Two Yummies For Y'all

There is something y’all should know about me:

I HEART COCONUT.

Like in a may-jor way.  I love coconut lotions, coconut candles, coconut soaps, coconut shampoos, sunscreens that smell like coconuts and I love love love baking with coconut.  So much so that I have deemed chocolate and coconut only the best pair since Sonny and Cher and tequila and limes and sand and sea.  You get the drift.  Coconut and chocolate – a match made in Heaven.

Aunt Robbie shared this most delicious recipe with me the weekend of our Water For Elephants soiree.   It screams Summer.  I wish I would have taken a picture of these magnificent little morsels when I baked them, but, alas, they were devoured before I could even remember to grab my Nikon.  Just trust me.  Would I ever lead you astray?  These would be oh-so-fun for a 4^th of July picnic extravaganza this weekend.

Aunt Robbie’s Chewy Mounds Bars

Ingredients:

1 (19.8 oz) Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix

3 T. veggie oil

1 tsp. vanilla (for good measure)

1 c. sweetened condensed milk (I believe Eagle Brand comes in 14 oz. cans – feel free to spoon whatever is left of that sweet nectar of the gods right into your mouth)

14 miniature (aka:  “fun size”) dark chocolate Mounds bars

¾ c. chopped natural almonds – toasted for extra yumminess

Directions:

Prepare brownie mix according to package directions, but reduce the veggie oil to 3 tablespoons and add 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

Pour batter into a lightly greased 13x9 inch pan.  (Believe you me—these won’t last long – use an aluminum pan.  No one will be looking at your dish after all.  Their eyes will be honed in on these bars.)

Pour Eagle Brand over the batter.

Sprinkle with chopped Mounds and almonds.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 38 minutes.  Cool completely in a pan on a wire rack.  Cut into bars.  And remember:  sharing is caring.  Try not to piggy them all.

NOW, another little tidbit about TLC:

I HATE MILK.

Well, I hate drinking it.  I gag.  I pour it over my cereal.  But drain it out of the spoon.  (I never said I was normal.)  While many of you might enjoy washing these delightful little treats down with a nice, cold glass of leche – I’m opting to go a completely different, yet 100% refreshing, route:

SUN TEA!

Who remembers sun tea?  I think it was popular when I was younger – right, ELC?  In fact, we had a special “sun tea jar.”  It actually had the words “sun tea” painted on it.  Mom used to make this quite often.  I remember she would set it outside next to our garage.  It tastes bright and light and happy – just like the sun!  I had completely forgotten about it until ELC mentioned making it one afternoon a couple of months ago.  We have since set out to find the perfect “jar.”  We think we must have sold the original in a garage sale.  Or perhaps it’s still packed away in a box in the Barn.  ELC, if you ever comes across it, fair warning:  I’m stealing it.  Right now we’re both using Mason-type jars Mom found at her local Wally World.  It’s important that it has a lid that screws on so it can “hold” the tea bag strings.  I hate when the tea bags sink to the bottom.  Don’t you?

Here’s our recipe:

ELC and TLC’s FABULOUS Sun Tea

1 ½ quarts water

4 large tea bags (we’re currently using Luzianne  Decaf “ for iced tea” – not that it matters)

1 lemon cut into about 5 slices (the sun almost “bakes” the lemon)

5 bags of Splenda (you could use sugar – but our wacky diet is tres fun {NOT!} and doesn’t allow the real thing)

Add the water, tea bags, and lemons to a jar.  Set out in the sun for roughly an hour (you can increase/decrease the time based on your “strength” preference).  Once it’s been “sunned,” bring inside and pour into a pretty pitcher.  Add the Splenda and stir.

Four words:  OUT OF THIS WORLD.

Happy early 4^th, Y’all!  GO AMERICA!

image via ELC

TLC's Tete-a-Tetes

It’s my turn!

