Perfect Brownie Cookies

Sooooo...this is why I cannot stay home & watch John Wayne movies all day.  It gives me the munchies like nobody's business.   Chocolate, of course, being my drug of choice.   I signed onto pinterest & plugged in "chocolate" and voila...chocolate brownies appeared!   After taking a quick inventory of my pantry I realized I had all the fixings.    The rest, as they say, is history.   So long diet & helloooooo Mr. Brownie Cookie delight...

Brownie cookies cooling on wire racks.  Yummy!

Below is the recipe in case you find yourself unable to get these off of your mind.   I will say that I added pecans & I would only bake for 8-9 minutes.   They come out with the PERFECT shiny, flaky top.  Enjoy! 

Perfect Brownie Cookie.

Brownie Cookies

½ cup butter
4 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3 cups (18 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips, divided
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
1 ½ cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Combine butter, unsweetened chocolate, and 1 ½ cups chocolate chips in a large heavy saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until butter and chocolate melt; let cool.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl, set aside.

Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer. Gradually add dry ingredients to egg mixture, beating well. Then add the chocolate mixture and beat well. Stir in remaning 1 ½ cups chocolate chips.

Scoop dough onto baking sheets 1 inch apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool slightly on baking sheets; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Poppa Day & the Daybed

My grandsons call me "Do-da" & they call my husband, "Poppa Day".   Originally intended to be "Doda & Day",  my husband felt like he just needed a "P" word somewhere in there and since their other grandfather is "PawPaw", he came up with "Poppa Day", which I love.     It's been such a joy to be grandparents.  As my momma always said, "If I'd have known how great my grand-kids were, I'd have had them first!".   No truer words were ever spoken.    

That being said, this story is really more about the grandfather than the grandsons.   Poppa Day is a wonderful grandparent for many reasons.  After being married to him for 30+ years, I admire him more with each passing year.   

His parents divorced when he was only 6 years old. Poppa Day pretty much grew up without a dad around to teach him the little things like changing the oil or shooting a gun.   These are things he made certain that he taught his own boys.  His dad, a USAF officer, lived in Japan for many of his growing up years and simply wasn't around to teach him the things many young boys take for granted.    This is pretty remarkable, especially given the fact that there is simply ALMOST NOTHING he cannot do!   He can build anything, fix anything and is the living definition of a "jack of all trades".   

I credit his beautiful mother for instilling the work ethic that he has, but sometimes I just cannot account for the skill he has in many areas of his life.  He is literally a SELF TAUGHT MAN.    Even with his vocation, he taught himself a trade and used it to work himself up from the bottom to one of the top positions at his workplace. 

This is an example of something he made for me recently.   I mentioned that I would love a daybed on my screen porch to read or relax in.   He lovingly brought back to life a pair of old doors that he'd hauled around for years which he'd removed from my grandparents house that we purchased back in the 90's.    He called all three of our sons to come help a little, even if it was just to sand or paint a small portion of it, so that he could say it was from all my boys.    Here is a picture of it in an earlier stage:

 

He never ceases to me amaze me.  Part of his extreme awesomeness is being able to make something I envision simply come to life with his own hands.   This is just one example of that.  Here is the finished product:

Daybed made with old doors from my grandparents' home.

It's EXACTLY as I'd envisioned!  This very sturdy daybed is an heirloom which I will treasure for the rest of my life.  I can see myself resting on it with my grandchildren, reading them a book or just talking.   But more than the furniture, what a treasure Poppa Day is to me! 

Lest I sound too boastful, let me say that he's not perfect. Even our grandsons, Eddie & Noah, know that sometimes Poppa Day can get a bit crabby.   Especially after 7:00 PM when he's "nested" into his special recliner.  They giggle when I call him "Poppa Cranky Pants".   But it's funny about kids, the things that may annoy adults never seem to bother them.  They just accept us for who we are, warts & all.  They don't let his crankiness bother them one little bit.  They love their Poppa Day unconditionally,  just like he loves them back.

