Sangria Summer

Hello my friends!

Leah & Sam's Wedding Sangria

Hope you're enjoying a nice summer. I have been totally indulgent and doing what moi wants for the most part since my last blog (sometimes Sam has a say so-- just kidding people, he tells me what to do all the time, lol).  I've had several requests for the sangria recipe that Sam and I used at our wedding, so recipe is below.  Hope you enjoy it, it's the perfect drink for a hot summer day!  If you're not a red wine drinker, simply substitute white wine of your choice, yummy either way. Cheers y'all!

Leah & Sam’s Wedding Sangria               

(double recipe for a large party)

1/2 c brandy
1/4 c each fresh squeezed lemon & lime juice
1/3 c frozen lemonade concentrate
1/3 c orange juice, no pulp
1/2 c each of pineapple & cranberry juice
1/2 c contreau (or triple sec)
750 mL bottle dry red wine
2 c simple syrup
2 c ginger ale (defizzed if putting in closed container)
add water as needed

Mix all ingredients well.  Refrigerate overnight. Tweak this recipe by adding more juice, less brandy or wine, or additional water to suit your taste.  Top with sliced citrus fruits, strawberries, etc. Enjoy!

How busy is too busy?  If you pass yourself and think "hey, that was me, wonder where I'm going" does that qualify?  Life sometimes seems like a juggling act....working, grocery shopping, preparing meals, cleaning the house, taking care of your loved ones, and then there are those little pesky errands you have to do but don't want to.  Added to all that are the commitments you volunteer for that you just can't say no to, and some you could say no to but just don't. Do we do these things out of guilt, expectations from others, or is it just easier to say yes so as to not disappoint anyone?  I feel harried and find myself at a place where I'm tired.....all...the...time, and have been having constant back pain for weeks almost to the point I can't do my job (stress combined with "over doer’s disease" maybe?), and I feel that I have overextended myself to the point of wanting to just shut down and hide away some days.  I think that is what it means to be overwhelmed, which is relatively foreign to me because I normally cope so well. So, all of this to say that I have made a decision. After my commitments during this month (and thankfully they're almost over!), as of May 1, 2012 (write this down people), I am doing nothing and I mean "NOTHING" that is not absolutely necessary, nothing that won't hurt someone if I say no, nothing that will interfere with my home life and peace of mind, nothing other than things I actually want to do and will find enjoyment in, because I really need to get back to me for a while; I need to hug my husband more often and just take in his presence and enjoy our life together. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy volunteering and contributing when I can and love being with people in general, but sometimes you have to admit it's time to slow down, time to step back and reassess your decisions and commitments, and take time to "smell the roses" so to speak, go at a slower pace; and friends let me tell you, it seems like a long time since I've really and truly smelled any roses.  I think this all started in the fall of last year when we had a family situation that literally and incredibly changed our lives; add to that an accident my husband had this year that was truly life altering, and at the time I was cruising along, taking it in stride with no apparent backlash, but a couple of weeks ago, BOOM things seemed to spin out of control for me and I think all of the stress and overdoing it from the last six to nine months just came crashing down on me.  So it's time to say "no" and I question, does saying no and choosing to do only what I want to do, or what Sam and I want to do together, make me a self centered or bad person?  My answer is, I think not; BUT if I'm lucky, what it will do is make me a sane person again, one who isn't discontent and constantly having to put on my 'nice face' so much. So if it seems I've disappeared for a while, it will be just a sabbatical from all things that I can say no to, giving me a chance to smell those roses, and find some peace of mind for just a little while.  I might even do a little baking again and try some new recipes that have been waiting in the wings for so long, because I didn't title this blog Therapy for the Kitchen Queen for nothing folks, baking and cooking is my therapy!  So to all my blogger buddies, I bid you adieu until next time when I'll be back with a great recipe to share, and while you're at it, how about take a moment now and then to smell some roses too!

Easter blessings

I don't know about all of you out there in cyberspace but my Monday is so much better because of my Easter Sunday yesterday.  I felt such joy during the day all day yesterday, our Sunday morning services at St. Peter's Episcopal Church were uplifting and I've never felt more jubilant in my belief that Jesus arose from the grave, everything in the service just felt so right in confirming my lifetime beliefs. The beautiful flowers made our sanctuary unbelievably grand, the music from our choir made your heart sing just to listen and the message Father Tom gave was incredible! Even before the service we were celebrating the day with an Easter brunch that none could rival....Eggs Benedict with Hollaindaise Sauce, thick sliced bacon, hash browns, scrambled fiesta eggs, homemade biscuits topped with sausage gravy, and of course my "almost famous" shrimp & grits, along with a mounding bowl of fresh cut fruit!  To top all that off we had the coffee and some mighty tasty mimosas!  Of course I ate too much but it was all well worth it.

Also, the ladies of the church were sporting their great Easter hats, a tradition that's long been gone away but I think should be revitalized and we had an anonymous member who promised to donate $10 to the church for every hat worn on Easter Sunday. I loved seeing the different creations everyone wore and it just added something to the day for me. I, myself, was excited to wear my vintage hat and pinned my late Grandmother Faulkenberry's pin onto it and wore her earrings, so I hope she was smiling down from heaven in appreciation of me enjoying channeling her look.

On this Monday morning, I've reflective and thankful I had a life in which God was a part. My family was tough sometimes to grow up in, the church was our second home, but the beliefs instilled in me as a child have carried through to my adult life and I am a stronger person for it. I have a wonderful church family, and my weeks just aren't quite the same if I miss the Sunday services and the spiritual uplift I crave from that. No, I'm not super religious, but I need my spiritual fill to survive and I am thankful for my life and the blessings of it.

