A Snowcation

It is not often that we get snow in Alabama . . . and when we do it is pretty. This last snowpocalypse was a surprise, we weren't supposed to get any.
James Spann, the weather mann, didn't have his sleeves rolled up for this one.
So neither did we.

It came down fast and furious. . .
Beautiful ~
Everyone likes a snow day

Until . . . the ice shuts every thing down and hundreds of people and their cars are stranded. What is normally a 5 mintue drive took hours.
We spent the evening watching redneck trucks slide backwards down the hill by our house. Check the US Mail truck... your thank-you card might be a little bit late.

We are just going to stay at home and enjoy a pot of Brunswick Stew and a fire in the fireplace.

Who doesn't love a Snowcation?

Y'all enjoy,
Sandi

Saturday PhotoHunt ~Vast

The Saturday PhotoHunt seems to be the only time I can find for blogging . . . such is my life these days.
Today I'm sharing a warm and sunny photo of our Vast white sandy beaches on the Gulf.

I could use about a week under one of these umbrellas.

Check for all the other Vast Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~ Ripple

The PhotoHunt for today is 'Ripple'

I would love a bushwacker from the FloraBama ~ with a little ripple and a cherry on top.

If you have never been there. . . it is a beach classic, right on the Florida/Alabama line. They did do a little renovating after the last Hurricaine blew it away ~ but you would never know.

Check for all the other Ripple  Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~Doors

The PhotoHunt for today is Door

So . . . I went a little crazy and posted DOORS

The Doors and Door knockers in Malta are each  unique and fabulous ~ even on buildings in disrepair.

As we wandered through the hilly and windy streets of Valletta, you could find a story in every door.

I think a grandmother must live here ~ who else would leave a little handprint in the stain of a door?

This is a hand of a different sort. . . And another beautiful door. Because the buildings are all made of the local limestone they are light in color. The brightly painted doors really pop.

There is an open DOOR on The Saturday PhotoHunt ~ come visit.
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Cooking LIght ~ Gingery Banana Pudding

The Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club is re-creating memories this month . . . The theme for our supper club is 'Everything Old is New Again' The idea was to recreate some of our favorite recipes from Mom's kitchen.
I thought of the Banana Pudding that was served at the WhistleStop Cafe . . . Yummy ~ but full of calories. Instead I found this recipe for  Gingery Banana Pudding on Cooking Light. It is a 'little' lighter with fresher ingredients.
The flavor is kicked up a notch with fresh ginger, gingersnap cookies (I used Gluten-Free) and a bourbon cream on top.
That is making the old New again ~

Gingery Banana Pudding with a Bourbon Cream
1/2 cup sugar
5 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
4cups 1% low-fat milk, divided
2 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 ripe bananas, divided
12 gingersnaps, crumbled and divided
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon bourbon (optional)
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
2 tablespoons minced crystallized ginger

Combine first 3 ingredients in a saucepan. Gradually whisk in 3 cups milk. Heat to 180° or until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil).
 Combine remaining 1 cup milk and yolks; stir with a whisk. Gradually add 1 cup hot milk mixture to yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Add egg yolk mixture to pan. Bring to a boil; cook 2 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly

.
Place pan in a large ice-filled bowl for 20 minutes or until mixture cools, stirring occasionally. Cover surface of pudding with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 2 hours or until chilled.

Mash 2 bananas; cut remaining 2 bananas into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Stir mashed and sliced bananas and half of gingersnaps into pudding; chill 30 minutes.

Combine cream and 1 teaspoon sugar in a medium bowl. Beat with a mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form; stir in bourbon, if desired.

Spoon 2/3 cup pudding into each of 8 dessert glasses; divide remaining gingersnaps among servings. Top each serving with 2 tablespoons whipped cream, 1 1/2 teaspoons pecans, and 3/4 teaspoon ginger.

It is definitely not the Whistlestop Banana Pudding ~ It is yummy and there isn't a vanilla wafer in sight.

