Busy Month

It has been super busy this month... A little moving, a little cooking, a little unpacking and more packing, Natchez wedding and sweating.  It has been hot this month to say the least.  The best part is yet to come.  VACATION!!!!

Our annual family vacation to Estes Park Colorado.  We love it!!

I will try to post some fun things while we are relaxing.  We are looking forward to the cooler weather.

All while wearing pearls.

While in Denver

While in Denver this past week I kept looking at the mountains to north wanting to be in Estes Park.

It will not be long until we are there!!  We are looking forward to resting, enjoying the beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park and having a great time.

Since this was a business trip we stayed in Denver and enjoyed two great restaurants that I recommend.  We went to Lola's on Boulder Street for a business dinner.  It is always good and I recommend the ceviche platter!  Also if you are ever there on a weekend they have a great brunch( I remember some really good shrimp and grits, and chicken and waffles), just saying!

Something new for us but not for my daughters was Deluxe on Broadway.  It was fabulous and we will go again.  The dessert made up for not going to the mountains but a 10 mile hike would have helped with the calorie count.

This was a flourless ice cream sandwich note the word deluxe on the plate!

Now if I could figure out how to make this recipe I will.  It was a chocolate coffee type pudding with whipped cream and a chocolate disk.  

I needed to hike 10 miles.

All while wearing pearls....

Banana Foster Pancakes

Bananas Foster Pancakes

Seven Eleven is a fun day in our home.  Its a birthday night!!  I wanted fix my husband something that he would enjoy, so I prepared a salad with grilled shrimp.  I then thought all day what would he really like.  He loves pancakes, did I say he loves that is an understatement!  He also likes bananas foster for fun occasions.  So why not the two together.  I usually like to cook from scratch but I read that jiffy mix is good so I thought why not. 

So here is what I came up with for dessert.  It is a winner and the family has asked me to make it for them when we are together.

Bananas Foster Pancakes

1 box jiffy baking mix (make according to the package)

3 tablespoons of sugar 

1 teaspoon of vanilla

Make the pancakes with these ingredients added to the mix ( I learned this trick of sugar and vanilla from a minister that was in charge of pancake dinners).   Cook according to the directions.

Bananas Foster

( similar to Commander's  Palace in New Orleans)

1/2 stick butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons Creme de Banana

1 1/2 tablespoon rum

In a non-stick or iron skillet melt the butter very slowly medium heat.   Slowly add the brown sugar and whisk together not letting the sugar burn.  Add the Creme de Banana to the sugar and butter and whisk gently making sure that the liquid doesn't make the sugar and butter separate.  Then in the center of the mixture slowly pour the rum in the middle and light it with a match or lighter.  Whisk the mixture until the flames go out.  

Top a stack of pancakes with the mixture and enjoy!!!

They were a hit.  I text the pictures to my best critics and now they all want me to make it for them. 

It was a super big hit and is so much fun to make.  Also it is always good on vanilla ice cream.

Have a flaming good time with this......

While Wearing Pearls

A Recipe Surprise

Better than Anything Cake

A few weeks ago I pinned a recipe for this cake onto a board.  I didn't think that much about it and thought if I need a quick and easy recipe I might fix it.  It certainly looked super easy.  After about 2 weeks I noticed that people were pinning it after the first round.  When I looked at the board 345 people  had pinned it.  I thought about it for awhile and thought if that many people pinned it maybe I should make it.

So I made it!!!!!  It is absolutely delicious.  I looked back at the original blog that I got it from and she stated that she is not for sure where the original recipe came from.  Her pictures are really good and the directions for the recipe is on her blog.  Here is the link to the blog

http://www.chef-in-training.com/2012/06/better-than-anything-cake/

After making the cake I noticed that 460 something people had repinned the recipe.  I will have to say that I finally had to put the cake down the disposal so that I would not eat the whole thing.  

If you try it, you will not be disappointed!  

Have a wonderful and safe July 4th.

While Wearing Pearls

Reunion Dinner Part 2

The Rest of the Story.....

I'll finish with the menu items and then share a little about the weekend.

I made a Blueberry Barbecue Sauce from the blog How Sweet It Is.... our whole family and now friends love this recipe.  I highly recommend this blog and her recipes.

Now this recipe makes people that have never liked grits come back for seconds and ask for the recipe.  I got it from our local Jr. League cookbook but I have modified it.  I make it thicker and with less eggs and other stuff so I feel that it is where many love it.

Cheese Grits

6 cups of chicken or vegetable broth (I use organic)
2 cups quick grits
1 1/2 sticks butter (I know this is bad but this is a splurge dish)
1 pound cheddar cheese shredded
3 teaspoons seasoned salt (sounds like a lot but grits need the seasoning!)
1 8oz. can green chilies
2 eggs beaten
(if it seems dry you can add another egg)

Bring the broth to a boil and slowly add the grits and stir until thick.  Add all but the eggs and stir until cheese is melted.  It boils really fast and pops on you so I take it off the burner to do this.  Add the eggs when you remove the grit mixture from the burner and stir in.  Grease a 9x13 dish with butter or Pam(I use Pam).  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to an hour depending on your oven.  This casserole is a great side dish for many menus.  Have fun with it and watch people come back for more, or call asking for the recipe.



This was really a wonderful dinner party for friends of my husbands from his college days.  The reunion was based around the college ministry that he attended.  We got to see many friends, hear amazing music and inspiring words.  The dinner party the night before the event was a great way to prepare our hearts for the weekend.


Reunions...While Wearing Pearls

Chicken Salad for Lunch

I may have found a simple picture solution. There is an app for blogger. Catching up with technology!

One more thought about my blog.  I get several emails or calls a month about where to eat while on a trip.  I really am a foodie!!
This week it is about restaurants in Aspen.  So a new addition to my thoughts is great places to go while traveling.
I added this good picture I took last spring in the UK because I wasn't blogging then and it is great.
Have a great day and thanks for all of the sweet comments on my past post.