(relax, breathe...they won't bite)

The part of Rachel will be played today by…Deanna

(hi!)

So there was this storm…A storm that knocked out Rachel’s internet. Like COMPLETELY. So she asked me to step in for her today, and I just hope I don’t wreck the place. (it’s ok, cause I’m her blog designer too)

Speaking of, we are working on a new look for A Southern Fairytale – a little new paint, some new decorations…it will be fabulous!

But you didn’t come here to listen to me ramble – you want to share some recipes!  I’ll be visiting as many of you as I can, and hopefully Rachel will be back by Tuesday!

This beautiful, buttery, cinnamon and brown sugar filled Southern Classic – Sock It To Me Cake – is Nathan’s favorite cake.

It is the one he requests for every birthday.

This year, Monkey and Princess helped me make Nathan’s birthday cake.

I love passing family recipes on to my kids, watching their eyes take in the tattered and stained recipe cards, the smells the same ones that I remember from my own childhood.

With this cake, we even had a milestone reached.

Monkey finally mastered cracking eggs into the bowl without getting eggshells in the bowl!!!

Look! Even the eggs were happy!

This cake is so simple to make – it starts with a boxed cake mix – as so many delicious Southern recipes do and the rich buttery flavor is enhanced by cinnamon, brown sugar, walnuts and even sour cream.  Y’all should have seen Princess’ face when I told her there was sour cream in this cake

Oh.. Wait..

Here it is -

After the gifts were presented and a few tears shed by a very touched and proud Daddy,  the cake was served and declared the best one yet – which is saying A LOT – as I’ve been making this cake for Nathan for over 13 years.

I hope y’all try out this southern and family favorite recipe!

A few favorites from last week’s linky

• Chickpea Salad with Grilled Pita Bread
• Cinnamon Raisin Oatcakes
• Tamale Cups
• Fried Green Beans
• Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Thank y’all for linking up your amazing recipes every week.  I love seeing what y’all are serving your friends and families!  You often inspire my own table and definitely leave me hungry!

Don’t forget to visit and comment on a few other participants, link back to A Southern Fairytale and Mouthwatering Mondays in your recipe post and leave a comment after you link up, I love hearing from y’all!

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday, y’all!

I don’t have a recipe for y’all today – mainly because my internet has been out since Thursday and I’m writing this while sitting in a restaurant borrowing the internet.

AT&T is trying to figure out why our router is giving us so many issues, hopefully we’ll have it all wonderful and back in working order soon.

Instead of me sharing and then y’all sharing — I’m asking that y’all share not only your recipes, but your thoughts, ideas and opinions with me.

I want to make my site the best that it can be – the lovely Deanna is hard at work this week redesigning A Southern Fairytale – YAY! and along with the new look, I want to know what else I can do for y’all to make A Southern Fairytale better.

One of my favorite things that I added in 2011 is the ZipList plug-in which allows y’all to save recipes to a custom recipe box, use those recipes to create grocery lists and makes the recipes very easily printable. I love, love, love Ziplist and so many of my favorite food bloggers are using it as well: Two Peas and Their Pod, Buns In My Oven, Baked Bree,  Recipe Girl and so many more.…

Here’s my question:  Do y’all like the big picture in the printable recipe, a smaller picture, no picture at all?

I would love to hear what y’all think and what y’all would like to see!

Please share with me!  Share any thoughts you have!

What would y’all like to see more of?  More appetizers, more main dish, more veggies, more beverages, more stories about the family, more about photography?

What things are you absolutely craving to see more of from me?

Okay – now — it’s y’all’s turn to share your recipes and your ideas GO

** I am not paid by or sponsored by ZipList – I just love it**

A Few Favorites From Last Week

• Vanilla Bean and Cherry Swirled Icebox cookies
• Quinoa Nuggets with Chipotle Cream Sauce
• Bacon, Blue Cheese, and Cherry Stuffed Mushrooms
• Spicy Thai Butternut Squash Soup

Dear Ones,

I’d like y’all to say hello to someone.

It’s time y’all say Hello to a new kind of Breakfast Dish – That little beauty dripping with caramelized sugars and pecans is White Lily Flour’s Caramel Pecan Biscuit Bake

Would y’all like another introduction?

You’re welcome.

This isn’t your typical Breakfast Bake, it doesn’t have a cake base – this little beauty has a Southern Biscuit base made with White Lily’s Self Rising Flour

This recipe intrigued me.

White Lily Flour is the ONLY flour that my Dad uses to make his Beaten Biscuits – a Southern delicacy unlike any other.

However.  HOWEVER.