Hope you all had a day like mine, if not seek it out, it will change your life and enrich you in ways you cannot imagine.  May the Peace of the Easter joy be with you all, until next time.....

I'm a slacker!

Yep, official slacker here, swore I'd keep my blog up-to-date and it's been months since I've posted. Life has a way of sucking the life out of you sometimes and there aren't enough hours in the day :(

Anyhoo, wanted to share a much requested recipe, my "Almost Famous Shrimp & Grits", and hope you enjoy it!

p.s. and I promise I'll try to be a better blogger....:)

Leah’s Almost Famous Shrimp & Grits

(serves 2-3 people well)

Grits:               1-1/2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth

1 cup whole milk

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup quick cooking grits (I use _)

1/4 cup of each cheese: gouda (shredded) and Velveeta (cubed)

                        1/4 cup fresh grated parmesan (do not use the powdery stuff!)

                        1/8 tsp white pepper

                        1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

                        1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

In large saucepan bring the broth, milk and salt to a boil, turn heat to low (so it will just simmer) and whisk in grits.  Cook, uncovered or cover with mesh screen, for 25 minutes or until grits get to desired thickness, stirring them frequently.  Once cooked, add cheeses and spices, stirring well until blended.

About halfway through cooking your grits, start the shrimp portion of your recipe.

Shrimp roux:   3/4 pounds of fresh shrimp – peeled and deveined (I use medium size)

                        2 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

                        1-2 tbsp fresh parsley, snipped and chopped

                        1/3 cup green scallion onions – thinly sliced (green & white parts)

                        1/2 cup Campari tomatoes, finely diced (can use other variety if desired)

                        1 clove garlic, minced

                        4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

To make roux: Fry bacon in large skillet until brown and crisp, remove from pan and drain on paper towel. Once cooled enough to handle, crumble and keep warm. Do not drain pan.

Rinse peeled and deveined shrimp well and pat dry with paper towel. Add tomatoes, lemon juice, parsley, green onions and garlic, sauté medium for about five minutes to make a nice juice for your roux. Add shrimp and sauté for another 3 to 4 minutes then turn pan off (don’t cook shrimp more than 3-4 minutes or it will become rubbery).

To serve:  Ladle equal amounts of grits topped with shrimp roux in individual serving bowls, top with crumbled bacon, along with some green leafy garnish of choice, then enjoy and soak up the compliments!

A recipe to warrant your elastic pants!

Krispy Kreme Chocolate Cake

18 chocolate glazed Krispy Kreme donuts cut into chunks (slightly stale ones work better)
6 eggs
2 cans condensed milk
pinch of salt
7 tbsp butter
2 heaping tbsp cocoa powder
3 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 pound powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 F.  In a really large bowl beat eggs and whisk in salt and condensed milk; stir in donut chunks and let sit for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Grease and flour a Bundt pan (or spray with Pam).  Pour donut mixture in and bake for 45 minutes or until set.  Toward the end of cooking time mix the frosting: melt butter in a saucepan and stir in cocoa powder till completely combined; remove from heat and whisk in milk and vanilla, then powdered sugar; keep warm over low heat till needed.  Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes, then turn onto cake plate. Immediately pour warm icing over top.  Yep, go ahead and get your elastic waist pants out, you'll need them after this!

Goat Cheese yumminess

Happy Mother's Day to all you mother's out there and for all you women who are like a mother to someone you love!  Thought I'd share a really yummy recipe my sister Sonya sent me, super easy and a big hit with everyone who tries it!


Pesto Goat Cheese Spread


2 8-oz packages cream cheese, softened
8 oz goat cheese
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 tsp chopped fresh oregano or 1 1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup basil pesto
1/2 cup dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped

optional garnishes: minced black olives, dried tomato slivers, fresh oregano sprigs

Serve with crackers or artisan bread slices.

Process first 5 ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Spread one third of cheese mixture in bottom of a plastic wrap-lined pan, 8x4 loaf pan works well. Top with pesto; spread one third of cheese mixture over pesto. Sprinkle with chopped dried tomato; top with remaining cheese. cover and chill for 8 hours.

Invert onto serving plate, discarding plastic wrap, garnish if desired and serve with bread or crackers.

Bon apetito!

Lazy, lazy..that's me!

Wow, it's been a couple of months since I took the time to put my thoughts down and I'm pretty sure it's just laziness!  These past two weeks have been crazy busy, my daughter Cydnee is moving to Philly area and is stopping over for a couple of weeks to stay with us til she moves in, my son was in a bad accident and totaled his car, but he's okay just very sore still. Our cat Wally took off last night because of my daughter's dogs and didn't come home til tonight, guess her big dogs are just more than he can handle!  Sam and I, we're working too much and not having nearly enough fun but hopefully a cookout with friends on Saturday night will change all that.  Sam is struggling with some demons of his own and I'm struggling with detesting myself right now because I've gained so much weight.  Why is it there is always something in life that's so difficult? I love food, plain and simple, and I make promises to myself about overeating that I never keep and then get angry at myself and internalize everything which makes me eat even more!  Why can't someone make a magic pill? Good grief, here I go again with my laziness! Everything takes an effort and I need to get my ass in gear to do something about this! Time's a wastin and I ain't getting any younger! Have a good night all..........