I LOVE lunch.  I love lunch dates.  I love lunch breaks.  I love Ladies Who Lunch.  Lunch, for moi, tends to be a bit casual and spontaneous. I’d love it to be more “girlie.”  So, in keeping with a feminine “theme,” I’d invite the following women over to my casa for a well-planned, perfectly lovely lunch:

Reese Witherspoon.  My all-time, most favorite actress.  She’s cute.  She’s sweet.  She’s classy.  She’s Southern.  All adds up to wonderful!  I’d enjoy listening to her talk about her adorable children, new hubby and the details of her very chic wedding.  We’d probably discuss monogrammed towels, peonies, and ruffles.  And I would definitely ask her to give me the scoop on what kind of kisser my dear Rob Pattinson is—surely he must be splendid. I actually think I might serve more of a brunch-y menu.  I heart brunch.  I’d serve poinsettias—even if it’s not Christmas-time—(they’re champagne and cranberry juice), homemade orange rolls, a big bowl of seasonal fruit, and a simple quiche.  Perhaps my favorite:  Quiche Florentine.  Yummy.

Taylor Swift.  A truly All-American kind of gal.  One of my favorite singers.  I’d request that she bring along her guitar.  Like Mom and Garth, I want to sing a duet!  I’m thinking her new song about that hunky Taylor Lautner might be fun.  I practice singing it in my car quite frequently.  I’d want to know what it’s like to travel all over the world.  And what she was thinking when she dated one of those silly Jonas brothers.  I didn’t get that at all.  I’m certain I’d be star-struck.  I covet her gorgeous hair, pretty voice, and tiny figure.  I think I might serve good ol’ cheeseburgers and tater tots (I’d name them “Taylor Tots!” Ha!).  Very Americana.  For dessert?  An apple cobbler. I’d just modify my peach cobbler recipe I shared a couple of weeks ago.

Ellen DeGeneres.  One of the funniest peeps, ever, right?  Our lunch would be filled with laughter.  I might even agree to play one of those silly games they play on her show.  I’d make certain I had fun music in the background, in case she felt compelled to get up and dance.  She can sure boogie with the best of ‘em.  Our lunch just might turn into a dance party!  I do think she’s a vegan, though.  Which might be a challenge for my menu.  Can vegans eat rice?  If so, I’d serve a modified version of LuLu’s Chicken Salad, leaving out the chicken.  Dessert could be a dilemma.  I can’t let her leave my house without it (even though I apparently let that happen to Reese—oops!).  Maybe Sprinkles makes a vegan cupcake I could pick up.  I, of course, would make certain I had one of their scrumptious coconut cupcakes for myself.

Paula Deen.  My cooking/chef idol.  She’s sassy.  She’s entertaining.  She appreciates the importance of big hair and butter.  My kind of gal.  I accompanied ELC and Dad on a trip to Savannah about five years ago.  One morning, Mom and I did the “Paula Deen Tour.”  It was too fun.  We visited some of Paula’s favorite places and even had lunch at her brother’s restaurant:  Uncle Bubba’s.  Cooking for Paula would be tres intimidating. Without a doubt!  I’d be super nervous preparing her meal.  I think shrimp and grits might be nice.  Fairly easy.  Maybe a pretty green salad with lots o’ brightly colored veggies, some feta or goat cheese crumbles, and walnuts and/or sunflower seeds, tossed with one of our favorite dressings—Marie’s Santa Fe Blend.  For dessert, I’d serve my Crack Brownies, since it’s basically her recipe I slightly modified. It’d be a la mode—using Blue Bell Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.  Okay—and let’s toss a few Heath toffee bits on top—for good measure. Why not? DELISH.

Princess Kate.  She is living the dream, isn’t she?  She’s married to a handsome and kind (well, he appears to be) Prince.  She can live in a castle.  She gets to wear fabulous clothes.  She had a televised wedding in which she wore an incredible tiara.  She spends much of her time focusing on philanthropies.  And she honeymooned in the Seychelles.  WOWZER.  I’m sure she would help me practice my wave.   (I’d be dying to get the buzz on what she thinks of Camilla!) Kate could bring her fabulous sister, Pippa. Doesn’t Pippa have a delightfully charming/memorable name?  I adore it.  I’d serve English tea – in pretty tea cups.  Salmon canapés.  Perhaps cucumber sandwiches and a lemon tart or soufflé (Oh—and BTW—I’ll have to learn how to make both of those!).  Is that all too cliché?

