On A Quest For...Savannah Bound Sweethearts...all have a story

Everyone has a story...especially everyone's sweetheart, Paula Deen.

"For all her success, the Albany, Georgia native has remained very grounded, in part due to her down home Southern upbringing. She married her high school sweetheart, became a young mom to two sons, and appeared to be living the life she desired, before a series of tragedies, from the death of her parents and the failure of her marriage to a prolonged battle with agoraphobia changed the course of her life forever." 

And, golly gee has her life changed! I recently purchased Paula Deen's Savannah Style and it is a cannot put down, cover to cover, gorgeous coffee table book if I ever had one! I hope to use a lot of Paula and Brandon Branch's ideas for my new home in Little Rock! And, speaking of Savannah, there are sixteen bound Savannah Sweetheart finalists in the Real Women of Philadelphia contest who will forever be showered with  Paula Power!  Read on and check out each story and fantastic recipe they will be cooking with Paula:

• Cathy Hazzard  Shrimp Corn Chowder  Harley riding mama AKA Sticky Buns & Cheesecake Lady
• Jacqui Nicholson Swiss Chard Au Gratin  Pasta loving nanny wanting a cooking school in Chicago
• April Sladen Blue Peach Pizza Paula says "nothing hotter than a June bride", April is marrying Zach in June
• Annette Gladys  Philly Stuffed Mushrooms A "natural" entertainer, Realtor, mom, and empty nester
• Cynthia Price Tantalizing Tilapia  Talented cook loving her Mom's memory and empowering women
• Shelia Cutchlow Bundles of Rice  Touches your hearts with stories of her Mom and hospice cooking
• Laura Vitale  Super Quick Butterscotch Cannoli Young lady from Italy with her own web show
• Lindsay Rudolph  Oatmeal Apple Cream Pie Wife, teacher, mom, student pursing doctorate
• Mandy Heaston Aspargus/Parmesan Cream Pastry Gourmet mom on the go and loves classical opera
• Ann Miller-Tobin Roasted Tomato/Pepper Soup/Pesto Cream Cheese Schmutz Made soup w/ love to help her dad with his illness
• Stacey Shields Breakfast Empanadas with Chipotle Cream Speech therapist, newly wed, and "bonus" mom
• Caryn Ross Sassy Tailgate Sandwiches Everything 'fat and sassy' including blog and boat
• Lenore Nolan-Ryan Salmon Wrapped Pastry w/Philly Cucumber Sauce Has her own cooking school
• Suzanne Clark Delicious Mother of four boys and one princess who loves creativity
• To Be Announced
• To Be Announced
• To Be Announced...the seventeenth bonus lady

You know, after checking out these ladies, their recipes, and their stories, it's not so bad being beaten by this fantastic opposition! And, each one of these Savannah Bound Sweethearts will never be the same after experiencing the good fortune of being talented, creative, driven, and chosen by the Lady and Sons, Paula Deen, Jamie, and Bobby. You gotta love that Paula Power!!

On A Quest For...Paula Deen's John Hancock

I got my much anticipated book today, Paula Deen's Savannah Style and all it needs is her little John Hancock!  You see, I do have a plan...Paula Deen has acknowledged this little ol Ordinary Housewife from Little Rock, Arkansas for her Twitter, blogging, and social networking efforts on the Real Women of Philadelphia website! Yes, mam...the Queen of Southern Cuisine and author of Savannah Style has made my day!  You see, me and a whole lotta other girlfriends have been wrapped up in this RWOP video cooking contest since March!  Paula gave the thumbs up award to me and a few other girls for doing so well sharing this event on the Web. But the bigger prize comes in late June as we are all vying for a trip to New York, a (much needed for me) make over, and then on to Savannah, Georgia to compete for Paula (and get that John Hancock!)  However, just to be recognized for one's contribution in spreading a little love with this Philly contest, is more than I could have dreamed for.  Thank you Paula!

And, it is nice to experience that Paula Effect! I've already received more Twitter followers and blog readers than I ever imagined!  One of the other girls who was acknowledged as well, said she felt a little guilty for her accolades while others have worked equally as hard.  I told her to forget that way of thinking and just enjoy the good fortune!  It's like Joyce Meyer says in her new book, Eat the Cookie...buy the shoes...it's all about giving ourselves permission to lighten up and certainly not feel guilty for delighting in the benefits of our labors.  I'm in, and I'm delighted! Did I say thank you, Paula?

I have three more chances to get to Savannah...two final dessert winners will soon be announced and one other gal will be picked to help with all the Savannah commotion! Will keep you posted.  And, if I don't  get to Savannah...plan B on that John Hancock will be standing in line when Queen Paula comes to the Verizon Arena in North Little Rock for the Arkansas Women's Show on June 12th.  I will have my Savannah Style bird in hand and go for it!  There's more than one way to frost a cake...right? In fact, I'm allowing myself permission via Joyce Meyer, to eat a couple of pieces of that cake, then go shopping for an outfit, purse, and a pair of shoes! Moderation? Fiddle de dee...I'll work on that another blog!

On A Quest For...A Greener Kitchen

I really have been working on greening up around my home, especially in the kitchen.  I recycle, reuse, and re purpose just about any time I can.  For instance, I buy frozen orange juice and mix it in a reusable container, rather than purchasing a new jug each time.  I bring the foods I plan to prepare to room temp before I place them in the microwave or oven.  Quite often, I use a slow cooker which uses less energy than an incandescent light bulb.  I use the view window on my oven door to check my baking instead of opening the door a million times, which by the way, drops the oven temperature 25 degrees F each time I open.  It's a wonder I ever got anything baked before I picked up that little tip! And to help toward deforestation, I use dish towels instead of paper towels to wipe up messes. I rinse my dishes and scrape them into the trashcan before placing in the dishwasher to save water.  I never let my tap water run freely at the sink!  And, as I do my marketing, whenever possible...I buy locally, organically, and seasonally. Food tastes a heck of a lot better that way...

I am no Ed Begley, but these baby steps go a long way toward greener living in the kitchen. Try a few and see.  Oh, and as I mentioned above, I'm especially proud of curbing excessive use of paper products in order to save trees. Just yesterday (Thursday,the day after Paula Deen announced two more winners on the Real Women Of Philadelphia Contest, and I along with a few hundred other women was not one of them) I decided to buy this nifty hard plastic, hot and cold container at Starbucks for my daily latte for under $12... just to console my feelings of discouragement for not having been chosen. I do feel a tiny bit better.  And, I did use a cloth handkerchief to hold back my tears instead of a whole box of Kleenex. Don't know what I'm gonna buy myself next Thursday...maybe a brand new 2010 Toyota Prius to replace my beloved 2008 model which gets almost 50 miles per gallon and emits hardly any vapors into our atmosphere)...surely that will console my impending gloom and desperation...but, I do doubt it.