Good evening from South Georgia on a beautiful, Spring night.  I know it has been quite awhile since I wrote my last posting but I am finding that being a care giver is quite tiring physically, mentally and emotionally.  Most days I am ready for bed quite early and mentally I am drained but I hope writing my blog again will be an energizer. 

The biggest adjustment for us has been realizing we cannot take care of ourselves without help.  We don't have any family here in Adel so we turned to friends who have a help for those of us who need it.  Our sweet lady from Comfort Keepers comes twice a week and helps with everything from laundry to helping Roy exercise and this allows me to go to town and take care of shopping, mail, etc.  She is not only a comfort to us but has also become a good friend and I hope she will be with us as long as we need someone.

Enough about us for I have begun to cook more and have several recipes and ideas for you.  The one for today has been around for quite awhile but I am just now trying it and today I tried a new method with it.  As you can tell from the pictures it is a biscuit recipe.  Now I have been making biscuits for umpteen years from scratch and biscuit mix but I had not tried this one until last week and it is the 7-Up Biscuit. 

This is the blog where I found the recipe using a Pinterest search and please check here for the recipe: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/07/easy-7-up-biscuits.html.

The only change I made was using Sprite and not 7-Up but it did not make any difference.  Last week I made a single recipe but doubled it today and it was fine. 

This is 14 that I baked today and I froze some unbaked ones to bake later.  I will let you know how those taste.

This morning I cooked sausage patties to go with the biscuits.  I always bake my sausage patties using a baking pan and wire rack to hold the patties.  This allows the fat to drip down into the pan and they have less fat. If you cover them with foil they stay moist and not dry.

 

These are the beautiful biscuits which are light, fluffy and very good. 

I took split some of them in half and put a sausage patty between the layers, put each one in a zip lock bag and froze them for latter. 

 

 

When I get ready to eat them, I will let them thaw and heat them in the oven or microwave.  I think these will be delicious and plan to try them Monday morning, heated and a little strawberry jam added. 

 

Many of my friends declare they can't make a good biscuit but I can guarantee that you can make a good biscuit with this recipe and impress your family and friends.   One of my friends said they taste like Cracker Barrel biscuits but I think they are better.

 

I plan to make a recipe soon, cut them smaller and thinner and put slivers of ham between the layers for a snack.  This would be a quick snack to freeze and heat for unexpected company.  Let me know how you use this recipe and I will post again soon.

 

Nuff Said,

 

The Georgia Peach

 

 



Comfort Food

Good evening and come on in for a visit.  It has been a beautiful day and unseasonably warm for February but those who know me know this is fine with me.  Flip flops, capris and a t shirt weather is wonderful.  It makes me want to begin planting a garden but I know it is too early for Daddy says until Easter we could have cold weather.  Guess I will have to plan what I am going to do and get ready.

I thought I would share a favorite recipe of our family that we have enjoyed since childhood and still do.  We have carried this tradition right on down to our children and grandchildren and it is still enjoyed by most of us.  It is Hamburger Gravy and is like sausage gravy but we use hamburger or deer burger for the meat.  Mama used to make it using the hamburger for we raised cows and had lots of beef but not a lot of pork for we didn't raise pigs much.  This was a favorite breakfast or supper dish for us and mama would serve it with grits and homemade biscuits and we would eat with gusto. 

A couple of weeks ago our nephew was visiting us at the home place in Alabama and when Delaine said we were having hamburger gravy for breakfast he lit up like a Christmas tree.  He used to ask mama to cook it for him when he was a little boy and still likes it. 

It is also a good way to take a pound of hamburger and feed a whole bunch of people and I even like to eat it cold.  Mama would leave it on the kitchen table and before lunch someone would have taken a cold biscuit and finished it off.  I know you will like it and if you don't have time to make fresh biscuits the frozen ones are just as good and it is also good with fresh, hot toast.  Enjoy.

Hamburger Gravy

1 lb. hamburger - if you use deer burger or ground chuck, you will need to add about 3 tablespoons of oil to make the roux
3 Tbs. flour
2 cups milk
salt and pepper to taste
Optional: powdered garlic, onion salt, a little Worcestershire sauce
You can also use hamburger and sausage meats - about 1/2 pound of each

Begin browning the hamburger meat in large skillet (I like to use a cast iron skillet) and when it has slightly browned add the flour.  I put my flour in a sieve and sift it over the meat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper so it will cook into the meat and stir the meat and flour until the meat is browned and add the milk a little at the time stirring constantly. Use a whisk for easier incorporation of the milk. Stir until it begins to thicken and taste to see if additional salt and pepper are needed.  This is when you can add the optional ingredients and I usually add some garlic powder.  Reduce heat to medium, cover and simmer for about 5 minutes or until thick.  If you like a thinner gravy, add more milk a little at the time. 
Serve over hot grits or split hot biscuits and enjoy.  This is comfort food at its best.

Let me know what you think and ya'll be careful going home and come back to see me soon.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Egg McRobson by frances robson

Wow, 2 days in a row!  Ya'll come on in and try out another easy  breakfast recipe which you can freeze and eat later if you like.  I am always looking for a nutritious breakfast which is delicious, easy and nutritious and this is all of these.  Being able to freeze it is just another great big plus. 

I won't take credit for the idea for I got the initial recipe from this wonderful blog http://www.macheesmo.com/2010/03/breakfast-sandwiches/.  It had been posted on Pinterest and I knew when I looked at it I had to try it  with my twists.  You know me, I can't leave a recipe alone and I use what I have rather than run to the store.  When you live out in the country you learn to make-do and this time it worked well. So, here is my version and I call it "Egg McRobson."  The top picture is the finished product and my husband gave it a thumbs up.  I did 6 and I am freezing 4 but you can make any number you need.

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease or spray non-stick spray your muffin tins.
Put an egg in each cup (if you don't want to fix 6, put about a Tablespoon of water in the empty cups)
Place in preheated oven for 15 - 20 min.  In my oven, it took about 17 minutes for a well done egg.  If you want it softer, cut back the time.

The original recipe call for Canadian bacon but I didn't have any so I used ham slices and cut them into circles with biscuit cutter.  I used one slice on my first ones but 2 slices are better. You could also use cooked bacon.

After the eggs are done, place the split English muffins on a baking sheet.  I used the cinnamon raisin muffins for that is what I had but you could use the ones you like.
Put the ham slices on one half of the muffins and grated cheese on the other half and put it under the broiler until the ham curls and the cheese melts.

Run a knife around the eggs so that they will remove easily. 

Remove the muffins from the oven and place an egg on each muffin.  I place them on the ham side.  The eggs remove easily with a fork run around the edges and lift gently.

Place the tops on and have breakfast, lunch or dinner.  We put jelly on ours and it even better.  Use whatever additions you like and enjoy such as butter, mustard, salt and pepper.

If you made extra, put them on a baking sheet and freeze, then wrap in plastic wrap  or foil and place in zipper bag and keep in the freezer. To reheat, preheat oven to 350 degrees, unwrap the muffin, place on baking sheet and heat for about 25 minutes.  I tried the microwave and it is not good - soggy.  Use the regular oven. 

I hope you like these and thank you to Nick and this great website for the recipe. 

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach



Ham and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich by frances robson

Good morning and welcome to South Georgia on a rainy Monday morning but we are rejoicing over every drop.  Not looking forward to the cold weather  coming in afterwards but in every life a little cold must fall in the winter. 

I am sharing one of our favorite breakfast sandwiches with you for it is good, nutritional, and easy.  This is so easy that if you put the ingredients out, older children can fix their own for you to toast in the oven.  If you have a low broil setting, use this so the ham will curl but not burn and the cheese will get to the bubbling stage without burning.

So follow along and here we go.

 Split the English muffins and place a slice of sandwich meat ham on one half of the muffin.  Put in oven on low broil. Use and ham your family likes and I used turkey ham for these.  You can also use Canadian bacon.



 

While the ham is heating, place shredded cheese of choice on other half of the English muffin.  I use several type of cheese and on these I have cheddar and farm cheese.



Place in the oven and cook until the cheese is bubbling.  Remove from the oven and place the 2 halves together for a sandwich.  So easy and so good.

A tip for shredded cheese:
Buy cheese by the block for it is cheaper and grate a mixture of choice and keep in refrigerator for topping sandwiches, casseroles, pizza or any other dish needing cheese.  You can also grate the individual types of cheese and store in separate containers according to type of cheese.  I like to use a coarse grater but you could use your food chopper also. 

Another ingredient you can add on top of the ham is a thin slice of apple for a little crunch and a sweet flavor.

Try these and let me know how you like them.

Ya'll come back to see me and enjoy the sandwiches.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Blueberry Bacon Waffles

Seagull by frances robson

Good evening and come on in for a visit.  We can sit on the 'Net porch today for it is getting cooler which we are enjoying unless it gets cold.  It was 87 at lunch and supposed to be 50 in the morning - welcome to South Georgia. This time of year we are up and down in temperature but just as long as it stays warm I am OK.

We spent several days at the beach on Jekyll Island GA last week and sure did hate to come home.  Ya'll know how much I love the beach and would be happy to be living on the beach year around.  I think I have finally figured out why I love it so much - I am the granddaughter of James Burt Williamson.  Granddaddy Burt never saw a body of water he didn't like and preferred it had fish in it for he would fish every day if he could find a water hole with fish in it. 

He carried several rods, reels, and tackle boxes in the trunk of his car all the time and when he left work he would find a pond, lake, creek or puddle of water to fish in before the went home.  This was every day except Sunday for he did not fish on Sunday.  In his 30's he became a bi-vocational preacher and was very strict in his observance of Sunday which meant not fishing. 

It was interesting he did not eat the fish he caught.  He would take it to someone he know would enjoy them and carry one or two home for Grandmother and Charlie or release them to catch again.  Seafood would be eaten occasionally but not often. He just liked the sport of fishing and enjoyed sharing his catch with other people. 

This may be where I got my love of being on the water, near the water or in the water and I prefer the beach.  Any beach will do but I think my preference is the Gulf Coast for that is where we went as children but now Jekyll is my favorite for it is only about 2  1/2 hours away and the drive is easy and I am anxious to go back.  Soon I hope but we will see.

This morning I wanted some waffles for breakfast and had a good blueberry pancake mix which makes good waffles also.  I really like the Krusteaz brand but any good mix will be fine.  I keep cooked bacon most of the time for I bake a pound at a time and keep it in the fridge.  If you bake it on a broiler pan at 400 degrees for about 20 min. or until crisp, it shrinks much less than when you fry it and all the grease drains down into the pan.  When you take it out of the oven, place the slices on paper towels and most of the grease is gone.  We like it this way much better than fried.

I hope you will try the recipe and like I have suggested, make a double recipe and freeze some to pop in the toaster later for a quick breakfast.  Let me know what you think about the addition of the lemon juice but I have found that lemon enhances the flavors of most fruit and brings out flavors and we like lemon.  I usually use fresh lemon juice but had to use the bottled kind this morning but freshly squeezed would have been better.  Enjoy!!

Blueberry Bacon Waffles

2 cups blueberry pancake mix
1 ½ cups water
2 Tbsp. Lemon juice
2 Tbsp. Vegetable oil
3 slices cooked bacon – chopped
1 tsp. Lemon flavoring

Mix water, lemon juice, oil and flavoring together. Pour over blueberry pancake mix and stir until mixed but do not over mix. Will be slightly lumpy. Fold in bacon.
Let rest about 3 minutes. Bake in hot waffle iron according to instructions for the waffle maker.
Serve with blueberry syrup or top with fresh blueberries and whipped cream.

Ya'll be careful going home and come back to see me.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Breakfast

Jekyll Island GA Friend



Good morning and I'm not dead or sick just procrastinating.  I am a master of this and have not posted because I have been lazy but as I told a friend at school last week, I have earned the right to be lazy if I want to.  He agreed with me and said he was looking forward to retirement when he could be lazy too. 

We are going to a new doctor for pain management for my sweet husband and sweetheart and it is working.  He is having acupuncture for chronic pain related to a back problem and after the second treatment his pain is better and we are looking forward to continued progress.

  Dr. Mansberger in Thomasville GA is the doctor and he also suggested we begin a no carb or low carb diet for sugar makes pain spike.  We have begun trying and are cutting back but breakfast was challenging but I am finding some good ideas.  We needed to leave off the grits (Roy's favorite food) and cut back on the bread so these are some ideas I am using.  These can also be used for anyone and are some good ideas for easy and quick breakfasts.

In preparation for breakfast:

Bake sausage patties in the oven and store in refrigerator or freezer
Bake a couple of pounds of bacon and do the same
Chop peppers - bell, banana, and hot if you like and store in fridge
Chop an onion and do the same
Keep cherry tomatoes or your choice of tomato types
Grate cheeses of choice and store in fridge

Super Duper Scrambled Eggs
Beat eggs - 2 per person - until frothy and set aside.
Crumble the bacon or sausage and put in hot skillet.  Add onion and peppers and saute until warm and add the eggs.  Season with salt and pepper to taste, add the  shredded cheese and chopped tomato and scramble until done. 

Pour into serving bowl and sprinkle with additional cheese if you like.

I serve this with 1 slice of whole wheat sandwich thin and applesauce.

For a quick, to-go breakfast, roll a serving in a flour tortilla and eat as you go.  This would be a good idea for children also they can eat this on the way to school.

You can add any ingredient which you like to the eggs such as hot peppers, ham, or seasonings of choice. 

Having all the ingredients cooked or chopped and stored in fridge makes it quick and easy and teens could fix their own nutritious breakfast.  You can also use egg substitutes if you like.

Try this and let me know what you think and I'm going to fix some eggs.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Peachy Waffles

Good evening and come on into the Net Porch and have a seat. I have cold coke ready and iced tea if you prefer but you will need something for it is hot and humid. Welcome to South Georgia in July and I love it. This is my kind to weather for I stay in house during the hot part of the day and go out early in the morning and late in the afternoon and I wouldn't swap it for anywhere else except the beach. In fact, I need a "beach fix" really soon.

We had waffles for breakfast this morning and this time I remembered to spray the waffle iron with non-stick spray. It is supposed to have a non-stick surface but if you don't spray it the waffles will stick and you cannot get them out. I found that out the last time I tried to have waffles.

I made Peachy Waffles this morning for I had some fresh peaches I needed to use and if you add peaches to anything it makes it taste better. I peeled and cut up the peaches in small chunks for I wanted to bite into a peach chunk while I was eating it. They turned out so well, I thought you might like to try it also so I included the recipe for you to try. Fresh blueberries could also be used instead of the peaches or put some of both for these two fruits compliment each other well.

PEACHY WAFFLES

Ingredients:
2 c. packaged biscuit mix
1 tsp. Cinnamon
¼ tsp. Nutmeg
2 tbsp. sugar
1 egg
1 2/3 c. milk
2 tbsp. salad oil
1 c. chopped peaches

Directions:
Place the biscuit mix, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar in bowl and mix. In smaller bowl, mix egg, milk and oil and add to dry ingredients. Stir together then add the chopped peaches. I roughly chop the peaches not mince them. Bake 3/4 cup batter at a time in a hot waffle iron until brown.

When mixing the wet ingredients with the dry, don't over mix or they will tough. I also took one and put it into a bowl while it was warm to see if I could make a waffle bowl. Scoops of ice cream topped with peaches or blueberries would be great in this bowl or whatever you wanted to put in it. Make a double recipe of the waffles and freeze some for later. Thaw them and pop them into the toaster for a quick breakfast or a snack. These are good enough to eat like a cookie.

Peachy Waffle Bowl

Blueberry Syrup is great for these waffles or put sliced fresh peaches and butter on them. I hope you will try these and let me know what you think.
Ya'll come back to see me and have a great weekend.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach