The Pioneer Woman

Last night we stayed home to watch the College Football National Championship game.  We are not fans of Alabama or Georgia but cheered for Georgia to win because their Quarterback, Jake Fromm, is from Warner Robins.  Unfortunately, the Dawgs didn’t win but it was a good game.
I set the table for supper using some of my Pioneer Woman dishes and linens.

I love these cheerful dishes, placemats, and napkins.  The flatware is from Pottery Barn Kids.

I’ve been using a lot more red lately...maybe because of the holidays and Valentine’s Day coming up.  The plates and bowls with flowers and dots are brightening up my table during this dreary winter weather.

I decided against traditional Gameday foods and chose to prepare The Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Soup with a Caesar salad and cornbread.  It’s been so cold and all I’ve been eating is soup.  I will probably be eating nothing but soup until Easter.

Here’s Rae Drummond’s Hamburger Soup recipe:
2 1/2 lbs ground chuck
1 whole large opinion, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14 1/2 oz ) can whole tomatoes
3 cups beef broth, plus more as needed
1 whole yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 whole red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 whole green bell pepper, seeded and diced
4 whole carrots, peeled and sliced on the diagonal
5 whole red potatoes, cut into chunks
3 tablespoons tomatoe paste
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground oregano
1/4 teaspoon cayennne pepper
In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the meat with the onion, celery, and garlic.  Remove the pot from the heat and drain off as much fat as you can.  Return the pot to the heat and add the rest of the ingredients.  Stir to combine then bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat, then cover the pot and simmer the soup for 15-20 more minutes, until potatoes are tender but not overly mushy.  Soup should be somewhat thick, but if you would like for it to be more “soupy,” add 1 to 2 cups more broth OR hot water and heat through.  Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more salt if needed.
Serves 12

Entertaining on Tybee Island

While visiting my friend Tybee Joy, she hosted a casual luncheon for one of her team members who is leaving to spend more time with her family.  Joy decided to serve some Southern favorites from Paula Deen. 

Miss Janice, Joyce, and Tybee Joy

Menu:

Fresh Fruit

Pimiento Cheese on French Toast Rounds

Hoe Cakes with Black Eye Peas

Southwestern Avocado and Black Bean Salad*

Ham Biscuits

Key Lime Pie

Iced Tea

This is Joy's kitchen table before we put the leaf in to serve 8.

Paper products are perfectly acceptable for a casual luncheon...especially at the beach!

Fresh fruit was provided for those who didn't want to indulge in the comfort food.

Pimiento cheese and french toast rounds...

Simmering black eye peas in a Paula Deen pot...a turquoise pot, of course!

Joy served black eye peas with Paula Deen hoe cakes.  Oh my goodness y'all, Paula's hoe cakes are unbelievably good!

This is the Paula Deen Southwestern Avocado and Black Bean Salad*.  Y'all simply must try this recipe below.  It's fabulous!

Ham biscuits...with Paula Deen's fabulous biscuits!

Paula Deen's Key Lime Pie was beyond delicious.  The crust was devine!

Joy's beach cottage is decorated in all coastal colors...turquoise, white, lime green, and pink...I love the turquoise mason jars she provided for the iced tea.

*Recipe for Paula Deen's Southwestern Avocado and Black Bean Salad:1/2 cup freshly chopped cilantro leaves

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

2 or 3 dashes hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco)

4 cups chopped Romain lettuce

2 avocados, peeled and diced

2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels, thawed and drained

2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup chopped cherry tomatoes

About 3/4 cup (3-ounces) grated pepper jack cheese

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a small bowl, whisk together the cilantro, oil, lime juice and hot sauce.

In a large serving bowl, add the lettuce, avocado, corn, beans, tomatoes, and cheese.  Add the dressing and toss well.  Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve.

Serves 4.

Thank you for visiting with me today.  I'm enjoying my time in Georgia...it's always good to be home.

A Giveaway on All Saints Day

Today I'll be busy all day taking down the Halloween decorations and transforming the front porch tree into a Thanksgiving tree.  I'm also gonna have a little giveaway to celebrate All Saints Day...a day to celebrate all Christian saints, particularly those who have no special days of their own.

THE GIVEAWAY:  Cranberry Chutney!  What is Chutney you might ask?  Chutney is a relish originating in India made with fruit and spices.  The Chutney preserved the fruit itself so that it could be eaten out of Indian curries.

Taste of Gourmet's Cranberry Chutney is a sweet flavorful condiment filled with whole cranberries and spices to serve with roast turkey, chicken, or pork.  You can mix a little of the Chutney into chicken salad or spread it on sliced turkey/ham sandwiches.  A great party food treat:  Cover the top of Brie cheese with the Cranberry Chutney, wrap it in pastry, and bake until browned!

For a real treat, add some Cranberry Chutney Bagel Spread* to your bagel...it's one of my traditions on the "Day After Halloween!"

Recipe for Cranberry Chutney Bagel Spread:
2 to 3 tbsp Cranberry Chutney
8 oz cream cheese at room temperature

Mix the Cranberry Chutney into softened cream cheese.  You can add a bit of milk or orange juice, if needed for softness.  Spread onto warm bagels and enjoy!  The spread will last in the frig for a week).

The Cranberry Chutney is the Taste of Gourmet "Product of the Month" during November.  Taste of Gourmet has a "Product of the Month" each month...a fundraising project to benefit the St. Jude Children's Hospital.  Purchasing the Cranberry Chutney during the month of November will generate a $1.00 donation to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.  The hospital is devoted to research and treatment toward eliminating chronic childhood diseases like leukemia and is the only childhood cancer research center designated by the National Cancer Institute.

THE GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES:
One winner will receive a jar of the Cranberry Chutney.  All you need to do to enter is leave a comment!  That's it...easy peasy!  I will announce the winner of this giveaway on Saturday morning, November 3, 2012.  The winner MUST contact me at:  Miss Janice {at} Miss Janice {dot} com no later than Monday morning, November 5, 2012 to claim your prize!  If not...I will redraw!!!!

Pumpkin Treat Pour Deux

Yes, my pumpkin obsession continues!  Tonight I made pumpkin milkshakes.  Goodness gracious these were so good!

My assistant in the kitchen, Jean Paul, is such a good sport and he's in full "Trick or Treat" mode!  Today I started putting together my treats and I hope to finish up tomorrow night.

Are y'all ready for Halloween night?  We'll be distributing the treats to the youngins from the front porch.  Of course, I always have "adult treats" as well...Merlot and Chardonnay.

This is truly my favorite time of the year.  In addition to the delicious flavors of the season, we are now enjoying a cold front for a few days so tonight was the first night I was able to wear a turtleneck.  I'm also wearing one of my favorite Halloween aprons from my "Prissy Apron Collection."

Recipe for Pumpkin Pie Milkshakes:

1 cup canned pumpkin pie mix
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
4 cups vanilla ice cream
Sprinkles
Karo Syrup

Combine pumpkin pie mix, milk, and vanilla in blender.  Blend until smooth.  Add ice cream; blend until smooth.  Dip the rim of glass into a bowl of Karo syrup.  Then dip the rim of glass into a bowl of sprinkles.

Prissy Lunch with BF Joan

I wanted to introduce to y'all my BF Joan Allen Hart...I was happy to visit with her in her home when I was in Augusta recently for the wedding of my late BF Teresa Jane's son.  Here's a snapshot of the wedding party.  I absolutely LOVE this photo.  Looking at this, my wedding album seems so dull and boring now!

The thoughtful bride and groom left a bouquet of flowers in the seat for the grooms' mama...my BF Teresa Jane!  Broke my heart.

"HERE'S WHAT I WORE"  The caspian blue 'Blakely' dress is by J. Crew and the lime green monogrammed sash is by Annabelle Laroque.

My Accessories:  A blue Ferragamo pocketbook, blue Tory Burch Revas, a lime green iPhone cover, pearl necklace and studs, 'Eternity' wedding band by Cartier, and a Chanel hair barrette.

This is my BF Joan Hart Allen.  She invited me and our other BF Miss Joy over for a girls prissy lunch.  Joy and I both have been friends with Joan since 1971.  She's a real estate agent and lives at Westlake in Evans with her husband!  Joan was raised out in the country in Warrenton, Georgia and comes from a "fine family"...as they say in the South!  Unfortunately, Joan is grieving the recent loss of both her mama and her daddy.  They died within a few months of each other.  Joan is a fine Christian Southern lady and her home is just beautiful...very Southern!

I'm hanging out by her silver service set.  "HERE'S WHAT I WORE"  The shift is 'Shrimp Cocktail' by Lilly and the pink cardigan is also by Lilly.

My Accessories:  Pink monogrammed Bermuda Bag is by Lilly as are the pink mules.  I wore my pearl necklace and studs, my 'Oyster Perpetual' Rolex, and my 'Eternity' wedding band by Cartier.  iPhone cover...pink!

Miss Joy and Miss Joan...

The three of us...friends for a long, long time!

I can take some of the silliest photos...this is Joan's backyard...backing up to the golf course at Westlake Country Club.

In her kitchen...

Joan has cabinets full of Fitz and Floyd 'French Market Pig' dinnerware...you can see the fabulous tureen and platter on the bottom shelf.

Joan also has a fabulous collection of Arthur Court platters.

The breakfast room overlooks the golf course.

Her formal dining room...with a fireplace!  The table is set for 3...

Traditional sideboard in the dining room.

Joan used her Noritake 'Salvador' china for this prissy lunch.  Of course she made sure to have sterling iced teaspoons at each setting.

The Menu:

Green Jacket Salad

Chicken and Broccoli Casserole*

Roasted Potatoes

Grilled Parmesan Tomatoes

Grilled Asparagus

Sister Schubert Rolls

Southern Iced Tea

Dessert and Coffee...Apple pie with vanilla ice cream AND strawberry shortcake.  {Obviously, I fell off the "Clean Living" diet for the day!}

Joan was such a gracious hostess and it was so fun being with my two good friends!  Joan gave me a copy of "Streams in the Desert".  This a a wonderful gift to give...it contains a full year of daily devotions and I'm really enjoying it!

Recipe for Miss Joan's Chicken and Broccoli Casserole:

2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced
2-3 crowns of broccoli, cooked
2     cans of Cream of Chicken soup
1/2  cup of Hellman's mayo
1/4  tsp squeezed lemon
1/4   tsp curry powder
1/2   cup cheddar cheese, grated
1     can French's fried onions

Boil chicken breasts in salted water until cooked.  Remove from broth and cool.  Slice broccoli crowns or chop and cook for a few minutes until tender.  Arrange broccoli in a casserole dish.  Mix cream of chicken soup, mayo, lemon juice, and curry powder together well and then stir in cooked chicken, pour over the broccoli and then sprinkle cheese over mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes and remove and add fried onions and continue cooking for approximately 5 minutes or until fried onions are brown and remove and let stand for 5 minutes.



I can't wait to go back to Georgia and visit my BF's and I'm so grateful for our long-time friendships.

Thank you stopping by to visit with me today!

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!