Gulf Coast Vacay

I was able to take some vacation time last week to see my parents in the Gulf Coast of AL.  It was a wonderful time spent celebrating my parents 40th wedding anniversary.  My parents, AKA Rob and Brenda Jane, know how to throw a party. The first night, after my sister and brother-in-law arrived, we did a shrimp boil.  Their Louisiana native neighbor, Daryl, came over to lead the charge. Earlier that  day Rob and I went to a local seafood shop and bought 11 lbs. of extra large shrimp. The seafood shop had every size and kind of shrimp imaginable.  It was an amazing place! I could have stay their for hours.  After awhile the smell would have gotten to me, but still a cool place.

The rest of the trip was just as fun as the first night.  The next morning I was coaxed out of bed by the smell of creme brûlée french toast.  Seriously, creme brûlée flavored french toast?? My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  I started wondering how much weight I could gain and still have my plane take off on Sunday.  We traveled to Pensacola, FL that night for dinner at McGuire's Irish Pub.  It was a fun pub with a lot of history and money! Yes, money.  To be exact, $3 million worth of dollar bills are stapled to the ceiling.  I'll include a picture to prove this wacky decorum. If this place ever burns down, they are in big expensive trouble.  They serve Senate Bean Soup for .18.  They haven't raised the price since it was first on the menu in 1972.  If you order that as your stand alone entree, it's $18.  I shared fish and chips with my sister.  Pretty tasty and I didn't need to undo my top button in misery for the ride home.  When you're in the south, pain after eating is as normal as the sweet tea you wash it down with.

Like all the other food wasn't enough, Brenda Jane also made two cakes-carrot cake and triple chocolate with german chocolate icing. I think desserts are her speciality. And as usual she didn't disappoint.  How much weight can I gain again?  It's time to put the fork down and rest up for breakfast the next morning.  What's that sound?  Is it Jenny Craig calling?  No, but it should be.

The fruit and veggies were extra delicious and tasty.  When you buy produce in season everything just tastes better.  It tastes the way it's supposed to be- fresh and alive with flavor.


Before I stepped on the plane I had a sampling of fried green tomatoes, seafood gumbo, trigger fish w creole sauce.  And like any good mother, Brenda Jane, made homemade granola for our trip home.

I weighted myself this morning and much to my surprise I'd only gained one pound.  I considered that a success considering how much I ate and how little (or zero) exercise I did.  It's time to put my sweet home Alabama in the rear view mirror and the gym in my gps.

First Date Dinner Order

 

What Your First Date Dinner Order Says About You, Ladies

3:43 PM / June 11, 2012

Posted by Bon Appetit

(Credit: Daniel Boud / Getty Images)

You probably think a lot about how you look, smell, and sound on a date. But what about your dinner order? That $32 steak will say something to your dining companion about your personality and maybe even your values--but what? To find out, we asked a random sample of guys (who mostly date women) for their candid thoughts. We summarized their responses for each dish and picked a favorite quote (or two).

We're not saying you shouldn't order your heart's desire, but just know what your quinoa salad is saying about you. Knowledge is power. Plus: Stay tuned for next week when we ask women the same question about men. --Bridget Moloney

Read More- first date dinner order

America's 50 Best Seafood Dives

Thank you Coastal Living magazine for doing an article on the America's 50 Best Seafood Dives.  As you travel this summer, I hope you check out some of these restaurants.

Pistachio Crusted Goat Cheese

Pistachio Crusted Goat Cheese

Mr. Bear went paddle boarding with a friend recently and they came home hungry.  Being the good southern lady I am, I feel the need to feed everyone all the time.  Thank you, mom! (AKA Brenda Jane) I looked through the refrigerator for some quick options. I had goat cheese and pistachios. Perfect! I got out my food processor and chopped up the pistachios until they were small pieces.  (If you don't have a food processor you can use a knife and chop them up.) Then I rolled the log of goat cheese in the pistachios pressing down lightly.  I placed it on a tray, added crackers and done! It's that simple.  This is perfect for a party! The whole process took about five minutes.

Ingredients:

Large or small log of goat cheese (depending on the size of your crowd)

shelled pistachios

water crackers

Bourbon Peach Pulled Pork

 Bourbon Peach Pulled Pork

Over Memorial Day Weekend I decided to make pulled pork.  We live in Virginia and pulled pork is everywhere.  I'd never made it before so I figured I better get on it.   I was at Williams Sonoma and they sell a Bourbon Peach Braising Sauce that I thought would be a good flavor.  I heard pork shoulder was the way to go, but the butcher said Boston Butt was better for pulled pork. Who knew? Boston Butt it is! And the verdict was delicious!

Bourbon Peach Braised Pork
Serves 6

3.5 lbs Boston Butt
1 jar of Bourbon Peach Braising Sauce (you can purchase at Williams Sonoma)
2 tbs. vegetable oil
Kosher salt and ground pepper to taste

Preheat an oven to 350*
In a large Dutch oven over medium-high, warm the oil.
Brown pork on all sides
Add the braising sauce and bring to a simmer
Transfer to the oven and cook until the meat is fork tender, 2 1/2 hours to 3 hours

Strawberries with Cheesecake filling

Strawberries with Cheesecake filling

It’s summer time and that means strawberries are extra good. Mr. Bear and I had a Memorial Day party and I was looking for some new ideas.  I usually make chocolate covered strawberries.  However, I figured it was time to try something else.  I saw a recipe on Pinterest that sparked my interest-strawberries with cheesecake filling.  Oh yeah momma!  However, the thought of hulling all of those strawberries didn’t excite me.  I went to Williams Sonoma and bought a strawberry huller .

That made the process a LOT faster.  It really didn’t take much time at all.  And our guests ate them up!  I was barely able to get a picture.  My only suggestion is to double the recipe.  They go fast! 

Ingredients:
-1 lb large strawberries
-8 oz. cream cheese, softened 

 -3-4 tbsp powdered sugar (4 tbsp for a sweeter filling)
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-graham cracker crumbs

Directions:
1. Rinse strawberries and cut around the top of the strawberry. Remove the top and clean out with a paring knife, if necessary (some may already be hollow inside). Prep all strawberries and set aside.

2. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Add cream cheese mix to a piping bag or ziploc with the corner snipped off. Fill strawberries with cheesecake mixture. Once strawberries are filled, dip the top in graham cracker crumbs. If not serving immediately, refrigerate until serving.