Family Fun Night

Editing note: For some reason, this post didn’t go out, so I’m resending.   Dinner was last night. 

Whew!  What a great time!  When someone calls and says please make a gumbo for us, it’s hard to resist.  When two sisters gang together, it’s impossible (not that I really wanted to say no to them).  Guess what?

photo from Google images 

A few of my sisters came by for gumbo with rice, sweet potatoes, and cornbread.  Yes we like our starches.  Actually, we like just about anything, but the more fattening it happens to be, the more we tend to like it. 

That means we had both pecan cake and bread pudding for dessert.  Oh, and one sister brought along real butter from the Amish store to slather on the sweet potatoes.  Can you say rich?  I can definitely attest to the fact that there is absolutely no more space in my system.  I am full , stuffed,  and moaning.  I should say we enjoyed the company as much as the food.

straight from the farm

Since I’ve shared my recipe for Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, I’ll share how we bake sweet potatoes.  It’s easy.  First choose your sweet potatoes.  They should, of course, be fresh and firm. Wash the potatoes in cool water and remove any small roots that may still be attached and cut off the tips on each end.   Set the potatoes on paper toweling to dry.  I like to pat the potatoes dry; then cover the outside with margarine or oil.  I simply use my hands to spread the margarine and try not to put too much on each one.  This helps to release the skin when the potatoes are completely done.

right to the table

Bake at 350 degrees for two hours.  I test the potatoes by sticking a fork into the largest ones.  The center should be soft and squishy.  The skin should be easy to remove.  I enjoy the potatoes without any condiments, but Rich always adds butter, sugar and cinnamon to his.   Any potatoes that are left over can be wrapped in foil or placed in freezer bags and frozen, so I always bake a large pan and freeze the extras individually.  They are easy to warm in the microwave.  And are just as good.  

Happy Thanksgiving,

Mary

Okra and Embroidery?

Yesterday was an interesting day, which you may have gotten based on the title of this post.  First I did my three hours at summer school, which put me getting home just in time for a quick lunch then wiping down some okra to cut and cook.  

I've put the okra in the freezer before, but we always end up tossing out some that gets old.  Now most people will figure that means that we tend to put up too much.  Not this chickie--I just think there has to be a better way.  So if I don't put it in the freezer what are the other options?  Canning in jars, of course.  

Mom canned some okra that way a couple of times, and I canned okra in jars one summer but that didn't work so well.  I just figured the problem was MY problem.  That said, I didn't look up any info, read any recipes, or even call for advice.   Surely I'd figure it out. 

Perhaps I did.  Just look at these pretty pints.  Twelve in all.  Ready for a mix of family and  gumbo.

The other interesting thing is that I got supper cooked, played in the studio and worked a bit on the Victorian bolster.  I mean, when does it happen that we get to everything on the list?  

The bolster is the topic, though. I dropped in some ribbon stitches, added a red embroidered ship's wheel, and stitched down some pretty grey flowers.  How's that for advancement?

Here's the plan: add in anything that I can get my hands on by finding a place for it as I make the discovery.  It's that simple.  I found the ship wheel, or helm, while looking for some ribbon trim.  This is a way of using up some of the stuff I've stashed over the years.  

This is a crazy quilt, not an organized quilt.

Gumbo Cookoff and Family Fun

Sid's Seafood Gumbo

Last night was our family gumbo cookoff that I mentioned in my last post.  It would be almost impossible to choose a winner, which of course we never do.  We've agreed to call these get-togethers "cook-offs" just to add a friendly competition to the cooking part.  

Lee's Gog Gumbo

Here in Louisiana we rarely get more than two people together and NOT have a meal.  It's just part of our culture.  And while it may be a mostly unhealthy part, we choose to hang on to that tradition.  After all, families have to eat, and getting together is way more fun when there's traditional (fattening) foods involved.

Angie's Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

In the end, I have pictures but no clear winner.  We laughed about the first empty pot being declared the winner, but that would discourage making plenty, and when 30+ folks gather, there needs to be plenty of food!  Almost everyone chose to take a bit from each pot and mix it in the same bowl.  That's a way to bow out of the voting and not declare a favorite.

Lee's Pralines

I must admit that they were all delicious, but you know me and sweets, right?  The very best dish was the pile of pralines that Lee brought over.  Sweet, gooey goodness with pecans--it doesn't get much better!


Here's wishing you a Happy New Year of health and happiness.
Happy Quilting,
Mary

Christmas, puppies, and Grandpa

Here's hoping that you and your family had a wonderful Christmas.  At the Marcotte home, this Christmas was one of the best.  Although two of the grandchildren had a virus the week before, they were recovered enough to visit and spend the night.  All others are well and accounted for, and we counted our many, many blessings as we attended mass then sat down for Christmas dinner with our children and grandchildren beside us.  

Candy and her two pups

In case there wasn't enough chaos and merriment in our household on Christmas Eve, our Maltese, Candy, decided it would be a good time to birth her puppies.  She did very well for a first timer with a house full of guests and has proven herself an excellent little momma!

Five days old

Today the puppies are five days old and already we can see how much they've grown.  They whimper loudly for such tiny babies, move around and on top of each other and, apparently, are getting lots of milk because they sure are some round little babies.  Pink noses, ears, feet and tummies, they do resemble lab rats but with much cuter faces. Cotton and Candy are awfully proud, but then they did  manage to produce a cute little pair of pups! 


In the meantime, I managed to work up a terrific migraine and spent three days doing my own whimpering.  A Frova tablet combined with lots of sleep (well, sort of sleep) and it finally broke last night, so today I was able to visit my dad for his 82nd birthday!  Now there's a proud poppa!  

All of my sisters and many of our children and grandchildren were there to celebrate, so we had a grand time.  It was wonderful to visit with my sisters, and though they begin leaving tomorrow, there are a few more days of visiting before we all return to work, family and commitments.  


In fact, we're have a "gumbo cook-off" here on Friday.  I likely won't be blogging on Friday night as a result, but I'll give the results of the gumbo tasting and try to get a few pictures as well.  Keep in mind, however, that there will easily be 25 people in and around my house on Friday, so who knows what I may be able to pull off!


In the meantime, feel free to vote for my blog on Picket Fence--just click the button on the upper right.  


Have a Happy New Year!
Happy Quilting,
Mary