Creamy Delta Bisque for Autumn Days

I'm still celebrating the arrival of Autumn by having some wonderful Creamy Delta Bisque Soup served in a sourdough bread bowl!

I must tell y'all that the other day I was craving Pumpkin Bisque and could not find my tried-and-true recipe. I pulled a recipe from the net and prepared it per the instructions. I knew when it was on the stove simmering that it wasn't "right," but I of course hoped that husband would not notice. I served it in a sourdough bread bowl {just the way he likes it} and Lord have mercy...he took one sip and said "This is horrible" and got up and threw it in the trashcan. Well, I have never! I took a sip of mine, and sure 'nough, it was disgusting...like light brown, creamy water. The worst soup I have ever tasted!

So this time I took no chances! I set husband's tray real pretty...

Then, I pulled out my Creamy Delta Bisque Soup mix from my Taste of Gourmet product line, added 5 cups of milk and 1 stick of butter to the powdered mix and 30 minutes later...a wonderful bisque. Even husband approved it!!!

Etiquette tip: Cream soup is eaten with a medium round spoon. Hold the spoon just like a pencil between your index and middle fingers with the thumb up. Spoon the soup away from you toward the center of the bowl. Don't fill the spoon completely full. Place the soup spoon on the plate in the 10:20 "I am finished" position in between sips and when you have finished. Never leave a soup spoon in a soup bowl.

Do not blow on your soup to cool it down and do not slurp your soup.


This rich, creamy soup is a favorite at The Crown Restaurant in Indianola, Mississippi. I prepared it just with milk and butter, but you can add shrimp, crab meat, ham, chicken, or asparagus.

It's a staple in my "Entertaining Pantry!" You can order a box of the Creamy Delta Bisque {two mixes per box} for $9.95 at my Taste of Gourmet site HERE.


Thank you for visiting with me today and enjoy the Fall y'all!

Pumpkin Pie in a Jar

Last night was "Flamingo Ladies Book Club" night and the book was Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Not sure what the book was about 'cuz I didn't have a chance to read it! In our club, that's okay...we just socialize anyway. I think maybe we mentioned the name of the book and that was all that was said about it, but we had a very nice time...just a wee bit of gossiping and keeping up with what's going on in the neighborhood! I carried Pumpkin Pie in a Jar for the ladies...

If you haven't tried these, they are easy to prepare, delicious, and everyone loves the presentation. I used the Ball wide-mouth, half-pint jars. Then, I used pre-made pie crust to line the inside of the jars.

I then poured in the pumpkin pie mix {I used the recipe from the back of the the Libby canned pumpkin}.

I cut out round cardstock for the labels and added a pumpkin tag with a ribbon.

Not being sure what types of food would be served, I made little pouches for the serveware and attached more tags!
"HERE'S WHAT I WORE"
Skirt: Indigo blue denim by Lilly Pulitzer
Blouse: Peter Pan collar monogrammed in pink by Land's End
Cardi: Lime green by Lilly Pulitzer
Shoes: Orchid pink Revas by Tory Burch

ACCESSORIES:
Pocketbook: Pink courderoy Bermuda Bag by Lilly Pulitzer
Readers: Beachy pink by Lilly Pulitzer
Hair bow: Pink grosgrain
Cologne: Wink by Lilly Pulitzer
Nail varnish: Lovie Dovie by Essie
Lipstick: Laser Pink by Chanel
iPhone cover: Limeade Floater by Lilly Pulitzer
Shoes: Orchid pink Revas by Tory Burch

Cardi clip: Vintage clip by Trifari

Earrings and ring: Monogrammed with my "maiden monogram"--very old!

Wedding band: Rollring Trinity by Cartier

Watch: Oyster Perpetual by Rolex

{I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS TEXT IS UNDERLINED! CAN'T UNDO--UGH!!!}

Rainy Night in Florida...Limeade Floater by Lilly Pulitzer

It was "Bring your own" so I carried my Merlot in my Redneck Wine Goblet!
Thank you for visiting with me today. Yesterday, I used my LAST CAN OF PUMPKIN. Today, I'm on the hunt for more!

Apple Juleps...Southern Style

It's that time of year when I long for the days when Mama and Daddy would take me to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Mama and I would shop like socialites while Daddy sat on the nearest bench...just waiting patiently until we ran out of money.

Pigeon Forge is located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee and is a popular destination for those traveling to see "The leaves changing" during Autumn. The area is also known to shopaholics as as the home of the "Outlet Malls of All Outlet Malls!"But, my most wonderful memory of those trips were our meals at The Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant. Lord have mercy, it's like the The Cracker Barrel heaven! They have THE BEST country cooking...Apple fritters, fried pork chops, applesauce muffins, apple butter, chicken and dumplings, and the list goes on an on. We were never disappointed!

But what do I remember most about the Applewood Restaurant? The Apple Juleps! This is the beverage that was served complimentary to all guests at the restaurant.

With the arrival of Autumn, last night I served Apple Juleps...in mint julep cups!

Etiquette tip: It is considered proper to drink Apple Juleps with a sterling mint julep straw/spoon. Simply use the spoon to stir the julep and sip your beverage through the tiny hole at the other end. This is one of the very few times a lady should use a straw to drink a beverage. It's also acceptable to use a straw when you are drinking a coke out of a can, a large to-go cup of sweet tea, a cold Starbuck's beverage, or when you have taken ill and are in the the bed.

A sterling mint julep straw/spoon...stir with one end and sip from the other.
Recipe for the Apple Julep:
1 quart unsweetened apple juice, chilled
1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice, chilled

1/4 cup lemon juice, chilled
Garnish with apple slices or mint sprigs

Combine all the ingredients with ice cubes. Enjoy! Happy Autumn y'all!

Prissy and stylish

Prissy and stylish by magnoliagirl featuring hair bow accessories

Jason Wu knee length cocktail dress
$1,070 - stylebop.com

Salvatore Ferragamo low shoes
£285 - harrods.com

Chanel flap bag
$2,900 - madisonavenuecouture.com

Susan Caplan Vintage yellow gold jewelry
£475 - matchesfashion.com

Chanel black leather jewelry
fashion.1stdibs.com

Kenneth Jay Lane tahitian pearl jewelry
€50 - pret-a-beaute.com

Rolex quartz jewelry
bagborroworsteal.com

Salvatore Ferragamo hair bow accessory
$100 - bloomingdales.com

Pasha de Cartier Eau de Toilette, 3.3 fl oz
$100 - macys.com

::Cuv
blogspot.com



Just playing around with Polyvore:) Trying to see if it's an option to publish my "HERE'S WHAT I WORE POSTS!"

Quick Fix Southern

Last night I served an easy Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole. Of course, I served in style...wearing this cute Autumn apron from my "Prissy Apron Collection", by April Cornell and using my serving tray from Pottery Barn.
This fabulous recipe is from the cookbook "Quick-Fix Southern." This cookbook is packed with over 100 fast and easy recipes for putting great "Homemade Hospitality" on the table in 30 minutes or less!

Rebecca Lang is the author of this cookbook and a food writer as well as a busy Mama. She is a contributing editor for Southern Living magazine and is featured in weekly segments on the nationally syndicated show Daytime. She is also a contributing editor at MyRecipes and writes a monthly column, "Girls Night In," for the site. Her food writing has appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Flavors Magazine, Edible Atlanta, and Legacy Magazine. Having taught hundreds of classes, Lang is an accomplished cooking instructor and travels the country teaching classes in cooking schools.

In addition, Ms. Lang is a food editor for Oxmoor House and has apprenticed for Nathalie Dupree.

An extra helping of Rebecca's Southern hospitality compliments the appetizing recipes that appear in "Quick-Fix Southern." Rebecca groups the 100+ recipes in 10 themes...making it effortless to find the perfect food to fit the mood.

Themes include dishes fit for Tailgating and Gatherings, Busy Weeknight Suppers, and Girls' Night In, as well as delightful drink concoctions ideal for Sipping on the Screened Porch.

Author of Quick-Fix Southern, Rebecca Lang.

The delicious Petite Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole...prissy chicken casserole served in a ramekin!

This old, traditional Southern casserole has been on dining room tables for generations. Rebecca made it much faster to prepare with rotisserie chicken and instant rice. You can make this in a 7 x 11-inch baking dish or used ramekins like I did. I think it's a bit more prissy in the ramekins.

Recipe for Petite Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole:
1 rotisserie chicken
3 cups cooked long-grain & wild rice, cooked according to package directions
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
3/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup diced celery
1 (8.5-ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup chicken broth
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray 8 (8-ounce) ramekins with nonstick cooking spray. Remove the skin from the chicken and pull the meat off the bone. Use your fingers to shred the meat by pulling it apart in strips. Place the meat in a large mixing bowl. Add the rice.

Heat the butter over medium heat in a small frying pan. Add the red onion and celery and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.

Stir the onion and celery, artichoke hearts, sour cream, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and curry powder into the chicken. Spoon into the prepared ramekins. Place all of the ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet.

Bake for 30 minutes.

You can visit Rebecca at her website and order this cookbook here or her blogsite here.

Happy Birthday to my Husband!

Today is my husband's birthday. Bless his heart, he went out to get the mail and there were two packages for MOI! He said "What?!" Oh my, I was busted. Oops!

We did what HE wanted to do...dinner and visited friends. That is what he wanted. I filled up a Bucs cooler with some goodies for him to open and then we went over to AT&T and got him a new iPhone upgrade. Here's his goodies...placed inside a tacky Bucs cooler--to used at the soirees in his "Romper Room".

"HERE'S WHAT I WORE"

Skirt: Target
Cardigan & Blouse: JCrew
Shoes: Revas, by Tory Burch
Pocketbook: 2.55 by Chanel
Monogrammed Sash: Annabelle Laroque
I carried my vintage navy Christian Dior umbrella...glad I saved this one! Love it:)
So now I'm off to serve dessert and coffee. Thank you for visiting with me today!

Practicing What I Preach.

Recently, I was contacted by one of my readers who thought I might be interested in a project being promoted by The Bert Show (an Atlanta radio show). The Bert Show is trying to get 400,00 hand-written thank-you letters so that each member of our armed forces deployed outside the United States will receive a letter of gratitude on Thanksgiving Day.

As my reader mentioned, I am always reminding y'all of the importance of writing thank-you notes, and this is the perfect opportunity to give y'all some practical homework.

Each letter should be heartfelt, handwritten, original, and free of any political statements. Remember that the purpose of the letter is to express gratitude for service to our Country.

All letters must be on 8 1/2" x 11" paper or smaller. DO NOT USE glue, tape, staples, cardboard, glitter, or otherwise attach anything to the paper. DO NOT send cards or photographs. Feel free to include your mailing and email address...you may get a response. DO NOT send any donations:)

For more information, you can go to The Bert Show website here.
Submit your handwritten, individual letter in a standard business-size envelope and mail to:

The Bert Show's Big Thank You
780 Johnson Ferry Road, NE

5th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30342
"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
William Arthur Ward

I hope that each of you will take up the challenge and Practice What I Preach! I'll close with this fabulous video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reDiz5nkxK8

Apple Cake and Coffee...From the Sideboard

Last night I set up the sideboard in the breakfast room for dessert. I served Apple Cake from my Taste of Gourmet line.

Husband absolutely loved this cake...the mix makes a large cake and it stays moist and flavorful for days! One box of the mix makes a large cake in a 9 x 13 pan. The cost of the mix is $7.95 and serves 12.

I added chopped apples to the mix...it was delish y'all!

A nice harvest pot to hold my coffee...
Y'all know I obsessed with the Autumn flavored coffees from The Cracker Barrel...The Caramel Cream flavor is another fabulous choice!

I haven't changed the kitchen setting up since the summertime...I will probably bring out the pumpkin-themed dinnerware next week. I just hate to put my roosters and rooster toile napkins away!

Thank you for stopping by today. If you would like to order the Apple Cake Mix visit my Taste of Gourmet site here. Take a box to your gracious host or just buy one for yourself and enjoy the flavors during the Autumn season!

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Hey, Hey Tampa Bay, the Bucs know how to shine! Well not yesterday, they didn't!!! But aren't the new Swashbucklers cute? Lord have mercy, cheerleaders today look a LOT different than they did when I was a cheerleader in high school. Even the high school and college cheerleaders are so different. Back when I cheered, we just went out there and pranced around and did some fancy jumps. Now, it's a dangerous sport...well, not for the NFL girls!

It's been football-football in my house all weekend. College Gameday on Saturday, then NFL Sunday! We are huge Tampa Bay Bucs fans, but unfortunately, husband could only get the game via the computer. Ugh! Just as well. It was their season opener and they played some BAD football! Bucs lost to the Detroit Lions 27-10. Regroup Bucs. Get it together.

Well, I served husband's favorite football meal...Chili and Garlic Bread, with beer! Of course I wore my Bucs apron from my "Prissy Apron Collection."

I bought this apron from a street vendor at the Mt. Dora Crafts Festival and I wear it all season during the Bucs games!

I served Taste of Gourmet Black Bean Chili along with the tasty Taste of Gourmet Roasted Onion Garlic Bread...on a black wooden serving tray...from my "Serving Tray Collection."

The Black Bean Chili is the Taste of Gourmet Product of the Month for September. I added ground turkey and canned chopped tomatoes to the mix which is only $9.95 per box. Purchasing the chili mix in September will generate a $1.00 donation to St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.


The Roasted Onion Garlic Bread mix is an easy quick bread with a a fascinating flavor and a real crunch of roasted onion and garlic. For $9.95/box you receive two bread mixes...a great value.

This bread boasts a great soft texture with deep onion and herb flavor--ready in only 30 minutes with versatile uses for all occasions. You can order the bread mix here.
Looking forward to next Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings! LET'S GO BUCS!!!