Rustic Peach Tart

Good evening and come in for a delicious piece of peach tart.  Peach season in South Georgia is my favorite time of the year for peaches are my favorite fruit.  They are so versatile in that you can eat them raw - I don't even peel them sometimes, you can use them in jams, jellies, pies, breads, and tarts just to name a few.  Mama used to make pickled peaches and can many jars. 

We mostly eat them with cereal, in smoothies or peeled and sliced to eat as a dessert with whipped topping or ice cream.  I plan to make a peach pound cake next week and will be sure and share it with you. 

Today I made a Rustic Peach Tart which I will share with you.  I have a recipe for a Rustic Pear Tart at this link so I decided today to try a peach tart.  I enjoy making the rustic tarts for they can look "rustic" and that is OK for sometimes I just can't seem to make a neat pie crust. 

After searching on the 'Net for a recipe for me to adapt to our tastes I found this one http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/rustic-peach-tart-10000001213028/index.html which sounded delicious but we don't care for the taste of ginger and I like to use some lemon juice and butter with peaches.  After some changes to this recipe this is my version.
Rustic Peach Tart
Ingredients

• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for the work surface
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (I use the nutmeg nut and grate generously over the peaches)
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 8 peaches peeled and sliced
• pinch of salt
• 1 Tbsp. Fresh lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 1 refrigerated pie crust (such as Pillsbury) or homemade
  

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425° F. Rinse the peaches and pat dry. peel them. cut each one in half, discarding the pits. Slice the fruit into wedges about 1/2 inch thick. In a large bowl, combine the flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, and 3/4 cup of the sugar. Add the peaches and toss.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Arrange the peaches in the center of the dough. Sprinkle the lemon juice over the peaches, and dot with butter. Fold the outer edge of the dough over the peaches, allowing it to fall into pleats, leaving the center of the tart uncovered.
3. Lightly brush the dough with water and sprinkle with the remaining sugar. Bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Reduce oven to 350° F and bake until the juices bubble and thicken, about 30 minutes more. Let cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing
   

*Source of original recipe: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/rustic-peach-tart-10000001213028/index.html

Before Baking

I hope you will try it and let me know what you think.  Find a farmer's market close to you or a farm which sells fresh fruit and vegetables for it is so much better than the supermarket.  Having it picked ripe rather than green to ship  makes a great difference in the taste. 

Come back and enjoy.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Jekyll Island, GA by frances robson

Good evening and come on in for a visit and a new recipe.  I wanted to make something sweet today and the only mix I had was a German Chocolate so that was going to be the main ingredient.  I checked on Pinterest for recipes using this mix and found one called Apple German Chocolate Cake ,

It sounded so good but the only can of pie filling I had was cherry and when you live out in the country, you don't jump in the car and go to town for a can of pie filling so cherry it would be.  I didn't have walnuts either but I always have pecans for this is the South and pecans are necessary for our cooking.  This sounded like a good combination so I tried it and it is delicious.  It makes a moist, light cake and the cherry pie mix and pecans are really good so try it and let me know.



Cherry German Chocolate Cake

Ingredients
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
1 package (18-1/4 ounces) German chocolate cake mix
3 eggs
3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips or regular chocolate chips chopped

Directions

Place pie filling in a blender; cover and process until the cherries are in chunks. Pour into a large bowl; add cake mix and eggs. Beat on medium speed for 5 minutes. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with nuts and chocolate chips.
Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting. Yield: 12-15 servings.

This is a quick and easy dessert that you will enjoy so try it and let me know what you think.  I am going to try the apple pie mix with a spice cake mix next time and I think that will be good also and will be sure and post it for you.

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

Nuff said,
The Georgia Peach

Chocolate Cake Waffles



Chocolate Cake Waffle

Good evening and Happy Valentine's Day to all.  This holiday is always very special to me for I have had the same sweetheart for 50 years and we are still very much in love.  Each year he gives me a card that expresses his love for me and makes me feel very loved and appreciated and I have each and every one of them.  These cards are more precious than any box of chocolates or roses of any color for they say those words that are sometimes hard for us to say.  They will be treasured and maybe someday our children and grandchildren will look at them and know how much we love each other.

I wanted to make a special dessert for dinner tonight but time was running short and thought about the red velvet cake waffle that Rachel Ray had shown on her TV program yesterday and I knew I could adapt it with what I had and make a delicious dessert we would enjoy.  This is the original recipe link http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/red-velvet-waffles-cream-cheese-drizzle/ and I want to make it one day but I had to substitute what I had so this is my version.

Chocolate Cake Waffle Topped with Peaches and Strawberries

1 chocolate cake mix

1 1/3 cup water

1/2 cup oil

3 eggs

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients and blend well. 

Spray waffle iron with non stick spray and pre-heat according to waffle iron instructions.

Using the cake batter, make 8 waffles.  It will take about 5 minutes per waffle.  Remove from waffle iron and place in one layer on large plate or platter.  After they cool completely you can stack them to store and I keep mine in the refrigerator.

Peaches and Strawberry Topping

2 cups frozen peaches

2 cups fresh, sliced strawberries

1 tsp. cinnamon

Microwave peaches for 5 minutes and stir in cinnamon.  Add the fresh strawberries and gently combine.  Sugar can be added if you like but I didn't for I wanted the slightly tart flavor and the natural flavor of the fruit. 

Stack 2 or 3 of the chocolate cake waffles, spoon the fruit over the top and add whipped cream or whipped topping.  Top with strawberry and serve.  The fruit was slightly warm but not hot.

It is a delicious dessert and I hope you will try it.  You can use whatever fruit topping you like and fresh peaches and strawberries would be wonderful. 

I hope you will try it and let me know what you think. 

Have a great Valentine's Day and tell someone special that you love them.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Slow Cooker Apple Cake

New Growth from the Old

Good evening and come on in.  It has been a beautiful day here in South Georgia and we have enjoyed it immensely.  We are enjoying the mild winter here and I don't miss the cold a bit and hope it stays warm for I do dislike the cold weather. 

Today I covered a footstool and the seat of a small wooden chair to update them a little.  The stool was made by my grandfather and the little chair came from a restaurant owned by Roy's grandfather.  It has to be over 100 years old and the footstool is getting close to that.  As I was tacking the fabric on the chair I realized I was using a little upholstery hammer which had once been Roy's grandfather's.  Lots of memories in this little chair and footstool.  I will take pictures and show you what I did later.

I tried a crock pot cake recipe for the first time last week and it is delicious.  It is like the dump cake I have been making for years but so easy to do in the crock pot or slow cooker.  I never know which one to call it for I see both terms used but I like crock pot or as Roy says "crack pot." 

Of course I had to play with the recipe a little bit for I didn't have some of the ingredients and I think mine is very good and Roy said worth posting for you to enjoy too.  Let me know what you think.

Slow Cooker Apple Cake

Cooking Time: 3-5 hours
Ideal Slow Cooker Size: 3½-4-quart
Ingredients:
6 cups fresh apples, peeled and sliced
½ cup apple juice
½ cup dried cranberries
18¼ -oz. pkg. Carrot cake mix – or spice cake mix
1 stick (½ cup butter), melted
1 cup pecans, chopped
1. Spray interior of slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Spoon apples and apple juice into slow cooker, and sprinkle cranberries over the apples. Spread evenly over the bottom.
3. Sprinkle with dry spice cake mix.
4. Pour melted butter over dry mix. Top with chopped pecans.
5. Cook on Low 3-5 hours, or until a toothpick inserted into topping comes out dry.
6. Serve warm from cooker with whipped topping, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Refrigerate what is not eaten. Warm and serve – even good cold.

Ya'll have a good weekend and enjoy the cake - delicious and easy.

Nuff said,
The Georgia Peach

Sweet Potato Apple Butter Tart

Sweet Potato Apple Butter Tart

Good evening and come on in or we can sit on the porch for it has cooled off and feels just right outside to sit and talk.  It rained all around us us this afternoon and we didn't get any rain but we got the cool air and that is wonderful.  Of course I realize that the hot weather is not gone but we are going to get a respite from the hot weather for a few days.

The Sweet Potato Apple Butter was so good I made this week I found another way to use it today.  I made some tarts and baked them rather than fry them and they are really good so I want to share the recipe with you.  They are quick and easy and if you don't have the homemade sweet potato butter to use, substitute sweet potato pie filling but this will add some sugar that is not in the homemade.  All the sweetener I added was about 2 Tablespoons of honey.  

 I am trying not to use sugar in my recipes but either honey of maple syrup and the amount will depend on how sweet the potatoes and apples are.  These were sweet so it needed just a little bit of honey. You can use about 1/4 cup of brown sugar if you would like or an artificial sweetener if you want it sweeter.

Baked Sweet Potato Apple Butter Tarts

I made 6 but you can make the number you would like.

6 frozen biscuits - thawed or the large size canned biscuits

2 Tbsp. filling per biscuit

cinnamon sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.

On floured surface, roll out the biscuits into circles.  Roll as thin as you can without them tearing.  As you roll, flip the dough several times so it will not stick.  Place about 2 tablespoons of filling on one side of the dough circle, fold over the other half and press edges together.  I roll the bottom edge over the top one, press together with a fork to seal.  Use the fork to punch several holes in the top of the tarts, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and place on baking sheet.  Place in preheated oven and bake until brown - about 20 minutes.  Remove from baking sheet and cool on wire rack.

These are low in fat and sugar and taste really good.  Try them and let me know how they taste.

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

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Peach Pound Cake Dump Cake

Peach Pound Cake Dump Cake by frances robson

Good evening and come on in for a dish of warm peach dump cake. It smells so good and as soon as it gets a little cooler we are going to have a dish with some ice cream on top. I love the mixture of the cool and hot and as hot as it is today, we need some cool. We are so thankful for air conditioning but I am not complaining for my family in Texas has it much hotter than I do. They are also much dryer and we are all praying for rain.

This dessert I am sharing is from my favorite fruit - no exceptions. Fresh peaches are like nectar from the gods and taste so good. We grew peaches when we were growing up on a farm in South Alabama and sold them. Mama also made everything you could with peaches - preserves, canned, frozen and pickled. Her pickled peaches were a great treat at holidays.

We are fortunate enough to live in the center of a peach growing area and can buy them straight out of the orchards or pick them ourselves. I leave the picking to someone else but I will surely buy and eat them. When it is peach season we have fresh peaches almost every day and I will just wash them off, cut them in half, remove the pits and eat them peeling and all. I just love them.

The season is over down here but we were in middle Georgia this week and were able to buy some fresh ones. We are enjoying them raw but I also like to make dump cakes with them. When I looked into my pantry the only cake mix I had was a vanilla pound cake mix so I used that. I also added 1/4 cup brown sugar to give it a richer flavor and it worked. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we did. It is a really good dessert so try it and let me know.

Peach and Pound Cake Dump Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1- 9 oz. Vanilla Pound cake mix
2 – 3 cups peaches – peeled and sliced
¼ cup – oatmeal, not instant
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 stick butter
juice of 1 lemon
zest of 1 lemon

8x11 inch baking dish sprayed with butter flavored non-stick spray

Cover the bottom of the baking dish with the sliced peaches. Shake the dish slightly to evenly distribute the peaches. Sprinkle with 1 tsp. Cinnamon and the brown sugar. Zest the lemon over the peach mixture and pour the lemon juice over the peaches. Sprinkle the dried pound cake mix over the peach mixture then the oatmeal. Sprinkle with cinnamon and cover the top with the sliced butter. You can slice the butter easily if it is cold. Bake until the top is browned about 40 to 45 minutes.

I hope you will try it and leave me a comment.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Peaches and Beef Stew

The Peach Family by frances robson

Good evening and come on in the house for a glass of sweet iced tea - peach flavored of course - and some good recipes. I cooked all day today and enjoyed every minute of it. Cooking is fun for me but I sure do hate to wash the dishes and thank goodness my sweet husband does most of that for me.

Peach season is at its peak right now down here in South Georgia and today has been peach day for me. We went down to Barney yesterday to buy some to put in the freezer and Roy reminded me I had not made a peach cobbler this summer which made me feel terrible guilty, right? So one peach cobbler coming up today using "Miss Kathryn's" recipe which I have used for years. The whole family likes this easy but delicious recipe.

When buying peaches at the peach shed to put in the freezer or to cook with, you can save some money buying the seconds for it doesn't matter that they are not perfect. You are going to cut them up anyway and they are about half the price of the perfect ones. At the peach shed, they call them uglies but I think they have personality, hence the picture at the top. As a child, helping daddy raise peaches at home, I liked the ones with the big noses or those with spots like freckles for they were different. The taste is the same but they have personality.

There were several in the box we bought and after arranging them today they looked like a family to me. I would like for you to meet the Peach family - Mama Georgiabelle, Daddy Jefferson, Son Flordaking and Daughter Suwanee which are all Georgia Peaches. It was painful cutting these up for I could hear the pain as I cut of the noses but the cobbler needed the sacrifice so I just fought back the tears and washed, peeled and sliced. The results are well worth it and I am sure there are many more Georgia peaches ready for me.

The recipe is one from Miss Kathryn's Alabama cookbook that I modified to add a little bit more flavor and I hope you will enjoy it

Easy Summer Peach Cobbler

Melt 1 stick of butter in a casserole dish.

Mix:
1 C. sugar
1 C. flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/8 t. salt
1 tsp. Cinnamon
¼ tsp. Freshly grated nutmeg
Orange zest from 1 orange or 1 lemon
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice or lemon juice
3/4 C. milk
3 cups peeled and sliced peaches - can use frozen or canned if drained

Pour batter over the melted butter – do not stir
Place 3 cups of peeled, sliced peaches over the batter, sprinkle with cinnamon. Do Not Stir
Bake at 350°F. Until brown on top
The batter will rise over the peaches for a nice cobbler. Best if served warm with ice cream.


Before baking

After baking - brown, crunchy and delicious.

I also made a really good beef brisket stew beef stew. I had fresh basil, rosemary, bell pepper and cherry tomatoes from my raised bed garden which added lots of fresh flavor to it. I cooked it in the crock pot so after the preparation we just enjoyed smelling it all day. It is really good and I hope you will try it.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Red Wine

1 lb. Stew beef or brisket stew beef – bone in - the bones add flavor
1 large onion roughly chopped
1 medium bell pepper – roughly chopped
1 cup baby carrots or 2 large carrots- sliced
2 cloves of garlic – chopped finely or grated
2 tomatoes roughly chopped or 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced in half
2 Tablespoons fresh basil – chopped
1 Tablespoons fresh rosemary removed from stem
1 cup sliced smoked sausage
2 cups red wine or beef stock
Salt and pepper to taste
plain flour for dredging the meat
olive oil

Most of these measurements are approximate for I didn't measure the tomatoes, carrots or sausage. I just used 1 or 2 handfuls – depending on how much I had. This recipe can be adapted to your tastes and what is in your pantry. Not to stress over.

1.Salt and pepper the stew meat, dredge in flour and brown in hot olive oil on all sides in heavy skillet. Remove the meat to slow cooker and saute the onions and garlic until wilted but not browned. Leaving the onions and garlic, de-glaze the pan with the wine or stock and pour the sauce over the stew beef. Add the chopped bell pepper, carrots, tomatoes, basil and rosemary, cover and cook on high until stew beef is tender – about 6 hours. Add the sliced smoked sausage, stir gently, replace lid and cook for about 20 – 25 minutes on low.

2.Serve over cooked pasta of your choice – I like the bow tie pasta for this dish.

Enjoy both of these and try them for they really are good. Let me know with comments how they taste.

Ya'll be careful going home and pray for rain - it is supposed to be coming and I sure hope it gets here. Come back to see me and happy cooking.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

WWII Ration Cookbook

Good morning and welcome back to the Net Porch. It is a beautiful day down here in South Georgia and I am enjoying my second cup of coffee so come on in and have some.

I have been cleaning out some old cookbooks that Mama and I had saved over the years and found this little book pictured above that is quite interesting. Rather than rewrite what I found on the Net, the following notes tell you about this little book

This collection contains a ration book and a cookbook using Swans Down flour, How to Bake by the Ration Book. The ration book belonged to Margaret C. Howell and has four pages of stamps remaining. The cookbook includes several different types of recipes that are low in sugar, shortening, and eggs.

http://ahc.galileo.usg.edu/ahc/view?docId=ead/ahc.MSS170F-ead.xml

The government gave ration books to citizens during World War II, when such commodities as gas and sugar were in short supply and needed for the war effort. World War II was a war that affected most of the world during 1935 to 1945

http://www.ehow.com/info_7895818_ration-book-projects-school.html

Since I was born in the latter part of this time period, Mama and have shared with me about how hard it was to get specific foods, tires, and gasoline and that it was quite a challenge to cook or travel during this time. The products which were in short supply were those which were necessary for the war and they were willing to do without to further this effort.

However, since mama loved to cook, I am sure she fussed a little for at this time we did not live on a farm where we had our own milk and eggs. After the war was over, she continued to use many of the recipes from this book and I have also. We were in college with a baby and many times rations were short at our apartment and I almost wore this little gem out.

We are in an economic war now and guess what? I went looking for my trusty little cookbook to use some of the recipes again. It is about worn out and I am going to scan and save it and then put it up in a protective sleeve for it is history and I don't want to lose it.

One of my favorites was Apple Pandowdy for they also wrote a song during this time with that title. The only change I make is that I use biscuit mix which I buy rather than make my own. You follow the recipe on the box for 1/2 recip or 1 cup of the mix. You need to try this for it really is good.

Apple Pandowdy

4 – 6 apples, thinly sliced (5 cups)
½ cup sugar
¼ tsp. Cinnamon
1/8 tsp, nutmeg
1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons water
¼ tsp grated lemon zest
1 cup biscuit mix
1 tablespoon sugar

Combine apples, sugar, salt, spices, lemon juice, water and rind. Turn into 8x8x2 inch pan. Cover and bake in hot oven (450 degrees) for 20 min.

Mix biscuit mix as directed, adding 1 tablespoon sugar to flour mixture. Turn out on lightly floured board and knead gently 8 times. Shape and roll into 8 x 8 inch square.

Carefully fit dough over apples in pan. Cut slits to permit escape of steam. Return to hot oven and bake 25 minutes or until crust is browned and apples are done. Serve warm, plain or with cream. Serves 8.

I hope you all enjoy this and I will post some others from this book for they are good ideas for living on less and eating well.

Ya'll have a great day and enjoy this beautiful spring weather.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Chocolate Covered Cherry Mini-Cupcakes

Puddle Bird Bath by frances robson

Good evening and come on in the house for a visit and some little cupcakes I made yesterday. It is so hot outside even at 10:00 at night we can sit in the AC and I am drinking some peach tea I made today. It is so good and I have fresh mint I picked today in it and that makes is extra special. If you have mint, cut some and keep it in a vase on the window sill for it smells good and will root in about a week. Makes a good gift for someone but warn them it spreads like gossip and that spreads pretty quickly. It is good room freshener also - crush a few leaves and place them in a pretty dish and it will last a couple days.

Ya'll will have to help me this week for we are going to Roy's 50th class reunion in Selma, AL next weekend. You know how I begin to prepare to look my best and we are going to get him all gussied up too. There is a whole weekend of activities planned and we plan to enjoy all of them. Now to decide what to wear that won't make me look old, short and fat and it may be a losing battle.

There will be "casual dressy" attire for all of them. Now to me this seems to be an oxymoron for "casual" to me is jeans, t-shirt, flip flops and minimum makeup. "Dressy" indicates to any good Southern girl that you have to put on the Sunday clothes or fancier, heels, makeup, earrings and your best manners and smile a lot. You speak softly, look interested in what everyone is saying and mind your manners.

So how am I going to be "casual dressy?" Maybe if I wear some dressy pants, a pretty blouse, earrings, makeup and almost best manners it will do. What do you think? Of course I could wear my jeans, a pretty blouse, makeup, earrings and act like myself and see what happens. As you can tell jeans are my favorite things to wear and maybe I will just iron them well, sharp creases and go as myself. That will be alright with some, a little of shock to others and Roy will just shake his head. "Myself" is a little different from some.

You see, I don't know most of these folks for Roy graduated with several hundred and I graduated with 50 and that was a big class for Camden. There are a few close friends of his that I know but haven't seen them for years and after you ask about their mamas, children and grandchildren that's about it. Maybe I better take a tote bag full of knitting and a couple of books, find a corner and just entertain myself but then who is going to watch Roy as he meets all his old girl friends and there were several before me. Not sure I trust them as much as I trust him for he still looks good to me.

Now don't worry for I will behave and dress like my "good Southern mama" would want me too for I don't want her to send down lightening from up above. I sure don't want anyone to say, "Bless her heart, her mama must be so ashamed of her for looking and acting like that." In the South, mamas always get the blame for their children's misbehavior and bad manners even if they did their best and ours did. I will not wear my jeans, and I will smile a lot, try not to drop my plate, keep my knees together, not wear too much makeup, and enjoy it all. Bless my heart, ya'll pray for me.

That's enough about that but I will be sure and let ya'll know what I do wear and if I behaved at the Country Club and the St. James hotel for we will be stepping in "high cotton." Don't get to do this much so will enjoy it.

I promised you a recipe so I will quit rambling and get to it. This is my version of a recipe I saw several months ago and I think mine is better. The original recipe calls for chocolate covered cherries but because all I had was the maraschino I tried these and they are really good, so here it is.

Chocolate Covered Cherry Mini-Cupcake

1 pkg. your favorite brownie mix - family size
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. cold coffee or water
1 tsp. vanilla
1 small bottle of cherries
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans finely chopped

Makes 24 mini cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line the mini cupcake cups or spray with cooking spray
Drain the bottleof cherries and spread them on paper towels to dry.

Mix the brownie mix according to directions on package except use 2 eggs, cold coffee, vanilla and add the chopped nuts. I put the walnuts in a plastic bag and pounded them with rolling pin for they need to be small. Don't over mix, just until well combined.

Put about tsp. brownie mix in each cup, place a cherry in each cup and press down in the dough. Top with another spoonful of batter. I used regular teaspoons not the measuring spoon. The top doesn't have to have a lot of batter for it will rise. Just be sure they are covered. Just use about half the batter on the bottom and half on top. It might be easier to divide the batter in half and divide it among the cups but you don't really have to be that precise.

Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until done but not too done, remove from oven and place pans on cooling racks. If you have not used cupcake liners, take a small knife, run around the edges of the cupcakes and lift them gently out to cool.
You can frost them with your favorite frosting or I sprinkled them with powdered sugar. They are moist, rich and delicious.

I hope you try them and let me know what you think.

Ya'll have a good night and be careful going home.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Chocolate Rum Pecan Pound Cake

CHOCOLATE RUM PECAN POUND CAKE

 

Good evening, ya'll and come on in the house for a glass of peach tea. This is my most favorite sweet iced tea and I found some really good peach tea bags yesterday and made a big pitcher of tea. I did not add the mint for I forgot it but it has come out of it's winter hibernation and is really pretty. Crush a couple of leaves and add to the peach tea and you will declare you have reached Southern Georgia heaven. You will have to try this and you can find these tea bags in most stores. Mint is also very easy to grow but be sure and plant it where you want it come back each spring and spread. You might want to plant it in a pot if you don't want it to spread all over.

Well tomorrow I am going to have a cataract removed from my left eye and next Thursday we will remove the one from the other eye. It will be so exciting to not have to wear glasses to put on my clothes, eat or do most anything. Wearing glasses since I was 15 and bifocals since I was 40 has been a pain in the beeeehind and not having to wear them will be wonderful. I probably will have to wear reading glasses but that is fine for I can pull them off and walk across the room without running into something. The first thing I am going to do is buy the hottest pair of sun glasses I can find for I have not ever been able to do that. Will take a picture and model them in a couple of weeks.

Have to go to bed early tonight to get ready for the big day but am going to share the best pound cake recipe I have ever made. It is moist and delicious and I know you will like it so let me know. It is from the Hershey's 100 Years anniversary book and I will be making it again and again.

Chocolate Rum Pecan Pound Cake Recipe

2/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder divided
1/4 cup boiling water
2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 1/4 c butter, softened
2 2/3 c sugar
5 eggs, room temperature
1 t vanilla extract
1/4 cup rum or 2 t rum extract 1/4 cup water
1/2 c buttermilk
1 t vanilla
3/4 c pecans chopped finely or walnuts

Preheat oven to 325 F .
Generously grease & flour or use dry cocoa a 12 cup tube pan. In small bowl mix 1/3 cup cocoa with ¼ cup boiling water until smooth and set aside. In large mixing bowl mix softened butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each egg. Add reserved cocoa and water mixture, beat well. Sift flour, baking powder, salt & cocoa powder together. Add to butter mixture alternating with the buttermilk. Mix in the chopped pecans or walnuts and rum.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes. Invert on a serving plate.
Cool completely before serving. I dusted ours with powdered sugar for it is rich enough without the glaze.

Optional: Chocolate Chip Glaze
3 T. butter
1 T water
3 Tbsps. Light corn syrup
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

In small saucepan, combine butter, corn syrup and water. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat, add chips; stir until melted. Cool Slightly and drizzle over the cooled cake.

Well ya'll pray for me tomorrow and I will post again soon.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Sweetheart Dessert

Pound Cake with Strawberries and Chocolate Syrup

Good evening and come on in out of the rain and cold for it is a bleak evening and getting colder by the minute. We need the rain but the cold can go far, far away. I am still waiting on the Climate Change or at least some Global Warming to come this way but at least we don't have snow and ice, yet. They say it's coming but maybe it won't, crossing my fingers.

I want to share my mom's sour cream pound cake with you for it is really good and makes a big cake. Pound cake is our favorite cake for we are not overly fond of icings and pound cake keeps so well. I also add extra flavorings to mine for a friend of mine adds 7 flavors to his but I usually add one or two and lemon and orange are my favorites.

The picture is one of the ways we ate it this week and it was really good. The strawberries are some I froze last year from a local farmer. This is the recipe for sauce I make although it is not thick but sooo good.

Strawberry Sauce

4 cups frozen strawberries
1 tsp. cinnamon

generous grating of nutmeg or 1/2 tsp. powdered - freshly grated is best

1/2 cup cranberry juice or orange juice

1/3 cup splenda

Place all ingredients except splenda in glass bowl and microwave for about 8 minutes. Remove from microwave, stir and add splenda. If the strawberries are really sweet, you may not need any splenda or other sweetener or maybe less than 1/3 cup. Don't overcook the strawberries for you want them to be thawed and soft but not mushy- they will still hold their shape.

These can be used as a dessert with a little whipped topping on them, a spread for toast, or on top of ice cream or cake. It is versatile and sugar free if you use an artificial sweetener.

This is the cake recipe and was one of our mama's favorites and mine too.

Sour Cream Pound Cake

Ingredients
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
3 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups all-purpose flour
6 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Optional – add both of these, I do.
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 teaspoon orange extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the sour cream and mix until incorporated. Add eggs one at a time, beating well. Sift flour, measure 3 cups and then sift the baking soda and flour together. Add to the creamed mixture ½ cup at the time. Add the vanilla and pour the mixture into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan. Bake for 1 hour 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cook on rack about 10 minutes before removing from pan.

For the dessert above I cut a thick slice of cake and topped it with our strawberries and then put warm chocolate syrup on top of the strawberries. I put the bottle of chocolate syrup in the microwave for 45 sec. before putting over the cake. If I had some whipped topping, I would put that on before the chocolate.

It was delicious and you must try it. A great way to use the pound cake and next time I am going to toast the slice of pound cake a little before I top it. Doesn't that sound good?

Think I am going to fix me some right now for I have made myself hungry.

Take care going home in the rain and ya'll come back to see us.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Leftovers

Good evening and come on in for a cup of coffee for it is cool, raining and turning cold outside. A perfect afternoon for staying warm and reading a good book or doing a little web surfing. I am not complaining for we need the rain but don't like the cold.

Have ya'll ever wondered why companies cannot leave their stores alone and not shift everything around? Our Piggly Wiggly here just did a huge renovation and added an Ace Hardware on one side - inside the store! A little strange but really nice for I can get those hardware items and not have to go to another store but they moved and rearranged the groceries.

Now I shop by habit and with my eyes almost closed and just barrel through the store. My list is even organized by the store layout so when you move it around I have a major breakdown. It means I have to rethink the list, shop with my eyes open and try not to backtrack but about 25 times. The more time you have to spend in a store, the more you are liable to buy so I wonder if this is why they pull these tricks on us every few years.

This really has gotten my panties in a wad at the Walmart where I have been shopping for years and years. They had this big idea of rearranging everything and it took me 30 minutes to find a pair of bathroom scales yesterday which is ridiculous. Then I began to look for a vest and looked high and low but nothing.

They have taken out all the racks and put in these walled displays so you can't see what is there unless you turn the corner and see it. You scurry around like a rat in a maze and still can't find anything and they have reduced the apparel inventory. It is bad, awful, and unfair and I am going to write Walmart and complain.

Now I will complain nicely so I won't disappoint my sweet Southern mama who tried to teach me how to be a Southern Belle so I will kindly tell them I heartily dislike the new arrangement and will go to Target if they leave it like that. Bless their hearts, they don't have a clue how to arrange a store to please women customers for we need to be able to scan a store not have to run a rat maze to find what we want. I told a sweet salesperson yesterday that if they wanted me to look longer and buy less they had succeeded and she said she didn't like it either. I wonder if men will every realize that if it is about shopping, they need to confer with the women shoppers and choose those who will state their opinions - nicely of course.

I will let you know how successful my attempt at influencing the huge corporation of Walmart turns out but I sure can shop another store if I have to. If you don't let them know how you feel, how can they fix it, right?

The recipe I have to share is one I made this week. I had some applesauce I had made and some frozen biscuits I need to use and I made some "baked" fried pies and they are really good.The applesauce was made in the crock pot and I am including the link for the recipe. Bought sauce will be fine or use a can of apple pie mix but the applesauce I make is sugar free, chunky and still has the peelings on it - gooood.

Let me know what you think about it if you try it.

Baked Fried Apple Pies

8 frozen biscuits – thawed
8 tbsp. Applesauce or canned apple pie mix
apple pie seasoning or cinnamon

Preheat oven 375 degrees
Parchment lined baking sheet

With lightly floured hands, take each thawed biscuit and roll into a ball. With rolling pin, roll each ball into a thin round of dough – about 4 inches. Place about 1 Tbsp. Apple mixture in center of each circle and sprinkle with apple pie seasoning or cinnamon. Don't over fill.

Brush the edges of the circle with water – use my finger. Fold the circle over the filling to make a half-moon shape. Seal by pressing the edges with the tines of a slightly floured fork.

Place the pies on baking sheet and bake for 15-17 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from baking sheet with spatula and serve hat with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

These are also good cold and make wonderful snacks for lunches or children to pick up and eat. I baked these rather than fry them and I used homemade applesauce which is slightly chunky and I leave the peelings on the apples.

Fried pies are great but I wanted to bake them to reduce the fat. The frozen biscuits worked well and tasted better than the canned ones so don't use the canned ones. You could brush the top with a little melted butter to make the browner and crispy but they are also good without it.

Enjoy them and again, let me know what you think.

Ya'll have a great afternoon and come back to see me and stay dry and warm.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Jekyl Island by frances Robson

Good evening and come on in and get warm. A little cold outside but not too bad but a good night to stay in and stay warm plus I am a little frazzled. I had a nerve-wracking and scary afternoon.

I decided to go down to Valdosta to Michaels and get a little Christmas tree with lights instead of putting up the bigger one. Now I know you are thinking why is she waiting until Christmas to put up a tree, well I just haven't so get over it. I do have a wreath on the door, one by the garage and greenery on the porch, what else to you want? Also I have a red bow on the mantel and some Christmas cards sitting by the bow so there, I am decorated. Anyway, what goes up must come down and I will have mine put up in short order.

Back to my trip. We set off and the traffic was not too bad on the interstate until we got close to Valdosta and it got a little crowded. When I turned of the interstate and headed down St. Augustine there were cars galore but I could handle it. Michaels was not too crowded and after we had looked, touched and smelled everything in there, we got our little tree, some tiny lights and a few other things and we left. About done, and I was still sane.

Then I wanted to go to Publix for a few things and it was horrible. I turned right out of the parking lot instead of going straight and it went down hill from there. There were 1 million and 1 cars in the short ride to Publix and I got so frustrated I forgot where I was and felt like I was hallucinating. I made a wrong turn, horns were blowing, I pulled out in front of someone and somebody gave me a 1 finger salute and I don't blame them.

There sure wasn't much Christmas good will in Valdosta today. I began to wish I had stayed a home but I was and glad that 2 stores were my only destinations. Walmart, $ Tree, and the mall were places not to be caught dead or alive in today.

I completed my grocery shopping and headed back home and was so befuddled, bewildered and distracted I wouldn't even think of taking the interstate home. We took the back road through the country with almost no traffic so I could get my mind settled back down. I wished for a great big white Russian or Mudslide by the time I got home but had neither but needless to say our daughter had several more gray hairs and was a little frazzled also. Not sure she will ride with me any time soon.

Oh well, we made it, I put up the little tree, strung the little lights on it and made shrimp and grits for supper. I know one thing, tomorrow I am not going anywhere!!!

Thought I would share a new recipe I concocted this week since it turned out really well. I found a recipe for an orange cranberry cake and it called for a yellow cake mix which I didn't have. All I had was a lemon cake mix so I decided to try using it. I also had oranges picked from our tree to use for the fresh orange juice and it is really good so I will share. The family said it was good also so here it is.

Lemon Orange Cake with Cranberries

1 lemon cake with pudding cake mix
1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice if possible – about 5 oranges or from carton
½ cup vegetable oil – canola, corn, safflower
¼ cup sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup chopped or whole dried cranberries
½ tsp. Lemon flavoring

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
3 Tbsp. Orange juice

Preheat oven 350°
Grease and flour tube pan
Place cake mix and sugar in large mixing bowl – mix until well blended with whisk. In smaller bowl mix orange juice, oil, and eggs until blended then add to dry ingredients. Blend with electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute, stop mixer, scrape down sides of bowl with spatula. Mix with mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping sides as needed until batter looks thick and well blended. Fold in flavoring and cranberries. Pour into prepared pan. Place in preheated oven on middle rack and bake until cake is golden brown and begins to pull away from sides of pan – about 45 – 47 minutes.
Remove pan from oven and cool on wire rack for 20 minutes. Run long thin knife around edge of cake pan and invert on rack to cool another 30 minutes. Cake will fall to the rack when cool.

Prepare the glaze: Mix the powdered sugar with orange juice until smooth.
Place cake on large plate and drizzle with glaze letting it drizzle down the sides. Can add a sprinkle of orange zest to top of cake
Store in covered cake keeper for up to a week.

Let me know what you think and enjoy.

Well, it had been a long day and I am tired so ya'll be careful going home and come back to see us.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Christmas Cookies

Winter Beauty by frances robson

Good morning and come on in the 'Net Porch and sit a spell and have a hot cup of coffee. It is freshly made and I have watched the sun come up while I have been drinking mine. It is going to be a beautiful day but then every day is beautiful if we remember that our Heavenly Father gives it to us.

It is supposed to be a little warmer today and I sure hope so for I need to put something that says Merry Christmas on my door and mailbox. So far we look like Scrooge lives here but I am still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Christmas is next week. The year has just flown by and I can't seem to catch it. I will get a wreath on the door today and a red bow on the mailbox TODAY.

I made some really good cookies yesterday from a recipe on the Betty Crocker web page. They are pretty and taste delicious. The link is

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/red-velvet-rich-and-creamy-cookies/815f4270-d7b5-4d25-a2e1-dabb498d4b85?WT.mc_id=taf_recipe_BC

This recipe called for a couple of things I didn't have but when you live out in the country you learn to substitute. Mama taught me how to do this many years ago so I don't panic but look up the ingredient online and find something I have to substitute or use something else and see what happens.

These cookies needed sour cream and canned cream cheese frosting and I had neither. I knew I could make buttermilk or sour milk from milk with lemon juice or vinegar added to it but sour cream was a mystery. You can use plain yogurt which I didn't have but I did have strawberry so used that. Because it is only 1/4 cup it didn't change the taste at all.

It needed a cream cheese frosting and I had chocolate and vanilla so I took the vanilla and added 1/2 block of cream cheese and whipped it together. I do this a lot for the cream cheese cuts that too sweet taste of canned frosting which I use when in a hurry. By adding the cream cheese it's difficult to tell this is not start from scratch. I topped them with chopped pecans and they are delicious. I think that walnuts or coconut would also be good.

I did find it difficult to mix for it is a STIFF dough. Next time I am going to bring my yogurt or sour cream to room temperature and make sure the butter is soft and see if it will be easier to mix. Also, be sure and time them for if you overcook they will be hard and they are supposed to be soft and almost under done. They really are good and I think I will use green sprinkles on some next time to add a little Christmas look to them

Using the cookie scoop makes it easy to get the balls but you will have red tinted hands from the red food coloring. By the way, I spilled almost a whole bottle of this on my counter and had to throw away the dish cloth I used to wipe it up.

There was a chain of dumb actions to cause all this. First I opened the coloring and set it on the cutting block which moves and I accidentally hit the block. Second, I grabbed one of my good dish cloths to mop it up and third, I knocked it over again. Really smart but I will profit from this little fiasco - don't open the bottle until ready to use it and don't grab a good cloth to wipe it up but use paper towels. By the way, does anyone know how to get red coloring out from under your fingernails?

I hope you will try this recipe for it is good and I am looking forward to trying it with the ingredients it calls for but mine are good also.

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

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Sour Cream Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes

Bumper on the Keys by Frances Robson

Good evening. Come on in and sit a spell for it is sprinkling rain outside. It's that strange rain with sunshine in part of the yard and cloudy in the other part and raining occasionally. When it does that, the old saying is that the Devil is beating his wife with a frying pan. Have no idea where it came from but I guess the sun is the wife smiling, the clouds are the husband frowning and the rain is his tears of pain. If that is the scenario, I am sure he deserved it.

I am enamoured with the new Food TV show - Cup Cake Wars. Some of those cupcakes sound soooo good and I never knew you could make so many flavors and add so many ingredients. Not all of them turn out just right but most sound delicious and so yesterday I concocted a new cupcake.

Now I didn't start from "scratch" like they do for I believe in "keeping is simple stupid" as the old saying goes. I used a mix and they are really good and I sure am glad for they are to take to the church tomorrow for the Son's of Jubal Concert snack time. I will take pictures of them when I get them arranged on a plate but you have got to try them.

SOUR CREAM CHOCOLATE MOCHA CUPCAKES

1 package devil’s food or chocolate cake mix or chocolate cake mix of choice
2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sour cream
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup strong, cold coffee
3 large eggs
1 tsp. black walnut or vanilla flavoring

Makes 24 cupcakes – line cupcake pans with cupcake liners
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Place cake mix, cocoa powder, sour cream, oil, coffee, eggs and flavoring in large mixing bowl and blend with electric mixer on low for 1 minute then increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of pan with spatula as needed.

Fill each cup 2/3 way full. 1 ice cream scoop of batter per cup works fine.
Place pans in pre-heated oven and bake until the cupcakes spring back when lightly pressed with your finger and toothpick inserted in the middle cones out clean: 25 – 28 minutes.

Remove from oven and place cupcakes on wire racks until cool.

Frost with chocolate, cream cheese frosting.

Let me know what you think about them when you try them.

Well, I'm going to go get ready for prayer meeting and choir practice and I need to brush my hair really well. Robert worked his magic with a cut and blow dry this morning but it looks like a white football helmet with all the hairspray and I just can't stand that. If a tornado comes through, my hair will still look good when it's gone but because there are none in the near future, I am about to brush the hair spray out. I like the naturally tousled look so off to brush and then run my fingers through it.

Ya'll be careful going home and come back to see me. Enjoy the cupcakes and add a cold, glass of milk along with them.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Fancified Peach Cobbler and New Vacuum

Good morning and I hope you are having a wonderful Saturday on this holiday weekend. Memorial Day will be on Monday and I will write a special tribute to our men and women of the Armed Forces. Memorial day also means we need to put American flags on the graves of our veterans who have gone on. If you are a Southern Lady, you can now where your white shoes, open-toed shoes, straw hats and white gloves for this officially marks the beginning of summer fashions. Just reminding you in case the "Fashion Police" is watching.

Meanwhile I pray if you are traveling this weekend to very careful for the law enforcement is out in force on the interstates and I am glad. I can't say anything but good things about law enforcement persons from now on for our grandson will soon be one of these fine people. In fact he chastised his MawMaw for making fun of a deputy on my Hissy Fit posting and informed me the officer was only enforcing the law.

I agree with this for I know these are good people who lay their lives down every day to keep us safe and I realize he was enforcing a law against slapping your spouse BUT in the South the lady of the house has all rights and privileges to chastise her husband and discipline him when he is not a Southern Gentleman. Now don't get all upset and your panties in a wad or a wedgie but just stop and think about your mamas and how they ruled your home. It is true that they are not all good mamas and wives but most of us are and who is going to keep all you men on the straight and narrow, love you, spoil you, wait on you, and make sure you are the King of the Castle except us sweet, kind, loving Southern mamas and ladies? Ya'll know we love you but every now and then when you misbehave we have to correct you.

Bottom line is if you are traveling an interstate today keep an eye on the overpasses for they are sitting up there aiming that little ole gun down the road and clocking your speed. If it is a tad too fast they will radio their buddy down the road to turn on that little ole blue light and catch your little ole tail in a crack. Smiling won't work but try tears if you are a lady and in the South and if you know their mama, daddy, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins, now is the time to mention it as you flutter your eyelashes and look pitiful but cute. Men, you are out of luck so just "cowboy up" and take the ticket.

I made a peach cobbler as planned today but took the recipe I posted earlier and fancified it a little and it is really delicious. Thinking you may like it I posted for you. Let me know what you think.

FANCIFIED PEACH COBBLER

1 STICK BUTTER
¾ CUP FLOUR
1 CUP SUGAR
½ CUP OATMEAL
2 TSP. BAKING POWDER
1 TSP. CINNAMON
½ TSP. GRATED, CANDIED GINGER
1 LARGE LEMON
PINCH SALT
1 CUP MILK
3 CUPS SWEETENED FRUIT (PEACHES, BLUEBERRIES, CHERRIES, FRUIT OF CHOICE) Sweeten if you like
LEMON ZEST FROM ONE LEMON
½ CUP TOASTED SLIVERED ALMONDS

Put stick of butter in baking dish or casserole in oven. Set at 350 degrees and let butter melt. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, oatmeal, ginger, cinnamon, and salt and pour into casserole with melted butter. On top of this mixture put the fruit. DO NOT STIR. Juice the lemon over the peaches and sprinkle lemon zest and toasted slivered almonds on top and bake at 350 degrees until crusty. The crust will rise around the fruit. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

At the age of 16 - 30 did you ever think you would be excited over a new vacuum cleaner? I never did but here I am so pleased to have a new one. The old one was OK but not doing a great job as it once did probably due to all the dog and cat hair it has had to pick up. Being the thrifty soul I am I began to research it on the Internet and find the best price. I knew I wanted one of those with the big purple ball at the bottom that turns on a dime and picks up animal hair so off I went on the hunt.

The 'Net is a wonderful place to find opinions or facts about appliances and I found that it was just what I wanted and then the best price hunt was on. After looking at many, many sites I settled on Amazon and found a good price on a new one and got it in 4 days. The only problem is now I have to use it but I am going to make sure the cat is not close by or he will be looking at me confined to that clear canister full of dust and cat hair. Not sure he would be real happy about this do you?

Well I have to go and vacuum some more and try not to get the cat or Roy. Ya'll come back to see us and stay cool.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Good evening on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. This is a good day for a nap but I just don't have time. I am helping with the refreshments at our afternoon Bible study and I am baking a Cheesecake Sopapilla which Cindy said was out of this world good. I baked one last night but decided one would not be enough so have another one in the oven.

When Cindy sent me the recipe she said she knew I would put my twist on it but I didn't for the 1st one but did for the second. I think you can never have too much cinnamon so I sprinkled some on the cream cheese layer. I also think a little fresh lemon zest can make anything better so I zested a lemon in the butter, sugar layer on top. It smells scrumptious so I will let you know how it tastes. I am giving the recipe that I used from this website :http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sopapilla-cheesecake-dessert/detail.aspx

Cheesecake Sopappilla

Ingredients:
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 (8 ounce) cans crescent roll dough
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Zest of 1 lemon
1/4 cup sliced almonds (optional)

Directions:
1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Beat the cream cheese with 1 1/2 cups of sugar, and the vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth. Unroll the cans of crescent roll dough, and use a rolling pin to shape the each piece into 9x13 inch rectangles. Press one piece into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture into the baking dish, then cover with the remaining piece of crescent dough.
3. Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the top of the cheesecake. Stir the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar together with the cinnamon in a small bowl, and sprinkle over the cheesecake along with the almonds.
4. Bake

I didn't use the almonds for I didn't have any but plan to try that next time.

