At Last.....

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The pumpkin shortage is over! Hallelujah!! Right?

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So the day my local grocery store finally stocks the shelf with canned pumpkin is the day I make pumpkin cookies. Are you kidding me? The very day. Yesterday was day two of pumpkin cookie baking and Gary said to me, "Will you always make me pumpkin cookies?" in the same voice as, "Will you always love me?"

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There is only one way to his heart.

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Zoe got to help me make the cookies on the first day. After whippin' the butter and foldin' in the chocolate, the dough finally went in the oven. I set the timer and Zoe said, "How long do they have to bake?"

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I said, "Eight to ten minutes?"

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She said, "huh?" (or some version of that)

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And I said again, "Eight to ten minutes."

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She said,"I don't get that? I don't get what it means when people say 8 ta' 10 minutes."

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I said, "That means that the cookies should be done anywhere between 8 or 10 minutes."

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I could see her wheels turning and she thought on that.

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Then she said, "So it really only takes 2 minutes?"

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Get it???

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(I had to tell it to Gary twice before he got it)

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Love Pumpkin Cookies but haven't found the recipe yet? This one is the one for us.

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Just Sayin'

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As a Fall lover, I am beyond excited for Fall food and I've finally said, "The heck with it, I am eating fall food and I don't care if it's still in the 90's!"

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And I've pretty much done so except for the enjoyment of baking with pumpkin because of the pumpkin shortage my sister just made me aware of. (people paying $30 a can on eBay?.... I can't judge, it's tempting...)

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In the mean time I found this delicious fall..... (well, treat may be pushing it) morning meal.

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It is quite Autumny. It is different from the Cinnamon Harvest and the ingredients only say 'natural flavor'. I think it's pumpkin spice they've added though.

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And Again.

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This time last year I was panning cares.

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I got to do the same again this year. First I tried a no sugar added Vanilla Pear Jam, which is pictured above.

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Then the sugar loving side of me insisted I also can some pears with sugar, so I tried these Spiced Pear Preserves which made my house smell like Christmas and I was like, "Whoa there now... I am ready for Fall and all but I am in no hurry for Christmas!"

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Wrapping Up School Lunch

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Have I mentioned I am in a tortilla phase? I think I have...

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This latest came about while trying to keep the kids lunch boxes interesting. Did you know I am in competition with the schools lunch? Not so much with their Tuna Tetrazzini, but their Pizza.
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Sliced strawberries with strawberry cream cheese and mini chocolate chips.

Regular cream cheese with banana and peanuts.

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Wrapped and Wrolled.
This is their second most requested lunch.

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Soup in August is their first. When the temps are still around 100.

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Go figure.

Bbq Chicken Quesadillas

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I go through phases, even food phases. My latest is tortillas. And also tortillas and the griddle. (but not always the griddle with the tortilla)

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So I created a new quesadilla. Maybe it's been created already by someone else but it's new to me.

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Place tortillas on the warmed griddle and add bbq sauce. (I always, always use Sweet Baby Ray's for all my bbq sauce needs)

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Add cooked chicken.



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And quesadilla cheese.


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Some slivers of red onion.

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Cilantro.

(cilantro.... love it? or hate it?)

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Make brown and crispy on both sides.

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Cut into quarters and enjoy.

It's a no fork required experience.

Huh? What??? What's that?

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It's all the making of a bbq chicken pizza in the form of a quesadilla?

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Okay.... you got me.

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But it's gooooooooooooooooooooooooooood.

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Thanks For Asking

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I got a bunch of emails requesting I share the menu from Rae's surprise par-tay.

.Okay, so not really. Truth be told, in 2009 I got a whoppin' 2 emails about my blog. And that was up from the year before! But can I just pretend I am one of those bloggers???

.Just for this one post?

.Thanks.

.So I got a bunch of emails requesting I share what foods were served at Rae's surprise party.

.First let me share that I did not make the gorgeous cake, her wonderful friend that I like to call CatV did.

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice, huuuh? She's a rockstar when it comes to cake decorating!

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This here is the food table with almost all of the food that was served for the night.

This is what was on the drink table, which is cotton candy cups, there were little 6 ouncers of Sprite chilled and waiting for the guests to pour over their cotton candy cups.

The results-

Pretty, they said, but it didn't taste different.

I made Brownie Bites 3 Ways. (actually, a friend did the baking of the brownies and I topped)

Here on the right we have a Triple Berry Brownie bite with a little Raspberry Sauce and a Maraschino Cherry Brownie Bite with a Chocolate Ganache.

The third Brownie Bite was topped with a Cheesecake Creme and a chocolate R, for Rae.

Then we had a jar of Whoppers. Not because they are Rae's favorite candy (that would be raspberry licorice) but because I could fill this jar for about a buck.

.You got me, I am a bargain shopper. Or something like that.

Rae would have wanted healthy options, so I did chop some veggie sticks for her.

Then I served some Sweet 16 Sugar Cookies.

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And this is about when the party got started and being hostess took over being food photographer (as the hot foods started coming out of the oven and the whippersnappers were looking starved)....

But I did get a picture of this, I served french fries with three different choices of sauce.

.Ever had fry sauce?

When I was in high school I mixed all sorts of condiments in search of the perfect fry sauce. Thank you Training Table for showing me the way!

I hope this post answered all the emails (that I didn't get).

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Until next time.....

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Good Things Come in Small Packages.

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Aren't little individual cups like that just the cutest?

I made these adorable little Banana Puddin's using this recipe. It's the best recipe I have found yet. Except I did use mini Vanilla Wafers, which they now call Nilla Wafers?

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Speaking of getting lazy with the Engligh language- in the south, you aren't to pronounce the G in pudding. It's puddin'. Okay?

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Zoe's Food Review

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"I don't like this new cereal. It tastes like popsicle sticks."

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Don't Play With Your Food

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I taught them better. I swear I did.

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What do you say?

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Definitely Airheads as the base. And as a child of the 80's, I know my Pop Rocks... so that's definitely Pop Rocks sprinkled on top.

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But what's that in the middle? Laffy Taffy? Star Burst?

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What do you think?

Odds and Ends

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I found a new and interesting fruit that I have never heard of before.

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Kiwi Berries.

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Is that something new to you or am I just behind on my fruits? Kiwi Berries are not genetically engineered, as I first thought. They taste just like the kiwi we all know and love but are bite sized, just like popping a grape into your mouth. There is no fuzz like the regular kiwi, the skin is like the skin of a grape or cherry. It's delicious!

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Also, you know how the back of cereal's have these little goodies, like this Stay Out poster?

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Look how my son posted the poster on his bedroom door-

Niiiiiiiiiice.
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Speaking of nice, listen to what I get to hear every day.



The things I do for cool points.

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The Chocolate Diet

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If I ever decided to go on a diet to lose the last 10 pounds from when I had my baby..... 8 years ago....

.(last 10 pounds?! Aren't I the funniest?!)
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......I would go on The Chocolate Diet.

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For breakfast I would have one of these most delicious bars, full of antioxidants and coming in at only 120 calories, 4 grams of fat and a whoppin' 9 grams of fiber. No wonder they are so filling. And so very moist and delicious. (so delicious I said delicious twice. Or make that four times)

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.For lunch you might would find me on the go (sitting at my computer) sipping on a store brand Slim Fast, which I would get super cheap at Walmart, who by the way, their store brand is starting to look a lot like Dharma Initiative food which is so totally cool and creepy all at the same time.

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I've heard that some people don't care for these shakes but I haven't met a chocolate shake that I don't like. I find it (also) delicious and filling and it comes in at only 180 calories and high in protein to make it stick. (whatever that means)

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If I were on a Chocolate Diet, you might would find me snacking and/or desserting on these yummy (160 calorie) delights. Have you ever had them frozen? Oh me, oh my! Get your Whips! in the freezer! Pronto!

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After all the chocolatey goodness, I might would try for a healthy dinner. Not covered in chocolate. (cause everyone says "what's NOT good with chocolate??" Smoked Salmon, that's what!)

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And if I were doing all the above things mentioned, and my kids got a hold of it because they didn't realize what they were eating was healthy and nutritious because it tasted like chocolate.........

.Then I'd gladly enjoy my #1 snack that- for some reason- the kids steer clear of.

Just remember, this is if I were to decide to diet.

IF.

(that's a big if.)

I'm Souper! How About You?

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I'm sorry I can't blog today, I am way too busy making soup for about 200 people.

This is about a 1/4 of the soup I need to make.

(soup pots are larger than they appear)

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Truth be told, I am no culinarian, but I play one at my church.

How I Store Food

Without a doubt, food storage is important. And if you didn't believe it before, do you not believe it now? With our economy in such a mess and a debt that will take a scary amount of years to pay off?

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Oy and vey. Know what I'm sayin'?

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*sigh*

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So two days ago, on my anniversary, my husband and I picked up some food storage items.

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Here is my favorite place to acquire food storage-

And here are my two favorite cookies to store from Two Smart Cookies-

Their Chocolate Chip Cookie-

And their Sugar Cookie-

Their seasonal Sugar Cookies never disappoint. Gorgeous every time.

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But just because you don't live in Georgia doesn't mean you can't store this local delicacy. You can order these food storage items online!

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Just go here- http://www.twosmartcookies.com/

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You may not have realized that you can store cookies- but you can!!

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And here is where.....

Bam!

And here-

Bam!

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And you'll have to store here too-

When those places fill, you can store here.