I will be proud when Eddie & Noah realize that their Poppa Day is pretty much a real life super-hero in many ways.   He's a self-made, self-taught man that they can be very proud to call their grandfather.  

I'm thankful that God allowed our paths to cross oh so may years ago.  In a way we sort of grew up together & I'm so proud of the Poppa Day he has become.  

Well, guess that's enough rambling from me today.  

Take good care,

Cindy

JUDGE NOT...well you know the rest...

Why is it that we (as in us, as in people, as in Christians, as in all faiths) JUDGE some sins more harshly than others?    In fact, why do we (as in us, as in people, as in Christians, as in all faiths) JUDGE at all...doesn't God tell us to judge not lest we be judged?  hmmmmm food for thought...

take good care,

Cindy

There's no dogs like granddogs....

Meet my grand-dog, Opie.   He's my son, Garrett's, 45 pound bundle of energy.   When Garrett first told me he'd adopted a dog, I was very happy for him to have a companion & watch dog (although I'm not sure how vicious Opie would be with an intruder, unless leaping up and gumming them would be considered a defensive move).

As any other mom can attest,  we worry about our kids from the moment they are conceived.   We DO worry less when they grow up about day-to-day things simply because we don't know exactly where they are & what they are doing 24/7.  But we NEVER stop worrying completely.     That being said, when our kids grow up & we can "check off the boxes" we get a little more comfortable:

Graduate high school-CHECK

Graduate college-good job-CHECK

Find a Mate-CHECK, CHECK.    

Garrett had 2 out of 3, but at that point in his life I knew he hadn't found his lifetime mate.   Although he had some really close, lifelong friends, I just couldn't completely check off that final box.  So, when he got Opie it did make me feel a little better.   What better companion than a dog?   They're loyal, protective & true. 

My one main concern, however, was that he'd need grandparent dog-sitters every time he wanted to travel (which is a LOT).  He is somewhat of a vagabond and has friends all over the country & in Europe.    Someone only needs to say "go" and he's ready.   However, a 45 pound dog isn't exactly something you can pack into your carry-on.     If you know me, you'd know that would be NO PROBLEM for me.  I'd have every dog in my house in the bed with me at night....but my husband, Gary, is somewhat of a curmudgeon and he has a strict NO BIG DOG in house policy.    Opie lives inside at Garrett's house & I was concerned about how he'd do crated in the garage with our big dog, Gus.   

Turns out, all of this worrying was for nothing because Gary is Opie's biggest fan.    Opie is one of God's happy-go-lucky creatures who is content whatever he's doing.  He's very obedient & has a very sweet disposition.     In fact, one of our favorite things to do when we are keeping him is to sit out in the backyard just to watch him run around.   It's almost as if he has a song playing in his head at all times.

Just one more thing in this life I'm thankful for.   Grand-dogs, who knew? 

Take good care,

Cindy

NO FORKS REQUIRED!

One of my favorite restaurants in New Orleans has long been Mr. B's Bistro. It's owned by one of the famous Brennan family members & is well known for it's wonderful creole creations.    

http://www.mrbsbistro.com/

 Mr. B's Bistro, New Orleans, LA

My favorite dish there has always been the BBQ shrimp.    If you're not familiar with BBQ shrimp, the name is misleading.  There is nothing "BBQ" about it.   It's basically jumbo shrimp sauteed in a wonderful, creamy "gravy" type sauce filled with delicious creole seasonings.   The headless shrimp are cooked in their jackets & you eat this dish with your hands.   Not only are the shrimp delish, but the BEST part of the dish is "sopping" the sauce with wonderful, crispy french bread!   As we say down here, C'est si bon!

Mr. B's actually shares some of it's famous recipes on it's website.  I finally got around to cooking it at home.  I was NOT disappointed!

 

I'd like to share this wonderful, easy to make recipe.   It literally takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish & the BEST part about it is NO FORKS REQUIRED!!  Just make sure to load up on paper towels!  The shrimp are served with the jackets on, sitting in the sauce.

New Orleans Barbequed Shrimp

Don’t break out your grill for this dish. Here in New Orleans, barbecued shrimp means sautéed shrimp in Worcestershire-spiked butter sauce. We serve these shrimp with heads and tails on, so you need to dig in to enjoy. I highly recommend a bib.

We are famous for our barbecued shrimp, and with reason. The biggest trick to making this taste like ours is to not hold back on the butter. The three sticks called for are enough to scare you into cholesterol shock, but are key to the flavor and consistency of the sauce. Another tip to keep in mind: to emulsify the sauce, be sure to add a little butter at a time while stirring rapidly. And don’t overcook the shrimp or they’ll become tough and hard to peel.

• 16 jumbo shrimp (12 per pound, about 1 1/2 pounds), with heads and unpeeled
• 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
• 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
• 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cubed
• French bread as accompaniment

In a large skillet combine shrimp, Worcestershire, lemon juice, black peppers, Creole seasoning, and garlic and cook over moderately high heat until shrimp turn pink, about 1 minute on each side. Reduce heat to moderate and stir in butter, a few cubes at a time, stirring constantly and adding more only when butter is melted. Remove skillet from heat. Place shrimp in a bowl and pour sauce over top. Serve with French bread for dipping.

Yield: 4 appetizers or 2 entrees

http://www.tonyseafood.com/

First, find some fresh jumbo shrimp.   I'm blessed to live in south Louisiana where fresh, gulf shrimp is easy to find.  One of the places that makes me the happiest, is a Baton Rouge landmark called Tony's Seafood.  Tony's is a one-stop shop for all things seafood.  A family owned business since 1959, it not only carries every type of the freshest, local seafood, but it also has a wonderful deli.  

It sells seafood from "LIVE" to "FRIED"!   It was my first stop.  

I bought 4 lbs of fresh gulf JUMBO shrimp.  Not because I need 4 lbs for this recipe, but because I NEVER leave Tony's without a little extra for later!  (Hint:  Many times the XL shrimp are almost as large as the Jumbo & usually around $2 per pound cheaper.   I usually mix it 1/2 XL & 1/2 Jumbo, unless there is a significant difference in size.)  

Then I gathered the rest of the ingredients together.   

IF you have a black iron skillet, this is a GREAT way to cook this recipe.   I doubled the recipe so I used 2 skillets.  It cooks the shrimp more evenly if they each can sit on the bottom of the skillet.

Let me forewarn you, this is a dish that would make Paula Deen proud!  It's loaded with REAL butter.    Make sure to use unsalted & don't skimp on this part.   The butter is what gives this dish such a rich flavor.   Read the instructions on adding the butter slowly in the recipe. 

Also, be careful NOT to overcook the shrimp.  It only takes about 1 minute to cook.  Flip over as soon as they "pink up".   Here is a picture of what they will look like.  I've flipped 1/2 the pan.  

Left side not flipped yet.  Right side flipped over.

The result is this wonderfully delightful creole dish. 

 

Last nite, we enjoyed breaking bread with our middle son, Garrett & his friend Ian.   We shared great food, lively conversation & some fresh french bread from Wayne's Bakery, another local treasure.  

Cut each slice of bread at an angle on one end to stand in each bowl!  It stars soaking up the sauce & makes a beautiful presentation.

Enjoy this dish with some great beer.  We paired it with one of our favorite local brews, Abita Amber.    

This is my sweet hubby, Gary, enjoying his dinner!

 C'est si bon!!

Take good care,

Cindy

Hello Sunshine!

 

I've decided lately that I must suffer from the syndrome where you get depressed if you don't have enough light.  Guess I could never live in Seattle or any other rainy climate. It's been a gloomy/rainy few weeks down here in South Louisiana but today the SUN IS SHINING!!  Boy, how we appreciate the beautiful weather after not having it for a while. I guess that's a metaphor for life as a whole.  We take so much for granted until we no longer have it.