Biscuits at breakfast, not something unusual in the South.  However… biscuits in the South not topped with gravy, biscuits in the south not stuffed with Country Ham or slathered with homemade jam …. what is this Southern blasphemy you speak of? {wink, wink}
Well let me tell y’all, my biscuits and gravy loving’ Southern husband – devoured two pieces of this and declared it ‘damn good’.

Monkey and Princess both had two pieces and when I came back to cover the baking dish after breakfast, it was fairly evident some little fingers had been helping themselves to more.

This dish is messy and gooey and crunchy and sweet and downright yummy. The biscuit base is a bit of a surprise if you’re expecting a sweet cake style base, and I have to admit – we really liked it.

This recipe today is in conjunction with a giveaway that I partnered with White Lily flour to bring y’all.  I have received product compensation for my time and talents.

Stay Tuned!  I have a Giveaway that involves White Lily Flour – a Cuisinart Hand Mixer – and yumminess on Thursday! Make sure that you’re a subscriber to my blog and following me on Twitter so you don’t miss out!

Favorites From Last Week

• Amy’s Roasted Shrimp with Rosemary and Thyme
• Elsa’s Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Cranberries and Balsamic Reduction
• Mary’s Cake Batter Bark
• Michelle’s Tomato Avocado Salad

Thank y’all for linking up every Monday and sharing the fun of Mouthwatering Mondays with others through your comments, linking back in your posts and visiting each other! Can’t wait to see what y’all have in store for us this week!

Everyone, say Hi to Eggy.

Eggy, say Hi to everyone.

Y’all wouldn’t believe the trouble that little bugger up there is giving me.

Nathan and I had such success with The 17 Day Diet (he 40 pounds, me 30 pounds) that we decided to re-visit the first 2 cycles after the New Year.  Oh yes, that’s now

I know I keep promising to share recipes with y’all – and honestly, I will.

Right now, however, I’m asking for y’all’s help.

That little purple veggie up there is driving me crazy – I just can’t think of what I want to do with it.

It can’t be fried or breaded – needs to be made baked or grilled or sauteed – no cheese – minimal fat -

Tomatoes, onions, garlic, chilies, peppers and the like are all okay – all welcome actually.

So, I’d love for y’all to share your ideas, thoughts, tips, tricks etc…

Share them in the comments, e-mail, me whatever… if I make it and love it, you and your idea will be featured on here!!

I’ve already gotten some great ideas on Twitter:

Anna @TheMedicoreMom Suggested: In a Casserole with Shrimp

@Tarable said that her husband Grilled it with Curry Powder

The Lovely @LoveFeast shared her family’s favorite way to serve eggplant

Cassie suggested the super unhealthy, but oh my holy heavenly deliciousness of frying it and smothering it with tomatoes and cheese

Help me, my friends!  Quick and delicious, healthy and favorites! Help me to figure out how to add Eggy up there to our repertoire, before he gets eyes and ears and a smile placed upon him by my ever so creative kids and becomes a family pet instead.

Wednesday I shared my absolutely tonguegasmic Toasted Mini Baguettes with Turkey, Swiss Cheese and Caramelized Onions recipe that I created using Sister Schubert’s new Mini Baguettes, and in November I shared the Turkey Salad Stuffed Soft Pretzel Rolls Recipe with y’all.

Today, along with the fabulous people at Sister Schubert’s, I’m thrilled to announce that two of y’all have the opportunity to WIN a Sister Schubert’s gift basket of deliciousness.

Included in this goodie basket

• a lovely bread basket and Sister Schubert’s linen napkin (pictured above) rolls not included
• a Lenox Stainless butter knife – gorgeous!
• That amazing Sister Schubert’s branded cutting board that you see in the photo below and featured in my sandwich recipe post
• TWO coupons for your choice of Sister Schubert’s Products (I’m partial to the mini baguettes and the dinner yeast rolls – drool)
• a Sister Schubert’s branded apron (I don’t know about y’all, but I can never have too many aprons, especially full length ones with pockets)
• and … and… AND – Sister Schubert’s Cookbook – Cast Your Bread Upon The Waters – Recipes for Success, Cooking & Living

Y’all – I drooled all over this cookbook, the pictures are GORGEOUS

and the recipes… oh. my. word. y’all! NOM NOM NOM

There are recipes for Sausage Rolls, that Pound Cake pictured up there, Mama’s SourDough Bread, White Chocolate Banana Roll Pudding and even one called The Best Appletini.  I could (and have) spend hours looking through this cookbook, reading the recipes, drooling over the photographs and reading Sister’s notes.