Here’s a grand idea, ELC:

Let’s make it a Dinner Party—have Dad cater it (i.e.—do all the work while we bask in lots of glory)—and ask each of our guests to invite a spouse/mate/friend/family member/the Paparrazi. We’ll all eat, sing and dance—but you and I can have our own individual duets with Garth and Taylor. Everyone will clap loudly for us, giving us a standing ovation, and ask each other why I haven’t won American Idol and you haven’t won America’s Got Talent. We’ll end the evening with you singing The Star Spangled Banner.

Got to scoot—time to look up soufflé techniques!

Out To Lunch

I’ve had fun fixin’ lunch for some dear friends lately. Lunch doesn’t overwhelm me. Dinner parties? Another story. Hubby has to help me. I get too caught up in the details—and the fact that I’m not a fabulous cook. I’m adequate, at best. He, on the other hand, is AMAZING. He’s always liked to grill, but once he started watching The Food Network—I guess from its beginnings (I swear he’d leave me for Paula Deen—well, I’d leave him for Tom Selleck—so we’re even)—he’s really “turned up the heat” (cackle/giggle) and has become quite The At-Home Chef. He’s expanded his talents to include baking (breads, biscuits, fantastic desserts), Dutch oven cooking—outside naturally—and “presentation.”

Autumn and our long-time friend, Ginny, came last Friday for a semi-healthy and, hopefully, delish mid-day meal. There was lots o’ laughter—these two ladies are hysterical. Autumn is: beautiful, smart/clever (as y’all can see from her many funny comments over the past months), and quite the creative and talented artiste. We’ve known each other for over 24 years. Her son and TLC grew up at church and in school together. Autumn and I used to be dedicated to walking—at least three days a week—for years. We solved problems people didn’t even know they had. We were sure we could fix this cRaZy World. I miss those (yep—younger) times. She and her hubby moved thirty miles away several years ago—making our “in person” get-togethers too few and far between.

image via moi

just keepin' it simple...

how can you ever go wrong with lemon poppy cupcakes
from Ultimate Cupcake in Hudson Oaks, Texas?

So, I have challenged TLC to a “Lunch Bunch” game. We’d each think of five people for whom we’d like to fix lunch. These are my RULES:

1. It can only be one (two MAX—if absolutely necessary) person (and one of hers canNOT be the Pattinson Fellow—that’s just not right);
2. They have to be living (or appear to be alive);
3. It can’t be anyone we currently know.

My “guest” choices would be (in no particular order)... drumroll...

Robin Roberts. She is a class act—makes my early weekday mornings tres better. I turn on GMA and she immediately makes me LOL. She’s warm, smart and has tons o’ spunk. She seems positively fearless to me. When she battled breast cancer, I was inspired. She is truly my new Idol. Being tall and svelte, she could probably have dessert without experiencing my chronic shame and guilt. I’d forgive her, though.

Garth Brooks. I suppose he might have to bring Trish. Except she’s clearly a great cook and that could intimidate me. I became a Garth fan when I heard his first hit (TLC was five going on six years old—she’ll have to tell you the story of her encounter with Garth sometime soon): Much Too Young To Feel This Damn Old. Then If Tomorrow Never Comes. I’ve seen him twice in concert. Marketing fascinates me—and Garth is clearly brilliant at marketing. Okay, I confess. I’d like to sing The Dance with him. (I’d have suggested that he bring his guitar.) A duet—unless Trish needs to horn in. Whatever.

Lily Tomlin. I have adored her from the second I saw her on Laugh-In fortyish years ago. She has got to be one of the most talented women in comedy EVER. Her characters are amazing. About twenty years ago, Hubby was in San Francisco for a convention. I couldn’t go. It was back when you had to communicate on a landline phone (The Stone Age), so I waited with excitement each night, waiting for him to call, to hear about his day. The third night I remember becoming worried as it started getting late and I hadn’t heard from him. I’d tried his room a couple of times—The Worrier—hoping TLC would not catch on to my fear. The phone (FINALLY) rang about 10ish. I might have been a wee bit sharp to him. But there was unmistakable excitement in his voice.

“Guess who I just literally ran into?” Seriously? Where would I begin? “No idea,” I said with sweetness.

“Lily Tomlin,” he practically screamed. “Wwwhhhhaaaaatttttt?” I screamed back.

