Baby it’s cold outside…but the natural beauty of coastal North Carolina never quits. Pelicans on the marina pylons just outside my front door. What a sight!
Loving my new home!
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Winter Morning Beauties
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The most wonderful wings in the world!
Chi Mc, Chi Mc oh how I have missed you! When you think of Annandale, VA chicken wings don’t normally come to mind….but they should. This tiny strip mall restaurant is set back from the road in a corner so nondescript that I drove by it twice trying to find it the first time. Then, I am informed that the wings take 35 minutes to prepare! I almost made the biggest mistake of my life and walked out. A cool head prevailed and I waited it out while sipping a beer. Chi Mc Chicken and Beer will not prepare your wings on time unless you call ahead….but believe me, these wings are nothing short of AMAZING.
A little old grandmother is preparing them in the kitchen and she will not be rushed. My guess is that they are double fried to achieve the ultimate crispiness. I don’t know for sure, all I do know is that they are great!
And don’t bother with the soy marinated or other flavors. Stick with the original hot! -
A very merry Christmas indeed!
Christmas dinner includes some old favorites and a new winner, creamed rosemary potatoes. Begin by sweating 2 cloves of sliced garlic and a medium sweet onion in 1 stick butter. Add some snipped rosemary leaves, (a couple sprigs will do) and some herbs d’provence, salt and pepper.
Next, combine 12 oz softened cream cheese and some light cream (about 1 1/4 cups) with an immersion blender, Layer 2lbs sliced potatoes with onions and garlic, then pour cream mixture over all. Top with finely grated parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for about 55 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
Side two is a spinach salad with warm bacon dressing. We like ours to have hard boiled eggs, bacon bits, and mushrooms. Mmmm!
The star of the table, though is always the roast beast. In this case a prime rib roast, bone-in, slow cooked on our ceramic grill/cooker. I like to leave my rub on overnight.
The finished product is slightly smoky and tender.
Accompany with a horseradish sauce, a great cab and of course your loved ones.
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‘Twas the day before Christmas….
Lots of cooking and mise en place to do today. But first breakfast for the family. Fluffy scrambled eggs with homemade sausage gravy is just the ticket on a very rainy day before Christmas in North Carolina.
After breakfast, time to bake tomorrow’s desert. Start with melted butter in the bottom of a cast iron skillet, add the brown sugar, pineapples, and maraschino cherries….the more the merrier!
Finished product is all turned out….
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Corned Beef, part II
Christmas week breakfasts are always special in our house. Last nights dinner becomes corned beef hash, the perfect foil for eggs fried in duck fat. A little hollandaise sauce on top of the hash, gilds the lily.
So yummy! -
What’s for Dinner, Mom?
Rainy day comfort food is in order today. I ask Sonny what I can cook for him while he is visiting. He is a man of few words, a Gentle Giant. But a little nudging merits the answer. Corned Beef and Cabbage with boiled vegetables. Perfect for a cold, rainy day in NC. Boil the corned beef with spice package and a few extra peppercorns. Throw in a couple bay leaves. Skim off scum for a clear broth. After one hour add potatoes, carrots, onions and cabbage quarters. Continue cooking for another hour. Remove veggies and top with a couple pats of buttter. Make mustard sauce for serving. 3/4 cup sour cream, 2T whole grain mustard, 1t horseradish, 2t cornstarch. Slowly whisk in 1/2 cup of liquid from corned beef pot. Microwave on 80% power for 1 minute. Whisk. Repeat cooking for 1 more minute. Slice your corned beef and enjoy!
We did!
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Christmas Favorites for Son #2!
It’s Christmastime in North Carolina and Sonny #2 is coming home for a visit. So mama started cooking this week to make all of his favorite dishes while he’s here.
My son loves all things salmon. Skin, roe, sushi, lox, and smoked. He also loves to eat gravlax. So naturally, I made him some! Gravlax is an easy cure of salmon with salt, sugar, pepper and usually dill. I switched it up a little this time and used some smoked coarse salt in the curing process.
The color and flavor are delightful! Soft and buttery smooth, it is great served with a mustard dill sauce on crostini, crackers, etc.
Hope sonny enjoys! -
Pella turns out for “What Did Jesus Drive?”
Ä standing room only crowd turned out for a reception and signing at Central College in Pella, Iowa. Jason spoke for 45 minutes about his new book, “What Did Jesus Drive? Crisis PR in Cars, Computers and Christianity”to a rapt crowd composed of friends, family, students and the President of the University.
Speaking off the cuff with his usual easy wit, Jason gave a sneak peek into some of the stories in his book. Q and A and many signings followed.
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Hometown Happiness for Hubby
Downtown Pella 
We’re baaack!
Visiting my husband’s hometown of Pella, Iowa. It’s a wonderfully cute little town settled by Dutch immigrants in the mid 1800’s. A homecoming book signing at his alma mater, Central College, to be held this evening at 7:00pm, should be great. Hoping to reconnect with his many friends and family in the area! In the mean time we are enjoying the great scenery, shopping and Dutch foods.
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Chicago trippin’
On the way to my husband’s big homecoming book signing in Pella, Iowa, and decided to stop in and see the number two son. My favorite midwest city has a lot to offer. Enjoying all the great food, great sites and friendly people! It’s beautiful here during the holidays!
Christmas beauty 
The Bean 
Garrets Popcorn 
Riverwalk Join us in Pella, Iowa next!
Betzabroad...My personal recipe for tasting our big, fat, wonderful world 