"Growing up Southern is a privilege, really. It's more than where you're born - it's an idea, a state of mind that seems imparted at birth. It's more than loving fried chicken, sweet tea, high school football, country music, and acoustic guitars. It's being hospitable, being devoted to front porches, magnolias, the good Lord, and each other. We don't become Southern - we're born that way."

5.27.2010

Toad in the Hole

While surfing the internet the other night, I came across the mention of a dish called "Toad in the Hole". I saw that it was a traditional English dish, which caught my attention, so I decided to search for a recipe. I found this recipe on Simply Recipes, and made it last night.

Classic English Toad-in-the-Hole Recipe

Preparation time: 1 hour.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup of plain flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb of good-quality sausage (pork, turkey)
  • salt and pepper

Method

1 Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F. Sift flour into a bowl with a pinch of salt and pepper. Make a well in the center of the flour. Whisk the eggs and the milk into the center of the well in the flour, gradually to smooth out lumps. Cover and let stand 30 minutes.

2 Brown the sausages in a little olive oil and cook through, about 10 minutes

3 Put sausages in a roasting pan, pour the batter over the sausages and place in oven. Cook for about 20 minutes or until the batter is risen and golden. Serve at once.

Serves 4-6

I didn't have any traditional UK sausage on hand, so I used Hillshire Farms smoked turkey sausage cut into small pieces. Also, I intended to double the recipe, but I didn't have enough flour. I did double the sausage.

Here are a few pictures:




{mmm, fresh corn on the cob from the produce stand!}
{please ignore the stupid hard water stains on my pan
from the dishwasher of the old house...grrr!}




I will definitely be sure to have enough flour to double it next time because there wasn't enough of the biscuit mixture, but it was still very good! The kids enjoyed it.
Nobody seems to know why it's called "Toad in the Hole", but next time I make it, I I think I'm going to make it in a muffin tin, with smaller chunks of sausage. Then it will really look like a toad, popping its head out of a hole!


5.25.2010

Meatless Monday??

I haven't done a Meatless Monday post in a while. We've still been doing Meatless Monday at home, but my recipes have been pretty boring stuff.
And then yesterday, we skipped Meatless Monday because we were fundraising at a local restaurant for Elayna's All-Star softball team!
For everyone who told their server they were there for the All-Stars, 10% of their bill went to the team.
We handed out tickets at the door so that not only the people we invited participated, but anyone eating that night could help out too! We also got a few straight donations from people who weren't eating at that restaurant, but just walking by.
So we, of course, ate there also. The little kids got the traditional kids meals of mini corn dogs and a cheeseburger, and Shelbie and I shared a Cheeseburger Wrap (which is SOOOO yummy!).
We are so wrapped up in softball right now! I never realized what a serious business this can become.



Ain't that the truth!

5.22.2010

$1 Flip Flops!


In case you didn't know, today is the big day for us flip-flop lovers!
Saturday, May 22nd ONLY, Old Navy is selling their flip-flops for ONE DOLLAR!
My advice to you: get there BEFORE they open and prepare to do battle, it will be crowded and crazy!

5.05.2010

Cinco De Mayo!

Did you do anything special for Cinco De Mayo this year?
Every year I say we're going to celebrate big, but then it sneaks up on me and I end up throwing something together.
This year was no different.
As I posted on my main blog, Putting the Fun in Dysfunctional, this week was ROUGH. So Cinco de Mayo at my house was celebrated with a simple dinner of very Americanized mexican food: Chimichangas (plenty of sour cream on top, of course), tortilla chips & salsa, and corn with some salsa mixed in. It was very yummy! But not very authentic....at all.....
Oh well, there's always next year!

Ole!


5.03.2010

Quizno's Deal!

Ya know how many restaurants have one night of "Kids Eat Free with paying adult"?
Well Quizno's is blowing that out of the water!

Starting today, May 3rd, Quiznos is offering up a “Kids Eat Free” program where kids can eat FREE all day, every day!


For every adult entree purchased (Sub, Toasty Torpedo, Chopped Salad or Choose 2), you can snag one FREE Quiznos Kidz Meal:

* Kidz Meals include Kidz Subs, Sammies & PizzasOffer is valid for children aged 12 and under (child must be present)
* Begins May 3rd with no end date as of yet (be sure to call your local store to verify their participation)!

I will definitely be taking advantage of this one!