“She’s got her show at a theater near my hotel and I’ve walked by it for two nights. Tonight, after dinner, I was there at the exact minute a limo pulled up. I walked right into her! She’s really small. As I looked down at her, I stumbled and fumbled and said: ‘It’s…it’s… it’s YOU!’”

She immediately answered: “Yes, it is! It’s me!” He said her eyes were beautifully expressive and happy—literally twinkling.

Then a bodyguard swooped her away into the theater. Hubby said he stood there—in a daze. We both love her. Okay, fine. I may have to stretch my rule, again, and say Hubby can come to lunch. Geez.

Bob Harper. You know him—the trainer on The Biggest Loser. Isn’t he the dearest, most awesome man? I can thank TLC and her Hubby for getting me addicted to The Biggest Loser. I think of them every single last time I cry buckets of tears—which is every night I watch it. I have come to adore Bob. I bought his book just to have his picture on my nightstand. (Shhh… Hubby hasn’t noticed yet.) I didn’t really want to read all of it—he seemed serious about eating right and exercising. Sheesh. I want him to come to my house—sit down for a visit—and encourage me, motivate me, inspire me.  (Maybe I’ll get to meet him soon, because apparently I’m subconsciously trying to get big enough to be a contestant on the show. The mindless eating of sugar and white flour is STOPPING. Tomorrow.)

Meg Ryan. Maybe an odd choice, although I think TLC would get it. Some of my all-time favorite movies star Meg. When Harry Met Sally—Sleepless in Seattle—You’ve Got Mail (all fantastic—but You’ve Got Mail is the best.) She’s the cutest thing and has aged well (although there were a few seconds when some possible work done was not quite what I would have thought she expected—seems fine now, though—whew). I’d love to look like her—be skinny like her—have her fashionista style—her unusual-but-they-ALWAYS-work haircuts. She seems exceptionally private, doesn’t she? She’d by my challenge guest. It’d be fun to see if I could coax her into spillin’ it. All of it. Okay, she can bring Billy Crystal and Tom Hanks, too. I HEART BOTH OF THEM.

SO, there you have it.

TLC—you’re up next, Sista Friend. Can’t wait!!! (Remember the rules, please.)

My Dad

me and dad strolling on the beach

circa 1985

I'd like to dedicate this post to my father. I am blessed because God hand-picked him to be mine. How was I so lucky?

My Dad is a strong man. He's made our family feel safe. He’s kept our family safe. He's the sturdy foundation we all depend on. He's a provider, a protector and a giver. And such a loving GrandPa-Dad, too.

My Dad is a kind and caring man. He never left Mom's side as she valiantly battled breast cancer. Even at ten years old, I remember watching with such trust as he held Mom's hand through the very scary times. I think part of the reason I didn’t worry was because I knew Dad would take care of her.

My Dad can fix anything. From a broken necklace to a broken heart. Dad will forever be the first man I loved and adored.

My Dad is funny. Hilarious – actually. He keeps us all in stitches. His humor truly has healing powers. When I'm down, he lifts me up with his silliness.

My Dad is smart. I swear there's nothing that man doesn't know. He's taught me to never quit learning. To continue to read and watch and listen and absorb as much knowledge as possible. I know, without a doubt, he is the BEST at everything he does.

For those of you that don't know, I have four older brothers. They're all fathers now. Such good fathers, too. I believe it's because of our Dad and the incredible example he's set.

Today, Daddy, I want to thank you. For all that you've done. You taught me how to ride my first bike. You patiently helped me with my homework. You taught me how to cook and the importance of financial responsibility.  Through your actions you showed me how to forgive. You were always there – at my school plays, at my basketball games, at my drill team competitions and at my high school and college graduations. You helped me be strong when I didn't think I could be. You moved me into three different apartments in only eighteen short months. All of them on the third floor. (I’m sorry! It was good exercise???) You never once complained.

We have so many memories I hold close. One of my most treasured and cherished is you walking me down the aisle to my sweet Husband – a man who shares many of the same wonderful qualities you have. You held me up that day and kept me steady as I was beyond nervous I might trip on my own feet. You were there by my side – reminding me to keep breathing and smiling and savoring every last second as I began a new chapter in all of our lives.

I love you, Dad. I always will.

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads and Dads-To-Be.