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| The Haunted House of Sullivan Circle |
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| The Giant Man-Eating Black Widow |
Happy Halloween
from
Jesse, Edwin, Barkley, Liesel & Mr. Paco
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
As we say in Jonesboro, Happy Howl-oween!
I just wanted to share some pictures of our 2012 Halloween display. If you are interested in any of the ideas that I have used, let me know and I will provide detailed instructions in a blog post. From our family to yours, have a safe, haunting, & Happy Southern Halloween!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Decorating: Autumn Floral Arrangement
A few posts ago, I mentioned some of the places to which I look for inspiration. I recently made an addition to the menagerie of sources I use; this time thanks to the iPhone Newsstand app. I have always found this undeletable icon to be useless, offering nothing more than, say, a few stories from the New York Times or a has-been fitness magazine. However, a few weeks back, I noticed that the Lowe's Creative Ideas Magazine could be downloaded. In the past, I would receive this magazine in the mail and I would use it for various container garden projects.
As we were preparing for a dinner party, I was looking for an idea to create a centerpiece for the table. I needed something that invoked the wonderful season of Autumn and I stumbled across this picture (see right) in the Fall edition of the Creative Ideas Magazine. The colors of flowers were perfect for my early-Autumn dinner party. Additionally, I loved the use of the white-mini pumpkins in the arrangement along with the apples, which were the basis of each dish we would be serving that evening. While looking at the photograph, I knew it would also be very inexpensive to recreate this look. Alstroemeria can be purchased in large bunches for around $5 (Jonesboro tip: Pick up your fresh-cut flowers from Kroger after 10 a.m. on Mondays for the best selection).
I knew I wanted my version of the arrangement to be shorter, as I hate having to look around the flowers to speak to the other dinner guests, so I knew that a tall vase wouldn't work. Fortunately, I happened to have just the thing which was the correct height and also blended well with the color scheme I was using. If you have ever visited our home, you have noticed that Jesse has a fondness for collecting glass pieces. We have literally collected unique or hand-blown glass "art" pieces from locations around the world during our travels to China, Europe, and North America. One of his favorite "genres" is carnival glass. He picked up this beautiful orange-purple iridescent piece at a local flea market. As I always say, if I don't have a use for items that I display, they are just junk. So, I decided that this would finally use this piece and it would be the vessel for my arrangement.
As we were preparing for a dinner party, I was looking for an idea to create a centerpiece for the table. I needed something that invoked the wonderful season of Autumn and I stumbled across this picture (see right) in the Fall edition of the Creative Ideas Magazine. The colors of flowers were perfect for my early-Autumn dinner party. Additionally, I loved the use of the white-mini pumpkins in the arrangement along with the apples, which were the basis of each dish we would be serving that evening. While looking at the photograph, I knew it would also be very inexpensive to recreate this look. Alstroemeria can be purchased in large bunches for around $5 (Jonesboro tip: Pick up your fresh-cut flowers from Kroger after 10 a.m. on Mondays for the best selection).
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| Vintage Carnival Glass |
After I selected the vessel, I filled the bowl area with floral foam and soaked it with water. I purchased 4 bunches of alstroemeria (2 orange, 1 yellow, 1 red) and 1 bunch of assorted chrysanthemums. Using all of the alstroemeria, I removed most of the leaves and placed the stems in the floral foam being careful to create a rounded oval shape. Next I added some of the chrysanthemums in bare areas. Finally, I took 2 apples (I used Fuji) and 2 white mini-pumpkins and placed a bamboo skewer in the bottom of each. Then I placed the skewered items into the floral foam with the flowers. The end result....
All-in-all, I think it turned out extremely well. Make sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for a look at the completed table scape. This was a very easy and inexpensive arrangement that would have cost $50 or more had it been created in a floral shop. This would make a great Thanksgiving Dinner centerpiece. If you use this idea for that or any other occasion, I'd love to see a photograph. Until next time, have a Great Southern Day!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Cooking: Banana Bread French Toast
As high maintenance as some of you may find me, when it actually gets down to the nitty-gritty, I am about as basic and unpretentious as you can imagine. Case in point: One of my favorite restaurants is IHOP. Yes, IHOP. "How on Earth can this be," you ask. Well, it all rests on the fact that my two favorite things to eat are carbohydrates and sugar. I know, I know. That's really the same thing. What I am talking about is the really sweet, tasty, yet filling kind of food. IHOP offers a seemingly endless combination of sweet pancake choices from blueberry to strawberry banana to chocolate chip. However, some of my favorite sweet treat combinations are seasonal. Right now, it's all about the pumpkin and carrot cake pancakes, which are both absolutely divine. Another seasonal item that can be found on their menu is Banana Bread French Toast. I had this item the last time that it was offered and fell in love.
While thinking of dinner ideas for a ho-hum Monday, I said to myself, "Why not recreate this dish at home?" By doing so, I would be able to avoid the awful service and equally awful clientele that can accompany the fine dining establishment of IHOP (if you haven't been served by a toothless waitress while sitting next to some hillbillies that fell off of the turnip truck, then you must have been at the most high-class IHOP in existence).