This is a picture from my front door this morning.  My sweet puppy, Lucy, is enjoying the sunshine too!  She's lying in the grass, sunning herself.    Maybe our four-legged souls suffer from the same maladies as their 2 legged friends.    

I sure am thankful for the sunshine.   Thanks be to GOD for providing such a beautiful place for us to live & WELCOME SPRING!!!!

Easy Like Sunday Morning.

One of my favorite things to do ALONE, besides going to the movies, is to stay overnight at a nice hotel.  I don't mean when I'm working & crashing at a Holiday Inn Express, but a leisure trip at a beautiful place.  I don't know why, but it just feels like a luxury to me.  Maybe it's because I raised 3 kids and had 20 years of not having one hot minute to myself without some little boy's fingers wiggling under the bathroom door whilst I was trying to get a quick soak in the tub; OR, maybe it's because I can stretch out in a king size bed by myself and keep the television on all night (2 things that my husband has a tiny issue with at home).  

Either way, this weekend I needed to go to New Orleans to watch my son, Garrett, run a 1/2 marathon.  Gary was on call all weekend, so it was all about me (and Garrett of course).  So I'm gonna skip over the part where I got a speeding ticket whilst driving over the Causeway & go straight to the good stuff.   My go-to hotel in the Big Easy is Le Pavillon.  

Le Pavillon on Poydras.  Here's the website:  Le Pavillon

It is a New Orleans landmark.  It was built in 1903 and is chock-full of crystal chandeliers, antiques, and other beautiful treasures that throw you back into the Gilded Age.  

From the moment I first stepped into the beautiful lobby years ago, it's been my favorite place to stay.  It has a quiet elegance & sweet spirit about it.  It just "feels right".   I've stayed at lots of places in New Orleans over the years, from the Ritz to some of the smaller boutique hotels, but the road always leads me back to Le Pavillon.    One of the unique traditions at Le Pavillon is the homemade peanut butter & jelly sandwiches that are served down in the lobby from 10-12 PM every night.  Everyone lines up, sometimes in their pj's, & gets a midnight snack!    The rooftop pool is beautiful too!  

At any rate, I had a wonderful weekend with my son & enjoyed some "me time". 

Garrett & his friend, Maggie, both ran a 1/2 marathon that wound through downtown New Orleans and ended up at City Park.   It was a BEAUTIFUL day, in a beautiful city.     I was so proud of Garrett.  He beat his best time!      There were 32,000 runners in this marathon.  It was a sight to see.     I WISH I would be the type to actually RUN the marathon, but alas, it was all I could do to hustle my sista-bootay over to the 8 mile mark across town & get there in time to cheer Garrett on.    A 13 mile run would LITERALLY be my death.    But I'm grateful that Garrett has incorporated his love for running into his lifestyle.   (Thanks to his high school cross-country coaches, Sharon Kline & John Allen Phares.  You both truly made a difference in his life & instilled great life-long habits!)

Garrett in red bandana at mile 8!  (Maggie in purple shirt)

So, no sooner did I cheer them on at 8 miles, when I had to hustle back across town to catch the shuttle to City Park for the finish (geesh..the things us moms do for our kids--no matter the age)!    I haven't missed any of Garrett's runs since 8th grade & I don't intend to start now!   Plus, just the fact that he runs 13 miles ON PURPOSE is enough motivation for me to do 2 things I HATE:  get up at the butt-crack of dawn & run/walk very fast to get places on time.    I wish I had a runner's body.  I truly do. It's inspiring to see all of these runners; but, like I've told my friends, if you EVER see me running, please CALL 9-1-1!!  SOMEBODY is chasing my a**!!      

That being said, the next best thing is cheering on my son.   After the race, Garrett's friend, Ian, introduced us to a new WONDERFUL place to have brunch.  The Ruby Slipper Cafe' is known for it's delish brunch offerings & yummy mimosas!! (Which I can personally vouch for!)

