party-ers". There is plenty of convenient parking along the highway with easy access away from traffic!

The tides ebb and flow provide plenty of entertainment as well as great photo opportunities!

This year we hope to change it up a bit and try Biloxi's Chateau Blessey Bed and Breakfast! Referred by a friend it will offer a nice change of pace from the hectic casinos. This pretty renovated home decorated with a bit of a French flair sits directly across the street from the beach I love so much and offers spectacular views of pretty sunsets!

Captive

2011-01-11T23:19:00.001-05:00

1967 Ford Galaxie Convertible

2011-01-05T15:42:00.009-05:00

I rush through the calendar to get to the "parts" of the year that I love! This winter I'm planning a cocktail party, refinishing furniture, re-doing a bath . . . projects that keep my mind off of the cold, dreary days.

Spring and Summer are my seasons and the only other way for me to keep ny spirits high during the short, cold months is by enjoying and reliving experiences from the road.

This is my 1967 Ford Galaxie convertible and I am READY to put the top down and make memories on the road! It's been a great car and a comfortable ride for the long stretches of sandy beach that we seek out!

Our longest trip with the "top down" was 1350 miles-along the Florida coast and back! Wonderful warm nights and pleasant days. We didn't stop to put the top up when it started to drizzle. . .just wrapped up in a blanket to keep warm.

One of my favorite memories was last spring's visit to the Mississippi Gulf Coast! 27 miles of white sand, seafood around every corner and friendly residents that make the coast one of my favorite warm weather spots.

Turkey Tetrazzini

2010-12-18T19:45:00.005-05:00

What lengths I will go to to get a turkey carcass for Turkey Tetrazzini with homemade semolina pasta!

Happily, this is such a flavorful preparation of a roasted turkey that we're making turkey breast just to have it on hand for turkey sandwiches.

A smallish, young turkey breast rubbed with lots of my homemade garlic oil and stuffed with tender herbs from the garden. . .rosemary, thyme and oregano. A light dusting of kosher salt. Roasted at 400 degrees for a half hour-reduced to 325 degrees for a final twenty minutes

Juicy, flavorful meat with a nice crust!

Pork Tamales

2010-12-10T18:41:00.003-05:00

Tamale Sauce

Deglazing the Seared Pork

I am a day away from stuffing my first tamales. One of the things that I have learned in this very short span of a few days is not that tamales are labor intensive-but that it's important to create the individual components in good order!

Far from being an expert, I received advice years ago from a Mexican friend who made the most delicious tamales. Her voice is inside my head and I am hopeful that I will create a great first batch!

My friend regularly made two types of tamales; a delicious pork tamale with a fiery sauce and a second type that was sweet and stuffed with bits of corn. I intend to tackle both.

I started my sauce with the final green tomatoes from the garden, added a bunch of garlic, cilantro, my own dried poblanos and dried fingerhot peppers. The tender pork butt chunks were simmered for two hours in the flavorful sauce and added another great dimension to the sauce.

Cooled Pork Ready to be Shredded

I have already shredded the pork, added fresh cilantro, garlic and 2 tbsp of the sauce to add to the tamales. Today, I bought frozen corn on the cob and will shuck it for the sweet tamales. I opted for that method to add the cob liquor and the sweet bits to the tamale dough.

In the morning I will soak the husks for two hours and finally stuff and steam the tamales. It's been a fun adventure! More photos to follow!

Last of The Garden

2010-12-09T16:04:00.000-05:00

Would you believe that I shot this photo only two weeks ago? Hard to imagine when I'm sitting here with layers of clothing fighting off the chill from freezing temps!

The plants are a memory and recently pulled from the raised beds-but not before making plans for my first attempt at homemade pork tamales with a green tomato and chile sauce. A noble end to a great garden!

Happy Mistake!

2010-12-07T16:42:00.002-05:00

It's an old story. . . I send hubby out with a shopping list filled with specific items to make a simple meal of vegetable soup and biscuits. He's a good shopper and I have no worries that he will return with every item on my list.