I must say, my father-in-law can be great for a few things. It's always handy to drive 3 streets over to borrow a power tool that we do not own or throw something into his burn pile since our neighborhood would not allow such a travesty. But one of the best things he has to offer is the farm fresh eggs. Yes, he thinks he is still living in the country in south Poinsett County. The man has 20 or so chickens which coexist with his neighbors inside the Jonesboro city limits (not that his neighbors mind as these yard fowl eat the bugs, and provide the whole subdivision with eggs, at a minimal charge of course). His hens lay a variety of egg colors and sizes. Even though the picture at left doesn't do it justice, the center egg is indeed blue. So as with any french toast recipe, I started with 3 eggs; although the ones I used were organic, cage-free, and locally produced eggs.
The rest of the ingredients are as follows:
Simply add the first 4 ingredients together in a bowl and whisk until the mixture is well blended. Not only does it smell good, it actually looks appetizing and quite Fall-ish. Next bathe the slices of banana nut bread in the mixture for about 30 seconds on each side (during this step, I found that the bread wanted to break apart. So I used a rounded spatula which seemed to keep them from breaking). Then, melt some butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Place the banana bread coated with the mixture in the pan and cook them for about 2 minutes on each side, until they are crisp and golden. After cooking, top the banana bread french toast with some fresh cut bananas and some whipped topping (please no cool-whip oil mess, the actually whipped cream in the can is so much better). Drizzle on syrup and enjoy. This recipe serves 4 (well it served the two of us for two different meals).
While thinking of dinner ideas for a ho-hum Monday, I said to myself, "Why not recreate this dish at home?" By doing so, I would be able to avoid the awful service and equally awful clientele that can accompany the fine dining establishment of IHOP (if you haven't been served by a toothless waitress while sitting next to some hillbillies that fell off of the turnip truck, then you must have been at the most high-class IHOP in existence).
I must say, my father-in-law can be great for a few things. It's always handy to drive 3 streets over to borrow a power tool that we do not own or throw something into his burn pile since our neighborhood would not allow such a travesty. But one of the best things he has to offer is the farm fresh eggs. Yes, he thinks he is still living in the country in south Poinsett County. The man has 20 or so chickens which coexist with his neighbors inside the Jonesboro city limits (not that his neighbors mind as these yard fowl eat the bugs, and provide the whole subdivision with eggs, at a minimal charge of course). His hens lay a variety of egg colors and sizes. Even though the picture at left doesn't do it justice, the center egg is indeed blue. So as with any french toast recipe, I started with 3 eggs; although the ones I used were organic, cage-free, and locally produced eggs. 
The rest of the ingredients are as follows:
6 Eggs (mentioned above)
1 cup of Heavy Cream
2 tsp of Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp of Ground Cinnamon
1 pkg of Banana Nut Bread (I used pre-sliced, as seen to the left).
Simply add the first 4 ingredients together in a bowl and whisk until the mixture is well blended. Not only does it smell good, it actually looks appetizing and quite Fall-ish. Next bathe the slices of banana nut bread in the mixture for about 30 seconds on each side (during this step, I found that the bread wanted to break apart. So I used a rounded spatula which seemed to keep them from breaking). Then, melt some butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Place the banana bread coated with the mixture in the pan and cook them for about 2 minutes on each side, until they are crisp and golden. After cooking, top the banana bread french toast with some fresh cut bananas and some whipped topping (please no cool-whip oil mess, the actually whipped cream in the can is so much better). Drizzle on syrup and enjoy. This recipe serves 4 (well it served the two of us for two different meals).
Honestly, I meant to take a picture of the finished result, but it looked and tasted so good that it was all gone before I remembered to do so. I hope that you enjoy this recipe. It is really easy and quick to prepare. Serve with some fresh eggs and bacon and you will have a delicious meal for your family. Pay no attention to the sugar, sodium, or fat content as this is the Southern blog. Until next time, have a Great Southern Day!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Design: Inspiration
As family and friends are visiting our home, one question that I am often asked is, "Where did you get that idea?" When designing something as large as a room or something as small as a tabletop vignette, I am always on the lookout for that certain element that will make my project special and feel complete; well, to me at least. The truth is that I find inspiration everywhere.
The key to beginning your design journey, no matter the project, is as simple as starting with something that you love. It's this starting point that will dictate the path necessary to complete your project. To seek out this inspiration, become in tuned with what surrounds you. As you stroll through a department store, big-box retailer, or specialty shop, take note of the items that you gravitate towards. Yes, you can design an entire room around one item. For example, in one of my guest bedrooms that I am currently designing, I began the room design with the coverlet. Yes, this can be a large, graphic item that really does envelop the space, but it can be as simple as the texture of the coverlet to which you are drawn and find inspiration.
Another great source for inspiration is the catalog. As a home design aficionado, I am inundated with home furnishing catalogs on a weekly basis. Similarly, magazines provide a great pictorial source of inspiration. Within these two types of sources, you may find a chair that you absolutely love yet find to be extremely overpriced for not only your budget but for any sane person's as well. Do not feel discouraged! Take a closer look at this chair and discover what element attracts you. Is it the color, the pattern, or the shape? After pinpointing the attracting element, keep on the look out for items that mimic this element. Just as repetition can be the mother of learning, it can also be the cohesive factor that makes repetition the mother of design.
As technology has grown to envelop our lives, it has also become a big source of inspiration for myself. While searching for a hotel room for a recent shopping trip to Dallas, TX, I stumbled upon a picture of a room in the new Omni Dallas Hotel. I cannot tell you how long I had been trying to find the right "something" to display above the television in our living room. Low and behold, there it was, jumping at me from above the bed in that hotel room image.