 
Now . . . let's see what everyone else has brought for our Old Timey ~  New Style feast.
Jerry has upgraded the classic Green Bean Casserole
Val is making Meatloaf Bolongese
Susan is bringing Curried Crab Salad on Belgin Endive Spears
Sara is updating a Wedge Salad
Y'all enjoy ~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~ Aqua

The PhotoHunt for this weekend is Aqua ~
So I will take the time to show photos of my recent trip to the beach . . . Where of course all things just seem aqua.

There was a special New Year's Eve celebration at Fisher's at Orange Beach Marina

Where the color scheme is all in shades of Aqua.

I would be happy if I could decorate my whole house like this . . .

Or I could just drive to Fisher's to eat (where our son is doing the cooking) .

Check for all the other 'Aqua'  Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Promises for 2014 ~

It's that time again... every bloggy year I have made a few little promises to myself. The hard part about this is that they are all over the World Wide Web, not just on a napkin that will be tossed when I clean out my purse.

Here is the list of All My Other Promises ~ most of them have been lived and enjoyed.

Some things last year that I didn't do... like 'get lost in Venice' and the perpetual 'learn Italian'. I think those will stay on my 4ever list.

So... Here is my list for 2014 ~
* Surprise myself (in a good way).
* Dance at a wedding.
* Downsize.
* Take a road trip.
* Dance to a retirement.
* Plant a garden.
* Escape to Italy.
* Light candles.
* Clean out my purse.
* Just Dance ~ while I still can.
What is on your list for this new year? It doesn't have to be BIG . . . but it does have to matter.
Happy New Year y'all ~
Sandi

Post Christmas Blues

Can I post about Christmas and Post Christmas Blues at the same time?

I realized that I haven't had time for any Christmas posting . . . huge Bloggin' Fail.
But . . . I have managed to run my clinic full time, Get the gift-buying and gift-wrapping done, Enjoy having a housefull for the holidays, Get a few batches of sweets made, AND be private duty nurse to Bill after his total hip replacement.

Can I get a hallelujah ?

It is already time to pack it all up ~ I am looking forward to a bit of R&R.
I will be posting photos of the cute grandbaby (once I can find my camera).
I reluctantly swept up cherios and glitter . . . the markers of a bit of LuLu time..
Memories of a wonderful Christmas Holiday surrounded by family and Grateful for the blessings we have.

Now I am gong to sit back and think about my Promises for the New Year ~


Don't forget to check in at Smiling Sally for more blues and Boogie Board Cottage for her Masterpiece Monday.
Y'all enjoy ~

Sandi

PhotoHunt ~Shimmer

The PhotoHunt for this weekend is Shimmer.

Tis the season to Shimmer~

Check for all the other Shimmery Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~ Mellow

The PhotoHunt for today is Mellow

This would make you mellow for sure ~ Grappa and contucci.
Yummy. . . with a mellow yellow label from Martin Del Nero.
Check for all the other Mellow Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Southern Pecan Pie

This is the 'new' Southern Pecan Pie from the pages of Southern Living. (I had to go all the way to Boston to see a copy of Southern Living) 

This pie is really different ~ and really yummy.
The sweet and salty topping that is poured over a chocolatey brownie filling is rich and filling . . . this ain't your grandma's pecan pie.

Salted Caramel-Chocolate Pecan Pie
Chocolate filling
1 1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweeteded cocoa
1 Tbs corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
1 cup chopped pecans
1 9inch piecrust
Salted Caramel Topping
3/4 cup sugar
1tbs lemon juice
1/3 cup heaby cream
4 Tbs butter
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups toasted pecan halves
corse sea salt
Preheat oven to 350

Stir first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Incorporate eggs, stirring until well blended. Fold in chopped pecans.

