Thursday, September 16, 2010
Steak and potatoes! Y to the ummo!
Tonight we had a rarity in the Bramlett house, yummy USDA Prime choice Ribeye Steaks cooked to medium rare perfection. In so many households the steak handling is left up to the men, to some homes the steak tending is a sacred duty of "MAN". But in our home(not to brag) the perfect steak is made by WOman! My love of steak comes from my first trip to the greatest steakhouse in the world Ruth's Chris, the first time I had their pan fried butter drenched T-bone it became my life's mission to only serve steak perfection. This is why all of my steaks are served drowned in butter for the final 3 minutes of cooking. I get as anal about my steaks as I get about my fried chicken, testing the oil, timing every second and removing from the pan just before it is done to cook the rest of the way in it's own juice. I never use a fork to turn, only a plastic pair of tongs to preserve the integrity of the meat and I NEVER walk away from the steaks. Once the steak is in the skillet my family knows to STAY AWAY. In 10 years I am thrilled to say I have never overcooked a good steak! I love to cook , my kitchen is my little Oasis away from the world and the days we have steak of this quality my Oasis becomes my own private island complete with cocktails.
Tonight's dinner we had said steak with homemade garlic cheddar potatoes with bacon ,Southern biscuits and tender veggies cooked in broth with a few pats of butter.
Recipe:
Cheesy Garlic Potatoes w/ bacon
5 - 6 large potatoes - diced
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
1 slice of bacon cooked
1 tbs garlic powder
3 tbs butter
milk
1 14oz can Veggie broth
1 14 oz can chicken broth
salt
pepper
1. Add potatoes to large sauce pan and cover with both cans of broth. If needed add just enough water to cover the potatoes.
2. Cook bacon in skillet until it is crispy, let cool then crush into bits.
3. Once potatoes are falling apart tender drain then return to hot pan over hot (but off) burner so the cheese melts well.
4. Add cheese, butter, garlic then mash or mix well.
5. Once mashed add milk until potatoes reach desired consistency.
6. Fold in bacon then salt/pepper to taste.
Grandma's Easy southern biscuits
3 cups self-rising flour
½ cup shortening or lard
1 cup milk
melted butter
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Sift the flour into a medium bowl.
3. Add the shortening to the flour in bits and cut into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Form a well in the center of the flour and add the milk.
5. Stir the milk into the flour with a fork until mixed.
6. Turn out onto a floured surface.
7. Knead gently several times then roll to 1/2 an inch thickness.
8. Cut into 2 inch rounds with a biscuit cutter. Place on an ungreased baking sheet.
8. Lightly brush butter onto the top & bottom of each biscuit. (emphasis on lightly , sometimes it is easier to use clean finger tips)
10. Bake until golden brown, about 13 minutes. Serve hot.
Change is always good!
I have decided to make a few changes to this blog of ours after a new addition to the Cutest Blog on the block background selections. I just LOVE the new monkey backgrounds so I swiped and edited to make it my own. Once again cutest blog on the block is one of my favorite blog background sites! Our blog now has a new look, feel, pics and even a new siggy! I hope you love it as much as my family does!
Review: Snuggle Exhilarations Black Rasberry & Hydrangea
I just had to break out with a review of this heavenly scented fabric softner. Snuggle exhilarations Black raspberry and Hydrangea the newest scent in the snuggle fabric softener family. We all know that Snuggle on it's own is a wonderful softener for your clothes, my review is about this wonderful combination of scents. It reminds me of a cross between old books and that "smell" a grandmother's house had as a child. That all to familiar smell that offers us comfort and contentment. I attribute this wonderful old fashioned smell to the wonderful dreams I had last night as I drifted away with the scent passing through my nose and straight into my heart. I dreamed I was at my grandmother's house once more , I was going through her garage and in her garage was every childhood toy, every book, everything that I loved when I was little. I opened box after box recognizing first this scent that jumped out of each one. It was such a pleasant dream remembering my youth. 
In the bottle you do not know what to think, it smells sweet with a hint of floral but this "old fashioned" smell is what you end up with when you pull your fabrics out of the dryer and I am in love! I purchased this heavenly scent on clearance and I went back for more. I just hope it was on clearance due to a change of label because I cannot see myself ever buying another scent as long as I live. It is just perfect! Snuggle, thanks for the memories!
Vera Wang Shoe giveaway!
I love Vera Wang, she was the designer that inspired my 2 year stint in fashion school. In fact it was this very love of Vera Wang that inspired the wedding dress designs that sealed the deal with FIDM to let me through their doors many moons ago. That is why I am so excited to bring to you this amazing giveaway!
I have in my hands a brand new & HOT size 8 1/2 pair of Vera Wang T-strap pumps that are sure to add a little hop in your step this fall and I am giving them away to one of my blog followers. They are from Vera Wang's line of affordable fashions called Simply Vera and in my opinion are a must have for those sexy nights out on the town. Retail value: $69.99
Rules to Enter: (US ONLY)
ONE Entry:
1. Follow this blog (you don't have to be a "new" follower).
2. Post about this giveaway on your blog with a link using the Sugar , spice & Monkey Tales button in the right side bar.
3. Leave a comment with a link to your post.
Extra Entries:
4. Tweet about this giveaway. (comment with your Twitter link)
5. Share this post on your FB.
All extra entries will count only as One each. We have so few followers we want to keep things as fair as possible. Winner will be announced on September 30th!
Note: NOT a sponsored giveaway!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
My first Blog award!
I was so honored today when I received and email from Sarah @ Jamarah Crafty Creations letting me know that she was awarding me a "Lovely Blog Award".
Thank you so much for reading my blog, I really am touched!
Rules for accepting the award:
1. Accept the award. Post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2. Pay it forward to 15 other bloggers that you have newly discovered.
3. Contact those blog owners and let them know they've been chosen.
On that note here is a list of 15 amazing blogs that I look forward to reading daily! Enjoy getting to know them. :-)
1. Five In Training for Him
2. Life with My Giggly Girls
3. Mama to 3 Blessings
4. Our Front Porch Swing
5. Pioneer Beauty
6. Special connection homeschool
7. Special Needs Homeschool
8. The Accidental Homeschooler
9. The Supermom Blues
10. Training them up
11. Training 6 hearts for him
12. Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers
13. Apron Senorita
14. Homeschooling a Texas Tornado
15. Bonafide Mama
