World Peace…..one piece at a time

Attention dieters and calorie-counters, you will be offended by this recipe. Pants with elastic waistbands are highly recommended.

I’m convinced this chicken fried steak with gravy would bring peace to the world. If the crunchy, battered tenderized steak didn’t encourage people to be nice to each other, the thick and creamy gravy would surely change their attitudes. It changed my Husband’s.

 

You know those little crunchy bits you get when you fry something? Well, I took a big handful and added them to the cream gravy. Yeah, I’m livin’ on the edge. Mmmmm mmmmm gooooooooood.

Sorry, I was having a personal moment with myself.

Moving on!

Back to Husband’s change in attitude tonight…

Husband’s been irritated and frustrated all day while trying to find tires to fit one of the trailers parked behind our house. Currently, there are three ~ a horse trailer, a bumper-pull trailor, and a gooseneck trailor. He blew two tires last weekend coming home from an auction and it’s been tougher-than-nails to find two additional tires that match the new ones. He began this “scavenger hunt” EARLY this morning. Seven hours later, plus several trips to multiple retail locations bearing the same name, he found the tires.

Praise the Lord, the tires will be here Monday.

All was fine-and-dandy in Husbandville until I heard growling words. I peaked my head outside and quickly ducked back in. Minutes later, Husband appeared to share his bad news.

While re-attaching a new tire to the trailer, he stripped the thread on a nut and bent a bolt. That’s not a good thing. In fact, it’s going to require ANOTHER trip to an auto or hardware store for a new nut and bolt.

I know what you’re thinking – - ”Wow, this girl really knows what she’s talking about!” Keep telling yourself that. I won’t stop you.

Anyway……..I tell you all of this because as soon as Mister Frustrated entered the kitchen and smelled battered meat fryin’ in the iron skillet, his attitude quickly changed and he was quite pleasant. He even poured a glass of sweet tea for me. Bless his heart. 

World Peace Chicken Fried Steak

Start with a couple of pounds of tenderized steak cut into large pieces. I used two large steaks and cut into 12 pieces. Husband and I enjoy leftovers, but you can adjust the quantities to suit your needs.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, and seasonings. I use a mixture of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. In another bowl, combine add a good amount of Bisquick (or plain flour) and a healthy dose of more seasonings. In an assembly-line fashion, dredge the meat into the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, and return for another coating of flour.

Heat a large iron skillet over medium heat and pour in enough oil to completely cover the bottom.

When the oil is hot, add 2-3 pieces of steak, depending on their size. Don’t crowd the pan, this meat deserves respect and you’ll appreciate the crunchiness.

Cook for 3-4 minutes, then flip. The steaks are done when golden brown.

Served with mashed/smashed/smooshed/baked/fried/whatever-you-like potatoes and gravy, this fried steak will promote peace in the world…….one piece at a time.

Oh, and would you believe this recipe is completely, totally, unequivalocally, 100-percent dairy-free. That means, no milk, no butter, no cream, no nothing from a cow. Well, except the meat, of course. I might have an allergy to cow’s milk, but I’ll still eat the cow!

Have you entered my current giveaway? If not, click HERE and add a comment with your name and email address. If 100 or more comments are received, I’m increasing the Target gift card amount to $100.00. Contest ends Sunday at midnight. Good luck!

Peace, love, and fried steak,

Home Chef Challenge

I’ve been a lazy bum this morning. Even though I awoke before my alarm went off, I stayed in bed to finish a book I had started. I thought I would check my social status before going outside to begin another’s day work in the garden when I was pleasantly SHOCKED to read an email from the staff at the TODAY show’s Facebook page. I entered the Home Chef Challenge several weeks ago and they’ve selected my entry.

If you remember, I made a peanut butter pie for Husband’s birthday – you can see the post here and get the recipe here. It was, simply, one of the best peanut butter pies I’ve EVER eaten. Super peanut-y, super creamy, and super delicious made for a super dessert.

If you are a Facebook user, I would really appreciate your support in this little contest. All you must do is “like” the TODAY Food page on Facebook. Then, visit the Home Cook Challenge page and vote for my recipe. The photo above is featured on their page too.

This is what their Facebook page looks like:

 

VOTE NOW!

