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Friday, July 31, 2009

Pour a Glass of Wine with your Ginger Glazed Pears and Pork Chops - Bon Appetit Honeypie!


4 pork chops, ½ - ¾ inch thick boneless
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
3 teaspoons canola oil
2 tablespoon butter, seperated
4 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2/3 cup dry white wine or pear nectar
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 firm, ripe pear, such as Bosc or Anjou, peeled, cored and cut lengthwise into eighths
1 1 inch-long piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into thin julienne strips (1/3 cup)
8 green onions, trimmed and sliced into 1/2-inch sections
2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 3 teaspoons cold water

Season pork with salt and pepper. Heat oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add pork and cook until browned and just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and keep warm. Pour off fat from the pan. Add vinegar and sugar to the pan; stir to dissolve the sugar. Cook over medium-high heat until the syrup turns dark amber, 10 to 20 seconds. Pour in wine (stand back, as the caramel may sputter) and bring to a simmer, stirring. Add broth, onion powder, nutmeg, pears and ginger; bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, turning the pears occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add scallions and cook until the pears are tender, about 2 minutes more. Add the cornstarch mixture and cook, stirring, until lightly thickened, then mix in 1 tablespoon butter. Reduce heat to low and return the pork and any accumulated juices to the pan; turn to coat with the sauce. Serve immediately.

Pair this with a simple salad, bread and a nice wine and you've got a great dinner. Alsatian whites immediately come to mind, bringing both sweet fruit and balanced acidity to the fore. These wines come from the banks of the Rhine, but there are equally wonderful domestics. I would choose one of the ever popular Pinot Grigios for summer even though some wine snobs scorn them. Or perhaps a light chilled Riesling. Bon Appetit Honeychild!

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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Prayer Pockets, Vintage Linen Backpacks and Skirts, Heirloom Collars, Alpaca Wraps Created with Love by my Sistah, Sheryl Putnam




The PrayerPocket is a small handmade pocket, each one unique, made by hand, using different fabrics ranging from an 1800’s opera coat, to silks, velvets, antique linens. Most are adorned with antique or vintage rosary beads - mother of pearl, ebony, garnet, crystal, bone - many from the 1800’s and from Europe. Each one is a piece of wearable art. Inside is a small scroll of paper tied w/ a ribbon to write your own prayer, need, hope, or a special word or line of poetry.
My “sistah” Sheryl Putnam celebrates her birthday July 29th making her about four months older than me. Born in Mississippi to a gentle Southern woman and a Baptist minister, Sheryl grew up, married, had a beautiful baby she named Amber then moved to Nashville where she found her place in the music industry. It was there she met the love of her life, Norber t Putnam, a record producer of international fame. They moved about the South, raising children, writing music, restoring older homes, traveling the world, golfing and enjoying life before returning to Grenada MS when Sheryl’s dad became ill.
Sheryl took up knitting and she and her mother kept busy with needles and yarn in hand to keep their minds off their loss of her daddy. Her basic knit one, purl two evolved into some of the most beautiful designer wraps of alpaca yarns intertwined with hand dyed silk ribbons. Soon she was turning vintage lace and linens into skirts, lavender laced back pack purses and pillows, and prayer pockets dangling from rosary beads. From her heartbreak came a well spring of creativity and sheryl putnam designs was born.
One of my ventures into Mississippi to have dinner with Morgan Freeman in Clarksdale led to me meeting Norbert and Sheryl. The first time I met Sheryl, it was as if we had grown up together. Our precious mothers even share the same birthday. Without a doubt, Sheryl Putnam is one of the most creative, caring, funny, witty and loyal souls the good Lord ever put on this earth, but don’t think for a minute that this petite firecracker can’t hold her own with the best of them if need be!
She’s an artist with fabrics who offers seasonal trunk shows annually. She babies her mother, daughter and grandchildren; knits hot pink designer collarwraps for Sofie, her poodle child; and is as well informed about current events as anyone you’ll talk to at the next cocktail party. She likes to wear baseball caps which look adorable on her, surprise those she loves with the most thoughtful and beautifully wrapped gifts, listen to great music and do kind things for others. She favors genuine people over charlatans; spirituality over structure; a cold beer over whiskey; blackberry jam over most anything; sushi over steaks; Greg Iles over Steven King and a few close friends over a houseful. She sees the talent in others such as Marcia, truly appreciates it and encourages them. When she says hey sistah, I know we are stardust sisters who have surely known each other for longer than we can remember. Happy Birthday 2009 and always!