But! for some unknown reason he was feeling very independent and returned with a completely different bag of mixed vegetables , thinking I might prefer those instead!

He bought a small bag of potatos, carrots and celery. That's it.

Fortunately, (for him), I had a leftover roasted turkey carcass, ears of corn on the cob, fresh spinach and lots of tomatoes. I felt confident I could turn this into a worthwhile dinner. What I ended up with was one of those lucky "mistakes".

I made a Mexican vegetable soup with plenty of fresh spinach, tomato, and corn-and a tasty broth made from the turkey carcass and corn cobs.

Cumin, chili powder and chives made for a smoky, flavorful contrast to the sweet broth. I fried strips of flour tortilla and crumbled a salty cotija cheese for a perfect, steamy bowl of Mexican soup!

Sesame Leaves

2010-12-05T12:18:00.001-05:00

I regularly stroll the isles of one of my favorite farmer's market hoping to discover ingredients I have never used in my cooking. Sesame leaves caught my attention several months ago and I purchased them not really knowing what I would do with them.

I've since learned that sesame leaves are popular in Korean cooking and valued for their mineral content. Good enough for me. Their ample size and pliable texture intriqued me and I soon learned I wasn't the first person who saw their potention as wraps! Into the cart they went!

With so many projects on my "to do" list, I left these in the refrigerator and promised myself I was going to stuff the pretty leaves and make some tasty rice stuffed-Asian wraps. It never happened! The pretty leaves dried and withered. I just didn't have the heart to throw them away.

90% of my leftover vegetables and fruits are reused in another form in my kitchen. Leafy greens and scallions are dried into flavorful blends to season stocks and soups. Fruits are used to make syrups for breakfast dishes and drinks in the bar. Adding the dried sesame leaves to a spice or herbal blend was a natural progression and one of the best I have stumbled upon in a long time. A perfect companion to my dried scallions

Now, I regularly buy up these pretty bundles to dry for broths and stocks. Minty, with a scent a little reminiscent of tea, I add my dried sesame leaves to anything where I might add file. (sassafrass). This week's show is a Seafood Courtboullion with Poached Seafood, flavored with dried sesame and saffron. Truly, this is one of the best broths I have ever made, and I only added the poached seafood out of a sense of obligation! The broth was a "stand-alone" success!

Are Diamonds Really A Girl's Best Friend?

2010-12-03T13:33:00.003-05:00

Or possibly a great cheesemonger?

Find a passionate cheesemonger and you'll discover a secret portal to the cheesemaking world!

Pictured here is my new best cheesemonger's cheese pick for me and I have to give it to Toni, this is an interesting cheese with a young history that is making cheese news. This is a Frumage Baladin from the Piedmont region of Italy.

Complex with a creamy texture, I am sure many of you will appreciate the history of the company's desire to create a cheese using an all-vegetable rennet made from thistle flowers. So far, my head says "mustard" but I wonder if that is because of the beer that is added.

I will continue to try to dicipher it's wonderfully familiar flavor! I find the somewhat silky texture very pleasing in my mouth That's half the fun of discovering a new cheese-especially when it sits on a crusty sliver of baquette!

For more of Toni's recommendations please check out her blog.

A Rotten Christmas

2010-12-01T09:41:00.001-05:00

Who says Christmas decorating isn't hard work?

Here's Looking At You, Kid!

2010-11-18T10:54:00.001-05:00

I've been recently struck by cravings for all things Louisiana. Upcoming shows include Louisiana Dirty Rice. . .one of my favorite side dishes of all times. Flavorful little bits of green onion, sauteed livers and chopped gizzards-or as I like to call them-Givers and Lizzards!

And, since it's my "party", I decided I would indulge another craving for Seafood Soup. I've already steamed a half dozen Blue crabs and made a fish stock to simmer the crabs, shrimp, fish fillets and some Campari tomatoes. Simple, flavorful and "feels like home!"