When I took this screen shot, I was in the lead. Please share with your friends and encourage them to vote too. Just think, Husband’s birthday pie could be featured on TODAY.com!!!!!!!

Please vote. Thank you!

Related articles

• Five-Ingredient Peanut Butter Pie (mrshutchison.wordpress.com)

Surf~N~Turf

EDIT TO SHRIMP RECIPE
The shrimp I bought for the Spicy Citrus Shrimp had been de-veined but not peeled. To achieve a richer, more intense flavoring, peel the shrimp before placing in the marinade. My shrimp was delicious ~ what shrimp isn’t?! ~ but I feel the marinade did not infuse the shrimp due to the peel. So, take a few minutes to peel the shrimp and you’ll be very happy at meal time. Adjust the seasoning and happy eating!

Today is Husband’s 35th birthday and to celebrate I made one of his favorite meals: pork tenderloin and green bean casserole. I also included two special treats: spicy shrimp and peanut butter pie.

Birthday Dinner Menu

• Spicy Citrus Grilled Shrimp
• Marinated Grilled Pork Tenderloin
• Green Bean Casserole
• Five-Ingredient Peanut Butter Pie

 

Now, before you get your panties in a wad, we are big fans of leftovers. Yes, there’s enough food here to feed at least six hungry adults. But rest assure, there won’t be a crumb left in a day or two.

In this post, I’m going to share my tips for enjoying this delicious meal with a milk allergy. That’s right, I’m allergic to dairy (cow’s milk) products ~ and considering I have not had any breakouts, we’re going to keep on keeping on without milk-laden delicacies I crave but can’t have.

Spicy Citrus Grilled Shrimp

Place one pound of extra-large shrimp (de-veined) in a large Ziploc plastic bag. In a small bowl, combine the juice of one orange, one lemon, and one lime. Add a tablespoon of hot chili sauce and a teaspoon of brown sugar. Drizzle a couple of tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil into the mixture and stir. When combined, pour mixture over shrimp; then, seal the bag and place in the fridge.

Add shrimp to wooden skewers and place on grill. Shrimp are done when they’ve turned pink.

Wow, that was difficult. <insert sarcasm>

 Marinated Pork Tenderloin

In a large Ziploc plastic bag, combine a terriyaki glaze with olive oil and a variety of spices (i.e. paprika, garlic powder, etc.). Remove tenderloin from wrapper and rinse with cold water. Using a sharp knife, carefully “butterfly” the loins and place inside the Ziploc bag. Pour marinade over the meat, seal the bag, and place in the fridge.

Place loins on pre-heated grill and cook for 8-10 minutes on each side, turning once and basting with reserve marinade.

Man, this is difficult stuff! <add more sarcasm> 

Green Bean Casserole

Now, for you pitiful souls that buy your green beans in a can from the grocery store, I’m sending my condolences to you and your belly. At my house, the green beans come from a Mason jar specially sealed by my Mom, Dad, Neenie (Dad’s mom), or my Aunt Cathleen (Dad’s sister) and the green beans come from my parent’s garden. That “pop” you hear when opening a jar is a kiss from Kentucky.

Admit it, you’re jealous………as you should be!!!

I prepare my green bean casserole in a three-step process. If you don’t want to get this complicated, do your own thing. If you are using canned green beans, you might want to start this at least a half-day ahead so you can “infuse” those puppies with some love and seasonin’. God knows they need it.

Remember, when I say I’m using butter or milk in my recipes it is soy-based. I prefer Smart Balance Light butter made with olive oil and Silk Light regular soy milk, both are milk-free.

In a large stock pot, add two quarts (or four regular cans) of green beans. I like a mixture of Kentucky Wonders and Blue Lake. If you’re using canned beans, drain the can juice ~ yuck! ~ and add fresh water. Otherwise, use the juice in the Mason jar. Add a heaping tablespoon of bacon grease (a staple in EVERY country woman’s fridge) and several chunks of onion for extra home-cooked flavoring. Cover and simmer at least 30 minutes…..MUCH longer if you’re using that store-bought crap.

Preheat oven to 300.

