simple living for simpler times - Create, Renovate, Decorate
The Holidays call for something special in your glass for many seasonal cheers. Here is a recipe for a traditional favorite with a little twist.
1 ounce Vanilla Vodka
1 1/2 ounce Baileys Irish Cream
desired amount of Half and Half
Frozen Coffee ice cubes
Mix well and enjoy!
This recipe comes from one of our very creative friends, and all around good cooks!
Thank you Karen, and Happy Halloween!
Soften 1 stick of butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg yolk, save egg white for finger
1 tsp. grated orange peel
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. Baking powder
2 tablespoons Fresh orange juice
cream butter and sugar, add egg yolk and orange peel.
beat well, and add sifted dry ingredients, alternating with orange juice
Roll pieces of dough into fingers. Dip one side into small amount of granulated sugar, and place sugar side up on greased cookie sheet. Dip one slivered almond in egg white, and stick on finger like a nail. Bake in pre heated 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. Coll, and dip end of finger in red icing. Enjoy!
Black Bean soup is healthy and hearty..
Here is a recipe with a delicious little twist..
3 cups chicken broth
2 cans black beans (drained)
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 can green chilies
pinch of cumin
1 cup of cooked yellow rice
1 cubed avocado
juice of 1 lime
1 peeled chopped orange
1/2 Peeled chopped cucumber
1/4 cup feta cheese
in a large pot heat oil, and sautee onion
add broth, beans, chilies and rice.
Bring to a boil,. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes
mix avocado, lime juice, oranges, cucumber, and feta cheese in a bowl
serve soup, with tortillas chips, and top with avocado mixture
Arugula is a wonderful green, and can add flavor, and color to so many things. This is a favorite summer to fall salad, and we hope you enjoy!
1 can green b1 can wax beans
1 can light red kidney beans
1 tomato
1 bunch scallions
pinch of crushed garlic
tablespoon brown mustard
juice from one fresh lemon
splash of cider vinager
teaspoon olive oil
dill
celery seed
salt and pepper
grated sharp cheddar cheese
drain all three cans of beans and place in bowl.
Mix lemon, olive oil, vinegar, mustard, garlic, celery seed, salt, pepper, and dill.
stir in cut tomato, and scallions
pour mix over beans, and add arugula and shredded cheese.
toss and serve with crackers, pita chips etc…
Also great with a few pieces if kielbasa
Enjoy your fall weekends!
Andi Bartruff
Photo courtesy of Edible Charlotte
Southern Smarts loves a good drink and a good story. We don’t know if there is a better combination of the two than a Midnight Moon cocktail, and the tale of its owner Junior Johnson. Johnson is the father of NASCAR, and was recently inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina. Midnight Moon is a Johnson family recipe of perfected homemade moonshine, infused with your choice of seven different fruits.
For those of you who might have dabbled in NASCAR, and watched today’s stars race around a fancy track and enjoy all the glitz and glitter of today’s sports celebrities, it may intrigue you to know that NASCAR roots are in bootlegging. Junior Johnson and his family made moonshine to subsidize their farm, and a fast car outran a lawman every time. Junior began running liquor for the family at the age of 14, and tweaked his cars to keep him out of trouble. That didn’t always work, but it was the birth of racing and chasing.
We hope you click the link below for more details. If you choose, try one of their recipe suggestions. Do not sip before you explore the history. You can then enjoy a delicious cocktail, and the taste of this intriguing adventure.
http://www.juniorsmidnightmoon.com/
Southern Smarts knows it is time for fall activities .
Here is a recipe to warm up your autumn gatherings…
1 1/2. Lbs. chicken drumettes or wings
1 tablespoon crushed garlic
1 bunch chopped scallions
1/4 cup of soy sauce
1/4 cup of teriyaki sauce
2 cups molasses
srircaha , or hot chili sauce to taste
Coat wings, and marinate as long as possible
Baste and cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes turning occasionally. Turn oven to 425 and cook 10 more minutes. Also good for the grill.
This is a great reward for your leaf rakers, pumpkin carvers, and excited football fans!
Andi Bartruff
To waste fresh produce is a bit of a sin.. So when you have a mound of delicious end of summer peaches, you have to get creative.. I’m thinking ice cream…( and if you have strawberries, blueberries, or other fruit, do the same!)
5 fresh peaches
1 can peach nectar
1/4 cup water
1 cup of sugar
4oz. sour cream
1 pint heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
squeeze of fresh lemon
Peel and cook peaches in nectar and water for about ten minutes.
Drain and add sugar. Let cool.
In a food processor or blender, Blend sour cream, heavy cream, vanilla, and lemon with cooled peaches.
Pour mixture into cooled ice cream freezer container, and let your ice cream freezer do the rest!
Finally, pick your favorite people, and share this special treat!
Andi Bartruff.
Southern Smarts.
This is a delicious and healthy economic recipe for anytime of year! 
Baboli pizza crust
1 pkg. smoked Salmon
1 container chive and onion cream cheese
purple onion
cubed cucumber
capers
dijon mustard
dill
Cook Baboli Pizza Crust.. Spread Cream Cheese, and Dijon Mustard on warm crust. Sprinkle Dill. Spread Salmon, Capers, Onion, and Cucumber. Sprinkle with a little Lemon juice. Delicious warm, or cold.
If you are in the mood to really treat yourself, and I mean really treat yourself, this is the recipe for you. I would say you could share it, but more than likely you won’t want to…
Here’s another great easy dessert recipe. The prep is no time and no mess, but the result is a “big ole pie” that everyone will love!
First, get out your blender and dump in 1 cup of sugar, 4 eggs, 2 cups of milk, 1/2 cup of melted butter, 1/2 cup of plain all purpose flour, 1 running over teaspoon of vanilla, 1 cup flaked coconut, and a dash of salt. Blend well, then pour into 10 inch pie pan. Bake it a 300′ for 1 hour. The miracle of the pie is that it makes its own crust. The video below will walk you through all the steps and show you the wonderful results. You are sure to impress your friends, family, and even yourself with its taste and ease! Stephen
"I say getting old is a very cruel joke on people that are just trying to gain wisdom without the external side effects!" Stephen Spurling … [Read More...]
Decking the Halls can be fun, and even more gratifying if it looks fabulous and is economical! We dressed our doorway with a strand of artificial garland with lights. We wanted the garland to look natural, and priced natural pine garland at our local farmers market to add to our swag. Very … [Read More...]