Scattered throughout the book are anecdotes, tips, hints, and even do’s and don’ts from Sister herself – I can easily see this cookbook being a wonderful wedding gift, birthday present, or a just because gift for any budding chef in your life.

I have never made any sort of homemade bread (and why would I need to when I can buy hers and they are SO SO SO good) however this book makes is inspiring me to put that on my MUST DO in 2012 list!

So here’s the deal – want to win this goodie basket of deliciousness (of course you do!)

• MANDATORY  first entry:  What is your family’s favorite meal to share and which of Sister Schubert’s breads do you think would best complement that meal?
• BONUS entry: Tweet this giveaway and share the twitter URL in the comments
• BONUS entry: What is your favorite part of getting the family together to share a meal?

Each entry must be left in a separate comment.  There are 3 possible entries per person.  This Contest will be open from December 30th to 11:59 PM December 31st, 2011.  The winner will have 24 hours to respond before another person will be chosen.

 

Congratulations to our 2 winners!

• Comment: Angela England says My favorite part of getting together for dinner is that we are all TOGETHER. I didn’t realize how much my kids had become used to us having meals together until Vivian was born and I spent some days in bed having meals in my room….My oldest son brought me a plate of food one evening and said “Mommy. When are you going to eat with US again? I miss you being in your seat.” *laughing* It really IS the little things sometimes.
• Comment: conniemelancon says my favorite part of spending the meal together just everyone being together at the same time!
  

I am one of eight bloggers selected by Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls to review their products.  I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as my writing about my experience.  I have also been provided products for review.  However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

I was trying to create a pretty slideshow for y’all filled with some of the highlights from the past two years worth of Handmade Holidays Posts.
There are SO many yummy treats!

Like these gorgeous Christmas Light Cookies from Bridget

and these Homemade Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows from Katie

and these delicious Sugar and Spice Candied Nuts by Karly

and these Homemade Peanut Butter Cups by Liz

Just to give y’all a few ideas of some delicious things that y’all can make and share for the holidays, however, I’m apparently not savvy enough to figure out the plug-in.  Sorry!

You can find more ideas on my Recipe Page under Desserts, though!  And trust me when I tell you, those ladies have more major deliciousness on their blogs, too!

What are your favorite treats to make and give?  I’d love the hear about them!

Thanks for linking up with Mouthwatering Mondays.  Y’all’s recipes are always delicious and inspiring!

Don’t forget to leave a comment saying Hi – your favorite recipe or just whatever pops into your head!

Visit at least 3 other participants, you won’t be sorry

And link back here in your post so that others can join in on the fun!

It only takes one.
One moment.
One word.
One gesture.
One action.
One second…

to change the world.

While we in the US talk this week about our abundance of riches and all that we have to be thankful for: family, food, friends, and vacation – there are many who have less than we can possibly even imagine.

There are those who live in conditions that are unfathomable to our senses and even beyond the scope of our vivid, often over-saturated imaginations.

I am a very proud and avid supporter of the amazing ONE.org . This is a powerful, wonderful, beautiful group of people, making a difference in the lives of the world’s poorest, improving futures in Africa, changing lives and proving that ONE really can change the world.

I wish I were better at giving thanks and giving back on a year round basis.
I wish it didn’t take a holiday to remind me of just how blessed I truly am.

One of my goals is to make my children more aware.

I think Thanksgiving is a perfect time to not only give thanks and give back, but to open my kids’ eyes to the world beyond our driveway.

An email that I received recently, reminded me of this.

In an effort to raise awareness ONE has two new PSA’s about the famine in the Horn of Africa and they’re sharing an adapted traditional Somali Sambusa recipe.  The dessert dish uses ingredients indigenous to Somalia – but are readily available in any local grocery store.

I urge y’all to check out One.org -  to add your voice, to donate, to read, to learn, to educate and to continue to prove that it only takes One.

Share the recipe: https://s3.amazonaws.com/one.org/images/Sambusa_Download.pdf – Share their passion, Share the love this season.

How will you give back, and how will you teach your children to give back?

FTC: This post is not sponsored in any way shape or form.

Good Morning, y’all!

If you’re looking for inspiration and more delicious Thanksgiving recipes, I have a whole round-up over here.

Including a Cranberry Relish from Christy, of Southern Plate and a to die for Sweet Potato Casserole from the queen of cuisine, Jessi, from the delicious To Kiss The Cook and to finish it off – an Apple Galette that had me dying to dive through the computer screen and transport myself to Maria’s kitchen.

I can’t wait to see what deliciousness y’all have in store for me today!  So, on with linky!!

Let’s talk Thanksgiving.
Food, Family, Laughter, Giving Thanks, Joy, Peace, Happiness, Love; did I mention Food?

Shall we begin our discussion with the main dish? Well, the traditional main dish, that is.

Time to talk frying, roasting, smoking, brining and more.

There are probably as many different ways to prepare the Turkey as there are food bloggers, and so many options for the sides to go with it.

If you’re a last minute shopper/planner like I am, then hopefully this will give you some inspiration

The Main Dish

If you want to brine the turkey, you need to start at least 24 hours before you plan on serving it. I am fully 100% on the side of brining.  It infuses the turkey with an amazing juiciness, richness of flavor and all around general awesomeness.

I cannot leave it unsaid, The Poblano and Citrus Roasted Turkey – is to date the best Turkey Nathan and I have ever eaten.  Ever. Let me repeat that – EVER.

• Soy Brined Turkey
• Poblano and Citrus Roasted Turkey

How about brining and then Frying?  I do so adore fried turkey.

• I love Heather’s Cajun Fried Turkey recipe – Have I mentioned that I am a HUGE fan of frying the turkey.
• Leite has another delicious and simple Fried Turkey recipe

Side Dishes

Do you go traditional?

• Jessi’s Crustless Sweet Potato Casserole is to die for
• Panko Crusted Green Bean Casserole
• Christy’s Cranberry Relish

Do you prefer side dishes that are a little bit more unusual?

• Cheesy Chipotle Corn and zucchini casserole
• Chilled Marinated Green Bean and Potato Salad
• Jalapeno Cornbread Pudding
• Aggie has the most wicked recipe for Roasted Chilie and Cheddar Corn Muffins

Bread

I’ve heard some of y’all don’t even have bread on your Thanksgiving menu!!  That’s just silliness, silliness I tell you!  What do y’all sop up the gravy with? Make on the spot – Turkey, Greens and Sweet Potato Sandwiches with?

P’Shaw – that’s what I say to that.

If  you aren’t one to make rolls from scratch (raises own hand) then let me share my little secret with you.  The one that without which, my Thanksgiving table would be woefully bare.  For in our family, it isn’t a Holiday table with these warm, butter, yeasty, bites of amazing deliciousness.  I’m of course speaking of Sister Schubert’s Dinner Yeast Rolls.  These things are like a hot, buttery bite of yeasty heaven.  Seriously.  Even if I were to attempt it, I could never make anything that amazing from scratch, so why try.  Oh, don’t get me wrong, those Parker House Style Rolls that she makes that come in that wonderfully handy little oven ready tin are mouthwateringly, melt on your tongue spectacular, too.  But in our family, we are Dinner Yeast Roll fanatics.

Leftovers

I love leftovers.  I believe in cooking double the turkeys that you  require just to enjoy the amazing deliciousness that you can achieve with leftover turkey.

• {Turkey} Enchiladas Verde
• Aimee’s amazing Turkey Panini
• Aimee’s insane Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

And if you want to really wowza your family with something new.  Make some wicked yummy Turkey Salad (think Chicken Salad – with Turkey) and hollow out the insanely, ridiculously, delicious new Soft Pretzel Rolls from Sister Schubert’s and fill them with your Turkey Salad. Trust me, nobody will be missing those traditional leftover Turkey Sandwiches with these babies around.

Turkey Salad Stuffed Pretzel Rolls

• leftover turkey – shred and rough chop some up
• 1/4 C mayo
• 1 Tbsp spicy mustard
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1/4 C Dried Cranberries
• 1/4 C walnuts
• Sister Schubert’s Pretzel Rolls

Easy Peasy – Mix the Turkey, Mayo, Mustard, Celery, Cranberries and Walnuts together – salt and pepper to taste – Cover and refrigerate for a few hours.

Cook the Soft Pretzel Rolls according to package (less than 10 minutes!!!)  Cut a hole into the top of each pretzel roll, pull out some of the soft, delicious, hot insides and stuff them in your mouth nicely share the yumminess with whomever is helping you in the kitchen.  Fill the pretzel rolls with Turkey salad, set out and watch them disappear.

Now, on to the whole reason some of y’all show up for Thanksgiving.

Delicious Desserts

photo from Maria

• Maria’s amazing Apple Toffee Galette
• Sour Cream Apple Pie
• 10 Delicious Pumpkin Treats

There are SO many ridiculously amazing Thanksgiving treats – from the Turkey to the Apple Tarts, the green bean casserole to the much lauded and always controversial stuffing.

What are YOUR favorites?  What MUST you have for Thanksgiving?

I am one of eight bloggers selected by Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls to review their products.  I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as my writing about my experience.  I have also been provided products for review.  However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.