Drain the cooking liquid from the pot of green beans. Set aside but keep covered. In a large skillet over medium-heat, melt two tablespoons of butter and 1/3 cup of flour. Let the flour sit there for several minutes and soak up the butter. Stir with a whisk and add two cups of milk. Season with salt and pepper. Once the mixture is thick, add the cream sauce to the green beans. Stir in one bag of French’s fried onions.

Coat the bottom and sides of a large baking dish with non-stick spray. Pour in bean mixture and top with another bag of fried onions. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until onions are brown.

At this particular point, everything is cooked so I don’t want to “bake” ~ I simply want to get the onions browned. As soon as the crispy onions get a nice golden color, take it out of the oven.  

Five-Ingredient Peanut Butter Pie

I was inspired by Cocoa and Cheese’s Easy Peanut Butter Pie ~ click here ~ but I made a few adjustments to suit Husband’s tastes and my milk allergy. I did not add the full cup of powdered sugar but I did add peanut butter for an intense flavor.

8 oz. Tofutti cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1 cup Great Value (Wal-Mart brand) powdered sugar
1 cup JIF creamy peanut butter
8 oz. Hill Country (H-E-B brand) dessert topping
Keebler Ready-Crust, graham cracker

Optional Chocolate Glaze:
1/2 cup Enjoy Life mini-chocolate chips
1 teaspoon Smart Balance Light “butter” made with Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
1 tablespoon Silk Creamer, original flavor

 In large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth. Slowly add dessert topping and powdered sugar, stopping at least twice to scrape the sides of the bowl. Pour mixture into graham cracker shell.

For glaze: add chips and butter to a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 15-30 second, or until melted. Stir in creamer. Drizzle over pie.

Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

This is one of the easiest PB pies I’ve made in a long time. I was uber-excited when I found a dessert topping ~ aka Cool Whip ~ made without milk. Thank you, H-E-B!

I got a little fancy with the chocolate glaze and placed it inside a small Ziploc bag, cut the tiny corner and drizzled it over the pie for a nice zig-zag pattern. For easy clean-up, put a sheet of parchment or wax paper underneath. I had enough chocolate sauce left for a big “K” in the middle, in honor of my Husband.

So there you have it. My really easy take on a Surf-N-Turf birthday dinner that Husband loves and I can safely eat. Believe me, you CANNOT taste the non-dairy-ness in either the casserole or the pie. In fact, that pie is damn good!!!! I’ve served this meal to some big ol’ country boys and they didn’t complain or question my ingredients. Plus, they all went back for seconds and some had thirds. Bunch of pigs!

Enough blogging already, I want another piece of pie!!!!

pork butt = YUM

Pork butt is heaven on earth.

HA - I said butt.

butt, butt, butt

I crack myself up. (note: I’m home alone AND in a ridiculously giddy mood – I’ve laughed at my own jokes all day.) Anyway………..some bloggers do “Word-less Wednesdays” but c’mon, we all know that I can’t be quiet for an extended period of time. 

The following recipe was adapted from The Pioneer Woman.

Start with a pork butt. Or pork shoulder roast. Or butt roast. Or Heaven on Earth. Whatever it’s called…just buy it.

Remove the roast from its packaging, rinse with cold water, and pat dry.

My ingredients include an assortment of pantry staples: brown sugar, minced garlic, dark sorghum, and a yellow onion. The chipotle peppers are something new.

The chipotle peppers in adobo sauce is something I’ve never used before. The PW used them in her recipe, so I thought I’d give them a try. I purchased the smallest can I could find. I don’t like really spicy food.

I took a whole onion and sliced it in half, then removed the skin and sliced the two halves in half.

Lay the onion pieces on the bottom of a heavy-duty stock pot. The onions are like a pillow for the pork butt.

 

 

This “dry rub” is a combination of different spices I found in the spice cabinet, including chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and my Dad’s Holy Trinity – salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper.

The “odd” ingredient for this recipe, according to The PW, is Dr. Pepper. I use DP and other dark-colored colas (coke? pop? whatever you call it) in BBQ recipes all the time, especially when I make BBQ sauce. Plus, I like to see it fizz without spilling over the top of the pan. I’m easily entertained.

I topped the pork butt with adobo peppers and drizzled with dark sorghum molasses.

Cover and place inside a preheated 350-degree oven for 4-6 hours, depending on the size of your (pork) butt. My (pork) butt was over 7-pounds and it cooked for almost 6 hours. Once an hour, I’d flip the roast.

After five hours of cooking, I tried to pull out the roast’s bone. It was not coming out easily, so I continued to cook it. That’s the best indication of the roast being done…..when that bone comes out clean, it’s done.

Do NOT over-cook this meat. Over-cooking any meat is a sin.

What’s the point of that pitiful, pathetic, plastic cutting board? That’s embarrassing.

I used two forks to “shred” the meat and put fatty pieces, onions, and adobo peppers in the “discard” cup you see there on the side.

Turn oven to broiler, slice a kaiser roll in half and butter your buns!

hahaha – I’m laughing at my own jokes again.

Top the toasted bun with shredded butt meat.

Eat and enjoy.

YUMMMMMMMM

 

Coal miner’s daughter and a GIVEAWAY

I didn’t realize until researching for this post that Father’s Day might have originated in 1907 at a memorial service for a group of men, majority of them fathers, killed in a coal mining accident in Monogah, West Virginia. This is near and dear to my heart.

I’m a coal miner’s daughter.

I know first-hand the nervousness from watching my Dad pull out of the driveway for another shift in the darkness of an underground coal mine. Despite the dangers associated with mining, my Dad’s work ethic is second to none. It’s just one of the many characteristics I admire about him. When he’s not working at the coal plant, he’s in the garden or honing his vintner (wine-making) skills. Between the fresh produce and homemade wine, many people consider my father a saint.

I completely agree.

In honor of Father’s Day, this is for my Dad…

Things I’ve learned from my Father

• Win (and Lose) Gracefully — While I do not play golf nearly as much as I used to, the game still means a lot to me and the relationship with my dad. He taught me the game at a young age. It’s something we did together and enjoyed it thoroughly. I believe golf is an outdoor classroom, not just a form of entertainment or physical activity. I credit my relationship-building skills, mannerisms, etiquette, honesty, and maturity to my parents, but to golf as well. During my competitive years, I enjoyed success but suffered plenty of disappointment too. It didn’t matter if I brought home the trophy, though. Did I respect myself? Did I represent my family in the best possible way? Did I honor myself by trying my best? Did I respect my opponents for their efforts? Did I win like a champion or lose with grace? If I answered yes to these questions, I learned the lesson. If not, I lost the competition AND respect for myself. 
• Don’t settle for chicken if lobster’s available — This is just another way of saying don’t settle for less. When it came to relationships and looking for a husband, I had a long list of requirements. As such, I did not date in high school. Truth be told, I didn’t have time because I was too busy (focused) on golf. Another truth: my expectations were too high and the boys at my school were too short. Fortunately, Kevin EXCEEDED all of my expectations……and he’s tall.
• Address every situation with good posture and a pleasant smile — I can’t think of any experience where this advice has not been beneficial to me. Thanks Dad!

Something my husband has learned from my Father

• Keep big guns

Ummm, yeah……my Dad’s not messing around with his toys.

And, this is just one of many.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Blah, blah, blah – what about the GIVEAWAY?!?

In honor of Father’s Day, I am offering a giveaway for the adorable, wonderful, and lovable men in our lives. As such, this giveaway item is guy-friendly. However, ladies can benefit as well. 

Nicole, enough already – what will I win?!

Go to Teeny Tiny Spice Company and check out their products page.

They are currently featured in Real Simple Magazine and have a Father’s Day Special featuring two of their wonderful spices. I had the “citrus pepper” at a friend’s house and let me tell you, it was AWESOME! We had steak and chicken kabobs and the seasoning was perfect.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For this giveaway, I’m offering TWO spice blends!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Here’s how this works:

• Go to Teeny Tiny Spice’s website and choose TWO seasoning blends you’d like to have
• Leave a comment on this post, include your NAME, EMAIL, and SPICE SELECTIONS
• One entry per person please
• U.S. shipping only
• You’ll be really awesome if you re-post this giveaway on your blog, webpage, Facebook, and Twitter

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Deadline to enter giveaway is midnight Friday, June 24. The winner will be announced Saturday.

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Good luck!