While shopping at what I consider to be a hidden gem, the Pottery Barn/West Elm Outlet in Memphis, we happened upon this floating shelf that mimicked the color and size of the one found in the Omni room. Additionally, I enjoyed the use of the frameless canvas art used in the inspiration photo, so we purchased this canvas from Pier 1 Imports (currently I have this design fetish with birds/fowl, don't ask). We purchased all of the frames, while they were on sale, at Hobby Lobby. For the photographs inside these frames, I wanted something more than the black and white images found in the inspiration room. Through the use of Picasa software, I altered the color of photographs that I had taken on the various global trips we have shared, uploaded them to Walgreens.com, and had them printed for Jesse to bring home. I had seen the paper mache animal heads in various catalogs and longed to have one of our own. We found this one at the West Elm outlet and decided to add "him" to make the vignette a further reflection of our taste.
The key to beginning your design journey, no matter the project, is as simple as starting with something that you love. It's this starting point that will dictate the path necessary to complete your project. To seek out this inspiration, become in tuned with what surrounds you. As you stroll through a department store, big-box retailer, or specialty shop, take note of the items that you gravitate towards. Yes, you can design an entire room around one item. For example, in one of my guest bedrooms that I am currently designing, I began the room design with the coverlet. Yes, this can be a large, graphic item that really does envelop the space, but it can be as simple as the texture of the coverlet to which you are drawn and find inspiration.
Another great source for inspiration is the catalog. As a home design aficionado, I am inundated with home furnishing catalogs on a weekly basis. Similarly, magazines provide a great pictorial source of inspiration. Within these two types of sources, you may find a chair that you absolutely love yet find to be extremely overpriced for not only your budget but for any sane person's as well. Do not feel discouraged! Take a closer look at this chair and discover what element attracts you. Is it the color, the pattern, or the shape? After pinpointing the attracting element, keep on the look out for items that mimic this element. Just as repetition can be the mother of learning, it can also be the cohesive factor that makes repetition the mother of design.
As technology has grown to envelop our lives, it has also become a big source of inspiration for myself. While searching for a hotel room for a recent shopping trip to Dallas, TX, I stumbled upon a picture of a room in the new Omni Dallas Hotel. I cannot tell you how long I had been trying to find the right "something" to display above the television in our living room. Low and behold, there it was, jumping at me from above the bed in that hotel room image.
As you can see from the inspiration image that I mention, the design is simple, modern, and colorful. I am often influenced by these punches of color, dark wood tones, and matted photographs. Why not recreate this look that I love in my home? So I set out to take the Omni design and re-tailor it to our living room scheme
While shopping at what I consider to be a hidden gem, the Pottery Barn/West Elm Outlet in Memphis, we happened upon this floating shelf that mimicked the color and size of the one found in the Omni room. Additionally, I enjoyed the use of the frameless canvas art used in the inspiration photo, so we purchased this canvas from Pier 1 Imports (currently I have this design fetish with birds/fowl, don't ask). We purchased all of the frames, while they were on sale, at Hobby Lobby. For the photographs inside these frames, I wanted something more than the black and white images found in the inspiration room. Through the use of Picasa software, I altered the color of photographs that I had taken on the various global trips we have shared, uploaded them to Walgreens.com, and had them printed for Jesse to bring home. I had seen the paper mache animal heads in various catalogs and longed to have one of our own. We found this one at the West Elm outlet and decided to add "him" to make the vignette a further reflection of our taste.
The moral of my story, don't be closed-minded to what surrounds you. No matter where you look, inspiration can be found. I would love to hear stories of how you find inspiration. Drop me a line on Facebook, Twitter, or send me an email. If you haven't done so already, follow me on The Southern Domestic Gentleman Twitter Feed to received updates before others do. Until next time, have a great Southern day!
Image used from Omni Hotel Dallas
Omni Dallas Hotel. N.d. Photograph. Omni HotelsWeb. 11 Oct 2012. http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/DallasHotel/GuestRoomsAndSuites.aspx
Friday, October 5, 2012
Self: Breast Cancer Awareness
I started this blog to offer my advice to others so that they could have a more beautiful, tasty, cleaner, easier to care for Southern home. A large part of what makes us Southerners so great at welcoming others into our homes is the warmth that seems to have been bred into each one of us. To continue fostering this warmth inside ourselves, we must learn to take a step back from time to time and take care of our needs. Although I normally fill my blog pages with my ramblings on cooking, cleaning and such, I wanted to take a moment to share a cause that is very near and dear to my heart so that you all might learn to better take care of yourselves.
As you probably know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So many wonderful events take place during this most glorious of months that pay homage and bring awareness to one of the biggest killers of women. Furthermore, you most likely know that I make a living treating cancer with radiation. One of the most common forms of cancer that I treat is breast cancer. This is not merely a coincidence as breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Considering that my readers largely scew female, I would like to share some of my knowledge on this disease.
According to projections from the American Cancer Society (ACS), over 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in 2011. While this number may not sound like a lot in our country with a population of over 300 million, that would be the equivalent of over 3 times the population of Jonesboro being diagnosed with breast cancer in a single year.
