The Cicada's Where Singing In The Tree Tops

I love summer nights, tunes playing on the stereo and dinner on the porch.    Ina Garden says, "when your visitors enter the music should be playing," I agree!  Stone and I danced to the beat, while waiting for our guest Leann and Kevin to arrive.  

At the sound of the door bell, Lucy quickly ran towards the door, barking (her way of saying hello).  I sometimes think Lucy assumes the visitors are here to see her.   She even wore a dress this evening. Prancing on all four legs, she lead the way to the porch for drinks and appetizers.  

It was the perfect evening as the sun was setting and the cicada's where singing in the tree tops.  We gathered around the table as I quickly lit the candles and served the main course, Individual Beef Croustades with Boursin & Mushrooms, while Stone poured the wine, 19 Crimes.   

With stomachs filled, but not to full for dessert, I served slices of Fresh Blueberry Pie, topped with fresh Stabilized Whipped Cream.  With sated stomachs, coffee was served and the evening came to an end.  

 I rarely buy flowers, trying mostly to use what is in my yard at the time.   This Monad fistulosa (bee balm or wild bergamot) blooms late in the summer and attracts numerous butterflies and bee's.

 Orange Dream Cycle Martini

Serves:1

Ingredients:

1 ounce pinnacle whipped vodka

3 ounces orange'n cream soda (or any flavor soda)

Directions:

Rim glass with sugar and add an orange slice.

Mix above and pour into glass.

Optional: top with whipping cream.

I've made this Roasted Shrimp Cocktail many times.  It's a Barefoot Contessa recipe.  Roasting the shrimp is by far the best way to prepare it for this recipe.  

 The fondest memories are made while gathered around the dinner table.

 A simple red, white and green, Italian salad, the Caprese Salad, the colors was made to resemble the Italian flag. I drizzle some Balsamic Reduction on the saucer prior to assembling.

19 Crimes

Proclamation:

EACH DECLARED BY HIS MAJESTY to be punishable on Conviction by Transportation.

NINETEEN CRIMES turned criminals into colonists.  Upon conviction, British rogues, guilty of at least one of the 19 crimes, were sentenced to live in Australia, rather than death.  This punishment by "transportation" began in 1788, and many of the lawless died at sea.  For the rough-hewn prisoners who made it to shore, a new world awaited.

As pioneers in a frontier penal colony, they forged a new country and new lives, brick by brick.

This wine celebrates the rules they broke and the culture they built.

Crime #13-Assaulting, cutting, or burning clothes.

Nannerpuddin At The Neighbors

Stone and I had spent the day in the Smoky Mountains looking for the perfect location for a special event.  We arrived home in time to get showered and at the neighbors just in time for dinner.  A storm was brewing as we walk across the street.  The clouds were rolling in, but it hadn't started to rain.  Neither Stone nor I had looked at the forecast.  We rang the doorbell as Sid, Shannon and Tobi, their maltipoo-combination maltese/poodle, greeted us at the door, happy to have company.  Tobi took a liking to Stone and spent some time in his arms.  We started the evening with baked brie in a flakey pastry, served with crackers.  I have a fondness for all cheese, but brie is my all time favorite.  I LOVE IT!  The weather was taking a turn for the worst.  Each of us has a weather app on our phones, and the alarms where going off right and left, sending us warnings of possible tornados.  Sid decided he'd better grill the salmon before the rain began.  During this time we had the weather channel on. With all that  going on, we wanted to make sure that we where aware of the situation.  Just as Sid brought in the salmon, alerts where coming in of possible large hail.  Sid quickly went out to put his vehicle in the garage.  No one wants that kind of damage.  We discussed the safest place in their home just in case the need arose.  Sid had his flashlight handy if the electricity went out.  Prepared as we could be in case of danger, we sat down to a wonderful dinner beginning with caprese salad made with these brown tomatoes, called Kumato's, which are sweeter than most. This was a tasty start to our meal.  We followed it with grilled salmon, roasted asparagus with parmesan cheese and rice.  As we ate, the weather continued booming, but not raining or hailing.  It was time for dessert which I'm never too full to eat.  Shannon had made something that was very special to her.  Sometimes recipes like pictures spark memories…The following does exactly that.  Shannon had made banana pudding which was very good. In fact, Stone and I asked for seconds, leaving none for poor Sid for the next day.  I asked if I could have the recipe. She shyly stated, "it is so ridiculously simple, it's embarrassing."  This recipe came from a dear friend of Shannon's, her sister in law's mom, who has since passed on to heaven. It's really special when people like it. 

Nana's "Nannerpuddin"

1 box of Jello Vanilla Pudding(4.6 ounce box) cook & serve kind, NOT INSTANT

3-4 Bananas

Box of vanilla wafers

Make pudding according to directions on box, being sure to stir constantly.  After it boils, let pudding cool before pouring on the banana/wafer mixture.

