Dear Diary, Tooling Through the Neighborhood Yesterday, Discovering Godsends Everywhere...

Who knew that Sir Loins Inn from the 70s is coming back to North Little Rock on JFK Blvd?? I can easily remember those hunks of buttered loaves of bread that accompanied every meal. And those tasty bite size shrimp, in abundance I might add, that enhanced the serve yourself salad bar. Oh, that cozy dark bar where patrons spent many hours there. And the luscious juicy tender melt in your mouth generous slab of perfectly cooked Prime Rib. And the great service by the servers dressed in their formal tailcoat and boots attire. Humm, I don't remember any women servers. I remember it all as if it were yesterday. There's always been talk of a comeback for this locally loved restaurant, hope this deal goes thru. Maybe Chuck Nosal RIP   who served there loyally for many years has the help of St Martha   Patron Saint of Servers is helping push this along. Godspeed!!

Also, another Godsend to the North Little Rock, Arkansas area is the renovation and rejuvenation of the beautiful Saint Joseph Orphanage.  God sure had a hand in getting this place going again. This old orphanage and farmland established in 1907, was closed down and waiting to be sold by the Diocese of Little Rock in 2008. It was destined to become another perfect eerie setting for a horror movie (see photo below), until the property was taken over with a 50-year lease in 2010 by an independent and thus operating as the St Joseph Center of Arkansas. They have done rather well in the last 14 years as the grounds are hopping with flowers, veggies, beer garden, rental venues, goats, hayrides, and so much more to offer the public. There is even a sweet keeper of the goats, a big shaggy dog named Peaches. Check the website highlighted above for volunteer opportunities and hours of operation information!

Sorry I had not a one cornbread mention today, so here it is and y'all come visit when you can!

Love you, Di

 

Miss, Mrs, Ms and I'm Still In the Kitchen

 Hello Y'all! It's sure 'nuff been awhile since we last connected and I have really missed you guys and gals! What have y'all been up to? Hopefully still enjoying a good ole skillet of cornbread, and maybe some home cooked beans with a bit of hog jowl, and a little onion on the side? My mouth is watering, so I guess I had best git some pintos on. Thanks for dropping by and can you relate...

Miss, Mrs., Ms.~I'm Still In The Kitchen 

Love you all, Di

's 

 

Howdy

 Howdy! Y'all are looking at a mighty fine skillet of honey sweet cornbread with Italian sausage, sautéed leeks, a smidgen of herbs (your choice), and a generous drizzle of honey all over this little beauty as it comes out of the oven. I just made my cornbread and topped it with the sausage, leeks, herbs, and honey. Easy peasy! Y'all don't even need a recipe, just do it. It'll be a hunk of wonderful vittles to compliment any breakfast, lunch or dinner meal.  Have a wonderful day and love you all. Visit when you can...Di

 

The Cornmeal Muffin

I’ve been a lot of places in my day and time...sounds like a Willie song. Bell’s Diner in Toccoa, Georgia does seem like a place Willie would stop by. Y’all must stop by too if you’re ever around these Georgia parts. Plate lunches are a meat and three but I usually get all veggies. And, that plain cornbread muffin, just luvin’ it! My favorite muffin recipe of course, is loaded with cheese, onion, and sausage. But, ever once in awhile, a plain Jane corn muffin hits the spot. After all, it ain’t a meal if it doesn’t have cornbread in it! For all you over the top cornbread muffin lovers, here’s my favorite savory cornbread muffin recipe...

Cheesy Cornbread Sausage Muffins with Kickin’ Philly sauce

Black Eyed Pea and Skillet Cornbread for New Year's Day 2018

Hope y'all are having a great New Year's Day today! I know it's been awhile since I've posted but,  I'm still kickin' and lovin' cooking cornbread!

Who's serving black eyed peas for good luck today? Well mine are cookin' as I type. And, what goes with that delicious, tasty ham hock and peas??? You got it. Skillet cornbread. I'm gonna just cook a small skillet up for tonight because I have lots to do this New Year's Day. Like catching up on my blogs I've been neglectin' a teeney bit. But, I have been busy with lots of other good things. Check my blog list to the left of this post or my Twitter feed if you don't believe me! lol I know, I know. It's hard to trust a lady who'll blog about anything. See you soon and let's talk skillet cornbread...

How To Make a Small Skillet of Cornbread...
Preheat Oven to 425 degrees F

1 cup corn meal
1/3 cup all purpose flour
2 ts baking powder
1 ts salt
No sugar today
2 Tb melted butter (*melt in the small skillet)
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg

1. Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Make a well in the middle and add the butter, buttermilk and egg. Mix till blended.
2. Heat the small skillet (*which has left over melted butter residue in it) in the oven till it's nice and hot.
3. Add mixture and bake in oven for 30 minutes.  Pop out onto a pretty plate, cut, and enjoy! 

  

Sweet Potato Stacks

The other night I decided to test a new recipe before Thanksgiving. So tired of that same ole sweet potato casserole dish that nobody seems to eat anymore!

Well, I do declare this recipe was a huge success! These luscious, short stacks were incredible. They are tasty, easy, nutritious, and a nice change from the ordinary. So much fun being different for a bit. Don't you agree?!?!

How To Make Savory Sweet Potato Stacks:

Yield: 12 Stacks  375 F Degrees 

Ingredients

5-6 sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into thin rounds

3-4 tablespoons melted coconut oil

3-4 tablespoons melted butter

3-4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

3-4 chopped fresh Rosemary 

Salt and pepper to taste

Extra Parmesan cheese and Rosemary for garnish

Directions

1.  Melt coconut oil and butter in a saucepan over low heat. 

2.  Remove from heat and add cheese, Rosemary, salt, and pepper. Mix and set aside.

3.  Peel potatoes, slice into thin rounds, and place in the saucepan with oil and butter mixture. Toss and cover all slices generously. 

4.  Spray a 12 count muffin tin with vegetable spray.  Stack rounds into the individual muffin spots.

5.  Bake at 375 degrees F for about 40-45 minutes or until potatoes are tender and browned.

6.  Remove from oven, sit for about 5 minutes, and then carefully remove stacks to a serving dish.

7.  Garnish with extra cheese and Rosemary. 

Happy Thanksgiving and, by all means don't go changing the cornbread!!! Sweet cornbread dreams to you and yours!  

Love y'all,  Di

Dear Cornbread Diary...

Been watchin' all those Elvis tributes lately. Clambake last night was a hoot. Hard to believe the King has been dead since August,1977. I can still remember the moment I heard the unbelievable news. Dead at 42...

I was a young mom with two small kids and I was heartbroken that I would never make it to one of Elvis'
spectacular concerts I had always dreamed of attending. Procrastination, not a good thing. Do what you want when you are able because that dream could be taken away forever. Here's a special recipe in honor of the King.

How to make an Elvis Cornbread Waffle with Bacon Brittle, Grilled Banana, & Peanut Butter Sauce...Serves 2

First Do the Bacon...

Ingredients:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

6 slices bacon

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2.  In a large plastic zip-top bag, combine brown sugar and mustard. Add bacon and toss to coat.

3.  Remove bacon, cut in half, and place on a lined baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Do not roast without foil or paper (see third pic below.) Roast in oven for 20 minutes. Drain grease from pan, lay bacon onto a plate (do not drain on paper towels because bacon will set up crispy and stick to paper products) and set aside. Crumble when cooled.

For the Peanut Butter Sauce...

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 cup cold water 

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce 

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

1/4 cup brown sugar 

1 tablespoon white vinegar 

2 teaspoons sesame oil 

1 cup warm water 

Directions:

1.  Dissolve the cornstarch in 1/2 cup of cold water; set aside.

2.  Whisk together the soy sauce, peanut butter, brown sugar, white vinegar, sesame oil, and 1 cup warm water in a small saucepan over medium heat; simmer and stir until sugar has dissolved. 

3. Stir in the cornstarch mixture; simmer until the sauce is thick, 1 or 2 minutes and set aside.

For the Grilled Bananas...

Ingredients:

2 bananas, firm

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

2 Tablespoons brown sugar 

Butter and skillet for frying

Directions:

1. Slice bananas length wise.

2. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Coat with brown sugar.

3.  Heat butter on high and fry bananas 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Set aside.

Last the Wafflle...

Ingredients:

1 box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

1 egg

2 Tablespoons shortening, melted

3/4 cup milk

Directions:

1.  Preheat waffle iron (or griddle to make pancakes if you have no iron) to 350-375 degrees F.

2. Mix ingredients till large lumps disappear.

3.  Spray iron (or griddle) and pour batter.  Waffle is done when iron stops steaming.

For the Assembly...

1. Slather waffle with Peanut Butter Sauce and save the left over in fridge to use as an ice cream topper or dressing on an Asian salad.

2.  Next comes the banana...watch out, it could fall apart on you while removing from skillet. 

3.  Last but not least, mound the crispy, crumbled bacon brittle in a heap on top.

Note...don't bother to brittle the bacon, just fry plain, tastes just as good. All the sweets with the savory cornmeal waffle are especially wonderful.

Until next time sweet Diary, long live the memory of Elvis and may all your cornbread dreams come true Love, Di