I'm thinking . . . Chocolate Martinis to round out the evening!

Medley

2010-11-09T18:52:00.001-05:00

This was a beautiful bag of peppers offered at a reduced price at a local farmer's market! I couldn't resist buying it - if for no other reason than to photograph it!

Farmer's Bread

2010-11-07T11:34:00.004-05:00

This was a very successful experiment and one that I will definitely continue to work on. I might consider ordering German flour from GermanDeli.com for a more authentic German taste . . .although this was very good with the flours I had on hand.

My goal was to bake a loaf similar to the brown farmer's bread that I enjoyed as a child while living in Germany. I started with the basic bread recipe that I have on the Home At Last! website-but changed up the recipe by swapping out a cup of rye flour for one of the five cups of flour.

I have made just about every combo I can think of. This particular loaf was rye, unbleached, Italian flour and a white whole wheat. Everything else was the same except that I spritzed the oven through-out the entire bake process (about every ten minutes) and added a jar of water to create a crispy crust.

Plum Good Galette

2010-11-06T13:48:00.001-04:00

Fall weather presents the perfect weather for a plum galette with homemade blueberry syrup-using local blueberries. I also love this idea for an easy dessert at a garden party or ladies luncheon.

I made a simple cheese mixture with cottage cheese, neufchatel, cream cheese and a beaten egg. ( I didn't add the beaten egg until the morning) The plums were tossed with brown sugar, a dash of lemon juice and vanilla to brighten the flavors.

This morning all I had left to do was cut my puff pastry using a small fluted tart pan with removable bottom. I baked the puff pastry and the pastry cream for fifteen minutes before putting the sliced plums on top. I baked the galettes for another ten minutes until the puff pastry was golden and crispy and the plums softened a bit.

The results were a delicately sweetened galette with a clean taste and a wonderful delicate crispness.

Casa Bella-College Temple District, Newnan

2010-10-31T16:31:00.000-04:00

15 Year Anniversary of Home At Last!

2010-10-27T17:53:00.003-04:00

Inspiration for fifteen years of Home At Last! episodes has come from many areas of my life!

This bowl of vintage beads was the inspiration behind an episode with artist, Ginger Fulton who repurposed a pretty plastic necklace set that I found at a roadside junk store. A stretch double strand bracelet with a large cabochon and striking label pins were the results of Ginger's incredible imagination and now serve as a wonderful reminder of a visit to an incredibly gifted artist.

Garage and yard sales are such a great resource for vintage bits and pieces as well as the occasional rare piece! My pretty repurposed bracelet sits on top of vintage costume pearls belonging to my Aunt Ruby! Aunt Ruby was always impeccibly dressed and never without her beautiful jewelry!

The Land of Milk and Honey

2010-10-25T12:28:00.007-04:00

With a few days off to relax and play I've lined up a few projects that I have wanted to work on for awhile.

My first project is a batch of milk and honey bar soap with lavender. A smooth, silky experience for my favorite winter activity! Luxurious hot baths in my favorite tall pedestal soaking tub!

The lavender flowers are a healing natural scrub for face and hands and the honey provides a delicate, soft scent to the creamy texture of the soap! Preferring lavender flowers over scented carrier oils I appreciate the more delicate scent of lavender than the addition of lavender-scented oil.

The pretty white bar on the bottom is a Milk & Honey Bar with super emolient properties and a delicate scent. Sitting on top is a Peppermint Vanilla Face Bar.

Hyper-sensitive to overly scented bath goodies I'm really pleased how these bars came out. More about the luxurious feel than the heavy scent I made all of this without the addition of scented oils. My yield was huge and I now have gifts and starter bars for the next batch!

I made a 2 lb.block of the pink and have it cooling. It will be sliced and wrapped for gifts. The individual bars were made with my loaf and square cookie bar pans. I also tried and loved a plastic butter stick holder and found it to make an interesting presentation. I'm already imagining having our CB logo made into a stamp to impress our name into these pretty soaps!

