Christmas Cookies

I usually bake about six varieties of homemade cookies each Christmas including sugar cookies, brownies, chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter, and snowball cookies. Yummy for just the basic stuff! Tired of trying new recipes and am enjoy going back to the basics to perfect my goodies. But...

This year I’m practicing minimalism and I’m not baking any cookies. I think the Grinch came to visit. 

I was having lunch recently at the 

Downtown Cafe. I really enjoy eating there. They have great food, service, and desserts. In fact, I got these lusciously coated snowball cookies baked as crescent moon cookies. Wonderful little crescent moon, bite size cookies. This whole package, filled with many moons was only $4.99. I also had the eggplant parmigiana, side of spaghetti, tossed salad, garlic bread, and fried calamari with homemade marinara sauce. Fantastic food and huge servings. I always pack up half and eat the rest when my tummy is not so full. 

So if you’re tired of holiday baking and want to just be waited on, you must visit this cozy little place if you’re ever in Lavonia.They do have other Downtown Cafes scattered all over Georgia. Nice!!

An Our Town Stew By Richard Allin

Today is a perfect, chilly, lazy day to make my favorite Our Town Stew by Richard Allin of the Arkansas Gazette RIP. Mr. Allin knew exactly how to prepare a precise stew in a slow stovetop, no Crock Pot allowed manner. Check the recipe out in our town’s favorite cookbook, Little Rock Cooks. Of course, I’ve had to add a few items of my own , but the flavor is in the stew and that’s what one should focus on...

Di’s Kitchen Serving Chili and Cornbread

16° in Little Rock. Snow and ice everywhere. No way out. Stuck at the house. What to do...

Secret To A Perfect Italian Cream Cake...Family Tradition

The secret to my family's Southern classic cream cake is to FOLD the beaten egg whites in GENTLY. This makes a most delightful moist and scrumptious cake. Have a happy holiday! 2015

How To Make Italian Cream Cake...

GATHER INGREDIENTS

•  FOR THE CAKE:
• 1 stick Butter
• 1 cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 cup Sugar
• 5 whole Eggs, Separated
• 3 teaspoons Vanilla
• 1 cup Coconut 
• 2 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1 cup Buttermilk
•  FOR FROSTING:
• 2 packages (8 Oz) Cream Cheese
• 1 stick Butter
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla
• 1 package 2 Lb Powdered Sugar
• 1 cup Chopped Arkansas Pecans
• 1 cup Sweetened, Flaked Coconut

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.

Beat egg whites until stiff. Set aside.

Cake:
In a large bowl, cream together butter, oil, and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg yolks, vanilla, and coconut.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and baking powder.

Alternate adding buttermilk and dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix until just combined, then FOLD in egg whites, GENTLY!

Pour evenly into the three prepared pans. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto cooling racks and allow to cool completely.

Frosting:
In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Stir in chopped pecans and sugared coconut. Spread between layers and serve.

Note: cream cheese frosting will soften at room temperature, so refrigerate if you won’t use it right away.

The Famous Pie Shop in DeValls Bluff AR

Been a while since I've been to see Mary (The Pie Shop Hwy 70 W (870) 998-2279) in DeVall's Bluff. This is what happened the last time I went...

I bought a whole EGG CUSTARD PIE...

What can I say, egg custard is my most favorite pie. My Nannie use to make a mean egg custard pie similar to the Pie Shop. If you're like me and can't get down the road to the Pie Shop often enough, do as I do, and make my Nannie's, just as delicious, egg custard pie. Recipe below... 

How to make Nannie's Egg Custard Pie similar to the Pie Shop...

Ingredients:

4 large eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 cups whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Unbaked pie shell

Directions:

1.  Slightly beat eggs, add sugar and salt.

2.  Add milk and vanilla, mix well.

3.  Pour into unbaked pie shell and sprinkle with the nutmeg.

4.  Bake at 425 degrees F for about 30 minutes or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.

Southern Fried Whole Okra...

Down in the South we grow a lotta okra. Okra season is right upon us and I have been so hankering for some freshly fried okra. In fact, I don't want the cut up kind, I want something more grand! I want some whole fried okra pods! Had some in a salad a few years ago and the thought of that Southern Fried Whole Okra on top of some fresh salad greens with some freshly cut tomatoes and onions and  topped with some homemade Ranch dressing...well what can I say. Dreams do come true...enjoy!

How to make Southern Fried Whole Okra...
Ingredients:
Oil and Iron Skillet for frying
3 large eggs
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup corn meal
1 ts salt
1/2 ts pepper
Batch of freshly picked, rinsed, and cleaned okra (leave tops on or cut off if you so desire)
Directions:
1.  Hear oil in skillet to 375 degrees
2.  Whisk eggs and buttermilk in medium bowl
3.  Mix flour, meal, salt, pepper in another bowl
4. Drop okra in egg mixture then in dry mixture till fully coated
5.  Fry until golden brown or about 3-4 minutes, drain on paper towel, serve in your fave salad fixins, and drizzle some homemade Ranch dressing all over!

Enjoying The Good Life and A Perfect Iced Coffee

Each and every day for a very long while, I have been enjoying a hot and delicious (most of the time) latté at my choice of coffee shops around the area. Started this pleasurable (and expensive) little habit back in 2005 when I lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas and decided (what was I thinking) to complete my degree (Anthropology) at the University of Arkansas. This effort (B.A.2008) was no easy task for a non-traditional (old) student like myself. Immediately recognized it would take many hours of waking at the crack of dawn, driving to the University, and dragging a 30 pound book bag all over the Hill. My morning latté was the only way I survived (do you know how hard college algebra is) and completed my mission. This creature of habit has continued the latté tradition (through the winter months) with the replacement of an iced coffee during the summer time. 

BTW, do you know how much a habit of this magnitude costs...about as much as the cost of my degree (well almost). Anyway, have not mastered the perfect latte at home (can't afford an ultra gourmet latté maker) however, to defray some of the iced coffee expense, I can make the heck out of a perfect iced coffee (of which I am enjoying right now as I blog away). Enjoying the good life (so nice to be out of school) and a perfect iced coffee. Cheers!

How to make Perfect Iced Coffee:

Ingredients  

2 1/2 cups robust coffee grounds ( I use Community Coffee with Chicory)

1 gallon cold water

Directions

1.  Pour coffee grounds into a large bowl. Add the gallon of cold water. Stir a tad.

2.  Cover with saran wrap and place out of the way for about 8 hours to allow the coffee and water to mate.

3. After 8 hours (don't cheat, you want it strong) gather a 1 gallon pitcher, some cheese cloth, and a 2 cup measuring cup with pouring spout near the sink area. 

4.  Put the cheesecloth over the top edge of the pitcher, hold it tight with your fingers (didn't say this was easy) and using the 2 cup measuring cup, pour the coffee grind mixture into the pitcher being careful not to let the cheesecloth slip. Wring the cheesecloth out (into the pitcher) when a bunch of grinds accumulate and then toss the grinds down your disposal. 

5. Leave your coffee in the pitcher or pour your wonderful brew into a fancy decanter (got mine at Bed Bath & Beyond) and place in the fridge to dispense whenever the iced coffee urge hits you. Will last for a couple of weeks in the fridge.

For An Iced Coffee:  

Simply dispense some of your coffee into an ice filled glass half way, add milk of choice for the other half, don't forget to give it some sweetness (like sugar or sweetener) and stir away. And whatever you do, don't forget the straw.

I strongly recommend this coffee with almond milk and Splenda!!! Also, strongly recommend getting your degree early in life, but it's really never too late.