I was first introduced to breast cancer at a young age when my grandmother was diagnosed with this disease. She fought hard while the cancer advanced its way through her body. My granny died the day after Christmas, answering one last prayer request that she had to be with her family through the holiday. Breast cancer research has improved treatment by leaps and bounds since that day in the early 1990s. The ACS projected a mortality rate of just over 7% for 2011. This is proof that breast cancer can be cured if detected and treated early. In fact, although breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, it isn't the leading cause of cancer deaths. Lung cancer is the biggest killer in both women and men. One reason that breast cancer doesn't take as many lives as lung cancer is the awesome network of fund raising that exists through organizations like the ACS and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
One thing that I cannot stress enough about breast cancer is that it is not prejudice to any age group. I have seen women treated for the disease in their 20s all the way through their 90s. Therefore, proper examination starts early. The ACS recommends that women begin breast self-examination (BSE) in their 20s. It is a great habit to develop a routine and exam the breast monthly. You can even make a pact with your friends to remind each other on a specific date each month. Something that you don't notice one month may very well be there the next.
The ACS also recommends that women in their 20s and 30s receive a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of their periodic health examination with healthcare professional preferably every 3 years. Starting at age 40, this examination should be performed yearly.
Additionally, starting at age 40, women should have a yearly mammogram. Although nobody will tell you that having this exam performed is a fun experience, it is a necessary examination that has proven to save lives. If you cannot afford a mammogram, there are programs available to ensure that you receive this life-saving examination. St. Bernards, for one, provides a mobile mammography vehicle that travels all across the area providing this service to citizens.
The standard of care for treating breast cancer is currently a lumpectomy followed by radiation and possibly chemotherapy. This may not always be the case as several different factors dictate what the best treatment should be. The good news is that treatment has progressed so much from the days when it was thought to be necessary to basically mutilate the female chest to cure the disease. We in the field of oncology are getting better and better at destroying the cancer and minimizing side effects.
If you are curious to learn more about breast cancer, visiting the American Cancer Society website at http://cancer.org is a great place for information. Another great source is the Susan G. Komen for the Cure website which can be found at http://ww5.komen.org. You may also contact me or any healthcare professional and we will gladly assist you to ensure that you receive the best information and care possible. Whenever you see breast cancer research fund raisers or events, take note. Chances are you, or someone you know personally will develop this disease. If we continue working and fighting we can put people like me out of work. That would be the greatest retirement gift of all.
As you probably know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So many wonderful events take place during this most glorious of months that pay homage and bring awareness to one of the biggest killers of women. Furthermore, you most likely know that I make a living treating cancer with radiation. One of the most common forms of cancer that I treat is breast cancer. This is not merely a coincidence as breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Considering that my readers largely scew female, I would like to share some of my knowledge on this disease.
According to projections from the American Cancer Society (ACS), over 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in 2011. While this number may not sound like a lot in our country with a population of over 300 million, that would be the equivalent of over 3 times the population of Jonesboro being diagnosed with breast cancer in a single year.
I was first introduced to breast cancer at a young age when my grandmother was diagnosed with this disease. She fought hard while the cancer advanced its way through her body. My granny died the day after Christmas, answering one last prayer request that she had to be with her family through the holiday. Breast cancer research has improved treatment by leaps and bounds since that day in the early 1990s. The ACS projected a mortality rate of just over 7% for 2011. This is proof that breast cancer can be cured if detected and treated early. In fact, although breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, it isn't the leading cause of cancer deaths. Lung cancer is the biggest killer in both women and men. One reason that breast cancer doesn't take as many lives as lung cancer is the awesome network of fund raising that exists through organizations like the ACS and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
One thing that I cannot stress enough about breast cancer is that it is not prejudice to any age group. I have seen women treated for the disease in their 20s all the way through their 90s. Therefore, proper examination starts early. The ACS recommends that women begin breast self-examination (BSE) in their 20s. It is a great habit to develop a routine and exam the breast monthly. You can even make a pact with your friends to remind each other on a specific date each month. Something that you don't notice one month may very well be there the next.
The ACS also recommends that women in their 20s and 30s receive a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of their periodic health examination with healthcare professional preferably every 3 years. Starting at age 40, this examination should be performed yearly.
Additionally, starting at age 40, women should have a yearly mammogram. Although nobody will tell you that having this exam performed is a fun experience, it is a necessary examination that has proven to save lives. If you cannot afford a mammogram, there are programs available to ensure that you receive this life-saving examination. St. Bernards, for one, provides a mobile mammography vehicle that travels all across the area providing this service to citizens.
The standard of care for treating breast cancer is currently a lumpectomy followed by radiation and possibly chemotherapy. This may not always be the case as several different factors dictate what the best treatment should be. The good news is that treatment has progressed so much from the days when it was thought to be necessary to basically mutilate the female chest to cure the disease. We in the field of oncology are getting better and better at destroying the cancer and minimizing side effects.
If you are curious to learn more about breast cancer, visiting the American Cancer Society website at http://cancer.org is a great place for information. Another great source is the Susan G. Komen for the Cure website which can be found at http://ww5.komen.org. You may also contact me or any healthcare professional and we will gladly assist you to ensure that you receive the best information and care possible. Whenever you see breast cancer research fund raisers or events, take note. Chances are you, or someone you know personally will develop this disease. If we continue working and fighting we can put people like me out of work. That would be the greatest retirement gift of all.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Cleaning: Garbage Disposal Care
While standing over the sink washing your hands, washing dishes, or preparing dinner, have you ever experienced the awful, rancid smell that can accompany the luxury of having a garbage disposal? Food wastes and greases can remain inside your garbage disposal producing noxious fumes that can make one want to hurl their recently consumed biscuits and gravy or unless you follow a routine for keeping them clean.
