Kim of Queens Returns

With my disappointment in the Miss America finals {no, none of my favorites won} still on my mind, I'm jumping right back into pageantry on TV.  Kim of Queens returns tonight on Lifetime network at 10pm EST.  Kim Gravel, Miss Georgia 1991, knows what she's talking about as she mentors and trains young girls to compete in pageants.  This season she will continue to work with country girl Addison as well as some new clients!  The show will deal with real life issues of autism, anorexia, obesity, and homelessness.
Kim will be joined again by her beautiful Mama Jo...a former beauty queen herself!

and her adorable, spunky sister Allisyn!

I love watching this show and the transformation that takes place in the young girls Kim mentors.  I'll be tweeting over at SocialGraces101.

Miss Georgia Peach

Congratulations to Caroline Rowland, a junior at Warner Robins High School, who was crowned Miss Georgia Peach during the pageant held last month in Fort Valley, Ga.  

From left, Little Miss Georgia Peach Lily Barfield, Kathleen, Ga.; Teen Miss Georgia Peach, Malone Powell, of Albany, Ga.; Tiny Miss Georgia Peach, Olivia Rozelle, Bonaire, Ga.; Miss Georgia Peach, Caroline Rowland, Warner Robins, Ga.; Junior Miss Georgia Peach, Emily Rowland, Warner Robins, Ga.  

In the pageant world, young ladies who receive titles from the same pageant are referred to as "sister queens."  This was especially true this year as the Queen's sister, Emily Rowland, was crowned Junior Miss Georgia Peach.  Beauty definitely runs in the Rowland family.  Their mother Brandi Durst Rowland was Miss Georgia Peach 1993.

The Georgia Peach Festival will be held June 6-14 in Byron and Fort Valley, Georgia.  The Queen and her court will spend the next year as official ambassadors of the Georgia Peach Festival and the peach industry. 

Vidalia Onions

The Vidalia Onion is a sweet onion which was first grown in Vidalia, Georgia in the 1930's.
It has the distinction of being called "the world's sweetest onion." It is also the official State Vegetable of Georgia.

And...did y'all know that you can't grow Vidalia Onions in your backyard? No ma'am, there is a legally definied region of South Georgia where Vidalia Onions can be grown or sold.

Available from late-April to mid-November, these sweet onions are a great source of vitamin C and dietary fiber; they are fat-free and low in calories, with no sodium and no cholesterol. They taste fabulous when served with salads, sandwiches, or burgers. You can bake the Vidalia Onion* and I have included a great recipe below.

Southern Tip: It's Vidalia with a long "I", pronounced "VI-dalia" not "ve-DAY-lia".

Last night I made a fresh salad with mixed greens, cucumber, tomatoes, and vidalia onions. I served the salad with the Taste of Gourmet Sweet Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette and french bread and olive oil dip. This creamy and slightly sweet & lightly peppered Vinaigrette is an old-fashioned favorite for salads and dipping vegetables. It is also a perfect topping drizzled over sliced fresh tomatoes...oh-so Southern!

You can order the Sweet Vidalila Onion Vinaigrette online at my Taste of Gourmet site here.

Of course, there is a Vidalia Onion Queen! The pageant was held on April 16, 2011 in where else?...Vidalia, Georgia. Here's the Queen and her Court...

(L-R) Junior Miss Vidalia Onion Angela Robertson, Miss Onion Seed Nora Grace Mercer, Miss Vidalia Onion Amanda Lawler, and Miss Spring Onion Calista Brogdon.

I love a Southern beauty pageant y'all!!!

Remember, you can order the Taste of Gourmet Sweet Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette here. Every Southerner has their favorite recipe for a dish with Vidalia Onions...this one is mine and I can't wait to prepare it!

Recipe for Vidalia Onion Pie:
1 cup crushed saltines
1/4 cup melted margarine
2 cups thinly slicled Vidalia onions
2 tbsp margarine
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 eggs slightly beaten
3/4 cup milk
3/4 tsp salt

Mix saltines with the melted margarine. Press into 9" pie plate. Saute the onions in 2 tbsp margarine until tender, but not brown. Pour into crumb crust. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over onions. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until knife comes out clean.

Thank you for visiting with me and I hope that y'all are enjoying this Vidalia Onion season!