Pour into pie shell. Bake for 35 minutes. The brownie filling will be soft. 
For the topping: Bring sugar, lemon juice and 1/4 cup water to a boil over high heat.
Do Not Stir. Bring to a boil, gently swirling for about 7 minutes until it becomes the perfect caramel color. Remove from heat, add butter and then cream and salt, stirring until it stops bubbling and is smooth.

Arrange pecan halves on the top of the baked pie.
Top with warm caramel.
Cool and top with sea salt.

Like I said. . . this ain't your Grandma's pecan pie.  It is still a hit!
Maybe even a New Holiday Tradition.


I am also joining Our World Tuesday
Y'all enjoy the ride~
Sandi

Saturday PhotoHunt ~ Burst

The Saturday PhotoHunt is 'Burst'
My favorite Burst in the kitchen. . .  is when I finish my crème brûlée
With a Burst of flame to brown the top.

This is a recipe from the Pioneer Woman ~ who has gone from blogger, to blogger extraordinaire with a cooking show and everything.
 
Crème Brûlée
4 cups Heavy Cream
1 whole Vanilla Bean
10 whole Egg Yolks
¾ cups Sugar
6 Tablespoons Superfine (Baker's) Sugar Preparation
Instructions Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Pour the cream into the saucepan. Add vanilla (whichever product you’re using) and simmer over medium-low heat. Whip egg yolks with the sugar until pale yellow and thick. Strain cream using a fine mesh strainer. Whip yolks while you very slowly drizzle in 1 cup of warm cream. Go slowly so as not to cook the eggs! Once the first cup is added, you can add the rest of the cream slowly. Place ramekins onto a rimmed baking sheet. Pour custard mixture into ramekins. Pour water in bottom of baking sheet until it comes halfway up the ramekins. Bake for 30 minutes, or until just set. Do not allow to get brown. Cool ramekins on countertop, then chill for at least 2-3 hours, covered in plastic wrap. To serve, sprinkle 1 tablespoon over each ramekin of custard. Use a kitchen torch to quickly (but carefully) brown the sugar. There should be a thin, crisp surface of burned sugar on the top. Serve immediately!
I like to top mine with a bit of fruit or chocolate . . . or both ~

Check for all the other Burst Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Chunky Gingerbread Cookies

This is a repeat of a post I did 6 years ago (yes. . . 6 years of blogging ) This is my favorite cookie and mi amici Gail of  Gail's Great Escapes introduced me to them.

We have been known to share a pinch of a cookie from the Fickle Pickle. They have a gingerbread cookie that had me dying for more. Since we are a long way from Roswell, I got out my apron and started adding a pinch of dis and a pinch of dat.

It may not be the real thing~ but I'll bet my Georgia lotto ticket you will love these

Double Chocolate Ginger Cookies

1 box gingerbread mix*
1 Tbs cocoa powder
6 Tbs butter
1/4 cup diced ginger
1 cup chopped dark chocolate
Pre-heat oven to 350°

Combine mix with melted butter and water. Add cocoa powder and stir until well combined. Add diced ginger. Combine flour and chocolate chunks and stir until blended. Using a small ice cream scoop place rounded scoops of cookie dough about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-9 minutes. Cool on a rack.
* I used a different kind of mix this time and added the amount of butter that was called for on the box. The secret is the chunky ginger and chunky chocolate.

I also got a bit of  Christmas decorating done . . . Y'all will love my blue kitchen candy-cane and cookie cutter tree.

Don't forget to check in at Smiling Sally for more blues and Boogie Board Cottage for her Masterpiece Monday.
Y'all enjoy ~

Sandi

~ Creativity ~

The PhotoHunt for today is 'Creativity' ~
These oysters are at the condo in Orange Beach.

They are a piece of original artwork by Bellamy out of Savannah (follow her link for a peak at her creativity). Holly contacted her when she'd seen her work. They talked about colors of the beach and memories of fun family times.
She Created this . . .

I think it is the perfect touch for a beautiful retreat.
It makes us smile everytime we see it.

That's Creativity ~

Check for all the other Photos of Creativity on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi