Let Them Eat Cake

Can we all just agree that we are tired of eating cupcakes? 

...Ok, now that we are all in agreement, let’s go back to eating cake. This cake: Dean’s (slap-yo-mamma) 7-Layer Caramel Cake  from Andalusia, Alabama.

I bring this up because J and I are doing a juice fast this weekend in an effort to reset our taste-buds. So, naturally, my daydreams are vacillating between bacon cheeseburgers and my favorite store-bought cake in America. Ugh. Yum.

Aunt Dean’s got it down, y’all. She recognizes cake for what it really is: a skeleton for its muscle, a frame for its drywall, a blank canvas for its Chagall, a set-worker for its Madama Butterfly. What I'm trying to say is: the true star in Aunt Dean’s cake is the icing. Oh, the icing! Her caramel spread has a contrasting sweet and smoky bite and that will make you wonder if there was an epic battle for good and evil fought in its fruition. Holy moly, it's good.

I admit, I'm so in love with the caramel, I've yet to venture out and try her many other cake flavors. Aunt Dean's website says her cake business all started with a Sock-It-To-Me accident. (How’s that for intrigue?) It also includes all the local places you can pick them up. I usually get mine at Allegri Farm Market in Daphne.

So tell me... what's your favorite cake?

Ode to the DEEP South (New Zealand)

It has been a productive week in the kitchen! Geez Louise, we are going to gain weight with all this deliciousness! Yesterday marked 3 years for J & I, so I made him one of his favorite things in the wide world:

NZ Meat and Cheese Pie!

It was really good, although I don't think I did the real Kiwi version justice. I used this recipe, but it was too ketchupy. Next time I'll probably make a similar version with a tiny bit of tomato paste in place of the ketchup and maybe less soy sauce.

It was funny because I realized as I was cooking that I was wearing a New Zealand shirt from my dear friend Vee. And Justin arrived wearing an All Blacks jersey. Clearly we are smitten with this country! It's not hard to see why:

This is a collage I had printed on a canvas and gave to J for taking me with him to New Zealand in April. It's of pictures we both took on the trip. (By the way, I used a Groupon for this company. It turned out really great, but I had to wait about 5 weeks to get it.) It was an incredible trip, not just for the beauty, but mainly all the new friends I made! Love you guys!

You Know You Are Loved When...

... I make this cake for you...

J's brother & his fiance were in town this weekend, so we threw them a bridal shower. When my newlywed cousin (who is also J's brother's wife, think about it,) suggested we make the same cake I made for her shower, I took a deep breath and nodded my head, warning her that it would be quite a project. We did take some shortcuts this time - like using cake mix. Good decision!! If you are dying to spend a whole day in the kitchen, I made you a list of what is in it. I won't bore you with all of the steps, I'm sure you can figure out most of them.


2 Boxes Duncan Hines Vanilla Cake with Vanilla Pudding mixed in, of course!
Simple Syrup with Lemon juice to coat the layers right after they come out of the oven
Homemade Buttercream Icing
Lemon-Raspberry Curd for the filling between the bottom two layers and the topping. I used the lemon curd from this recipe, and just added raspberries after it cooled.

I saw the rose thing here first. It's super-easy, but slightly time consuming. She explains the technique really well, but I used a different tip than she did. I don't even know what it is called, but it looks like a 5-point star.

My cousin and I worked long and hard on this, so it was great to see that it was a huge hit at the shower. Even for "non-cake people." It looked great, but tasted even better!

There's Something About Berries

I'm pretty sure June is the best month of the year if you like to eat. Give me hot temps and crowded beaches any day of the week, if I can trade it for fresh food off the vine, tree, bush or ground. Thankfully, my friends and family have connections with gardeners who are practically begging them to come thin out the crops. Oh okay... if you want...

Also, Mom was in town this week and on Monday she took me and my aunt blackberry picking. If you, like me, do not have blackberry connections, Gardener's Berry Farm is a gorgeous setting for this. This was Mom's second haul, and she said it was a little more sparse than last time, but we still pulled in two gallons in less than an hour.

The operation hours are a little bit tricky and you do need to call ahead to make sure there are actually berries on the vines. One gallon of blackberries will set you back $15, which is totally, totally worth it.

 

Then you can go home and make an easy dump cobbler* and everyone around you will realize you are Wonder Woman! (Man?)

*Just sugar up the berries to your taste, mix 1/2 stick of butter (melted), 1 c. self-rising flour, 1 c. milk, cinnamon in baking dish and pour the berries over it. Bake 375 for an hour. Easy.

Maybe I Need to Change My Blog Title...

Ha.

I've bought into* hype again. Check out these t-shirts made by Alabama designer Billy Reid.

Oh and I promise that Alabama Seafood isn't paying me to love this stuff. I just do. I think we can probably thank BP for the hip ad campaign. Thanks Beeps!!



*bought into- succumbed to, fallen in love with; not actually purchased, they are expensive! 

GW#3: Wheels and Deals

After a meal fitting for a truck-stop at Derailed Diner, Jackie and I needed to recover... fast. So, we headed to Orange Beach for a little R&R... Rest & Riding.

After an hour or so on the beach, with grease seeping through our pours, we decided to hit the Backcountry Trail on our bikes. Good decision.

Jackie's Artistic Eye on the Ride

Have you guys ever done this trail? If not, stop what you are doing right now and go to OB (or GS, you can access it from both sides.) This trail runs parallel to the shore, separated by about one mile. It was probably my favorite bike ride ever. The air was breezy and the path was shaded. There were a few snakes, so beware runners. The oaks are laden with Spanish moss, the clearings from that fire last summer are a perfect place for a sunset. And it's flat. Go. Now.

When you finish with your 6-10 mile bike ride, may I suggest a stop at Bravo Tacos? J and I have been there at least 5 times in the past year. We love it. Jackie enjoyed it too. Here's why:

1. Tastes great - Everything that I have ordered here is tasty. The flavors are fresh and original. J and I happen to be fairly picky when it comes to Mexican fare, but we both agree that it is one of the best Mexican places we've tried here in the good-ol' US of A.

2. Healthy Choices - The chicken is free-range and the other meats are organic. There are even several vegetarian choices, like the Chipotle mushroom and tomato taco Jackie ordered. The food is not greasy. As in, this is not your run-of-the-mill TexMex place, don't go there and order a ground beef taco.

3. Good Price - Even though the quality is excellent, so is the price. Two tacos, a side and a drink will cost you $8. My favorite dish, the Costa Rican is Rice & Beans, Meat and Tortillas... 7 bucks, y'all.


I did not have a phone (see previous post) to take a picture, so I'll have to share one with you next time.

Have a good weekend!

GW#2: Rolling Down the River

My abs still hurt from laughing so much during last weekend. As you saw from my previous post, it was an eventful few days. NOLA was so delightful, but I don't think I could do it justice in this blog post.

Music & Coffee. Love.

<---- So, here's a picture that sums up the day.

Meanwhile...back in Baldwin County... Have you guys ever been to Dragonfly? I'm still trying to decide what I think about it. The food concept is so great. I love the idea of fusing Asian and Mexican flavors. A few weeks ago, I had a pork noodle bowl with green curry and egg noodles. It was delicious, but a bit too spicy for my taster. Next time I'll order sans jalapeños; the curry was hot enough. On Friday, I ordered the pork taco with an avocado sauce and apples. It was good too, but I think it could have been more spicy. (BTW, they have plenty of other meats, I'm just a sucker for a good pig.) Jackie had the veggie bowl - I just had a bite, but it is probably my favorite dish I've tried. So much flavor! So I love the food. My only beef (ha) with the place is the seating. The concept is cool, in theory. It's a "food bar," so that's the main seating option - a bar. In execution, in I'm not crazy about it. Maybe it's because I'm short. Maybe it's because I don't like facing a wall when I'm eating. What I do know is - it's awkward.

Thanks for the photo, Jackie!

Okay, I actually have two beefs, I also think some of the tacos and tapas might be a little too pricey.  It is not an expensive place, but I guess I'm comparing it to other places that have better tacos for less dinero. (Come back tomorrow...)

Besides all the calories we burned laughing our guts out, Jackie and I also spent a good bit of time racking up activity points... including a Kayak Trip to end all kayak trips. Eighteen people, from ages 3 to 70, hit Fish River with a vengeance after barely escaping a redneck brawl at Bohemian Park.(Yeah, I'm seriously exaggerating.) It was a fun 2.5 hour jaunt, where Jackie and I were able to brush up on our communication skills in a tandem kayak. I only caused her to cuss once when we ran through a spider-infested tree. Actually, I pushed said tree out of my way, which sling-shot it back into her face.

Sorry, again Jacks.

The stretch of river is shaded, and pretty, and the current keeps you moving most of the way. Just be prepared to get out a few times where trees hinder passage.The only downside the the whole day is that my phone got submerged for approximately 3 hours, even though I put it in "dry" storage. Thankfully, T-Mo is determined to keep us non-iPhone-smart-phone users happy, so there's a new one on the way. Despite the setback, it was good fun and a chance to appreciate another view of this beautiful area. And we really worked up an appetite for dinner at Big Daddy's!

I have so much more to say about the weekend. I'll tell you about Bravos Tacos and our Bike Ride tomorrow!

Seafood Edition #1: Who's Yo Daddy?

Beachgoers, visitors, and wonderfully welcome guests to the shore... can we have a little chat?

I'm with you. For the first 28 years of my life, I was a guest of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. I took my friends to Lambert's and Lulu's, or some place at the Wharf, and I loved it. I get it.... who doesn't love balls of hot bread flying at your head and/or some loose association to Jimmy Buffett? But, if you are ever tired of paying so much for atmosphere and if you decide that all you really want is some darn good fresh seafood...

