Blue Monday

What could be blue about the morning sun shining in the front of the house?

If you look closely...
You'll see!

Don't forget to check in at Smiling Sally for more blues.
y'all enjoy~
Sandi

Photo Hunt ~ written

The photohunt for this week is 'written' I was so smart and wrote the date of our daughter's wedding in the sand.

Unfortunately, it ended up being the wrong date.

Thank goodness I still have a use for the photo!

Happy hunting y'all~

Sandi

Friday's Favorites

My Friday favorite for this week is our little Thanksgiving weekend getawayWe found this 'little' cabin at the lake.

It is the perfect place for families to gather. This time of year we are hanging around the fireplace, collecting pinecones and making smore's.

Sitting on the porch and rembering all the things we are thankful for!

What is your favorite today?
Y'all join in~

Sandi

Thanksgiving Spice

Happy Thanksgiving to each and everyone of you.
Our hope is that you are able to celebrate the day in style, surrounded in Love.

I have made the perfect hostess gift . . . to pamper yourself with the aroma of Thanksgiving. Using our WhistleStop Pumpin Pie Spice!

Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup raw sugar

3 Tbs pumpkin pie spice

1 cup sunflower oil

Combine the dry ingredients until they are smooth and without clumps. Stir in the oil (sunflower or safflower oil work well) Spoon into individual jars (I made 3 1/2 jars with this mix)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Even after a hard year like this~ we have so much to be thankful for.

Y'all enjoy~

Sandi

Pomodori e Vino ~ Pork Loin Bolognese Style

Some of my Pomodori e Vino recipes are best kept in the kitchen... by that, I mean it is probably best that Bill doesn't know what's happening until he gets to eat the finished product. Pork loin braised in Milk would be a good example of that.
"why are you going to ruin a perfectly good butt by putting milk in the pot?"
~Because Marcella said so!
Now...Southerners know how to handle a Boston butt.
I have always thought it ironic that in the south it is a Boston butt, in the north it is called a pork shoulder (those yankees missed a good chance there to rename it)
Marcella actually calls for a pork rib roast... which would make a beautiful presentation. This was a night for home cookin'... a butt it is.
The recipe is very simple. A beautiful cut of pork, a little fat to brown the roast, and milk. The pork and the milk slowly cook together, adding a cup full of milk at a time once it cooks down. This cooking process is slowly repeated over 3 hours. The result is a beautifully tender roast with a nutty brown sauce.
Bill pronounced it perfection.
So... maybe I didn't ruin that butt after all :-)
Ciao y'all~
Sandi

Blues ~ a photo op

This was a big weekend for Bill and his mom 'Mrs. Mac'.
Fannie Flagg was in town for her book signing for "I Still Dream About You"... I was visiting my girlfriend Gail (of Gail's Great Escapes fame )... so left him with some strict instructions to TAKE the CAMERA.
I should have left stricter instructions... like TAKE PICTURES
We were lucky enough to get one photo for the blog. (or else I would have been really blue)
They did have a fabulous time and Mom was tickled pink to get to spend time talking with Fannie. She has ment so much to this family. . . and we love her dearly. Now, y'all need to rush out and buy her new book. It is another example of her southern storytelling, woven into a tale about her favorite city of Birmingham Alabama. It will make a great Christmas present!
Don't forget to check in at Smiling Sally for more blues.
y'all enjoy~
Sandi

Photohunt ~ Juicy

The photohunt this week is 'juicy'

Now that is a tough choice for someone with a cooking blog!

I settled on the juicy red tomatoes in the market in Bologna.

Mostly because I've been waiting for a chance to post this sign.
Happy hunting y'all~
Sandi

Friday's Favorite ~ our house divided

Y'all know that Bill and I have a 'mixed marriage'. I wrote about our House Divided a few years ago.
It really isn't a problem until this time of year.
He is an Alabama fan.
I am an Auburn girl.

I found these dog toys last week~ Imagine the fun I am having with them. You know what my favorite is today! So... what is your favorite for Friday?
Y'all join in~
Sandi

Pomodori e Vino ~ Beef Tederloin with Red Wine

This is a special recipe from 'The Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking'... at first I thought it didn't sound like anything special, but once we sat down to dinner~ we realized how special it was.

The secret ingredient is a fine Italian red wine. Marcella and Victor suggest a Barolo~ My heart was fluttering as I poured this beautiful wine into the saute pan. And then an equal amount into our glasses :-).

Once again... simple ingredients, layers of flavors, and an incredible result. Simply... butter and oil, garlic and beef filets dipped in flour. Once the steaks are browned on each side they are set aside. The wine is then reduced in the same pan with the garlic and bits on flour. The steaks are returned to the pan just before serving.

I stirred up a quick pan of polenta with gorgonzola for the perfect side dish.

Allora~ Special!

Ciao y'all,

Sandi

Photohunt ~ Itchy

The photohunt this week is 'itchy'Buddy thinks his winter jacket is very 'itchy' I think it's pretty cute :-)
Happy hunting y'all~
Sandi

Friday's Favorites ~ Roasted Zucchini Soup

This is a recipe from a local Birmingham favorite... The Silvertron Cafe.

This time of year their roasted Zucchini Soup is just what I am wanting. Through the power of the internet, you can find just about anything you are looking for.
Roasted Zucchini Soup
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sliced yellow onions
2 pounds zucchini, trimmed and sliced
salt and pepper to taste
3-1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons curry powder
Chopped cilantro for garnish
Toasted or fried tortilla chips for garnish
Slice onions and zucchini and toss with oil. Lay vegetables in one layer on a baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake at 400° degrees until golden brown. Once cooked, puree the roasted vegetables and add to chicken stock or vegetable stock (if vegetarian). Place everything in a pot on medium heat. Add cream and curry; once it starts to boil, lower heat to medium-low and allow to simmer for about 30 minutes. Check seasonings. I changed the recipe up a bit and took away the heavy cream. I cut back the broth to 3 cups and the puree'd veggies made it plenty thick.
What is your favorite today?
Y'all join in~
Sandi

Roasted Squash with Sage

Roasted.Squash.with.Sage

I think those words sound like warm family dinners, a cozy kitchen, and cool fall evenings.

This recipe is so simple... a non-recipe-recipe.

Slice acorn squash in half and clean out the seeds.

Drizzle with olive oil and fresh diced sage.

Roast cut side down at 400° for 20-30 minutes.

Turn squash; generously salt and pepper. Roast until lightly browned on top.Yum!

Y'all enjoy~
Sandi

Blue~ excitement!

Can you imagine my excitement when I walked in to the grocery store and saw this? Right up front in the seafood department...

WhistleStop Seafood Batter! That's enough to take away the Monday morning blues!

Don't forget to check in at Smiling Sally for more blues.
y'all enjoy~
Sandi

Photohunt ~ Alive

The photohunt this week is 'Alive' Sorry Charlie~

Happy hunting y'all~
Sandi

Friday's Favorite ~ Fannie Flagg

Have y'all seen the November edition of Southern Living ?
There is a great article on our friend Fannie Flagg . . . and her new book 'I Still Dream About You'I can't wait to get a copy!
It is another fabulous story written with her Southern wit, based on people who have influenced her life. She says she wrote this book as a Valentine to her hometown. . . The Magic City.

This is a recent photo of Fannie ~ isn't she looking great?Once she told Bill that she thought it was funny he would marry someone who was a red-head like her. (I'm taking that as a compliment!)

She is definitely my Fabulous Friday's Favorite! 

What is your favorite today?
Y'all join in~

Sandi

Pomodori e Vino ~ Cacciatora

Can you believe we are more than half way through our cooking adventure? We started in March of 2009 and have been cooking our way through 'The Essentials of Italian Cooking'. If you are looking for a Christmas gift... this cookbook is it!

My recipe this week is Beef Cacciatora with wonderful Porcini mushrooms. Start with the dried porcini mushrooms, and soak them in warm water for about 30 minutes... the perfect time for a nice glass of wine on the patio.

Porcini mushrooms are easy to find in the dried form... it is the closest we can get to that wonderful 'woodsy' flavor. Back to the kitchen... Thinly slice an onion and cook in Olive Oil until they are translucent. Flour both sides of the beef steaks and brown them in the same pan. After about one minute on each side, remove from the pan and set them on a warm plate.

After the mushrooms have softened, cut them up and add to the onions. Add the 'broth' that the mushrooms soaked in. Cook at medium heat until the liquid is reduced. Add wine (another glass at this point is a good idea) Tomatoes with salt and pepper to taste, and cook for another 15 minutes.

Just before serving, return the thin steaks to the pan and turn several times to coat well with the tomatoes, mushrooms and onions.

I have served this with some creamy polenta.

Another wonderful recipe from Marcella!

Remember to follow us along daily on Facebook or on the Pomodori e Vino Blog ...

Ciao Y'all,

Sandi

Cooking Light ~ Corn

Our Virtual Supper Club is doing a little something different this month. We've added a blog hop to our Virtual Supper Club~ like a progressive dinner!
We are challenged to go to CookingLight.com to find a recipe that is made with corn. In the past we have traveled to china town, celebrated seasons and event. This month it is the celebration of corn~ I guess that makes it a corny celebration. This recipe is one I was really looking forward to making

Curried Corn Crab Cakes
3/4 cup fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears)
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1 garlic clove, minced
1 pound lump crabmeat, shells removed
1/3 cup low-fat mayonnaise
3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
2 large egg whites
10 tablespoon dry breadcrumbs, divided
4 teaspoons vegetable oil
Lime wedges
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add first 5 ingredients; saute 4 minutes or until vegetables are soft. Place mixture in a large bowl; cool completely. Stir in crabmeat; set aside.
Combine mayonnaise and the next 5 ingredients (mayonnaise through egg whites) in a small bowl. Gently fold mayonnaise mixture into crab mixture. Stir in 7 tablespoons breadcrumbs. Divide mixture into 8 (3/4-inch-thick) patties. Dredge patties in 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs.

Heat oil in pan over medium-high heat. Place patties in pan; cook 4 minutes. Turn patties, and cover pan; cook 4 minutes or until done. I served mine with a Cucumber Sauce from Southern Living.

Now let's see what everyone else has brought for our Corny Celebration!
Jamie has made Double Cornbread
Val is bringing a Creamed Corn with Bacon and Leeks
Helene has brought dessert with a Lemon Cornmeal Cookies

MaryAnn brought the salad with Greens and Roasted Corn and Pepper Salad
Don't forget, that y'all are welcome to join in our virtual supper!

Y'all enjoy~
Sandi