Sweet bubbles!

Fresh South Market in Peachtree City

2010-10-23T18:28:00.007-04:00

Emily G's Jam of Love

Two Doves Farm Sprouts

An undeniable truth. . .Georgia has remarkable Fall weather!

And! We celebrate our gorgeous weather outdoors-as evidenced by the crowds milling about the Fresh South Market in Peachtree City this morning.

Beautiful, crisp air with plenty of sunshine, the smokey smell of BBQ and sultry tunes greeted shoppers at the new Fresh Market site on Hwy 54. Vendors offered "fresh from the garden" greens. sprouts, veggies and a good mix of fresh baked breads and sweets!

A bi-weekly market held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, Fresh South Market will celebrate the end of the 2010 Season with a Dog Walk-complete with prizes on Saturday, October 30th.

To learn more about the Fresh South Market and the 2011 Season please visit http://www.freshsouthmarket.org/

Susie Berta "Rick & Susie's Little Gourmet Cookies"

Lost in Translation

2010-10-18T12:37:00.005-04:00

I am still giggling about these cute plastic forks and picks I found at my Asian market in Atlanta. Not quite sure what the original intent might have been but are I am considering all the possibilities. . .

Fruit Picks?
Fruit Forks?

or, maybe, they were coining a new word, "porks" . . . intended to describe both utensils with one word?!

Either way, aren't these the cutest Fruit Porks?

French Pancake With Blueberry Coulis

2010-10-17T14:12:00.003-04:00

Our newest sweet plate at Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast! It might be a stretch calling it a French Pancake but what would you called a puffy, grilled pocketless pita with Praline Creme served with Fresh Blueberry Coulis?

Our guests called it "delicious" and thought they might actually be able to eat two! That came as a bit of a surprise-as we served it with scrambled eggs and applewood smoked bacon.

I grilled the pita with Olivio until golden crispy, spread the warmed pita with Praline Creme and a scant tablespoon of homemade blueberry preserves. Once cooled to the touch, I gently rolled the pita, secured it with a pick and place it on top of some of my fresh coulis.

Praline Creme

4 oz each Neuchatel and Cream Cheese
1 container Jello brand Caramel Mousse
1 tbsp toasted pecans
1 tbsp powdered sugar

Cream ingredients until smooth. Refrigerate.

It's That Time of Year!

2010-10-16T13:22:00.002-04:00

Creamy Greek yogurt, smokey seared-lamb seasoned with traditional Mediterranean flavors and a secret ingredient in the hummus make these authentic-tasting gyros perfect Fall fare!

I take great care in readying my infrared grill for the Fall grilling season . . .scraping down the grates, cleaning and polishing the stainless steel and finally, checking for back-up cannisters of gas to fuel my wonderful grill!

This is my first meal of the season! Grilled pocketless pita, savory lamb seared in my favorite black skillet on the grill and one of my favorite things in the world. . . Tzatzike sauce with seeded cucumbers and tomatoes.

Our grilled pocketless pitas are smeared with a wonderful Greek hummus that is light and airy with so much flavor and fiber! I remember the first time I sampled the fluffy hummus at Atlanta diner. I was struck by the creamy, garlic-y goodness of the garbanzos! I was determined to learn the chef's secret!

If you take a look at the middle photo note that the hummus is almost fluffy! Cloud-like in fact! So, what do you think! What could make a can of grainy garbanzos so delicate and smooth?

Southern Living's Holiday Idea House

2010-10-10T10:54:00.012-04:00

The 2010 Southern Living Idea House in Senoia, Georgia will celebrate the holidays, Southern-Style! Laid-back style, open spaces and easy textures create a livable, old world brownstone that sits comfortably in this quaint historic Georgia town.