Some people may find it rude to flaunt your food storage, but hey... you can't apologize for preparedness and obedience.

.Oh!Oh! Don't forget- to rotate, you need to consume the cookies often.

And remember, if we ever have a famine, the skinny chics go first.

Ha!

And those that have stored cookies will get to suffer longer.

Hey, wait a minute.....

Hey Ya'll!

Brace yourself for what could be my longest post ever. With the most photo's too.

Yesterday Gary and I went on a date courtesy of Elvis.

Not that Elvis, silly! My brother Elvis.

Actually, probably courtesy of his wife. Either way, they gifted Gary and I with a Paula Deen gift certificate for Christmas.

The gift certificate could be used at her store, her restaurant or her little brother Bubba's restaurant.

We'd been to her place already so we were excited to check out her little brother Bubba's place.

So this is where I would like to pretend I am a food critic and I write for a fancy pants magazine about restaurants where I've dined.

Okay?

Here goes.

Upon arriving at Uncle Bubba's, the view from the parking lot was fitting for a seafood restaurant.

The entrance was inviting.

The interior design was minimal, with a hint of industrial and a bigger hint of family, with pictures of Paula and Bubba growing up scattered about the restaurant. Even some vinyl lettering with words about family.

Soon after being seated in a dining room that would seat a gracious plenty, we were served mini cornbread muffins that were so sweet they could almost be mistaken for cupcakes and the honey butter for frosting.

(note to self, when snapping a picture of mini cornbread muffins using the close up button on lame camera, the mini muffins don't look mini)

My date order chicken wings for an appetizer. I however, do not dine on chicken wings, so I had to take his word for it.

His word, "Not bad."

It needs to be known though that this is how he says "it's good."

My date ordered the Shrimp 'N Grits. He was a little disappointed because he believes there were only 5 shrimp in his Shrimp 'N Grits, but the flavor was definitely there.

I know of what I speak, I snuck a bite.

Without the shrimp though. I cleaned shrimp for the first and last time about a year ago and I haven't been able to eat shrimp since.

However, I've never cleaned crab, so bring it!

And they did!!

I had crab legs, cheesy grits, and corn on the cob.

Heaven!!!

I have zero complaints about my lunch.

(Do you know Paula Deen's secret to grits? To use instant but cook them like they aren't instant. It works! It makes for the creamiest yummiest grits ever!)

The lunch was ended on this shared sweet note, Chocolate Creme Brulee.

The top was missing that crunchy sugar topping... well, the sugar was there, but it wasn't cooked long enough. Even so, it was divine. It was a great way to end the meal.

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As we were leaving the restaurant, Bubba himself was at the door saying his goodbye's to his guests. As much as I do not care if anyone sees the I am taking a picture of food before I eat it, I was too embarrassed to ask him for a picture.

Silly me.

So far I have seen the Food Network star's son (at Lady and Son's) and her brother. Maybe one day I will spot Paula Deen herself.

Speaking of Food Network, Bravo has one of my all time favorite TV shows, Top Chef.

(that was a joke. Did you get it? Was it funny?)

Oh how I love that show! It's on season 5 and I haven't missed one episode of any season. They have all been great fun to watch, every stinkin' one.

This year has been extra fun.

This is Jeff.

He went home last night. Isn't he perdy? He's perdy! And he was intense. I've always been attracted to intense men.

This is Gene.

Gene was intense too. And there seems to always be someone just like Gene (intense and tattooed) on the show, and they always do really well. But he didn't make it was far as the intense tattooed usually make it.

This is Fabio.

I like Fabio. He's from Italy and his English is hilarious and his accent in niiiiice. He's just the sweet fella on the show. He's not bad to look at either, is he?

This is Stefan.

He's from Finland so he has an accent too, but he's missing the cute and sweet.

This is Carla.

I love Carla! She has a catering business and I want to have her come cater something so we can meet and become friends. She is so silly and funny and full of energy and she cooks with love! How do I know that? Because she says it, all the time. And sometimes the judges feel the love, they say that too.

Speaking of judges- this is Toby Young.

He's a new judge and I am not so sure about him yet.


*sigh*
Tom Collichio


*sigh....again*

Tom is a TV crush of mine.

Does your marriage allow for a TV crush?

In my marriage, I am allowed to have TV crushes but Gary's not.

HAHA!

No, really.

Actually, I've been meaning to do a post on Bald Hollywood Hotties for a while. Tom would be at the top.

I do have a thing for bald men, I admit. I married one. Of course, my husband doesn't think bald is beautiful, so I like to point out the Bald Hollywood Hotties to him. Recently he asked if he could point out all the women on TV he thought was hot. I said, "Only if they are chubby."

By the way, there was more to the date than lunch. More on that tomorrow.

*photo's from Bravotv.com and google image