One thing that you should definitely know about using a garbage disposal is that it should never be run without turning on the water first. Additionally, it turns out that using cold water is best for your disposal. Hot water may cause greases to heat up and clog parts of your disposal, while cold water causes the grease to solidify allowing the disposal to do its job and remove these harmful agents.
To rid the disposal of that awful smell, you can put a few drops of your dish liquid in, turn on the water, then the power to the disposal and allow it to run for a minute or two. However, I have found that my way of not only cleaning, but freshening the garbage disposal is the way to go.
Remember the recipe from Monday's blog? One ingredient was fresh-squeezed lemon juice (which I always recommend over the store-bought version). After preparing a large amount of lemon juice for a lemonade I was concocting, I wondered what to do with all of the lemon rinds that were left over. The frugal Catholic in me kicked into gear and I threw one of the lemon rinds into the disposal and ground it up wafting wonderful scents of citrus around my kitchen. But I took it one step further. I placed the rest of the rinds in a Rubbermaid container and placed them in the freezer.
does it smell great, but the acids from the lemons helps to clean the gunk (technical plumbing term) from my disposal. I'm literally preventing myself from pouring money down the drain by wasting my dish liquid; I am using something that would have been thrown away!
One thing that you should definitely know about using a garbage disposal is that it should never be run without turning on the water first. Additionally, it turns out that using cold water is best for your disposal. Hot water may cause greases to heat up and clog parts of your disposal, while cold water causes the grease to solidify allowing the disposal to do its job and remove these harmful agents.
To rid the disposal of that awful smell, you can put a few drops of your dish liquid in, turn on the water, then the power to the disposal and allow it to run for a minute or two. However, I have found that my way of not only cleaning, but freshening the garbage disposal is the way to go.
Remember the recipe from Monday's blog? One ingredient was fresh-squeezed lemon juice (which I always recommend over the store-bought version). After preparing a large amount of lemon juice for a lemonade I was concocting, I wondered what to do with all of the lemon rinds that were left over. The frugal Catholic in me kicked into gear and I threw one of the lemon rinds into the disposal and ground it up wafting wonderful scents of citrus around my kitchen. But I took it one step further. I placed the rest of the rinds in a Rubbermaid container and placed them in the freezer.
Now, once a week, or so, I open the container and toss one of those rinds in my disposal. Not only
does it smell great, but the acids from the lemons helps to clean the gunk (technical plumbing term) from my disposal. I'm literally preventing myself from pouring money down the drain by wasting my dish liquid; I am using something that would have been thrown away!
If you try this tip out in your Southern home, let me know what you think. Or, if you have any other frugal garbage disposal cleaning tips, let me know! Until next time, have a Great Southern Day!
Monday, October 1, 2012
Cooking: Roasted Pear Salad
Autumn is by far my favorite season of the year. I can never get enough of the sights of pumpkins, mums, and scarecrows or the smells of apple, cinnamon, and pumpkins. Furthermore, I find that this time of the year offers up the best in cooking. Living in a state in which the biggest business is agriculture further emphasizes my yearning for cooking with the fresh ingredients that are so plentiful during the harvest season. While my family is picking cotton and cutting soybeans, I am picking through the freshness that the local grocery store has to offer with apples, butternut squash, and Fall harvested fruits and vegetables.
It seems that Summer is a season in which to barbecue or grill to your hearts desire; especially down South where a hot oven can make one's home unbearable even on days when temperatures only reach into the low 90's. While I extensively use my oven year-round, I feel more confident doing so during the month of October when the humidity is nearly gone and a cool breeze can blow through my open windows.
While prepping for a dinner party that we hosted last week, I looked through some recipes and found a great recipe for a first course in which I could include an Autumn harvest fruit, even though the said harvest takes place in the Northwest. One of my favorite chefs, Ina Garten of Barefoot Contessa fame, developed this recipe for Roasted Pears with Blue Cheese (the recipe can be found at the bottom of this entry). Preparation is quite easy for this dish which would make a great salad course or a nice light lunch. As with all recipes that I find, I adapt them to my taste specifications.
After serving the Pear Salad to my guests, I found that it was not only easy to make, but very tasty and a big hit. I hope that you will try this recipe in your Southern home. Feel free to let me know what you think. Until next time, y'all have a Great Southern Day!
Roasted Pears with Blue Cheese
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 30 min
Serves 10
Ingredients:
5 ripe but firm Anjou pears (Bartletts, though not in season, can be substituted)
Freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 lemons)
4 oz. crumbled blue cheese
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
1 cup apple cider
2/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup olive oil (I use extra virgin)
2 8oz pkg. baby arugula
salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Peel the pears and slice them lengthwise into halves. With a small knife and melon baller, removed the core and seeds from each pear, leaving a round well for the filling. Trim a small slice away from the rounded side of the pear so that they will not wobble in the baking dish. Toss the pears with some of the lemon juice to prevent browning. Arrange them, core side up, in a baking dish large enough for them all to fit snugly.
Gently toss blue cheese, dried cranberries, and walnuts together in small bowl. Divide the mixture among the pears, mounding it on top of the well created earlier.
In the same small bowl, combine the apple cider and brown sugar, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Pour the mixture over and around the pears, keeping enough for basting and 1/4 cup for later use. Bake the pears, basting occasionally with the cider mixture, for 30 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly or bring them to room temperature.