Senoia, located an hour outside Atlanta, is a pleasant small town filled with friendly design, antique and home goods shops.Carriage House Antiques and Custom Framing, minutes from the Southern Living Idea House is filled with shabby chic finds, like my pretty depression-era glassware and teapot that I have eyed for several months.

Located on Hwy 16, minutes from the Southern Living Idea House, Carriage House Antiques and Custom Framing is a true country carriage house filled with antiques, collectibles, depression glass, specialty foods and unique on of a kind gift finds!

Strawberry Liqueur

2010-10-07T11:58:00.004-04:00

Now that I am regularly making Limoncello I thought why not take the leap and try my hand at other cordials.

So far! I have successfully created a coffee liqueur and am halfway through a batch of strawberry vanilla cordial that will ultimately flavor my Strawberries Romanoff at the breakfast table for Casa Bella B & B.

Truthfully, the Honeybell Orange Brandy that flavors the whipped cream is perfect all by itself but this seemed like a great use of leftover strawberries. This batch requires another 30 days with a simple syrup that I will create over the weekend. I experimented by placing three whole, peeled prickly pears to naturally sweeten the liqueur and am really happy with the results.

It happened on the day that I was checking the status of the flavors that we had a visit from the producers of CBS's 48 Hours. Somehow we ended up in the kitchen sampling strawberry liqueur and discussing stoves! Lesson learned here . . .always have a liqueur in the making!

Fall Market Days

2010-10-02T17:48:00.005-04:00

Bakeshop Betty Cupcakes

It was a perfectly beautiful Market Days in Newnan with glorious weather, interesting vendors and our newly reopened Court House with its' pretty lawns and new landscaping. For a full list of upcoming events visit http://www.mainstreetnewnan.com/

U & Me Bath Products

Smiling Dog

Gourmet Doggie Treats

A Handful of Candies

Espresso Lane Sidewalk Tables

The Fish Are Biting

2010-09-30T11:23:00.001-04:00

Caught the big one on The Mississippi Gulf Coast!

Sea Shells Down By The Seashore Majolica Tea Pot

2010-09-27T14:24:00.001-04:00

Several of my friends enjoy great passion for the "art of taking tea". Along with their deep appreciation for tea's ancient history they enjoy the beauty and ceremony of "all things tea".

Being a passionate coffee drinker I appreciate their lively reviews, enjoy their collections and delight at the sight of a beautiful, fanciful tablescape filled with pretty porcelains and fine linens.

This is one of my prettiest teapots-discovered in a Florida antique shop ten years after its' closing. Dusty and worn my beautiful majolica teapot shows wear but is a visual wonder with seashells and a serpent handle.

Breakfast BLING!

2010-09-25T20:15:00.004-04:00

Long before I hosted Home At Last! I was an interior designer and caterer!

These days, Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast, satisfies all that I loved about both those jobs. Pretty themed tablescapes create a festive mood and honor the occassions celebrated at the breakfast table of Casa Bella.

This week our bride and groom were honored with these sparkly engagement ring napkin rings!

SNAPIT Screen Capture

2010-09-18T12:57:00.007-04:00

I am often asked to exchange links and very seldom find reasons to respond.

But yesterday I received a request to download a free trial of SnapIt and my curiosity got the better of me. I regularly use my PrintScreen function but this software promised features that would save some tedious steps. . . if it work - as described. So I gave it a shot!

I am loving the ease of the tool-can only imagine how much fun I am going to have with it! My brain is racing imagining all the applications where this will be extremely time-saving and productive tool.

My Coweta County Fair photo was snapped right from the county website. I didn't check but I am fairly certain it was a flash file. I saved the screen shot as a jpeg file-inserted the jpeg in the timeline of my editor for our local county television show. (INFOCoweta). I was pleased that I was able to accomplish both tasks quickly using the same file. Benefit: a consistent look from the website to the television show.

I am posting some features listed on the Digeus website with links to the trial download.

SnapIt Screen Capture 3.7

SnapIt is easy to use screen capture software which allows you to easily capture

anything on the screen including windows, menus, full screen, rectangular regions,

web pages and take shots of moving images.

