Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Piddlin'

Don't you love taking the back roads when you go on a vacation? There are so many places you can see and visit if you get off the interstate and take the state roads through small towns. Recently as we drove back to Georgia from Florida, and we passed through Luverne, Alabama -the Friendliest City in the South. I had never heard of Luverne but after visiting a well known restaurant maybe I agree. They serve up some great fried chicken, barbeque and home cooking at Annie's. My favorite item on the menu are the hush puppies (Hush Puppies are fried bread made of cornmeal, onions and sometimes corn all mixed together. Great stuff). While we were in Destin we heard the latest trend is to provide cheese dip with Hush Puppies - smothered Hush Puppies. It sounds like a ton of calories, and heavenly!
There is also Brantley, Alabama, which happens to be the Front Porch City of the South. I guess I can agree though I think my neighborhood is the Front Porch Neighborhood of the South. Driving through Brantley there is no doubt, every house has a porch or is adding one.We tried to stop and shop in Florala (it is a town just north of the Florida border, thus the name Florala... a combination of Florida/Alabama). There is a good sized cold-hardy palm tree farm but sadly they are closed on Saturday. Go figure. Beach traffic is typically traveling through the area on weekends but they can't stop and shop for a palm tree. We also missed the chance to eat at the It Don't Matter Restaurant but I guess that shouldn't matter, should it? And we missed the World's Largest Peanut Boil and I love boiled peanuts.
Along the way we passed a great vegetable stand and purple-hulls (my favorite peas) from Florida had already made it to market. I bought a mess of them and shelled peas on the drive home. We also bought fresh tomatoes, corn and crook-necked squash. We had a great Sunday lunch. Don't you just love having fresh veggies straight from the farmers?

We live just 10 minutes from the Georgia Farmers Market and this weekend my grandgirls are coming for a visit. I thought it would be fun for us to go to market so they can do some shopping for some fresh foods for the weekend. We are going to be making biscuits to go with our great food. My neighbor shared this recipe with me and let me tell you these biscuits just melt in your mouth. They are a very easy AND DELICIOUS Paula Dean recipe.
  • 2 cups self-rising flour (must use self-rising or they won't turn out).
  • 2 sticks butter, melted
  • 1/2 pint sour cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine all ingredients and spoon into small, un-greased muffin tins. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Makes 1 dozen.

Our neighborhood motto is - Make Biscuits, Not War.

P.S. Thanks to everyone who responded to my post about thrifting for the less fortunate. I am noodling on a way to successfully do something positive via blog.

8 comments:

  1. Every true Southern girl should know how to make a good biscuit!!

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  2. Hi Jojo
    I'm so glad you're going to join in the porch party! I've added you to the list. I liked reading about your trip through the backroads. We miss so much these days travelling the major highways. I guess we are all in too much of a hurry!
    Hugs, Rhondi

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  3. YES!!!! I totally love taking back roads. My husband and I always avoid the interstates when we are traveling because we're afraid we will miss something.

    Gotta love Paula Deen too. Everything she makes calls for a stick of butter. So how was your beach trip? We bloggers need to go to the beach and rent a beach house and split the rental fee and groceries etc. Wouldn't that be so much fun?

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  4. Oh yummy sounding biscuits. I must pat myself on the back. My daughter's Texan grandparents say I make the beeeeeest biscuits! Hee, hee! Not bad for a Northerner, heh? I will definitely try these...So easy. I love Paula! Oh, I missed the post about thrifting for the needy. I will go and read now.
    Hugs,
    Cyndy

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  5. I am 100% serious. And if you are then I will post a blog about it. You know throw the idea out there and see how much interest we generate.

    The fall would be perfect. Rates would be a lot cheaper and the weather wouldn't be as hot. AND, we could have a girly photo shoot on the beach!

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  6. I will do a post tomorrow. Have a good night my beaach-wearing, flip flops-friend!!!

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  7. I do love those backroads too. Your trip sounds just like my favorite kind. And those hush puppies look amazing. Fresh veggies from the farmer's can't compare to anything else. And you know your body is being nourished all at the same time. I love front porches...you are lucky to live where they are popular. They just don't make homes here in Cali with them ...if you want one you gotta build your home yourself.

    Your 'somewhere in summer' places sound heavenly.

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  8. Paula Dean makes my thighs spread but makes my face SMILE! The biscuits sound delicious. I made biscuits this year but they did not have this much butter so I guess butter is the secret. I liked your post of your niece in the bathing hat and the hose. I remember I had a bathing cap hat had these colorful flowers on them and I thought I was the Cats Meow when I wore that cap:)
    Joyce

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