Friday, October 29, 2010

Never Show Up Empty Handed



My mother was a strict believer in the idea that you should never show up to a party empty handed. She treated almost every event like a pot luck. Sometimes it may have been homemade, sometimes it may have been an instant mix made at home, or in very rare and desperate situations it may have been purchased at WalMart and carefully arranged on a plate from home. (if she reads this she might kill me!)


This is Mom with her famous...well famous with our family....crab dip.  The crab on top is made with a carefully sliced and placed red pepper. Can I hear a small applause for my own personal Martha Stewart?  Sometimes she prefers to be called June Cleaver. 


But back to the subject at hand of bringing food everywhere you go. This idea went right along with all of her other ideas:
every present deserves a thank-you note... 
kill them with kindness... 
etc etc etc....
THANK YOU MOM! 
She really did TRY to raise us right.  
(Please pronounce that last sentence with a southern drawl for added effect)




As a result, I find myself carefully planning what dishes I will be taking to Thanksgiving dinner even though it is still a month away.  Oh the possibilities....



Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Let me introduce the biscuits and gravy...

When I grow up, I want my kids to drive home and visit just to eat my delicious biscuits and gravy for breakfast. I want it to taste as good as my Mom's. Every time I buy an expensive plane ticket to fly home to Virginia and visit, I think about the biscuits and gravy and KNOW that it's worth EVERY penny. With practice (and prayer?), I hope that one day I can cook all of the delicious things that she and my grandma make. 

So welcome to my blog about 
life, love, cooking, 
& trying to be a grown-up.  

I want to cook like my Grandma Roark 
always have a little something ready for a surprise visitor 
(even if it's just biscuits or a sweet potato). 

I want to be a Mom as good as my Mom was to me 
& to keep a home and yard/garden as beautiful as hers
& have a personal style that's HIP & CASUAL just like the looks she pulls off
(but NOT printed capri pants).

I want to make a pound cake just like my Nana Jackson's
& host lunches made entirely of assortments of vegetables, crackers & cheese.