- Supports hotkeys, auto-saving, clipboard
- Automatically copies screenshots to the clipboard

- Tracks capture history, auto-saves captured images

- Saves files in BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG and TIFF formats

- Auto-names captured images

Download and install SnapIt Screen Capture 3.7:

http://digeus.com/downloads/snapit/files/3/snapit_3_7.exe
Learn more what is included in SnapIt Screen Capture 3.7:
http://www.digeus.com/products/snapit/snapit_screen_capture_3_5.html

If you are interested in blogging about your SnapIt experience here's a link and receiving a free SnapIt program contact julia.taylor@digeus.com

Happy Snapping!

A Girl's Gotta Eat!

2010-09-01T14:22:00.003-04:00

Prickly Heat Pousse Cafe

Grilled Black Forest Ham, Triple Cream Brie and Garden-fresh Tomatoes

Admittedly, this lunch is a little out of the ordinary!

It's time to "put up" seasonal fruits and veggies-not leaving much time for much else! So quick sandwiches and leftovers are on the daily menu at our house!

I cooked peaches and prickly pears last night! The pickled peaches are canned-leaving another ten or so pounds for syrup and preserves.

The Prickly Pears were reduced into a fabulous syrup that we use for drinks. I call my Pousse Cafe cocktail "Prickly Heat"! It's fabulously smooth and is an artful layering of tequila, prickly pear syrup and half and half! It was P-R-E-T-T-Y good lunch fare served with our grilled ham, French Triple Brie AND garden-fresh tomatoes.

There are some serious health benefits associated to the cactus and the prickly pear! Thankfully, it is more widely available at the markets and as a processed syrup but the best way to consume it is fresh from the cactus!

SALUD!

Beautiful Pickled Peaches

2010-09-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

This fun project has been a labor of love!

Pretty heirloom Georgia peaches that have provided a little mystery-a tree deposited on my front doorstep over thirteen years ago. The man described them as King Peaches-small raspberry-scented peaches used by his grandmother for pickling.

The mystery is that most experts can't identify the peach and are stumped by the name and variety. I will continue to dig and hopefully share information about my mystery tree. My next project is uncovering the best method to regrow the tree.

My tree is thriving and providing me with hours of fun and study-even keeping me awake one night as I considered what I would do with this year's crop.

In keeping with the origins of the tree's story and history I decided the first project of the season would be pickled peaches in honor of the gentleman's grandmother. After all the conversation that led to this wonderful gift was shared stories about our grandmother's pickled peaches.

TEAM USA

2010-08-29T22:03:00.004-04:00

I've only imagined this beautiful crop of heirloom peaches for twelve or thirteen years!

I finally have my bumper crop of delicate raspberry-scented peaches!

No one seems to recognize them other than the kind gentleman who trekked through the woods here in Coweta County, GA (over twelve years ago) to select the healthy young specimen and deposit the young tree on my front doorstep.

O.K., there were a few glasses of wine...a little nodding off , BUT, we have our twenty pounds of peeled 3" peaches!!

Go, TEAM USA! Our fingers sore, our elbows tired....happily, we are only halfway through the tree.

Does Anyone Remember The Monte Cristo

2010-08-28T21:15:00.001-04:00

This was one of those sandwiches that was on every Florida restaurant menu in the 70's! Yacht clubs, country clubs, department store restaurants . . . it was really that popular!

To me, the success of the sandwich depends on great bread! The bread must hold up to the egg -mustard mixture and a slow grilling. I found recipes calling for a deep fried sandwich but I don't remember ever seeing a deep-fried version.

For our simple sandwich I used all the tradional ingredients-thinly sliced Black Forest ham, lean turkey breast and a baby swiss cheese.
I piled up the meat and cheese on an English toasting bread, pressed it and placed it very carefully in the egg mixture-flipping it to ensure an even coating on both sides. Once the excess drains away the sandwich was placed in a pre-heated pan with Olivio.