For Custom Orders or to view other designs visit http://web.mac.com/sherylputnamdesigns/Site/Sheryl_Putnam_Designs.html
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Monday, July 27, 2009

Rolling on the River - Catfish, Lemon Rub Pie, Family, Blue Skies and a great book - Get Carter



This weekend the skies couldn't have been any bluer so we spent some relaxing time at Pickwick Landing on the Tennessee River and ate supper at one of my favorite spots, the Catfish Hotel, adjacent to the Shiloh Batterfield. My sister-in-law joined us from Florence and after swapping stories and herbs and enjoying rolling on the river; we moseyed over to Shiloh for supper. I must tell you that I also read the book “Get Carter” written by Bill Carter who was a host with me at the recent Nashville party. A former member of the Secret Service, he describes that fateful day in Dallas that changed world history and then his days as the attorney for the Rolling Stones. The title comes from what Mick Jagger and others would say when things got tough – Get Carter. Bill Carter is endlessly fascinating and a great story teller. He’s a man from Arkansas who prayed that the good Lord would always direct him through this life and help him make the right decisions along the way. It’s a great read and if you enjoy a piece of this pie along with it, you just might feel like you’re on the river with us and the Delta Queen has just landed.
Catfish Hotel’s Lemon Rub Pie
1 9-inch unbaked pie shell
1 ¾ cups sugar
1 tablespoon self rising flour
1 tablespoon self rising corn meal
4 eggs
¼ cup melted butter (measure after melted)
¼ cup milk
2 tablespoons grated lemon rind
¼ cup lemon juice
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine sugar, flour and corn meal. Add eggs, melted butter, milk, lemon rind and lemon juice. Beat until blended. Pour into unbaked shell. Bake 35 – 40 minutes until top is golden brown.
Hagy’s Catfish Hotel has been serving fish on the banks of the Tennessee River since the early 1930’s at the site next to Shiloh Battlefield where the Hagy family landed and laid claim to several acres of bottom land in 1825.
MamMaw Hagy added this dessert to the menu in the late 1930’s. Prepared using only the freshest ingredients, this sweet and tangy pie is the perfect ending to a hearty Southern style catfish dinner.
When the Delta Queen steamboat traveled up the River, the ship’s chef would call one day before the boat docked at the Shiloh battlefield and order 25 Lemon Rub Pies to go. They would squeeze lemons and bake through the night to insure the pies were ready when the boat landed.
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Thursday, July 23, 2009

Photographs of the Country Stars, Actors, Producers, Authors, Business Leaders and an NFL Coach Who Raised Funds for PROTECT


Martina McBride and Libby
As promised, here are the party pictures from the Nashville event that I helped to host for PROTECT, whose aim is to save children and remove child molesters from society. Thousands of dollars were raised through the generous support of many from the Nashville music, sports and business community. PROTECT is headquartered in Knoxville TN and you may get more information about this national organization or join with these country stars at http://www.protect.org/. The party was held in a penthouse along the Nashville skyline as the sun set and a storm rolled into town. It's just the beginning of Country Music Child Rescue as these artists and others are pledged to do more to fight this horriffic injustice to innocent and helpless children. David Keith has rallied the troops and the army is growing, we hope you will join with us now.

David Keith, Grier Weeks(Founder & Executive Director of PROTECT) and PROTECT Staff
Charles Todd and Bobby Gregson, a couple of Tennessee gentlemen
Trays of appetizers that were delicious and beautiful

Award winning record producer Dann Huff and his wife visit with guest

David Keith, Actor & PROTECT VP Development & Legislation, and his wife Nancy, with Jeff Watson, Owner & Publisher VIP Magazine
Barbara Jarvis, Libby, Mary Cline, Janet Lee , a group of Tennessee friends

Hosts: Doug Horne, Coach Jeff Fisher, Trace Adkins, Martina McBride, David Keith, Joe Galante, Libby, Bill Carter, Tammy Genovese


Martina, who is a Great Cook with Chef Rob Price

Lynda Evjen, Legendary Fundraiser, Actress & Hostess with Libby


Coach Jeff Fisher, NFL Head Coach and VP Tennessee Titans talks food with Chef Rob Price, Private Caterer to the Stars


Gay Gregson, TN Business Woman & Community Activist and her son, J.D. McConnel, Entertainment Attorne

Johnny McBride, Manager for his wife, Martina, with Joe Galante


David Keith and Joe Galante, Chairman Sony Nashville


Barbara Jarvis, an Award Winning Educator and Trace Adkins


Chef Rob Price and Tammy Genovese , CEO CMA (Country Music Association)


Roy (Newspaper Publisher & President of The Jackson Sun) and Beth Heatherly(Special Education Teacher) with Bill Carter, Television Producer, Entertainment Attorney and Author


Coach Jeff Fisher and Margaret Monger, Owner & Publisher At Home TN magazine


Trays of Chef Price's Tuna, Tenderloin, Roasted Figs, Duck Confit and Shrimp were devoured at the party
David Keith and PROTECT www.PROTECT.org
Martina McBride www.martinamcbride.com
Trace Adkins www.traceadkins.com
Tammy Genovese www.cmaworld.com

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Serve and Share and Decorate with Your Herbs then Top It Off with Brown Sugar Ice Cream



Share your herbs with your friends and let them know how easy they are to grow. Give your guests a small pot which has been planted with basil seeds (or your favorite) to take home. They are easy to grow and it's fun. I put directions as to watering, sunlight and transplanting on a card along with a couple of recipes. You can use the planters as place cards or as party favors. Decorate the table with pots of other herbs.Add herbs of flowers to ice before freezing for a lovely addition to your summer beverages. Or add a sprig or rosemary or your favorite herbs to your centerpiece or with placecards like my friend, Kent Freeman of Kent Freeman Designs did with this green and white tablescape. The added scents are intoxicating.


Roasted Rosemary Chicken
4 bone-in chicken breast halves with skin (2 whole breasts)
1/3 cup chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons kosher salt
¼ cup Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 lemon cut into slices
2/3 cup lemon juice
2/3 cup olive oil
Mix all ingredients, put into plastic bag and allow to marinate in refrigerator overnight. Preheat the oven to 400F. Put the chicken breasts on a rack in a shallow roasting pan breast side up. Pour marinate plus ½ cup water into pan beneath chicken. Cook approximately one hour or until crispy and done (depends on thickness of chicken.) Remove from oven, loosely cover with foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Spoon some of the drippings over the chicken and serve. NOTE: if you don’t like the skin, remove after cooking, not before, and simply spoon drippings over chicken.


Spearmint Tea
6 c. water; 1 bunch fresh mint (15 sprigs); 8 tea bags (2 family size); 1 cup sugar
In saucepan, bring water and mint to a boil. Remove from heat; add the tea bags and cover the brew for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and mint to stir in the sugar. Chill. Garnish with additional mint.

Brown Sugar Ice Cream
4 egg yolks
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
3 cups half-and-half or light cream
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
In heavy, medium, non-aluminum saucepan, whisk together the egg yolks and brown sugar until thick. In another medium saucepan bring the cream and half and half just to a boil over moderate heat. Gradually whisk the hot cream into the egg yolk mixture in a thin stream. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon about 6 minutes. Do Not Boil.
Immediately strain the custard into a medium bowl. Stir in the vanilla and cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until very cold, at least 5 hours.
Pour the cold custard into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Let the ice cream soften slightly before serving
.
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