Photo Hunt ~ funny

The photohunt for this week is 'Funny' We were trying to get pictures of the grand-puppies in their wedding attire...No such luck... but it was a funny sight!

Happy hunting y'all~

Sandi

Friday's Favorite

Just in time for your holiday shopping... We have opened our new online store at The WhistleStop Cafe. We've been working hard on getting your shopping cart ready.

How about a Cookbook for mom?
Maybe some Marinade for dad?
You can't go wrong with A WhistleStop Gift Pack
What is your favorite today?
I am hoping to see lots of Christmas ideas!
Y'all join in~

Sandi

Holiday Blues

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,

stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?

It came without ribbons. It came without tags.

It came without packages, boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.

What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

~Dr Seuss


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

Auburn~ on to the National Championship

War Eagle

Another fun night at Toomer's Corner!

Now on to the national championship~~

Photo Hunt ~ Hard to Find

The PhotoHunt for this week is 'Hard to Find'
Unfortunately...WhistleStop products can be 'hard to find'We know how to get them to your local market~~~ drop us a line!Happy hunting y'all~

Sandi

Friday's Favorites

This is my absolute Fav this friday~ I almost hate to let the secret out...This is that cabin at the lake we rented last weekend...

It is not far from Auburn and Birmingham.

The decor is kind of country-quirky-chic and we loved it. There is room for everyone! Here is the link to the the King's Cove ~y'all just don't take every weekend! I'm hoping to go back soon to sit by that cozy fireplace, or maybe spend a summer evening on the porch.

Now, I need to get busy with those Christmas decorations!

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

Sandi

Cooking Light ~ A Holiday Party

It is Holiday Party time! Not only in your neighborhood... but for our Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club too. We are having a festive feast for friends.
The original recipe for Turkey Scaloppine with Apricot-Ginger Sauce can be found at Cooking Light. I modified it a bit, by using two nice scaloppine slices of turkey rather than cutting it into strips. I am posting my recipe. Turkey Scaloppine with Apricot-Ginger Sauce
1/2 pound turkey tenderloin
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons minced shallots
1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
2/3 cup apricot nectar
2/3 cup low-salt chicken broth
1 tablespoon chopped dried apricots
1 tablespoon currants
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Coat turkey tenderloins with all-purpose flour, salt, and pepper. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until hot. Add turkey, and brown 3 minutes on each side. Remove turkey from skillet. Set aside, and keep warm.
Using the same skillet, add shallots, and ginger; stir-fry 1 1/2 minutes. Add nectar and remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Cook over medium heat 3 minutes or until slightly thick. Return turkey to skillet, and cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated.
I served mine with a scoop of polenta, to sopp up the yummy juices.

Now let's see what everyone else has brought for our Holiday Dinner Party!
Jamie has made Vanilla-Bourbon Pumpkin Tart for our dessert
Val is bringing a Wild Rice Dressing with Roasted Chestnuts and Cranberries
Helene has brought a plate of Creamy Artichokes
MaryAnn brought Cauliflower Caviar with Frizzled Prosuitto~ doesn't that sound like a party dish?
Don't forget, that y'all are welcome to join in our virtual supper!

Y'all enjoy~
Sandi

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