We served it very traditionally with the strawberry preserves and powdered sugar!

For Two Sandwiches

4 pieces of hearty toasting bread
2 thinly-sliced pieces of Black Forest Ham
2 thinly-sliced of turkey breast
2 thinly-sliced pieces of baby swiss cheese

2 eggs plus 1 tsp of cream and 1 tsp of creole mustard

Soak sandwich on both sides until evenly coated. Grill in preheated pan sprayed with non-stick and 1 tbsp Olivio.

Watermelon Spritzer

2010-08-18T18:12:00.002-04:00

Fresh watermelon, lemonade, a little black raspberry syrup and a swizzle of mint make for a most refreshing spritzer! Made for guests of Casa Bella as a non-alcoholic spritzer topped with soda water. . .I'm tempted to try this refreshing mixture this evening with a little dark rum.

Main Street Newnan's Home Away From Home

2010-08-16T21:55:00.002-04:00

Main Street Newnan merchants prepare to exhibit and sale their wares at the 2010 Powers Festival this Labor Day.

Under the direction of Linda Bridges Kee and Tina Darby, our pretty "home away from home" will be decorated by Mainstreet merchants, restaurants and our own Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast!

Fresh Spaghetti and Linguine

2010-08-14T18:46:00.003-04:00

Freshly-made Pasta

Ronald Mac and I have enjoyed a wonderful day in the kitchen together-making everything from a strawberry cordial for apertifs, a peach bourbon conserve for our bed and breakfast guests-and homemade fresh pasta for an upcoming episode of Home At Last!

. . . a true "soup to nuts kind of day"!

We experimented with several different pasta makers but found that we enjoyed the hand-cranked basic Italian maker the best. Once the pasta was rolled by hand using a flea market wooden rolling pin we cut it with spaghetti and linguine blades. I draped the pasta over my Kitchenaid and dried it in the vicinity of an oscillating fan. Easy breezy . . .

The spaghetti recipe included a 1/4 cup of semolina but for the linguine I opted for no semolina. More for the fun of making them different that for any other reason. We took turns churning out the pasta and enjoyed ourselves immensely! For a easy and reliable recipe please visit the Recipe page of Home At Last!

Beer Batter Bread

2010-08-13T20:02:00.001-04:00

I spent yesterday evening floating around the pool in the company of a friend, Trixie. Happily, Trixie and her son, Frederick were passing through Newnan on their return trip to Atlanta after helping Trixie's stepdaughter settle in her new dorm room.

After righting the world, swapping stories on our favorite photo editing software-our conversation turned to food. Trixie shared an easy bread recipe that she favors-a beer batter bread. It sounded so easy . . . there was nothing to even write down. Three simple ingredients!

I baked a loaf of the beer batter bread today and loved the ease of the recipe. I added a few of my own embellishments and popped in the oven for a quick 45 minutes at 375 degrees. My intent was to see if it might make a nice breakfast toast served with our popular Black Raspberry Preserves for guests of our bed and breakfast!

I was not disappointed. The texture was dense, the yeasty flavor enhanced with a scant 1/8 cup of mixed grated cheese and topped with a little grated cheese and sesame seed. Of course waiting for it to cool was the hardest part of the recipe.

Cheese Beer Batter Bread

2 cups of self-rising flour
10 oz of beer
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 cup cheddar and parmesan cheese mixed
pinch of sugar

2 tbsp unsalted butter (to grease loaf pan)
1 tbsp olive oil
sesame seed and grated cheddar cheese

Mix the first four ingredients in a large bowl and pour into a loaf pan with two tablespoons of unsalted butter
Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. Brush top of loaf with olive oil and grate a small amount of cheddar cheese as loaf continues to cool. Sprinkle with sesame seed.