I hope you enjoy it for the taste or two or three I tried were very good and Roy said I needed to share with ya'll. Enjoy.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach
___________________________________________________________________

Jello Dessert

Good evening. Ya'll come on in the house and sit a spell and have a cup of coffee. Maybe it will be warm tomorrow for I am tired of cold weather and I need to wash some windows. When the bright, winter sun shines in them and you see a multitude of dirt and spider webs in the corners, it is time to wash windows. It has been so cold I was afraid the water would freeze on the panes so I have been looking through the dust.

Our house faces due east in the morning and due west in the afternoon so we get lots of bright sunlight. This wonderful sun shining in the house shows all the dust I haven't mopped or dusted away. I can ignore it so long but it is past ignoring and I am getting the cleaning bug and need some warmer weather. I have a clean house just not an immaculate house.

The Winter Olympics have been great this year. I'm not sure why these snowy, icy, cold sports fascinate me but I think they are wonderful. What an experience it would be to glide across the ice or fly down a hill on 2 little, flimsy boards or even 1 little board and live to tell about it. The one time I have been on ice skates was many moons ago in North Carolina. We carried group of youth from the church to somewhere to an ice skating rink. I had never had those things on my feet and could barely roller skate and could not even stand up on them so tossed that idea.

My brave husband,who was a very good roller skater, put on those thin blades of steel and was going to show off and skate across the rink. Well, as you can imagine it didn't work that way nx he fell on his pride. He felt his way around the rink, holding on to the railing until he got back to the bench. The skates came off and he hasn't tried that sport again. I'm not sure what was hurt the most, his backside or his pride!

My only experiece with sledding was when in snowed in Montevallo, AL while I was in college there. No one had sleds though we had great hills to slide down so many of us stole the trays from the cafeteria. Needless to say this did not make the cafeterial staff too happy and they soon locked them up. We then turned to cardboard boxes but they were not as fast as the cafeteria trays but we made do. It was fun but I was a whole lot younger.

Oh well, I will just enjoy these sports from the comfort of a warm house and imagine what it would be like to fly across the snow. I've never been graceful enough to glide across the ice or fly across the snow for mama said there was a reason my name was not "Grace." Being a tad clumsy means keep your feet close to the ground.

Fighting the "Battle of the Bulge" is a constant battle for me. I inherited the "fluffy genes" from the Cox side of my family and though I used to be a skinny little girl, those days are long gone. Now I tend to be a chubby, short, old lady. Due to this battle I try to create recipes which are not heavy on the good stuff - sugar, butter, whipped cream, and other culinary delights. Having a sweet tooth does not make this battle easy but every now and then I find a good one and thought I would share my latest.

Strawberry Gelatin Delite

1 pkg. Strawberry Jello (sugar free)
1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1 cup whipped topping - low fat
1 carton light strawberry yogurt
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Mix the Jello following the instructions on the box but use the 1cup cranberry juice in place of the cold water. Chill until set. Add the whipped topping and yogurt and mix well. A whisk does a great job for you want to completely mix it together. Fold in the chopped pecans, return to refrigerator. I serve it with additional whipped topping on the top, a sprinkle of pecans and sliced strawberries if have them. I only use strawberries when they are in season.

It is delicious and if you are not fighting the Bulge War you can skip the sugar free and low fat stuff and go for the good stuff. I think I am going to use orange jello and orange yogurt next time and make it with orange juice. Will let you know how this tastes.

Making Jello reminds me of our childhood for back in those olden days every hostess had a favorite Jello recipe. Mama's was orange jello with grated carrots, chopped pecans and drained chopped pineapple stirred in. She would serve it on a leaf of lettuce and topped with her home made mayonnaise. It was sooooo good. I would eat it with mayonnaise and crackers and enjoy every bite of it. The only Jello I don't like is the industrial strength they serve in hospitals. You couldn't melt that stuff with a blow torch. It has no taste and just sits there and wiggles at you saying, "You can't eat me, ha ha."

That's about it for today and the picture at the top is the camellia shrub daddy rooted from a sprig. It is now about 10 feet tall and right now is covered with shades of pink blooms. Ya'll take care and have a great afternoon. Come back to visit on the Net Porch and we'll have some coffee.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Lemon Yogurt Pie

Hi, ya'll. Come on in for a piece of lemon, yogurt pie. I made it last night and it is low in calories and fat, but really good. Roy and Robby gave it a thumbs up so I thought I would share it with you.

Lemon Yogurt Pie

2 (8 oz.) containers lemon yogurt
1 container low fat, sugar free, Cool Whip
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Mix yogurt, lemon juice and Cool Whip together in a bowl. Spoon into the chocolate Teddy Graham pie crust and smooth out. Place in freezer for at least an hour. Slice and serve. You can keep it in the freezer for a frozen pie or refrigerate for a softer pie. We like it frozen.

Chocolate Teddy Graham Crust

2 c. Chocolate Teddy Graham crumbs (you can use any chocolate cookies for this or the plain graham crackers).
1/2 stick butter

Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter in food processor. Cover bottom of 9 inch pie plate with mixture and press against sides. Put in refrigerator while making pie. Notice I do not add sugar for the chocolate crumbs are sweet.

You can also buy graham cracker plain and chocolate pie crusts, but they have sugar.

I am going to try this with strawberry yogurt and put sliced strawberries on top. You can make any flavor which pleases your taste buds.

Enjoy

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Cranberry Salad or dessert

This is an easy congealed salad which I also use for a dessert.

Molded Cranberry Apple Salad

1 Pkg. Strawberry Jello
1 Cup boiling water
1 Small carton of sour cream
½ Can of whole berry cranberry sauce
½ Cup chopped apple – leave pealing on
½ Cup chopped pecans

Mix jello and boiling water. Stir until dissolved. Cool. I place mine in the freezer for about 10 – 15 min. Add sour cream and beat until smooth. Add cranberry sauce, chopped apple, and pecans and stir until fruit and nuts are mixed in. Pour into mold and refrigerate. I don’t usually use a mold but a square glass dish and cut in squares to serve. Can add whip cream to top of cool whip. Easy to double

This is good for anytime, but especially around the holidays. If trying to cut calories, use sugar free jello and low fat sour cream. Not as good as original but will do. You can also use walnuts if you prefer.

Good Eating
The Georgia Peach