Hostess with the Leastest

Disclaimer: this post is entirely a pissed-off rant session. I have a skull-splitting headache and having a self-proclaimed pity party. For the ladies that so graciously and generously attended today’s luncheon – M.J., T.C., L.W. and Lil’ A - I’m so thankful and appreciative. I’m glad we could share this meal - plus recipes – and the laughs together. My favorite part of the day was watching Lil’ A and Kevin…she knows a good guy when she sees one. Plus, she had a blast with the horses.

It’s times like these that cause me say What the f*ck?

Six weeks ago I decided that I was going to host a luncheon at my house. After some consideration, I decided it would be a recipe swap/potluck. Everybody brings a prepared dish, including copies of the recipe, to share with the group. Soon afterwards, I began making preparations. I ordered custom invitations (the snail-mail variety), created an invite list, and collected recipes.

On a recent trip to Austin, I found a colorful set of tableware I thought would be perfect for a “spring” luncheon. Nothing fancy, but definitely festive. 

Trying to be the Hostess with the Mostess, I went to a local shop and bought recipe-themed items and spa/pampering products to fill seven gift bags. I filled another gift bag with items from Starbucks®. Yeah, I spent some moo-lah on this damn thing.

Housecleaning Fairy – $100.00

“Vacation” Day to cook and prep – $125.00

Custom Invitations and Postage – $57.00

Tableware and tablecloth – $35.00

Board Game – $27.00

Fresh flowers – $15.00

Food and drinks – $100.00

Gifts – $83.00

I don’t even want to know this total. Besides, I’m just guessing at these amounts and most likely forgot a purchase or two. I don’t want to know…I really don’t.

OK, yes I do.

$542.00

Holy. Heifer. It’s not about the money. It’s principle. I sent 32 invitations. Eight responded. Three attended. I didn’t have a clue how many people were actually coming. As a good Southern woman does, I planned as if they were all coming – hoping for the best, prepared no surprises. Of course, I over-did everything - from the gifts to the fresh flower arrangements.

Four adults…that’s $135.00 per person (the toddler doesn’t count, she didn’t eat enough to feed a canary). We should have met someplace for lunch and saved all of us the hassle.

Three strikes for my hosting abilities:

One showed for New Year’s Eve

No response on Derby at Lonestar Park

Three and a half (remember, the toddler) attend the Recipe Swap

 I’m out.

Drum roll please…….

Whomever said Friday the 13th was unlucky obviously did NOT enter my giveaway contest.

I’m so excited to announce the BIG WINNER for my FIRST GIVEAWAY.

(drum roll)

How ’bout them apples?! Jan at TDE (that stands for The Diamond E – don’t worry, I didn’t think of that all by myself…I deserve zero credit) is one of those whodathunkit buddies. She has a fabulous blog (click here) that I found and whodathunk that we live within 30 minutes of each other. Such a small world.

So, what has Jan from TDE won????

Jan, over at The Diamond E (I like saying this, can you tell?!) has won the grand prize: an all-expense paid vacation around the world including airfare, lodging at a super-sweet resorts, five-star meals, fun and games, and a lovely t-shirt that says

Wheeww!!! That was a scary moment for my checking account. Instead, Jan, at The Diamond E, will be receiving her selected choice:

Sorry Jan, no around-the-world trip for you, but I hope you enjoy the H20 Sea Salt Skin Smoother headed your way. I already have your mailing address so I will place the order today and it should be in your snail-mail box within a couple of days for you to enjoy.

With this being my first giveaway and all, I want all y’all (that means all of you, just checking to see if y’all are awake) to know that I did not cheat in this contest. First, I took all the comment entries and listed them in numerical order, in the sequence they were received.

Then, I went to random.org for a number generator and this is what it selected.

To the rest of y’all: Please stay tuned for other giveaways and contests. This was really fun and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I’m nearing 5,000 site visitors AND my 100th post in the coming weeks. I think that calls for a celebration where my visitors can win a fabulous something (obviously, not a trip around the world but something a little more practical…seriously people, let’s me real).

Thanks again to everyone that visited my blog and entered my first giveaway, I really appreciate you reading all the crap that’s in my head. I hope you’ll visit again…and invite your crazy friends.

