Who Knew You Could Bake With Knob Creek!?!

I hope all the dads in your life had a wonderful Father's Day!  I think it is safe to say Hubby had a perfectly relaxing day.  Sleeping in, time at the pool and grilled fish for dinner.  On top of all that I baked Hubby a dessert that I thought would speak to him - Whiskey Pie with Tipsy Berries.  I found the recipe in Southern Living's June issue this past Saturday when I finally had a free moment.  

The only tweak I made was to the Tipsy Berries.  I only used blueberries and strawberries since they are Hubby's favorite.  I simply increased the amount that I used and it turned out just fine is you ask me.  While baking is a science sauces can be played with to meet your needs. (Hubby's note- Any recipe that can take something healthy like fruit and corrupt it with bourbon is OK in my book. This pie was very good and an excellent Father's Day surprise.)  Do you ever ignore the recipe too?

You can also find me at Savvy Southern Style and No Minimalist Here

TGIF!

How sweet was April of A. Liz Adventures to kindly host a link party!?!  It was as if she knew I was totally stressed this week and need a simple post.  One of the many reasons why I love the blog world -someone is always there to help-out even if they have no idea they are!!!

{1} Big Hats and Big Sunglasses

I came to terms with the fact that I would never tan years and years ago!  But last year I decided that I needed to use more than just sunscreen to protect my skin.  Big hat and big sunglasses will be my go to this summer at the pool and the Cape!!!

{2} English Muffins, Turkeyburgers and Old Bay

Turkey burgers on toasted english muffins is just the best dinner for summer if you ask me.  And to make it even better, Hubby sprinkled Old Bay on our burgers.  Awesome!

{3} Pen and Paper

I know that this makes me old fashioned but I still use a paper planner and I would never have it any other way.  If I take pencil to paper and write-out our week I remember more.  Maybe it is crazy "mom-brain"!  No matter what it works and I am going to order my next planner this week.

{4} Magazine Reads

I just adore Southern Living and Cooking Light but I have no any free time to really read them let alone figure out what new recipes I wanted to try.  I cannot tell you how happy I am that things have slowed down.  Now I might be able to read and try a new recipe or two!

{5} Give-A-Way

My first ever blogger give-a-way was so near and dear to my heart.  Last week I had a give-a-way for my friend and author, Mary Litton.  Beth S is the winner but I have not been able to get in touch with her due to Google+.  I really hope she sees! Anyone have any suggestions for getting in touch with a "non-reply?"

I hope y'all have a great Friday and a perfect weekend!!!

The Great Mayo Debate

I have been a believer in mayonnaise for as long as I can remember. And by mayonnaise I mean Hellmann's. That was the only mayo I knew growing up. It was not until my sweet MIL gifted me with a subscription to Southern Living my first Christmas living south of the Mason Dixon line that I even knew there was "another" mayo.  It was the SL's Test Kitchen notes that clued me into this other mayonnaise brand, Duke's.  It seems to me that the South is just head over heals in love with Duke's.  For them there will be no other mayo!

I have seen Duke's next to Hellmann's at the store but old habits die hard so I just kept on buying the Hellmann's.  It was not until last week when I "pinned" a recipe for Come Back Sauce  that I saw that there was a great mayo debate.  People are really fired up on the interwebs over which mayo is the best!

I love a good debate so I felt I needed to try Duke's so I could join the discussion. This week I made my favorite sandwich with mayo: toasted whole wheat, turkey and lettuce.  (Yes I know a tomato would have been nice but we all know winter tomatoes are just not right!)  I spread Duke's on both slices of toast like I normally do and then took a bite.....

I have to be honest I could not tell that much of a difference. Although it does have more spices than Hellmann's does I did not feel like the the spices took away from or added to Duke's. That being said, Duke's was definitely "real" mayo not like that super gross Miracle Whip stuff. And in all fairness I think that I would have to make my pimento cheese with Hellman's and Duke's side by side and see if there was a clear winner.

I am looking forward to switching out my Hellman's for Duke's and seeing if I notice a difference over time. Once I have a firm feeling one way or the other I will be ready to join the great mayo debate!

When Life Gives You Lemons

Things did not go as planned last night.  Hubby got caught up at work and by the time he got home it was too late to make the long drive up to the Homeland, aka New Jersey.  So after the kids were fed and put to bed I did what any woman would do... I started to put together my new bar cart!

I have wanted a bar cart for a while now but I had no desire to pay unreal amounts for one!  So I looked on Ebay and Craigslist like it was my job.  But in the end, Ballard Designs was the winner.  A site-wide sale plus a coupon from Southern Living magazine made this one of my best buys of 2012!

We have two big parties coming up in December so I think this little cart will get a lot of good use!