Just before serving, whisk together the olive oil, remaining lemon juice (at least 1/4 cup), and 1/4 cup of the basting liquid in a large bowl. Place arugula on 10 plates and top with a pear half on each. Drizzle each pear with the fresh dressing just made and sprinkle with salt. Serve warm.
I only entertained 8 and found the 2 extra pears to be a nice lunch the next day.
It seems that Summer is a season in which to barbecue or grill to your hearts desire; especially down South where a hot oven can make one's home unbearable even on days when temperatures only reach into the low 90's. While I extensively use my oven year-round, I feel more confident doing so during the month of October when the humidity is nearly gone and a cool breeze can blow through my open windows.
While prepping for a dinner party that we hosted last week, I looked through some recipes and found a great recipe for a first course in which I could include an Autumn harvest fruit, even though the said harvest takes place in the Northwest. One of my favorite chefs, Ina Garten of Barefoot Contessa fame, developed this recipe for Roasted Pears with Blue Cheese (the recipe can be found at the bottom of this entry). Preparation is quite easy for this dish which would make a great salad course or a nice light lunch. As with all recipes that I find, I adapt them to my taste specifications.
After serving the Pear Salad to my guests, I found that it was not only easy to make, but very tasty and a big hit. I hope that you will try this recipe in your Southern home. Feel free to let me know what you think. Until next time, y'all have a Great Southern Day!
Roasted Pears with Blue Cheese
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 30 min
Serves 10
Ingredients:
5 ripe but firm Anjou pears (Bartletts, though not in season, can be substituted)
Freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 lemons)
4 oz. crumbled blue cheese
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
1 cup apple cider
2/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup olive oil (I use extra virgin)
2 8oz pkg. baby arugula
salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Peel the pears and slice them lengthwise into halves. With a small knife and melon baller, removed the core and seeds from each pear, leaving a round well for the filling. Trim a small slice away from the rounded side of the pear so that they will not wobble in the baking dish. Toss the pears with some of the lemon juice to prevent browning. Arrange them, core side up, in a baking dish large enough for them all to fit snugly.
Gently toss blue cheese, dried cranberries, and walnuts together in small bowl. Divide the mixture among the pears, mounding it on top of the well created earlier.
In the same small bowl, combine the apple cider and brown sugar, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Pour the mixture over and around the pears, keeping enough for basting and 1/4 cup for later use. Bake the pears, basting occasionally with the cider mixture, for 30 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly or bring them to room temperature.
Just before serving, whisk together the olive oil, remaining lemon juice (at least 1/4 cup), and 1/4 cup of the basting liquid in a large bowl. Place arugula on 10 plates and top with a pear half on each. Drizzle each pear with the fresh dressing just made and sprinkle with salt. Serve warm.
I only entertained 8 and found the 2 extra pears to be a nice lunch the next day.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Hosting: The Battle Plan
Hosting the closest of friends in one's Southern home can be a very intimidating experience. Ensuring that even the smallest of dinner parties is impeccably executed may seem a daunting task. Increase the number of guests you welcome into your home to 40 or more and you might need a tranquilizer to accompany that glass of wine that you will be serving. However, the most lavish of gatherings doesn't have to be a stressful event.
For my first hosting tip, I decided to start with the most fundamental "rule" that I follow whether I'm hosting my family of 5 members or a shower with a guest list of over 60 individuals. This rule is Careful Planning. The keys to using this rule properly are organization and dedication.
After deciding which date you will be hosting your gathering, take a moment to look at your schedule and decide how much time you need, in the very least, to plan the event. If you are hosting a few family members you won't need as much prep time as you would if you are having 30 people over for dinner, cocktails and entertainment. My immediate task, after deciding the date and who will be invited, is to decide what the event will entail. What kind of food will be served? Will this be a sit down, 4-course dinner, or will appetizers suffice? What kinds of alcohol will I serve? Should I provide entertainment and does that involve fun party games or a small band? These are just some ideas that you should be thinking of when planning your party. I will delve into these more specific questions in later blog posts.
If I am hosting a special gathering, I like to block out a complete schedule for the week leading up to the event. If you follow this tip, you will be able to keep your normal daily schedule (work, childcare, volunteering, etc...) with little disruption. If you plan on a small dinner party, you may start your week by finalizing your recipes one day, ensure that you have the required amount of serving pieces the next day, shop for the hosting items you lack on day 3, buy groceries for the recipes on day 4, and clean your house and prepare the dishes that do not require immediate attention on the last day. Following this plan, you can wake the morning of your event and tidy the house (lightly vacuum high traffic areas and ensure that everything is in its place) and prepare the final dishes. Trust me, spreading the load of hosting over a week's time reduces stress dramatically.
Keep a notebook or binder with all of the information needed for your event. This can include the guest list, recipes, a grocery list, a to-do list, or whatever you may need to keep you organized. By doing so, all of the information you will need will be found in one location. Furthermore, you can pull out this tool in the future for more party planning reference. I do keep one binder with information for each event I host.
I know this was a broad topic, but I could ramble on and on for days about good Southern hosting techniques. I will cover more specific hosting topics in the future. Until next time...Have a great Southern day!
For my first hosting tip, I decided to start with the most fundamental "rule" that I follow whether I'm hosting my family of 5 members or a shower with a guest list of over 60 individuals. This rule is Careful Planning. The keys to using this rule properly are organization and dedication.
