I think biscuits are the Southern equivalent of rice in Hawaii. They really go with anything. Plain with butter, hot with fruit preserves, underneath a swath of sausage gravy and my personal favorite - with fried buttermilk chicken.
I decided to cook a few things off the soon to be menu for Kiss My Grits today in preparation for a little photo shoot tomorrow. I ended up making cole slaw, cold oven pound cake, biscuits, sausage gravy, banana pudding, pimento cheese and bbq, of course. Long story short, I spent the entire day cooking.
How do you like your biscuits? Thin and crispy? Fluffy and flaky? There's really no bad way to eat them.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
BBQ overload
So, it's pretty likely that I'm going to gain 100 pounds taste testing the new recipes for the Kiss My Grits venture. But I guess it's the price I've got to pay to bring the good stuff to the masses. My good friend Joyce asked me tonight, "Why do you call it bbq? Isn't it called pulled pork?"
I reminded her that in the South, bbq is a noun, not a verb. I never even heard the term "pulled pork" until I came to Hawaii. And just to be clear, Carolina bbq is chopped, not pulled. What has recently rocked my world is that I decided to try a couple of different types of sauce. Let me back up for those of you not from the South.
There are many types of bbq. Hell, in North Carolina, there are at least 3 different sauces alone. I've always been partial to Eastern North Carolina style, well, because that's where I'm from. It's a vinegar based sauce with red pepper flakes and hot sauce. But there's Western NC style, which is more like Memphis style (ketchup, brown sugar, etc). Then there's South Carolina style, which is mustard and vinegar, with sugar and spices.
Since we're not in NC, we decided that we needed to give people an option of sauces for their bbq enjoyment. To that end, I experimented with the various sauces and commenced the taste testing. I was certain that my loyalties would lie with the Eastern style I grew up on.
That's where the world rocking ensued. Not being a big fan of mustard, I almost didn't even bother trying the SC style...well, that goes to show you that you truly never know. Of the three taste testers last night, all three of us had a different favorite and mine was the spicy mustard based SC style bbq. Wow!
I had it for dinner last night, breakfast this morning and at lunch today. Next to the buttermilk cole slaw, it was nearly heaven. I ate so much that I'm skipping dinner.
I reminded her that in the South, bbq is a noun, not a verb. I never even heard the term "pulled pork" until I came to Hawaii. And just to be clear, Carolina bbq is chopped, not pulled. What has recently rocked my world is that I decided to try a couple of different types of sauce. Let me back up for those of you not from the South.
There are many types of bbq. Hell, in North Carolina, there are at least 3 different sauces alone. I've always been partial to Eastern North Carolina style, well, because that's where I'm from. It's a vinegar based sauce with red pepper flakes and hot sauce. But there's Western NC style, which is more like Memphis style (ketchup, brown sugar, etc). Then there's South Carolina style, which is mustard and vinegar, with sugar and spices.
Since we're not in NC, we decided that we needed to give people an option of sauces for their bbq enjoyment. To that end, I experimented with the various sauces and commenced the taste testing. I was certain that my loyalties would lie with the Eastern style I grew up on.
That's where the world rocking ensued. Not being a big fan of mustard, I almost didn't even bother trying the SC style...well, that goes to show you that you truly never know. Of the three taste testers last night, all three of us had a different favorite and mine was the spicy mustard based SC style bbq. Wow!
I had it for dinner last night, breakfast this morning and at lunch today. Next to the buttermilk cole slaw, it was nearly heaven. I ate so much that I'm skipping dinner.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Kiss My Grits the reality
So, Kiss My Grits isn't just a blog...it's a dream I've had for a long time but was just too chicken to do anything about it. Well...that is all about to change. For those of you who know me, which is pretty much anyone who's reading this, as I don't have any followers who aren't friends, you may know that I love to cook. Here's a true confession - the only books I read are cookbooks. I'm not a chef and would never pretend to be such. I am a cook. I love to make evil, crazy, kicked up comfort food - all with ties to the South of course. I've wanted to open my own place for just about forever. Recently, my good friend Camille, left the entertainment industry to run her own lunch wagon. I was jealous for a few minutes, then in awe, then just absolutely her biggest fan ever. How brave to just walk away from the thing that has provided her a very comfortable life for so long and do something that feeds her passion.
