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:
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!!
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!
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.
I bet you might be wondering who the heck are the Real Women of Philadelphia...just ask Paula Deen and Kraft! These two power houses are on a quest to find 16 creative women all over the country who love to use that wonderful product, Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Yes, check out this great contest at Paula's site or the Real Women of Philadelphia site.
Lucky for me, I love both these great sites, and I hope to be in that lucky field of 16 women who will join Paula in latter June at her beautiful city, Savannah, Georgia to cook and compete with our favorite Philly recipes. And, prior to that Savannah event, I'm aching to catch Paula at the Arkansas' Women's Show on June 12-13 in my beautiful hometown, North Little Rock, Arkansas at the Verizon Arena. Women from all over will crash this great happening which is sure to be full of fun, food, shopping, entertainment, and tons of valuable woman information.
In fact, gotta go now...I'm signing up for that Total Makeover sponsored by the Cosmetic Surgery Center and Dillard's...gotta look my best for that Savannah trip later on in the month! Hey, Real Women is giving make overs, too...I can be twice as beautiful! Ahhhhh....the power of positive thinking...sure beats feeling like a loser...try it. And, if by some freakish chance I don't make it to Savannah...I do have a new BFF out of this whole deal...Philly Cream Cheese...don't wanna live without her!
I make about the best Southern style skillet cornbread east and west of the Mississippi! They say practice makes perfect, so since I was in the 5th grade, I have practiced making skillet cornbread. I still use the iron skillet and Fire King mixing bowl my Nannie use to use. She taught me all I need to know about making cornbread, and if you just follow a few simple rules, you will be making perfect cornbread every time, too!
Southern Style Skillet Cornbread
Heat about 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in a 10 inch iron skillet...no other pan will do!
Mix 1 3/4 cup yellow corn meal...not corn meal mix!
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 cup real buttermilk...not lo fat!
Water...as needed to make a pour-able batter
While the oil is heating in the iron skillet, mix together the dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
Add the eggs and 2 more teaspoons of oil to the buttermilk and add to the dry ingredients.
Mix well, but do not over beat!
Add some water if the batter is too thick...must be pour-able.
Pour into the hot skillet and bake in a hot oven at 425 degrees F for about 30 minutes.
Done when you tap on the cornbread and get a hollow sound or a knife inserted comes out clean.
Finally, a concert time, date, and location I will be able to see my favorite guitarist of all time...Eric Clapton!
Yes, on March 5, 2010 at 7:30pm in the FedExForum at Memphis, Tennessee you can see one screaming nut job, next to an embarrassed 6'6" dude, singing all her favorite songs with this legend of rock 'n roll...my man...Eric Clapton. Just got my tickets last night so, you might be able to still get yours.
I didn't get into Eric Clapton until the early 90s when he wrote his Grammy winning Tears in Heaven(a tribute to his dead son, Conor)...I missed his pain filled, addictive days dating back to the 60s when he sang of his lost loves, heroin and alcohol addiction, and deaths of family and friends closest to him. Born out of wedlock, young Ricky (that's what his grandparent's called him) was a quiet and polite child, an above average student with an aptitude for art. He was raised believing that his grandparents were his parents and his mother was his sister, to shield him from the stigma that illegitimacy carried with it. The truth was eventually revealed to him, at the age of nine by his grandmother. Later, when Eric would visit his mother, they would still pretend to be brother and sister. OMG, talk about a dysfunctional family!
However, today, Eric is married to Melia, and they have three daughters - Julie Rose (b. June 2001), Ella Mae (b. January 2003) and Sophie (b. February 2005). The couple married in January, 2002. Eric’s eldest child is his daughter, Ruth (b. January 1985). Sober since 1987 with the help of the 12 Step Alcohol Anonymous program, Clapton gives back through his Crossroads Centre, a rehabilitation facility for drug and alcohol abuse on the island of Antigua.
I am so glad he pulled his s - - - together! Forget Layla, Patti, Alana, Melia...I can't wait to finally see him...I'm sure he will be singing "you look wonderful tonight" just for me!
Seems like all the articles, magazines, and blogs I read lately have to do with How Not to Look Old which happens to be the name of a book I recently bought by Charla Krupp. This lady has some wonderful tips that I think should be shared at this very time! I agree with my new BFF, Charla, as she says, "Aging sucks!" And, with that said, here are Di's Top Ten Favorite Tips From Charla:
Nothing ages you like Helmet Head hair! You know the style that your grandma probably wears...short bubble 'do' with perm. Long before I was a Nana, I would get stupid and transform my hair into a Helmet Head for about 1 day, and then I would vow never to cut or perm again. Thank goodness, I'm sticking to my vows lately. I have let my hair grow to a nice medium length, and I do believe that hair was meant to move, and that which does not, is too old ladyish for me! Check out this article, Hairstyles That Make You Look 10 Years Younger: allure.com.
Nothing ages you like outdated shades! Can't afford Lasik surgery? Then get some cool frames or better yet, some contact lenses. They are both a pain in the you know what, but really help the how not to look like an old lady look. No granny glasses for me!
Nothing ages you like the tanning bed! How can anyone be so stupid? Enough said.
Nothing ages you like a bad make up job! Something you do every day (yes, every day) should have just a tiny bit of effort put into it. No heavy foundation, no cakey eyeliner, no demarcation lines between your chin and neck...yada, yada, yada. I use my 8 minute daily KISS routine...keep it simple stupid!
Nothing ages you like yellow teeth! A great smile is a must have at any age, and I do admit this is the first thing I notice about a person...call me judgmental...that's OK. But, do have your teeth whitened by a professional or do it yourself with all the great products that are over the counter these days. I would work an extra job, if need be, just to have money for precious dental care.
Nothing ages you like age spots on your hands! You should already know to put sunscreen on your face, and now you should know to put sunscreen on the tops of your hands. This vulnerable area is just as important to protect as your face. Wish someone had told me to do this back in the 80s, because I have a few yucky age spots that I am now considering taking the laser to.
Nothing ages you like matchy-matchy dressing from head to toe! Don't you just laugh your head off when you see someone with pink dress, pink bow, pink belt, pink shoes, pink purse, pink nails? Erase these old rules from your memory. Quit trying too hard, and by all means...you have permission to wear white after Labor Day if you want to!
Nothing ages you by wearing the wrong skirt length! The best way to solve this problem is to look at the length of your outfit in a photo or video. Photos are so revealing, and I have raced to the alteration lady many times to remedy bad situations.
Nothing ages you like outdated, as well as too much jewelry! OK, so your mom or grandmom loves you and left you a wonderful diamond broach...just take it to your trusted jeweler and have it updated. And, don't make the classic old lady mistake of wearing all your nice things in one outing. Besides looking really goofy, if you get mugged you could lose every nice thing you've got!
Last but not least, the best advice I got from Charla...Nothing ages you like dark lipstick! Choose the perfect pink for your lips. The right pink lightens up the mouth with a shimmery luminosity that helps compensate for the loss of glow in our older complexions. Also, pink lipstick does not bleed through those ugly vertical lip lines (we tend to develop as we age) like dark lipstick does.
Charla has a bunch more practical guidance in this helpful book, just read it for yourself. And in closing, I must add my 2 cents worth of advice for how not to look old...lose the old lady attitude. The attitude where you give up on your appearance and inaccurately think it does not matter what you look like now that most of the world considers you over the hill. Remember, Samuel Butler said, "There's many a good tune played on an old fiddle." Just don't forget to rosin up your bow!