After deciding which date you will be hosting your gathering, take a moment to look at your schedule and decide how much time you need, in the very least, to plan the event. If you are hosting a few family members you won't need as much prep time as you would if you are having 30 people over for dinner, cocktails and entertainment. My immediate task, after deciding the date and who will be invited, is to decide what the event will entail. What kind of food will be served? Will this be a sit down, 4-course dinner, or will appetizers suffice? What kinds of alcohol will I serve? Should I provide entertainment and does that involve fun party games or a small band? These are just some ideas that you should be thinking of when planning your party. I will delve into these more specific questions in later blog posts.
If I am hosting a special gathering, I like to block out a complete schedule for the week leading up to the event. If you follow this tip, you will be able to keep your normal daily schedule (work, childcare, volunteering, etc...) with little disruption. If you plan on a small dinner party, you may start your week by finalizing your recipes one day, ensure that you have the required amount of serving pieces the next day, shop for the hosting items you lack on day 3, buy groceries for the recipes on day 4, and clean your house and prepare the dishes that do not require immediate attention on the last day. Following this plan, you can wake the morning of your event and tidy the house (lightly vacuum high traffic areas and ensure that everything is in its place) and prepare the final dishes. Trust me, spreading the load of hosting over a week's time reduces stress dramatically.
Keep a notebook or binder with all of the information needed for your event. This can include the guest list, recipes, a grocery list, a to-do list, or whatever you may need to keep you organized. By doing so, all of the information you will need will be found in one location. Furthermore, you can pull out this tool in the future for more party planning reference. I do keep one binder with information for each event I host.
I know this was a broad topic, but I could ramble on and on for days about good Southern hosting techniques. I will cover more specific hosting topics in the future. Until next time...Have a great Southern day!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Streak Free Windows...& Mirrors
First, let me apologize for being absent since my first blog post. I have been busy with work and readying my Southern home in anticipation of hosting a wedding shower this coming weekend. Furthermore, being a crazy, spontaneous couple, we decided to install new flooring in the guest bath last week and I am still recovering from that escapade. But, I must say that it looks smashing and I will share my experience from that adventure in a future blog.
The winning genre for this blog post was overwhelming cleaning. So the topic that I have for today is a tip that I use during my daily cleaning routine. First, I have a rather large dog who loves to look out the 7 foot tall windows that seem to envelop all of the space in the public areas of my home. Since she wants to get the perfect, close-up view of the goings-on outside, she presses her cold, wet window to the glass. When we first moved into this house, over 3 years ago, I would go through the equivalent of Windex and paper towels that Macy's Herald Square must during the Christmas season. However, I soon learned, by accident if I recall correctly, of the amazing power of the Microfiber Cloth. Now, whenever my darling Weimaraner gets the window dirty, I simply wipe the spot with a wet cloth and then dry it with the microfiber cloth.
Someone once told me that the best way to clean a mirror was to use newsprint paper instead of paper towels. I found this idea to be a farce and found my hands to end up blackened. I have learned that you can use the same microfiber device for streak-free mirrors as well. However, I must warn that if the microfiber cloth leaves lint, it will end up on your mirrors. Another trick that I have found for streak less cleaning is to clean the mirror with Windex as normal and then "buff" out the streaks with a cotton t-shirt or cotton bath towel. This is what I do most often to ensure that my reflection looks its best in the mirror.
That's all for today, y'all! Until next time, I wish you all happy Southern lives!
The winning genre for this blog post was overwhelming cleaning. So the topic that I have for today is a tip that I use during my daily cleaning routine. First, I have a rather large dog who loves to look out the 7 foot tall windows that seem to envelop all of the space in the public areas of my home. Since she wants to get the perfect, close-up view of the goings-on outside, she presses her cold, wet window to the glass. When we first moved into this house, over 3 years ago, I would go through the equivalent of Windex and paper towels that Macy's Herald Square must during the Christmas season. However, I soon learned, by accident if I recall correctly, of the amazing power of the Microfiber Cloth. Now, whenever my darling Weimaraner gets the window dirty, I simply wipe the spot with a wet cloth and then dry it with the microfiber cloth.
Someone once told me that the best way to clean a mirror was to use newsprint paper instead of paper towels. I found this idea to be a farce and found my hands to end up blackened. I have learned that you can use the same microfiber device for streak-free mirrors as well. However, I must warn that if the microfiber cloth leaves lint, it will end up on your mirrors. Another trick that I have found for streak less cleaning is to clean the mirror with Windex as normal and then "buff" out the streaks with a cotton t-shirt or cotton bath towel. This is what I do most often to ensure that my reflection looks its best in the mirror.
That's all for today, y'all! Until next time, I wish you all happy Southern lives!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Design: The “Rule” of Three
I decided that
my first blog topic would involve the world of interior design. I chose design because that seems to be the
area of expertise in which most find I excel.
I love to entice the “wow” factor when visitors enter my home or the
other spaces that I have designed.
However, the fact of the matter is that anyone can do what I have done in
my home. To me, good interior design is
both an art and a science. It does take
an “eye” to know what works and what doesn’t.
But, there are some rules to follow that can help one take what they
already have and make it look better.
I’ve chosen the first rule as my first blog topic for The Southern
Domestic Gentleman.
The rule of three, which I use when displaying most, if not all, of my decorative items was first conceived in the 18th century by a British engraver named John Thomas Smith*. This is a very simple, yet poignant way to display any items you have in the space with which you are working. Just like the rule states, you group items in that area into groups of three.
