The Healer's Dinner Party

Fall has arrived and with that comes pumpkins.  For weeks I have seen them arriving at the markets along with the scarecrows.  This is and always has been my favorite time of year.  I had wanted to have dinner outside under the stars as we did last year when the Healer's were over, but the weather was not cooperating.  Stone and I were up at 5 am. firing up the Green Egg for the pulled pork.  It was raining so we pulled the Egg into the screen-in porch where it remained until the butt was done.  The meat was so juicy and tender.  I just picked it up with the forks and it would fall apart.  I didn't have to shred it.  It was perfect!!!

 Ole Smoky Tennessee Big Orange Moonshine

During the first Tennessee home football game of this season, Stone and I were invited to attend the tailgating of friends, Karen and Greg.  We were told to go to tent city, and wow was that amazing.  I don't think I had ever seen anything like it.  There where white tents as far as the eye could see.  On the inside, some had beautiful sofa's and chairs,  and of course big screen T.V.'s. Others had full silver serving platers and vases of flowers.  I was shocked.  It was glorified tailgating.

Once we arrived and found our friends, they proceeded to introduce us to everyone.  Let's just say, if anyone had become ill, there would had been someone there to treat you.  I think there was at least one doctor from every specialty in Knoxville at this tailgate.  The food was plentiful and yummy.  The one that really stood out was the Ole Smoky Tennessee Big Orange Moonshine.  I had never tasted moonshine of any kind, but I must say this Big Orange Moonshine was amazing.  It tasted like orange soda, with a kick.  Who wouldn't like that?

Days after the game I asked Stone to stop by the liquor store on the way home from work to purchase two jars, one for our dinner party with The Healer's, and one for Thanksgiving.  As our guest Sandy, Debbie, Nancy, John, Glen and Bill arrived, I  poured the moonshine.  The men made their way out to the porch and talked shop, while the ladies and I settled in on the sofa and spoke of ancestry while nibbling on cheese.

All the cheeses were tasty, but the one that stood out was the Mimolette. It was Electric Orange in color, mild tasting and shaped like a cannonball prior to slicing. It was the favorite of the evening by all.

 Picolos

One day I went with Stone to the corporate office and then we joined his peeps for lunch.  While there I began talking with Linda.  She asked if we had any trips planned.  We were about to head to Texas in a few days to visit my mama and family.  I proceeded to tell her were they all lived.  When I spoke of Corsicana, Linda said she used to work in there many years ago.  I began naming a few establishments there that are my favorite places to go when in Texas.  The Old Mexican Inn where we both agreed their orange dip and margaritas were the best.  Then I mentioned Collins Street Bakery and she immediately says, their pickles.  At first I didn't think she heard me correctly, so I repeated myself saying Collins Street Bakery. She said, "yes, they have the best pickles ever!!!"  Well, I had no idea they sold pickles, but I was on a mission to purchase some seeing that I love pickles.  I mentioned to my mama prior to our arrival if she had ever had any of the pickles, and like me she did't know they had pickles.  We then had a mission.  On the second day in Texas we drove to Waco. My mama had some things to purchase there.  On our way home we stopped  at Collins Street Bakery and bought two jars of Picolos, one for me and one for mama.  Once back home we opened one of the jars and wow, Linda was right.  These are the best pickles I have ever eaten.  Well, there was no way I could go home now with just one jar.  The next day we drove to Corsicana to visit my brother and his family.  Seeing that there is a Collins Street Bakery in Corsicana, I had to make another stop to purchase more pickles as did my mama.  Since then, I have ordered a case and had them delivered to Tennessee.  One of my daughters, Abby Gail was just home visiting and as she was leaving I was putting together a to go bag of goodies. She looks at me and says, "you did put a jar of Picolos in there too?"  I hadn't, but you can be sure I did.  

While the Healer's were here for a dinner party we had smoked pulled pork, Baked Beans,and Corn Salad.  You know I served those Picolos.  Seriously, I could eat the entire jar in one sitting. They are that good.

My Table-Scape

 Banana Pudding

What's better to serve with BBQ than Banana Pudding?  It was the perfect dessert.  I have made this so many times and it always tastes so good.  And the best part is that it is a Cooking light recipe.  I also made a peach pie with peaches that I had brought back from Texas.  While visiting my mama, we went to Cooper Farms.  Cooper Farms is owned and operated by Timmy Cooper, with whom I went to school. He was a year older and in class with my sister, Tina.  While there I purchased  these amazing peaches. Once home I prepared them for the freezer to be baked into a pie another day.  The time had come and tonight was the night. The Healer's also had peach pie as a dessert choice.  Or maybe not a choice since some, like I, had both.

My mama and daddy keep an eye on all the M&M's making sure no one eats more than they should.  There were Crispy M&M's, Peanut Butter M&M's, Milk Chocolate M&M's and Peanut M&M's.  You can never have to many M&M's, as long as you do not consume them all at once, that is.