While pudding is cooling slice bananas and alternate layers of wafers and bananas.  When the pudding is cool, pour over the layers and let chill 2-3 hours.

Bluegrass On Liberty Square

It was the third Friday night of the month in Sparta, Tennessee. Tyme Line and Sunny Mountain Bluegrass Band were performing on Liberty Square. We ramble through here own our way to visit Stone's mom, Ms. Betty, who lives on the other side of the mountain.   As we drove through last month, we noticed the sign advertising live bluegrass every third Friday through October.  I packed a picnic, snapped Lucy into her car seat, and Stone and I were on our way.   Here is some history on this charming little town.  Sparta, the county seat, nearly became the capitol of the state of Tennessee, loosing to Nashville by only one vote.  Wow, I didn't know that.  This small township with rolling hills, creeks, caves and waterfalls has a population of only 4,599 at last count.  Hmmm, this is close to the size of my home town. Actually its larger by approximately 2000 people.  It is established on the banks of the Calfkiller River and only a short distance from the Cumberland Mountains.  It has become known as Bluegrass, USA.  This place was home to numerous Bluegrass Hall Of Famers such as Lester Flatt, Benny Martin, Bill Jones, John Henry Demps, and Blake Williams.   So there we sat, Stone, Lucy and I  savoring our picnic of Buttermilk Oven Fried Chicken Legs, Buttermilk Biscuits, Caprese Salad, Chewy Chocolate Cookies and the drink of the South, Ice-Tea. Just minutes prior to starting of the bluegrass music, a storm blew in and cancelled the show.  REALLY!!!  There's always the third Friday of next month.

Picnic at Liberty Square

Yum!!!!

Stone is HUNGRY!!!!

It's raining, meaning no bluegrass at Liberty Square.

Buttermilk Oven Fried Chicken Legs

Chicken Ingredients:
2 cups buttermilk, for soaking
4 Tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons Paula Deans House Seasoning
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried lemon thyme
1 whole chicken cut into serving pieces

Paula Deans House Seasoning:
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder

Directions:
Mix above together and keep in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Directions:
Soak chicken overnight for up to 24 hours.  Preheat oven 425'.  30 minutes before baking drain chicken using a colander.  In a 9X13" baking dish add butter and place in oven long enough to melt the butter.  Whisk together the flour and seasonings.  Dredge chicken pieces in the flour; place into the baking pan.  Bake 425' for 35 minutes, turn and bake another 20-25 minutes, or until juices fun clear and chicken is cooked through.
Total time will depend on the size of pieces you use, but the internal temperature should reach 175' in the thickest part of the thigh, 165' in the breast.  Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely if storing.

Caprese Salad

Salad Ingredients:
2 pounds assorted chopped tomatoes
1 pound cubed mozzarella
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped basil
1/3 cup olive oil
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl.  YUM!!!

Southern Biscuits

Biscuit Ingredients:
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoon butter
2 Tablespoon shortening
1 cup buttermilk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450'. Place iron skillet in oven while preheating.
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Using my kitchen-aide, mix butter and shortening into dry ingredients until mixture looks like crumbs.
Make a well in the center and pour in the chilled buttermilk.  Stir just until the dough comes together.  The dough will be very sticky.With my floured hands I divide the dough into four lumps, making four balls.    Take HOT iron skillet from oven and place biscuits in skillet and back in the oven.  You can also brush with a little melted butter if you would like. Bake until biscuits are tall and light, gold on top, 15-20 minutes. Makes 4 medium-large biscuits. Recipe adapted from: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/southern-biscuits-recipe.html
You can also freeze these.  As soon as you have formed them into a ball, wrap them individually and freeze.  When ready to bake, take out of the freezer as the oven with the skillet in the oven is preheating.  Following above baking directions.

The reason you want to put the iron skillet in the oven while it is preheating is that you will have crunchy bottom instead of soggy.

Chewy Chocolate Cookies

Cookie Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
3/4 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups (12 ounce pkg.) peanut butter chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, Andes Creme De Menthe Baking Chips, caramel chips or white chocolate chips. Yeild: 54 cookies.

Directions:
Heat oven to 350'.
In a mixer bowl, cream sugar and butter until fluffy and light.
Add in vanilla and eggs; beat well.
Combine salt, corn starch, baking soda, cocoa, and flour; gradually blend into creamed mixture.  Stir in chips of your choice.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 14 minutes.  Cookies will flatten out.   OR THIS IS WHAT I DO: Roll into a log and place in the freezer.  Carefully slice into thick slices and place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Or use cookie mold pan.  Bake 14 minutes. Do not over bake; cookies will be soft.
Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet onto wire rack.  Cool completely.  Recipe adapted from: http://www.food.com/recipe/chewy-chocolate-cookies-5049/photo
What is your favorite picnic menu?