Jennuine

Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. --Lewis Carroll Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday! If you're here to share a craft, recipe or project post, you'll find the linky and the specifics on how to  join the party after the features below. ------------------------------------------------ Breakfast has certainly come a long way since the first recorded use of the word in England back in 1463. When you think of breakfast, do you think of pancakes and waffles, eggs and bacon, or a "Venti" nonfat soy latte on the go? If you were a peasant back in the Middle Ages, your morning meal might have involved an oatcake or bowl of porridge, washed down by a tankard of ale.   I'm pleased to be sharing, by way of last week's party participants, three delicious and delightful breakfasts. Pull up a chair and your tankard of ale, but please check your bowl of porridge at the door. -----------------------

I'll be honest, when it comes to fried dough, I usually outsource .  Unless we're talking Baked Donuts , I've found that it's a lot less work and a whole lot tastier to pick up a batch of ethereally light, hot out of the fryer, sugar glazed delights from my local donut shop than to make my own. BUT, these Sopapillas from The Homesick Texan Cookbook didn't take much time at all and were well worth the minimal effort.  I loved the way the triangles of dough magically puffed when they hit the hot oil. They were light, but the dough had a great chew that my family enjoyed. Tossed in cinnamon sugar and lightly drizzled with honey, the golden puffs were nearly gone in a sitting.  We saved a few for the morning, just to see how they fared.  We were happy to find that they were still delicious when served cold the next day. I'm happy to be sharing this recipe as part of "The Homesick Texan Cookbook Challenge & Cook-off" .  I hope you&#

We have a rich songbook of patriotic music in America,  but today, as many reflect on the events of 9/11,  I can think of none that sums up the gratitude  and love I have for this country more than this one: America the Beautiful Words by Katharine Lee Bates, Melody by Samuel Ward O beautiful for spacious skies,  For amber waves of grain,  For purple mountain majesties  Above the fruited plain!  America! America!  God shed his grace on thee  And crown thy good with brotherhood  From sea to shining sea!  O beautiful for pilgrim feet  Whose stern impassioned stress A thoroughfare of freedom beat  Across the wilderness!  America! America!  God mend thine every flaw,  Confirm thy soul in self-control,  Thy liberty in law!  O beautiful for heroes proved  In liberating strife.  Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life!  America! America!  May God thy gold refine  Till all success be nobleness  And

Imagine if you will... ...A cast iron skillet bubbling with white cheddar sauce, enveloping poblano peppers and macaroni in its creamy, garlic perfumed embrace.  This 'aint your mama's mac and cheese.  This is the Poblano Macaroni & Cheese from The Homesick Texan 's eponymous cookbook. This is the third recipe from the cookbook that I've had the pleasure to enjoy as part of "The Homesick Texan Cookbook Spotlight & Cook-Off", along with 18 other talented food bloggers, and hosted by Heather of  Girlichef .  Last week, we explored the " Dallas Gas Station Taco " phenomenon with some incredible marinated pork tacos.  Then we shifted gears and headed for Austin where we slow-cooked a pot of smoky, spicy and flavorful black beans that are a perfect side dish, but are good enough to stand alone as a vegetarian chili! This week, we indulged in The Homesick Texans kicked up version of macaroni and cheese, which she's p

This past weekend we celebrated my daughter's 10th birthday with a party at the beach; sand between our toes and a panoramic view of the bay.  What better way to add a "sweet" touch to a beach or ocean themed party than with some sweet little cakes that look like oysters? The cakes are so easy to make -- you don't even need to bake!  As you can see, the "oysters" are made from Madeleine cakes, which is especially meaningful for my family since Madeleine is my daughter's name.  The pearl is a white gumball, so the kids get an extra treat once they've finished their cake! Here's how to make a bed of beautiful "oysters" of your very own: Oyster & Pearl Madeleine Cakes Supplies/Ingredients Madeleine Cakes (store bought or homemade) You'll need two Madeleines for each "oyster" White gumballs (Bought mine in a multi-color pack at Target for $2.99.  There were about 25 whites) Pearl D

She is mine own, And I as rich in having such a jewel As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl, The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold. ~William Shakespeare Welcome to  "A Little Birdie Told Me..." Tuesday! If you're here to share a craft, recipe or project post, you'll find the linky and the specifics on how to  join the party after the features below. ------------------------------------------------ 10 years ago I spent  Labor Day weekend  in LABOR.   This weekend, we celebrated the 10th  birthday of our sweet Madeleine, and created a special little cake confection in her honor: Oyster & Pearl Madeleines. I'll be sharing the sweet & easy tutorial on Wednesday,  but today I'm spotlighting the whimsical ocean inspired sweets that landed on the shores of "A Little Birdie Told Me..." last week : ------------------------------------------------ Octopus Brownie Bites from The Seven Year Cottage Turtle Chocolate Mint Chip C

Consider me "schooled" by The Homesick Texan .  I've spent the better part of the past 39 years convinced that the distinction of  "Best Mexican Food Outside of Mexico" belonged, indisputably, to my home state of California.  While I stand behind my amigos in the Golden State, my first week of The Homesick Texan Cookbook Spotlight & Cook-off has opened my eyes and mind to the possibility, no, the certainty that when it comes to Mexican food, Texas is one firece contender. Lemme back this horse up a few steps...  A few weeks back, Heather of Girlichef lassoed up a team of talented food bloggers to take part in a cookbook review and cook-off sponsored by  Hyperion  in anticipation of the release of The Homesick Texan Cookbook by Lisa Fain.  Over the next four weeks, the twenty of us knife wielding, tortilla slingin' culinary vaqueros will be taking on a sampling of The Homesick Texan recipes and sharing the experience with our readers.