Now, I need to finish getting ready for a lunch party at my house that I’m afraid no one is going to show for. Such is my life.

Let me just through this little tid-bit out here:

I sent CUSTOM invitations with HAND-WRITTEN addresses on the envelopes to 24 people. I also sent an eVite to everyone, just in case they don’t check their snail-mail boxes in front of their house. (you never know ’bout people these days) The theme of this party is Recipe Swap and Potluck. Basically, everybody brings a prepared dish to share with the group, including copies of the recipe. In theory, lots of people will attend and we’ll all share lots of good food and leave with lots of recipes for our own collection. I am using simple plates, cups, and bowls in a variety of bold and bright colors (on a white tablecloth) and fresh flowers are scattered around the house just for good measure. My favorite “extra touch” are the eight – yeah, count them, EIGHT – gift bags (also in a variety of bright colors) each filled with recipe-inspired gifts for the lucky winners to take home. There are also two bags filled with spa-inspired goodies to encourage those lucky winners to pamper themselves and one bag contains a couple of goodies from Starbucks®.

K.H. (who stayed the night with us) says I should have lived in another era. She’s probably right. At least she brought her recipe (on a magnet no less, proudly displayed on my fridge already) and enjoyed a glass of sweet tea. S.M. – who had a c-section last Tuesday - said if nobody shows up she’ll bring the crew (including N, H, and C) and supplies (breast pump and burp clothes) over. How sweet is that deal?! Actually, that’s kinda pitiful and pathetic on MY part. If nobody shows up to play in my sandbox, I gotta call post-prego lady with breast pumps.

(sigh)

If anybody’s hungry or thirsty, I got enough strawberry lemonade and chicken salad to feed an army. C’mon over.

Four-Ingredient Pizza

Plain. Simple. Cheap. Milk-free.

My favorite words to describe a fresh homemade meal.

Even though I cannot enjoy the creamy delicious-ness of an ooey-gooey cheese pizza, I can satisfy my cravings by using non-dairy (most often vegan) equivalents. My biggest complaint, however, is that “faux” cheese doesn’t melt. You can grill it, broil it, bake it, or fire it with a torch and the stuff won’t melt. OK, I made that last one up, but I’m telling the truth about the others.

If you prefer a pizza pie that’s no-fuss, I think you’ll like this little creation. I used a prepared crust and pre-made sauce, but I cooked my own pork sausage and used organic goat cheese.

Four ingredients.

The recipe below is completely dairy and milk-free but feel free to make this pizza to your liking, that’s the beauty of homemade pizza anyway.

I used Freshcetta Artisan® thin pizza crust. It was on a corner-display at the local grocery AND it’s milk-free. When I find new products that I think might be tasty and they’re milk-free, I get excited. Again, use your preferred brand of pizza crust or make your own.

FYI: This is not a paid advertisement or a product review.

1 prepared pizza crust

1 jar pizza sauce

1 lb pork sausage, cooked and well-drained (I seasoned with chopped onion and diced garlic, plus paprika, salt and pepper)

6 oz. crumbled goat cheese

Preheat oven according to package directions. Spread sauce evenly on top of crust then add your favorite toppings. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted (if you’re using “faux” cheese this would be a waste of your time and the pizza will be ruined) and the crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool at least five minutes before slicing.

Easy stuff.

I drizzled olive oil and both sides of the crust before adding the sauce and toppings, then sprinkled with chopped basil and parsley. A pound of pork sausage might be too much for some, especially if you add more toppings, but I like a meaty pizza.

Make. It. Your. Own.

 Amen.

And they’re off!!!!

Today is the first Saturday of May. No big deal, right?

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is Saturday, May 7, 2011, the running of the 137th Kentucky Derby. It’s a holiday. Well, to be perfectly honest, it’s more like a religious experience.

When Kevin and I announced our engagement and we started planning our wedding, the first thing I did was look at a calendar. If you are a native Kentuckian, or planning a wedding in Kentucky or inviting guests from Kentucky, you CANNOT get married during Derby weekend. It’s sacrilegious. Not only would this be frowned upon, no one would attend because everyone is either at Churchill Downs or at a Derby party! 

Another Derby tradition is the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home’ It doesn’t matter where I am — at Churchill Downs or the living room of my house in Joshua, Texas — I stand and sing at the top of my lungs. Every. Single. Word.

Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs

The Derby, along with Churchill Downs and the Twin Spires, is to horseracing as Augusta National is to golf; Wrigley Field to baseball; and Lambeau Field to football. It’s majestic and exhilarating all wrapped into the fastest two minutes of sports. Today, in front of 164,858 excited and screaming fans (a new Derby attendance record), Animal Kingdom won the 137th Kentucky Derby. I’m glad I didn’t place my bet because I would’ve put my money on Pants on Fire, who finished ninth in the field of 19.

Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs

But enough about the Derby. I want to share what most Kentuckians consider to be the treasured gem in the Commonwealth: the Kentucky Oaks. It’s the day for the ladies, most specifically the fillies (that would be a female horse) running at Churchill Downs the day BEFORE the Derby.

Just as the Derby winner receives a garland of red roses, the Oaks winner gets a garland of star-gazer lilies. Thus the saying, lilies for the fillies!

Most people don’t even know the Kentucky Oaks exists. I almost cried yesterday when a native Kentuckian asked me to explain the historic event. Are you kidding me?! The Oaks is a day for traditionalists and those wanting to enjoy a day at the racetrack without the splendor, pageantry, and celebrity chaos of the Derby. In its own right, the Oaks is meant to be reserved. 

My favorite thing about Kentucky Oaks is pink, pink, and more pink! The day is all about PINK. Everything at Churchill Downs is pink, from the decor to the drinks. In fact, the Oaks has its own official pink drink: the Oaks Lily®. 

All PINK'd out at the Kentucky Oaks - photo courtesy of Churchill Downs

If you’re in Louisville area the first weekend of May and you have the opportunity to attend the Oaks and/or the Derby, you have to go! However, when selecting your attire for the big day, please consider these two tips:

• at the Oaks, wear anything (within reason) you wish as long as it’s PINK
• Ladies: if you wear a hat, keep your dress and accessories simple – the hat is the star

Since I’m so generous (by the way, have you entered my giveaway?!), here’s one of my favorite Kentucky recipes: Woodford Reserve Bourbon Slush.

Everyday is a good day to be a Kentucky Girl…..but I”m especially proud this weekend!

Love y’all.

Heaven on a baking sheet

When all else fails, call your mother.

Unfortunately, it’s really painful to talk. As most of you know, I’m currently under an allergy attack and the past eight days have been hell. Considering my current state, I’m dreadfully anticipating another 3-4 days of misery.

Instead of calling Mom, I made cinnamon toast. I don’t normally eat much while I’m under attack, especially coarse foods, but this isn’t your run-of-the-mill cinnamon toast. This is a recipe from The Pioneer Woman. She doesn’t mess around.

Check out Ree’s cinnamon toast here. I tried her technique tonight and believe me, it’s worth the extra effort.

Taa-dah!!!!

This cinnamon toast will make even the unhappiest person happy. The bread is happy. You probably can’t hear it, but it’s singing the “hallelujah” chorus and doing the Happy Dance. It is. I swear. But then, who wouldn’t be happy if they were saturated with a butter/cinnamon/sugar/vanilla mixture?

Start by preheating the oven to 350.

In a mixing bowl, add sugar, cinnamon, butter and vanilla. Mix well. The mixture isn’t pretty to look at, but who cares? It’s but-tah and sur-gah. It’s heaven.

Spread mixture generously over each bread slice. By generous I mean don’t skimp. This is not diet fare. Your diet can start tomorrow. Be sure to spread ALLLLL the way to the corner, you don’t want the edges to feel left out. Edges need love too.

Bake 10-13 minutes. During the last couple of minutes, turn the broiler on and the sugar will caramelize. It’s like the cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae.

The verdict:

Yum.

Husband says it’s good and the kitchen smells like the Fort Worth Livestock Show and Rodeo. Huh? It smells like the sugared pecans you get at the stock show. Oh. Thanks. I think. Last-minute lesson planning (notice the textbook under my plate!) is more bearable with ooey-gooey, extra delicious bread saturated with butter (the soy kind), cinnamon, sugar and baked to perfection.