This post should probably be entitled Random Food Stuff in My Brain...
I tell you a show I would watch, if it existed - something entitled “Food Network Bloopers!” You know they have the film. Julia Child was on live and used to just scoop things off the counter and pop them back in the pot, and that was part of what made her so fun; she was real and screwed up occasionally, like the rest of us.
If you have any interest whatsoever in food, you need to see Julie and Julia. It's out on DVD now, so see it.
Here’s a favorite food screwup story. When I was 6, my mother made a homemade chocolate layer cake for my birthday [which is July 4th] and it was so hot [like, 100 degrees in Augusta that time of year] that when we came home from eating our gala birthday dinner out [at my favorite place, the S&S Cafeteria] the cake had slid all over our kitchen table. Fortunately, my father had long arms. He washed his arms and he and Mom put the cake back together, using toothpicks. The next day, Mom had a luncheon for some of my little friends. She had bought a bakery cake for me, and we kept the disaster cake in the kitchen. Mom told the story laughing, and all the parents opted for a piece of the disaster cake instead of the bakery cake. I still dream about her homemade chocolate layer cake. The icing was like fudge...
I grew up watching my mother burn the toast made in the oven, every single time. Finally we got a toaster oven and flaming bread disasters were no more. Now she never burns anything. I do, though, sometimes – it’s genetic!
I made a chocolate cake when I was about 13 and I totally screwed it up. It looked like a chocolate swamp. I cried and cried. My sweet brother got a fork, sat down, and ate the entire cake.
In case you’re wondering, this is my favorite show. I just wish that guy, Guy, would fix his hair – of course his last name is “Fieri” – the Italian word for “fire” so it looks like his hair was dipped in bleach and he’s going for a white flames look….
Whenever we watch Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, Michael always says "I want THAT job!"
Michael likes Iron Chef America. I think it’s a bit silly, but we end up watching it sometimes when we don’t have a movie to watch or there’s no time. We also like watching Emeril, although I get so intrigued with his accent I can’t pay attention to what he’s cooking. I also worry that he should wear a hairnet, because he’s so hairy and when he’s cooking, well, eeeuw….
I recently read a funny book by Mary Kay Andrews called Deep Dish - about two rival TV chefs who fall in love. It was very entertaining, and light. I heard Mary Kay speak at the Decatur Book Festival last summer, and she said that she had spent some time with Paula Deen when she was researching the book. Paula is kind - she's 2nd or 3rd cousin to my second cousin's wife. So we are related, at least in the south.
Mother and I got a kick out of watching Ree Drummond, a/k/a Pioneer Woman on Good Morning America this morning. She made pot roast, potatoes au gratin with fresh rosemary, and mocha brownies. All the hosts were standing there saying what a fabulous breakfast it was! I do wish she had emphasized that pot roast is SO much better if you liberally throw in some cheap fruity red wine, and soy sauce. Some minced garlic, and you make even me, who isn't fond of any beef roast, a happy camper.
Michael had the gall to complain to me this morning about my putting two deviled eggs on his plate for breakfast. I make deviled eggs sometimes because it's the only sure way to get an egg down my kids in the morning. He said he was tired of them. I told him if he doesn't like the breakfast menu, he can come downstairs 10 minutes earlier every morning and fix his own breakfast! Then I gave him a piece of homemade pound cake. [I like to mix it up a bit, discipline-wise; then they think I'm crazy and life is much more fun!]
RECIPE LAGNIAPPE
My aunt introduced us to southern humorist Lewis Grizzard’s mama’s cornbread, and these are the muffins; same recipe. My mother used to make batches of these and sell them at her church bake sales every November and they would sell out in 5 minutes.
CORN MUFFINS
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
1 ½ cups White Lily self-rising cornmeal mix
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Cook in greased muffin cups at 400 for 20-30 minutes. You MUST put in enough maynnaise - otherwise they aren't anything special. The mayo makes them fabulous. I don't much like mayo and I love these.
If there are leftovers, store them in a plastic bag, sealed. The next morning, crumble them into a bowl, add some butter and pour milk over it, and heat it up. It makes sort of a porridge – yummy! That’s what I had for breakfast this morning…
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The doctor who delivered me, Dr. Curly Watson, is now 100 years old and still seeing patients! According to The Augusta Chronicle he is celebrating his 100th birthday. He still practices. Dr. Watson delivered me, my brother, and at least two of my umpteen cousins. He was the next door neighbor of my aunt and uncle for many years. My aunt still sees him as a patient.
Everyone calls him "Curly" even though he's completely bald and has been for many many years.
When he delivered me, the cord was wrapped around my neck and he just unwrapped it before delivering me. I saw him at a funeral about 10 years ago and when I shook his hand I said “Thanks for getting me out of a tight spot, Doc!”
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