What exactly is a grit? Growing up in the South grits have been a part of my life since before I can remember and it was often on our menu for breakfast. We had cheese grits, instant grits, grits with shrimp, yellow grits, white grits, etc., etc. But I really never thought about what's in a grit. So I google "grit" and find that they are small broken grains of corn. That does not sound very appetizing but mixed with heavy cream, and alot of butter they are amazingly delicious. Take it from a resturant that has put these little grains on their menu and made them famous. Zea's roasted corn grits are a must every time I dine at their restaurant. I found a few different recipes on the web but they were all missing a little something or had to much of something else. So after much trial and error, and many different taste testers (thanks guys!!), I have found what may be the closest thing to the real deal.
Zea's Roasted Corn Grits
2 cups water
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup yellow grits (not the instant kind)
4 ounces butter (1 stick)
1 cup roasted/grilled corn
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup green onion tops
To grill the corn you can do it the right way: 1- lightly butter corn on the cob and place on grill over open fire until corn is slightly blackened let cool and shuck corn off the cob. Or you can do it the easy way: 2- drain can of corn and roast in skillet with spoonful of butter until slightly blackened. Salt and pepper to taste.
To make the grits bring water to a boil. Add heavy cream and return to boil. Add grits, salt and butter and simmer for about 20 minutes (make sure you add salt here, if you cook the grits without salt it is very hard to get them salty after they are cooked). Turn off heat and stir in roasted corn and half of the onion tops, garnish with remaining onion tops.
If you are a faithful reader of my humble little blog you know that Britt and I just returned from an amazing island vacation. I brought my camera and Britt brought his golf clubs so it made for a great vacation. I took around 380 pictures in 7 days and thinking back I must have lived with that camera in my face. Blaaa, blaaa, blaaa - let me just cut to the real reason behind this post: Yesterday I stumbled upon this kind little plea from Coastal Living asking for island vacation photos!! How fun would that be to share my pictures with a magazine. I am not delusional thinking that my pictures are in the same league as these professionals that make a living behind the lens, but the magazine asked for my help and I wanna help (and I love entering contest). But before I answer their plea I am asking for your help. Have a little fun with me and vote for your favorite photo using the poll at the bottom of this post. Which photo should I send them?
Picture #1 - Walkway
Picture #2 - Holding Hands
Picture #3 - Lighthouse
Picture #4 - Bridge
Picture #5 - Searching for Seashells
Thanks for voting and don't forget to send them your favorite island vacation photos before November 17th!!
"The secret is here in the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. And, if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better. Forget about the future, and live each day according to the teaching, confident that God loves his children. Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity." -Paulo Coelho "The Alchemist"
My deepest hearts desire (depending on the day) is to be an interior decorator. When I walked into Britt's life he had just purchased an amazing house and every single interior wall was painted white. I instantly thought "I gotta stick around long enough to paint." Don't get me wrong I love white, it is very elegant, but every man needs color in his life. I just had to wait for the right time to introduce my Picasso skills. He hesitantly started me off with small projects, and hence everyone who visits his house will surly be pooping in style. Again, sorry I did not take a before picture. We are still working on the master bath, but I could not wait to show you the "almost" completed room. I would like to add a disclaimer here: Bathrooms are so dang hard to take pictures of. No matter how great the lighting or decor - a toilet is still a toilet. So these pics are my best effort to show off my hard work using natural lighting. New faucets and sconces are a little more costly therefore they are further down on the list of "things to do" but it's only a matter of time!
I love the new Dove commercial, and find myself smiling every time it comes on TV (and humming along). Yes society I have flaws and thank you Dove for reminding me that they are beautiful. It makes me so sad when people make fun of other for their imperfections. Let's all learn to rejoice in the things that make us unique, and love the way God made us.
Two thumbs up and a huge step in the right direction!!!
I know that the use of words and pictures together are very powerful tools in communication. But there are no words, no words for how lovely our trip was to South Carolina. So I am only going to tell you the story from my cameras point of view. Enjoy!!!
I am guessing this will be our last official vacation of the 2009 year, so we are going out with a bang. Britt and I are headed to the island of Hilton Head, South Carolina..... and you are correct if you guessed this little getaway revolved around golf. My man loves his golf, and I love to travel so when the two collide it makes for a great week!!
I always like to be prepared for the future so I did a little research on this new adventure. This will be my first time to South Carolina and it has been on my list of places to visit for a long time. The island is very unique, it's the largest barrier island on the East Coast and 20 miles away from Georgia, it has 300 tennis courts, 23 golf courses, 8 marinas, stunning views (yes I am bring the camera), beaches, boutiques, fine dining, and some awesome southern culture!! So, I bid a brief farewell to you my fellow bloggers - have a great week!!
Lighthouse overlooking the 18th green of Harbortown golf course
We are taking it outside today. Here in South Louisiana we are still experiencing summer like weather with the temperature at 77 degrees, but we are expecting a bit of a cool front this weekend. Once all the rain has passed I am looking forward to playing outside. I have been anxiously waiting for my camellias to bloom and all the ideas and possibilities of what could become of the garden is exciting. Here is some inspiration, I just wish that I had these beautiful courtyards to play in this weekend.
Courtyard of Ty Larkins attorney here in Baton Rouge
I am slightly devastated today. I just about spent several hours of my life franticly searching for this amazing fabric that I posted about here. I had to have it, I had finally found the perfect curtain for Britt's bathroom makeover. Mission almost accomplished. I put my detective hat on, visited my favorite local fabric stores, and after coming home with nothing more than a sample of something that kinda resembled what I was searching for I decided to hit the internet. Hours later I stumble upon Schumacher Fabric and bam, jackpot, rejoice - I found the beautiful Gordian Weave in Ebony and Greige:
Insert problem here (brace yourself) one yard cost $272, yes only 36 inches. I would need about 3 yards, so this amazing curtain that my little heart was set on would end up costing over $800. Not gonna happen people, hence my slight devastation today. The fabric must be weaved in gold or something, on my modest budget I could never image why 36 inches for fabric could possible cost that much. Of course I am not a professional designer, nor heir to any riches, just a simple business woman by day with a passion for beautiful things. I guess I will stop my complaining and start looking for an alternative for the fabric. They have some beautiful fabric out there. So, all my amazing blogshere buddies: suggestions are needed!!!
A few choices from Kravet & Duralee averaging around $60 per yard
I miss my mother, I miss you so much that it hurts to breath sometimes. I know you worried a lot about Pam and I when you were sick, but we both have wonderful lives and God has not given us the short end of the stick. I long to see the look on your face and the tear of joy in your eye when you experience first hand what beautiful ladies your little girls have grown up to be. Pam's kids would melt your heart, and I know their lives would be so much richer with Grandma Judy to love them. You were such a terrific mom, and I am truly honored to be called your daughter. I pray that you are proud of me and the choices I have made in my life thus far. I so wanted more time, but for reason unknown to me that was not meant to be. I questioned God's love and was angry with Him for a while and I know that's some really shaky ground to be on, but your death had left me scarred. I know that it is certain that people you love will die, but no one could ever be ready for that.
I struggle to remember what it felt like to hug you or even touch your hand. But losing you has taught me to love big while I still can, cherish the moments of complete wonderfulness, and try to rejoice in the struggles and trials of life. Don't think for one moment I take for granted the years I was fortunate enough to share this life with you, each memory is so precious. Above all, I know without a doubt death never breaks the bonds between people, or the chains that connect our hearts. I read this quote on the internet, its says so eloquently what my heart feels but what I could not formulate into words.
"A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence…in your breath, your nurturing, your thought. You will hear her wisdom escaping your mouth. Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell of soap in your freshly cleaned laundry; she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. She's the place you came from, your first home; and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on Earth can separate you. Not time, not space …not even death!"
Today, on your birthday, I am rejoicing because I have hope for the future, a hope beyond death, and faith in God's plan. It makes my heart happy to know that you are Home surrounded by a peace that surpasses all understanding. I pray that one day I will see your beautiful face again, and until that day comes, I know you and Dad will continue praying for me everyday. Pray that I can have the courage to take the road less traveled and live a life worthy to one day see God in all His glory.
Happy birthday Mommy, I love you.
Your little Ann Marie
P.S. I recently found this video of you and I singing together (well its really you singing and me looking cute). Did you feed me night and day? My cheeks are so fat. I cherish this video because before this I could not remember the sound of your voice.
I just painted Britt's master bathroom a wonderful color: Benjamin Moore's Rockport Gray. It is perfect and after months of contemplating the color choice I am so so happy with our decision. Now I am in the decorating phase of the makeover, and I always love to go shopping in the professional rooms to get my ideas. So I am bringing you on my shopping adventure today because I am kinda stuck on going with nickel faucets and knobs, or a mix of bronze and antique brass - HELP!!!!
I painted the vanity an expresso almost black color so I am going back and forth with the idea of the modern nickel accents with a huge black framed mirror like the picture below.