I asked to volunteer at an event where she was serving. I was sweaty and achy and really tired at the end of the night, but you know what? I was thrilled. I was happy. I haven't felt that good in I don't know how long. That was my ah-ha moment, as the big O would say.
What the "h" am I doing this for? Staying in a job that makes me miserable? What for? All the glamor and glory? All the infinite money? Ha! I'm killing myself for no joy.
That's it. I'm making Kiss My Grits a reality. Stay tuned friends. In the next few weeks, the Kiss My Grits mobile unit will deploy. Biscuits and bbq (a noun not a verb), deviled eggs and all things deliciously Southern are coming your way in the most authentic way that Hawaii has yet to see...
I asked to volunteer at an event where she was serving. I was sweaty and achy and really tired at the end of the night, but you know what? I was thrilled. I was happy. I haven't felt that good in I don't know how long. That was my ah-ha moment, as the big O would say.
What the "h" am I doing this for? Staying in a job that makes me miserable? What for? All the glamor and glory? All the infinite money? Ha! I'm killing myself for no joy.
That's it. I'm making Kiss My Grits a reality. Stay tuned friends. In the next few weeks, the Kiss My Grits mobile unit will deploy. Biscuits and bbq (a noun not a verb), deviled eggs and all things deliciously Southern are coming your way in the most authentic way that Hawaii has yet to see...
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Oy what a week
Used to be that I could handle nuclear levels of stress, at least outwardly. Stress has caused all kinds of crazy internal health problems for me over the last several years, but now, it's starting to affect me on a whole new level.
I likened the way I feel to a friend today to the nuclear meltdown happening in Japan. I can feel it coming. It's not only emotional, it's physical. My joints are aching and I feel anxious and uneasy. For all those people pushing your physical limits with stress, it's only a matter of time until you will start to feel the effects in other ways.
It's just not worth it. It never really was but I somehow convinced myself it was so. It's not. Not for a second. I can't figure out why I let people who have proven they have absolutely no sense make me feel inadequate. I'm pissed at myself for letting ignorant and ungrateful people make me feel insecure.
Don't do it! Life's too short to let stupid people make you feel bad about yourself. I am sure that'll be quoted for generations to come.
I likened the way I feel to a friend today to the nuclear meltdown happening in Japan. I can feel it coming. It's not only emotional, it's physical. My joints are aching and I feel anxious and uneasy. For all those people pushing your physical limits with stress, it's only a matter of time until you will start to feel the effects in other ways.
It's just not worth it. It never really was but I somehow convinced myself it was so. It's not. Not for a second. I can't figure out why I let people who have proven they have absolutely no sense make me feel inadequate. I'm pissed at myself for letting ignorant and ungrateful people make me feel insecure.
Don't do it! Life's too short to let stupid people make you feel bad about yourself. I am sure that'll be quoted for generations to come.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
It's been a long time...
So, it's been way too long since my last post, but work has kept me completely sidelined from any personal pursuits. I finished the diet at around day 34 of what was supposed to be 40 days. There comes a point when you get really hungry and you stop losing anything and that means your body is done.
I lost 22 pounds in 34 days - not too shabby. Now comes the hard part - keeping steady for three weeks. That's going to be particularly hard because I'm traveling. I flew with my good friend Shirley who's moving back to the mainland because she needed an extra person to get her second dog to San Diego. We had a fantastic and relaxing visit with Jamie and John Harnett in Carlsbad.
Now, the true test, going home to visit the family with all things heavenly like fried fish, barbeque, cole slaw, cornbread, potato salad...yum. But, I feel pretty good, so I think I'll be ok. I have several friends who've seen me in the past week and walked right past me. That's pretty funny.
I hope that if you've ever had a hard time losing weight, you might consider looking into the HCG diet with Gabrielle's Miracle Hawaii program. It's not easy, but it works. I feel so much better about myself and feel better in general healthwise. I'm probably going to keep blogging about other issues in my life, but will keep you posted. Oh crap, I just remembered grits.