I'll be here for you. So, here's my first Seafood Edition*.

J took me out last night for our "Monthary."  (If you come by often, you're going to learn real quick that he is a master date-planner.) Last night we went out to Big Daddy's Grill. It is a favorite to suggestion to out of town guests because it is off the beaten path and the food is good. (Just don't ask me for directions. I will get you lost.)

Other bonuses include live music on the weekends and apples as after-dinner mints. The fried stuff is alright, if that's your thing, (it is often mine,) but I really love the blackened shrimp. The menu is fairly similar to other seafood restaurants around, including the ever popular fried pickles and smoked tuna dip, but I think the quality/freshness is better. It is a little bit of a drive from GS/OB, but worth it. You might want to stop on your way in or out of town.

*Speaking of, have you seen the new Alabama Seafood ads? Aren't they so trendy!? We are coming up in the world, people!

Hirty, Girty, Look Who's 30!

Part of the Dream Team

Surprise parties make me giddy. I love them. Especially when the surprise party is dedicated to my favorite almost-30-year-old on the planet. This one was beyond perfect.


First of all, the party planners made a good team. We put together a dream scenario in less than two weeks. Secondly, the guests made a wonderful combination of fun people who were willing to get wet! Lastly... don't you just love a wholesome excuse to lie to your loved ones? Exhilarating! (Kidding.)

Slip and Slide made of Recycled Billboards

Best feature of the evening: A huge slip-and-slide. (Note: If it has been a while since you've done this, I have to say... it really is just as fun as when we were kids, just be prepared to pop the pain pills the next day.) There was also a balloon toss, a water gun fight and a real-live photo booth, recycled from J's brother's wedding.

The best moment: The Surprise. Y'all, J was SO surprised! We had a hard time keeping him out of the house with the rain, but it still worked. AND it stopped raining just as the bash began. The party guests had the brilliant idea of pelting him with water balloons upon his arrival. Genius.

All in all, a great evening. Even in the photo booth...

Our Reenactment of a Redneck Love Story: Don't worry dad, it's all just pretend. :)

Pass the Iniquity, Please!

If the world’s descent into moral indecency includes chocolate, I probably need an extra dose of grace. 

Don't worry, it's my middle name. 

This is especially true for Sin in a Tin. (Take a moment to remove whatever thought may have just popped into your head.) Behold…

If this chocolate is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

The angel on your shoulder may be saying: “Just another bag of calories you’re going to exercise off later.” Don’t listen to him. (Her?) The calories are worth whatever form of torture you choose to endure later. (Unless, of course, it includes eternal punishment.)

It makes a great gift or you could add it to a tray of fruit and cookies and bring it to your next gathering. You will be the sin-ter of attention (I know. Lame joke.) You could just do what I do… hide it in the fridge and take it out for a slice in moments of weakness. Anyway, we can all feel a little bit holy, because Sin in a Tin and its tart cousin Lemon Lust, are made by locals: Guthrie’s in Pensacola, Florida. And aren’t we special? All the Publix stores in Baldwin County carry it. Look in the frozen dessert section.

PS - Since this is the first day of public posting, may I suggest clicking "Join this Site" right over there. ------->


:) Thanks!

So Long, Spring.

Alabama Spring is enchanting, isn't it? From the moment the azaleas trumpet its onset, to the day the shy pecan trees start to bud, I have a silly grin on my face that can only be explained by impromptu beach weekends and homemade strawberry shortcake.

And then... things really start to heat up. I know you 'solstice people' are going to be up my tree about this, Summer in Lower Alabama (which will hereto-forth be known as L.A.) is about to officially begin. I prefer to determine my seasons by the temperature in my black Honda and the number of bodies on the beach.

Soooo.... Local ladies and gentlemen, cue the sweaty commute and the lines of cars on Highway 59!

To keep us upbeat about the heat, here are some cool ideas for the summer:

1. Water Park - Robertsdale is currently in the process of building a water playground, just like the one in Summerdale. It is great for kids or hypothetical boyfriends that think they are still 10.

2. Ice Cream - Our gang usually finds time for the homemade sort, but there's also Cammie's in Midtown Mobile, which is well worth the drive.

3. Cold Springs - There's nothing like cooling off on a hot day with some icy cold water from middle earth. Our favorite spot is Morrison Springs in Florida, which is about 2 hours from Loxley. It's great for swimming and diving, just don't go on a holiday weekend, it can get crowded.

How do you cool off in the L.A. summer?

Crawdad Family Supper

A perk of dating a New Orleans native is food. Food. Food. Butter. Food. Food.

I gladly embrace this, even if my pants may (or may not) have trouble embracing my waste-line as gently they used to. No matter, Crawfish Boils are worth it. You can't get more "family-style" than sharing a pile of food on picnic tables covered in newspaper, can you?

J's dad gets these mudbugs from a guy who brings them fresh from NOLA to Summerdale, AL. Message me if you want his digits. Do you have a favorite family-style meal?