Fire and Ice Tomatoes

by Lana on September 2, 2010 · 9 comments

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Summer is winding down here in north Georgia. The past few mornings have been noticeably cooler and much less humid but the afternoons still offer us temperatures into the low 90′s. It’s the typical prelude to Fall weather here.

Even though we know Fall is just around the corner, there’s still time for some good summer cooking. If your garden is still going strong you probably have more tomatoes than you know what to do with about now. They’re still widely available in the farmers’ markets, too. So today I have a great quick and easy way for you to use some of that delicious fresh tomato bounty.

This recipe comes from my mother, India, better known to her granchildren as NeeNa. In the South we have a long tradition of giving grandparents more affectionate nicknames than simply grandmother and grandfather.  I’ve known of grandmothers whose grandchildren call them “Sweet,” “MamaDeah” (Mama Dear), “Munnie,” and “Ma Mag.” I call my grandmother “Polly” and we’re known to our own two precious grandchildren as Nana and BeeBop. My father’s name was LaVon and all the grandchildren called him Bon-Bon or Daddy Bon. All these names, of course, have a story to go with them.  NeeNa came about when my daughter was beginning to talk and trying to say “India.” It just came out as “NeeNa” and she’s been NeeNa ever since.

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Southern Sweet Tea

by Lana on August 30, 2010 · 21 comments

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Ahh, sweet tea. Nectar to a Southerner and as essential to our cuisine as fat back and turnip greens. As Dolly Parton famously said in Steel Magnolias – “Sweet Tea! House wine of the South!” And it is.

I can’t remember a single day of my life when there was not a pitcher of sweet tea in my refrigerator. Its constant presence is just a part of life. It’s the beverage of choice for lunch and supper and has been enjoyed at breakfast on hot, sultry summer days. Some of us are even guilty of putting it in babies’ bottles. Not that I would ever do something like that.

It wasn’t until I was a young adult that I learned that not everyone in the world drinks sweet tea every day. And let me tell you, it was a rude awakening, too. It was on a trip to Nebraska when we stopped in St. Louis for a meal. I, being the naive little southern girl that I was, ordered sweet tea with my meal. After all, it was what we had at home and ordered any time we went out to eat. Well, the waiter looked right down his nose and told me he was “very sorry but iced tea is out of season.” Huh? Out of season? Who ever heard of such a thing! Not to be outdone, though, I asked him if hot tea was available. “Why certainly,” he said! Well then, I said, “May I please have a cup of hot tea and a glass of ice?” Got my sweet tea.

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Cheese Pinwheels with Mayhaw Jelly

August 24, 2010
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I feel quite sure that everyone is familiar with the classic southern cheese straw, right? Those delightful little bites of sharp cheese and cayenne that are served at practically every get-together in the southern states? Well, this recipe is the cheese straw’s first cousin – the cheese pinwheel. Plus it has a little something extra to [...]

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A Recipe Challenge

August 22, 2010
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I was recently contacted with an opportunity to participate in a recipe challenge using Pepperidge Farm’s puff pastry. If any of you have ever tried to make puff pastry on your own, you know what a great, convenient product the frozen puff pastry is. It’s readily available in both sheets and shells. I keep some in my [...]

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Toasted Pecan Chicken Salad

August 18, 2010
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It’s been a really hot summer here in Georgia. Hot temperatures and high humidity, too. It seems like I haven’t been cooking as much as usual, either. I just realized that I’ve only posted one actual recipe since the end of July! That must change and quickly! This is a food blog after all. I’ve [...]

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Right in Your Own Backyard…

August 17, 2010
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It’s amazing sometimes the things you’re unaware of right in your own backyard. I’ve always been interested in history. Especially local history. I’m fascinated by the lives our ancestors led. Where they lived. How they worked. What they ate. How they played. Since we moved here to north Georgia, we’ve been doing even more exploring than we [...]

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How to Set the Table

August 12, 2010
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I’ve pondered for some time whether to write this post. Some may find it snobby. Others will dismiss it as elitist or old-fashioned. But my hope is that many will sing its praises! Because today I’m writing from my heart with a basic lesson of gracious living and etiquette that I believe needs to be revived.  I grew up at a [...]

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Machaca Burritos

August 6, 2010
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Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows without doubt that my heart belongs to southern cuisine, right? I think I’ve made that very plain through the past year and a half that I’ve been writing here. But, once in a while you just have to venture out to something a little different! Whenever I do, [...]

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The 7 Links Challenge

August 3, 2010
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A few weeks ago Darren Rowse from ProBlogger issued a challenge to his readers to create a post with 7 specific links – the 7 Link Challenge. Having my plate full lately, both literally and figuratively, I’m a little late getting to the party but I’m here now and ready to play! In answer to Darren’s challenge, [...]

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Apricot-Thyme Galette

July 30, 2010
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One of my favorite cooking magazines is Cooking Light. Over the years, I’ve gotten so many great recipes from them and when I saw this one in the June 2010 issue, I knew immediately that I wanted to make it. It’s visually stunning. But I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to pull it off. [...]

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