A Study in Miniature

2010-08-10T17:28:00.002-04:00

Artist-Bruce Cook "Cooked Glass"

Travels Abroad

German Glass

Glass Kisses

One of the joys of owning our 99-year old home is filling the built-in cabinets with displays of my collected pretties. You can see from the photos that I adore blown glass and fused glass.

My latest acquisition is from glass artist Bruce Cook of "Cooked Glass". Pretty fused glass tiles that are so nice to touch and stunning in their glass vessel. Bruce was a new vendor at this past Market Days in downtown Newnan.

Encore Decor

2010-08-09T22:59:00.002-04:00

As a former interior decorator I adore the vibe of Encore Decor in downtown Newnan, Georgia. Well-displayed vignettes-filled with fun accessories and decorative elements for every room of the house. Consigned pieces keep the supply of great furniture and accessories fresh-while Janet's knack for finding unique pieces and objects d'art is apparent as you step through her inviting front door!

Best of all, Janet has the good sense to offer her finds at fabulous prices-making for a fun shopping experience!

Breakfast Tablescape

2010-08-06T22:48:00.001-04:00

The breakfast table at Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast allows me a chance to pull out all my beautiful dishes and pretties!

A Spanish toile topper sets the mood for Saturday's table while rattan chargers add texture to the bare wood.
I opted for white accessories in the center of the table rather than traditional flowers-a great option when time doesn't permit a trip to the market.
I opted for a creamy white artichoke surrounded by tall white fleur de lis on either side.

Tuscan-style Roasted Potatoes

2010-08-04T14:44:00.005-04:00

About five years ago we taped an episode of Home At Last! at Villa La Grotta in San Guistino Valdarno in the heart of Tuscany! Our friends made a beautiful stuffed turkey breast with Mortadella and Provolone Cheese. The results were georgeous and delicious.

Claudia also created roasted potatoes with olive oil and they serve as the inspiration behind our roasted breakfast potatoes that are on the menu this weekend at Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast.

I've created these for many years now but made them my own with the addition of a crunchy bread crumb made from our leftover breads and my own seasoning blend. They are delicately topped with a little Asiago cheese.

Biscuit and Bread Crumbs

Homemade Seasoning Blend

Potatoes Tossed with Olive Oil and Kosher Salt

Berry-licious

2010-08-02T22:32:00.004-04:00

One satisfying aspect of my innkeeper's life is that I get to play in the kitchen with all our leftovers! Bread and biscuits are turned into crumbs that make our delicious crusts in our apple crisps, fruit is turned into conserves and syrups with endless possiblities.

This was a peach and blueberry base blended with black raspberry to create our signature syrup. Some of our most popular sweet dishes depend on this for their back flavors.

Baked Oysters and Clams

2010-07-29T22:33:00.001-04:00

Desperate for something hot but too tired to spend an evening in the kitchen I made some quick seafood entrees. For me, Baked Oysters, for Ron, Baked Clams. Ten minutes of preparation and 15 minutes to bake and dinner is on the table.

In both dishes it was the same list of ingredients with either the fresh shucked oysters or canned clams!

Oyster Bake

6 or 8 medium oysters

7 crackers (crushed)
2 tsps mayonnaise
dash of hot sauce
1 tbsp chopped scallions
pinch of garlic powder
pinch of cajun seasoning
1/4 cup mixed cheese

Mix ingredients in a small bowl. Place on top of oysters in a buttered dish. Top with mixed cheese. Broil for five minutes at 500 degrees. Reset oven to Bake at 400 degrees and bake for about ten minutes. Cool and serve.

Refreshing Aloha Cocktail

2010-07-25T13:20:00.003-04:00

A pretty Ralph Lauren martini glass in deep amythyst-filled with a sugar-free icey cocktail made with tropical ingredients and nutty, sugar-free macadamia nut syrup.

Aloha Cocktail

1 1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz sugar-free vanilla macadamia syrup
1 oz pineapple-orange juice
splash of half and half

Mix ingredients in a shaker of crushed ice
Strain into a pretty martini glass