The Ruby Slipper Cafe

Ian is finishing up his master's degree and hoping to get into med school this fall & lives in NO.     Having a local helps you find those wonderful little hidden treasures tucked all around New Orleans.  On Cortez, near City Park, it's certainly not somewhere you'd just be "passing" by.  It's definitely a destination location.  Apparently there is always a wait.  It's a very small place.   You have to sign yourself in on a clipboard hanging on the front door and approximately an hour later, they'll call your name.   My advice, get yourself a bloody Mary or 1 (or 2) of their famous mimosas & have yourself a seat outside.   Believe me, it's worth the wait!     

My son, Garrett in blue, and Ian in red.. on our 2nd  double mimosa lol. 

Everything I saw looked great & it was a tough decision.  Ultimately, I had the shrimp & grits with a fluffy buttermilk biscuit on the side.   It was TO DIE FOR.   Being a native Louisiana girl, I've had my fair share of both shrimp & grits, and the tasty sauce in this dish had a wonderful, spicy flavor that was a perfect combination.    I can't wait to go back!

Shrimp & Grits from The Ruby Slipper Cafe', Cortez Street, New Orleans, LA

After the brunch, we all decided to grab a nap before meeting again for dinner.   Ian & Garrett dropped me off at my castle (aka: Le Pavillon) and went home to Ian's place in the artsy part of town on Magazine Street.  We would later meet up at The Rum House on Magazine for a great dinner filled with great conversation & lots of laughs.

One other treat I LOVE to give to myself is room service &  breakfast in bed.  I work VERY hard every day..so why not?  Although Le Pavillon serves one of New Orleans' best breakfasts downstairs in The Crystal Room, (if you ever find yourself here, make sure to get the Bananas Foster Waffles at the Crystal Room...they will make you want to "slap yo momma"!) I chose to stay in & order their sure-to-please, authentic french toast breakfast.    It's made with REAL french bread, and is so light, yet crispy.  Strawberries on the side with a diet coke and I was in breakfast heaven.    The fact that I ate in the bed WITH my pj's on didn't hurt either.   lol

Well as all fairy tales inevitably do, this one too had to come to an end.   After all, it's Monday morning again & soon enough an e-mail from a client snaps me back into reality.   Reluctantly, I stuffed my junk back into my suitcase and rolled back into the REAL world.   I managed to cram a good 8 hours of work into today & will be back at it again tomorrow..... until next time I can sneak off into another self-created fairy tale filled with king sized beds, delicious food, great company & hopefully finishing with breakfast in bed.   It may take a while before the opportunity presents itself again, but I trust it will.   Until then, I'll try to confine myself to MY half of the bed tonight & turn off the television at a decent hour so my sweet hubby can get his SNORE on.     Oh well, if EVERY day was a fairy tale, we wouldn't appreciate them when they actually happened.  

Take good care,

Cindy

An Ava Jane in Wonderland Adventure

Ava Jane's Art Barn, Brookhaven, MS 

When I told my daughter-in-law, Em, that I was taking a girl's trip to Brookhaven, Mississippi she asked, "Why?".  lol  She was born & raised in that area and her family home is there. It's just home to her & she didn't know of anything worth driving there for a girl's trip.   I just laughed & told her that my friend, Amanda, had invited me and some of her other friends up to Ava Jane's Art Barn.   She had never heard of it.   It's amazing how we all have gems in our own backyard yet we always walk over to the neighbors instead.   I can't tell you how many times folks mention to me in my work travels about coming down to visit this plantation or that garden which is only a short drive away from me.  Sadly many times I've never visited those destinations.   Anyway, I digress as usual...back to the point....

The Dinner Bell, McComb MS

We started the day out with a wonderful lunch stop at The Dinner Bell in McComb, MS.    This restaurant has been at it's current location since 1959. I remember going there as a child.  My parents used to bring us out to lunch usually once a month or so on Sundays.  It's a very unique experience.   It serves classic southern home cooking on large community tables.  Each table seats about 20 folks and has a huge lazy susan, always heavily laden with family style servings of a never-ending assortment of delicious southern food such as fried chicken, rice & gravy, butter beans, cornbread, their signature fried eggplant or one of my favorites, fried green tomatoes.  The menu varies depending on which day of the week you show up.  As Amanda says, "If you don't leave miserable, it's your own fault!".   Well let me say that I was sufficiently miserable as I stuffed that last bite of banana pudding into my face.

The food laden lazy susan at The Dinner Bell in McComb, Mississippi.

After feasting, we headed out "the back way" to Amanda's sisters home.    After loading up Nancy, we headed outside of town into what seemed like the middle of nowhere.  We literally drove down a country road, down a country road, down a....oh well, you get the picture!   Just as I started hearing the theme from Deliverance running through my brain (this is the way my brain works--dueling banjos) we finally turned into a driveway &  I caught a glimpse of a beautiful little red barn tucked in front a tall grove of pine trees.

 from this:

                to this:

I really didn't know what to expect.  Amanda has been talking about "Ava Jane's" for so long, but I really wasn't sure exactly WHAT it was.  Amanda & I have been friends long enough that I trusted her for a great experience.  That trust was well founded...boy were we  in for quite a pleasant surprise.  I knew at once this was a special place.  A quiet peace fills the air, which I suspect has a direct connection to Ava Jane herself.  The entire space is filled with beautiful, creatively placed plants, whimsical art projects & various curiosities.  A feast for the imagination, there are so many things jammed into every little nook & cranny that my eyes danced from one thing to another overloading my inspiration input button, and this was only outside!!   Once inside of the barn, it began all over again!  

Ava Jane Newell is the owner/operator of this little slice of creative heaven.  Ava Jane says she wasn't an artist at a young age, but gradually developed her self-taught skills as she grew older.   A true late bloomer,  her obvious talent and creativity fills the space.   She is a mother, grandmother, artist, teacher & all around beautiful lady.   Her husband has nurtured her love of all things art by building her barn and helping out with various "projects" over the years.   (She says he's responsible for the lovely terraced brick pathway that leads down to the seating area & has great ideas himself.)  

 

Today was the best type of girl's trip.  Not shopping until we dropped, but a very relaxing day spent both meeting new friends & enjoying old ones.  We toured Ava Jane's treasure trove of creative projects & gardening.  We enjoyed coffee & a wonderful cake provided by Nancy out on the brick patio.  We talked family, art & politics and even though we all have separate ideas, we felt a bond as southern women, wives & mothers.    It's one of those times when I'm so thankful to be from the south.  The hospitality, love & understanding that we extend to one another is beyond measure.  

Amanda, Charlene, Cindy & Karen (just realized that Nancy made herself disappear when a camera came out!)  Of course, Ava Jane was the photographer.   She made us all feel so welcome & special!

I'd like to share just a small taste of the endless variety of art and creative expression that lies about this rabbit hole called "Ava Jane's Art Barn".    In just a few moments, your brain begins salivating creative juices.   Of course, photos never quite capture the true essence of a piece, but hopefully you'll get inspired.    For more information on Ava Jane's Art Barn classes or purchasing anything or commissioning anything, please contact Ava Jane Newell @ PH: 601-835-2356.  She also teaches children's classes.    Also, please "like" her FB page, Ava Jane's Art Barn.

Now for the good stuff, enjoy!

An old bicycle covered in various textiles.

Clever way to line border a garden with old wine bottles.

Hand tiled shower. LOVE IT!

MY favorite piece of whimsy..I LOVE heads.. I don't know why..guess I can't quite get my own head screwed on straight (teehee).

A blue man with natural "hair" gives a splash of color.

love these whimsical pieces.

Children's Chairs...many of Ava Jane's Cats can be seen jumping from one to another. 

  

If I ever come back as a cat, I want to live at 

Ava Jane's.

  It's cat heaven!

Hand painted old chair.

A Child's Chair covered in Mardi Gras Beads!

I'm a deer hunter, but I've never seen a deer with antlers quite like these!! 

Thanks to Amanda, Nancy & Ava Jane for making this such a special day for us all!