I like to take this rule and add onto it further by using the “pyramid rule.” To do this, take your three items and group them so that the highest object is in the middle and the two smaller objects are on each side. The human eye tends to process objects by “reading” them from left to right and short to tall.
As you can see from the picture on the left of my fireplace mantle, I have taken two groups of three items and placed them on each side of my mantle.
Notice in the close-up images on the right that each grouping also takes on the pyramid or triangle shape.
Do you have to stop with three objects? Absolutely not! I find that any grouping of odd numbered items works as well. As a rule, I try not to go over five. Therefore, I tend to group things by themselves, in groups of three, or groups of five.
I hope that this easy tip will help you in your home. I'd love to see this idea used in your home! E-mail your photos to me at edwinwallace05@gmail.com and I might share them with all of my blog readers. Until next time, have a great Southern day!
The rule of three, which I use when displaying most, if not all, of my decorative items was first conceived in the 18th century by a British engraver named John Thomas Smith*. This is a very simple, yet poignant way to display any items you have in the space with which you are working. Just like the rule states, you group items in that area into groups of three.
I like to take this rule and add onto it further by using the “pyramid rule.” To do this, take your three items and group them so that the highest object is in the middle and the two smaller objects are on each side. The human eye tends to process objects by “reading” them from left to right and short to tall.
Notice in the close-up images on the right that each grouping also takes on the pyramid or triangle shape.Do you have to stop with three objects? Absolutely not! I find that any grouping of odd numbered items works as well. As a rule, I try not to go over five. Therefore, I tend to group things by themselves, in groups of three, or groups of five.
I hope that this easy tip will help you in your home. I'd love to see this idea used in your home! E-mail your photos to me at edwinwallace05@gmail.com and I might share them with all of my blog readers. Until next time, have a great Southern day!
*Copyright Wikipedia.com. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Thomas_Smith_(engraver)
Thursday, May 31, 2012
A Southern Welcome
I would like to welcome y'all to my new Internet home at The Southern Domestic Gentleman. After a lot of pondering and much research, I decided to devote a new blog to helping others live the Southern life that I have enjoyed over my past 30 years. In upcoming posts, you will find extremely helpful tips and techniques that I use in my everyday life. Each post will contain something different than before. I will share my secrets for great recipes with a Southern flair. In addition, I will give tips for creating and decorating your home to be a beautiful, welcoming spot to not only relax but to entertain as well. You will find ideas for easy, yet elegant entertaining. I look forward to using my love of photography, and my excellent camera and photo software, to share more insight into my Southern life!
However, I didn't want this to be some "boring" blog that focuses on my ideas alone. I have a great group of Southern friends that continually teach me tricks that I like to use around my house. So, I am going to tap my resources and share some of their great ideas as well.
Furthermore, I want your input. Do you have an interesting tip that I could use? Contrary to what you may have experienced from my big Southern mouth, I am all ears! One of my favorite activities is to take others' ideas and inject my own Southern spin. In addition, I look forward to gaining all of y'alls help with some of my projects. For example, I might use polls or comment sections to help decide what paint color I should use or which topic I should cover in my next blog.
Don't expect long, drawn-out posts that take 10 or more minutes to read. I promise to keep things short and on point. Also, don't expect to be inundated with blog posts. As busy as my life can be, I will be lucky to publish the two blog posts per week that I am planning.
Now, for something exciting! I do not want to use all of my time and effort and have it go to waste. So to entice regular, and new readers, every once-in-a-while I will post contests and fun games. Yes, there will be prizes. How great they may be depends of both my daily readership as well as the amount of Twitter followers I receive. I have some GREAT ideas planned and cannot wait for my first contest. But you have to help spread the word! I will post announcements for new blog posts on my personal Twitter Feed and Facebook Page as well as the Southern Domestic Gentleman Twitter Feed. Feel free to share these links with your friends and families! I'll even accept invitations from you Yankees!
I look forward to your comments and suggestions in the coming posts! That's all I have for now. Until the next time we meet, y'all have a great Southern day!
However, I didn't want this to be some "boring" blog that focuses on my ideas alone. I have a great group of Southern friends that continually teach me tricks that I like to use around my house. So, I am going to tap my resources and share some of their great ideas as well.
Furthermore, I want your input. Do you have an interesting tip that I could use? Contrary to what you may have experienced from my big Southern mouth, I am all ears! One of my favorite activities is to take others' ideas and inject my own Southern spin. In addition, I look forward to gaining all of y'alls help with some of my projects. For example, I might use polls or comment sections to help decide what paint color I should use or which topic I should cover in my next blog.
Don't expect long, drawn-out posts that take 10 or more minutes to read. I promise to keep things short and on point. Also, don't expect to be inundated with blog posts. As busy as my life can be, I will be lucky to publish the two blog posts per week that I am planning.
Now, for something exciting! I do not want to use all of my time and effort and have it go to waste. So to entice regular, and new readers, every once-in-a-while I will post contests and fun games. Yes, there will be prizes. How great they may be depends of both my daily readership as well as the amount of Twitter followers I receive. I have some GREAT ideas planned and cannot wait for my first contest. But you have to help spread the word! I will post announcements for new blog posts on my personal Twitter Feed and Facebook Page as well as the Southern Domestic Gentleman Twitter Feed. Feel free to share these links with your friends and families! I'll even accept invitations from you Yankees!
I look forward to your comments and suggestions in the coming posts! That's all I have for now. Until the next time we meet, y'all have a great Southern day!
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