I lost 22 pounds in 34 days - not too shabby. Now comes the hard part - keeping steady for three weeks. That's going to be particularly hard because I'm traveling. I flew with my good friend Shirley who's moving back to the mainland because she needed an extra person to get her second dog to San Diego. We had a fantastic and relaxing visit with Jamie and John Harnett in Carlsbad.
Now, the true test, going home to visit the family with all things heavenly like fried fish, barbeque, cole slaw, cornbread, potato salad...yum. But, I feel pretty good, so I think I'll be ok. I have several friends who've seen me in the past week and walked right past me. That's pretty funny.
I hope that if you've ever had a hard time losing weight, you might consider looking into the HCG diet with Gabrielle's Miracle Hawaii program. It's not easy, but it works. I feel so much better about myself and feel better in general healthwise. I'm probably going to keep blogging about other issues in my life, but will keep you posted. Oh crap, I just remembered grits.
Friday, August 20, 2010
FINALLY!
So, after 5 days of no weight loss, I finally dropped 2 pounds today! It's really amazing how this tiny little thing can make such a different in my outlook for the day. For the last five days, I've begun my day by kicking the scale across the floor of my bathroom, the hateful piece of equipment that clearly has no soul.
Today, it was like, "Yeah! Nothing else matters!" All is good in my world.
I found my zen place today. It's not really a place, but a state of mind. Yesterday, I allowed myself to slip into a state of despair. I am not the type to get depressed. I just don't have time. But every once in a while, I allow the crushing weight of responsibility and, more often than not, debt, get to me.
Today, driving down the Likelike Highway, listening to the new Dave Matthews CD, I felt at peace. Sometimes you just have to pause, and breathe, and realize that nothing really matters except breathing in...and out...and in again.
Tomorrow is another day. Be happy.
Today, it was like, "Yeah! Nothing else matters!" All is good in my world.
I found my zen place today. It's not really a place, but a state of mind. Yesterday, I allowed myself to slip into a state of despair. I am not the type to get depressed. I just don't have time. But every once in a while, I allow the crushing weight of responsibility and, more often than not, debt, get to me.
Today, driving down the Likelike Highway, listening to the new Dave Matthews CD, I felt at peace. Sometimes you just have to pause, and breathe, and realize that nothing really matters except breathing in...and out...and in again.
Tomorrow is another day. Be happy.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Haven't lost an ounce in 3 days...
Poop! And I'm still starving! I have discovered one thing since I started blogging and that's that I'm not very creative at night. Maybe it's just that I generally feel like someone's bludgeoned me by 8pm and just can't muster up much spirit.
This is likely to be one of the busiest of the year for Jackson INK. As my associate Ryan said today, "It's like the perfect storm." Nearly every one of our clients have a big event this weekend, so we're running around promoting like crazy people and I'm just hoping I can remember where I'm supposed to be and don't miss something.
So, if you have nothing else to do this weekend, check out Willie K at the Hawaii Theatre on Friday night or Keola Beamer and Raiatea at Paliku that same night. Or maybe you'd like to meet Iron Chef Morimoto at the Made in Hawaii Festival on Saturday or catch the first performance of the season by Ballet Hawaii at UH that night. Or perhaps if you missed Morimoto on Saturday, swing by Kahala Mall on Sunday to get his cookbook signed...ok so much for shameless promotion via my personal blog.
This is likely to be one of the busiest of the year for Jackson INK. As my associate Ryan said today, "It's like the perfect storm." Nearly every one of our clients have a big event this weekend, so we're running around promoting like crazy people and I'm just hoping I can remember where I'm supposed to be and don't miss something.
So, if you have nothing else to do this weekend, check out Willie K at the Hawaii Theatre on Friday night or Keola Beamer and Raiatea at Paliku that same night. Or maybe you'd like to meet Iron Chef Morimoto at the Made in Hawaii Festival on Saturday or catch the first performance of the season by Ballet Hawaii at UH that night. Or perhaps if you missed Morimoto on Saturday, swing by Kahala Mall on Sunday to get his cookbook signed...ok so much for shameless promotion via my personal blog.
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