Valley Oak residents from Brown Design and Flipping Out
OR
Antique Brass knob and pull from Restoration Hardware
With that huge gold mirror above the fireplace
I already found the perfect faucet with the goose neck and cross handles, I got the nod from Britt that he likes it so ebay here I come. But bronze or nickel??
I am finding it nearly impossible to find a shower curtain that I like for the room but I fell in love with these curtains which would go perfect in the bathroom. Can you get out of that picture and into my bathroom makeover???
Renea Abbott powder room in Houston Texas
I have a huge crush on this "Vendome" wall scone from Bourgeois Boheme Antique Store in Los Angeles Calaforina. If only one day, but a girl can only dream.....
Finally as an added bonus I love me some Asian inspired seat/bench/chair in the bathroom. The same place Britt got his bed frame they had a cute little bench like this one. I think it's time for a road trip to Baton Rouge.
It's become sort of a tradition for Halloween that I make my Monsters and Mummy cupcakes, and my nephew is already asking about them. We only have a few weeks till the spooky night so I am getting my favorite ideas together, and of course I am sharing them with you.
Sorry about the picture quality of the cupcakes, its a bad picture taken last year on my iphone, this year I promise to take better pictures. For the Cookie Monsters I used decorating tip #133 - grass tip with blue icing and stuffed 1/2 of a mini chocolate chip cookie in his mouth. We made lots of mummies for Payton's classmates and I used different colors (yellow, blue, red) for the eyes. The blood shot eye cupcake was a hit, I used a gummy eye ball from a bag of candy and had some red gel icing that I used to make them look blood shot. Finally the buried alive cupcakes I used Oreo cookies and put them in the food processor to make the dirt. In my bag of gummy body parts they had feet and hands that I stuck in the "dirt" to make them look buried alive. Also in the dirt I used the Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies and put RIP on the top part and stuck it in the cupcake for a coffin. Tons of fun!!!!
And it would not be Halloween without something gross on the menu. A great finger food is a cracker with cream cheese (I like to mix dill with the cream cheese) with sliced smoked salmon on top, make the salmon look likea piece of flesh on the cracker. Or that classic seafood mold you can shape into looking like a brain - yummy. Make finger sandwiches but instead of cutting into bit size triangles use a Halloween cookie cutter to shape the sandwiches into ghosts, bats, etc. Or buy a plastic skull at the store (clean it) turn it upside down and fill it with homemade spaghetti, everyone will think their eating brains. While your out getting the plastic skull pick up a little corpse put it into a dish (shaped like a coffin) cover with blue corn tortilla chips and blood red salsa on the side. And you can not forget bar-b-que chicken wings, just call them bat wings - the power of suggestion. Ok I think that's enough of the spooky sick food ideas. I will leave you with my new favorite idea for an ice chest this season from Southern Living.
This recipe was adapted from Art Smith, personal chef to Oprah and owner of Table 52 in Chicago. Very easy to make and absolutely amazing little biscuits. I am not a huge fan of goat cheese so I have stayed clear of this recipe for way to long. I kept hearing how awesome they were so I had to give it a try. The restaurant serves them before your meal as a bread appetizer in a cast iron pan brought piping hot right to your table. I made them Saturday night and not one little muffin is left. The ingredients are cheap and easy so I think I will make another batch tonight. I am going to try and mix some cheddar cheese with the parmesan to give it a little added taste. Maybe we can just call them cheese drop biscuits!!!
Goat Cheese Drop Biscuits/Muffins
2 cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoon cold butter, plus extra to greese pan
2 tablespoons (2 ounces) shredded goat cheese
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Here I used a muffin pan instead of a cast iron pot and placed it in the oven while it was heating up. The recipe will make about 12 muffins.
Mix flour and salt into a bowl, then cut the cold butter into tiny pieces and mix with flour and mix in the shredded goat cheese. Slowly pour in the milk and mayonnaise. Stir until the mix is moistened. Remove the hot pan from the oven and place a dab of butter into each muffin cup. When the butter has melted, put batter into each cup and fill half way with the batter. Brush the top of the biscuits with the melted butter.
Bake for 10 minutes, remove from the oven and sprinkle with the grated cheese. Bake 5 more minutes until browned on the top and bottom.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise money for research into its cause, prevention and cure. I lost my Mom to Breast Cancer in 1987 she was 37. Today is a prime opportunity to remind everyone to save the ta-tas!!! Early detection can save lives so all you woman reading this - feel your boobies, or go show your ta-tas (to a doctor silly)!!!!
In honor of pink for October here is one of my favorite little girl's rooms found in The Rug Company's catalog in pink of course:
