A Tribute to Michele Wynn Gerhard ~ La Belle Cuisine

Years ago, I fell into a friendship that began on Southern With A Twist over some recipes I had posted and comments that were made on my blog...

"Wow! You know I love this, Lynn! When I read about your Mama making biscuits, I could picture my grandmother doing the same thing! Her biscuits were heavenly! When I would try to duplicate her efforts, I would always fall short! She'd smile and say, "Well, you're probably not holding your mouth right..." As with biscuits, so with pie crust and any other "short" dough... it takes a very light touch. Looking forward to much more from you, Lynn!" Going Back To Your Culinary Roots

And thus a friendship was formed. We found out that we had so much in common. It seemed that the more I wrote, the more we connected.

"Okay... as I was saying an hour or so ago... I LOVE your post! As you know, family culinary history is very dear to my heart! What you wrote reminds me of a long-ago 4th of July weekend spent with dear friends who helped organize a progressive party around a lake near McComb MS. It started out with Bloody Marys and went from there... Actually, there was some great food, but everyone remembered and talked about the Bloody Marys and the bottomless Daiquiri glasses served by a Delta pilot at his cabin. Apparently he was just sneaking up behind folks refilling their glasses. Best daiquiris I've ever had! And of course, a couple of the guys just HAD to have a swim across the lake. Mercy, mercy, mercy... Looking forward to your next post, Lynn!" Going Back To Your Culinary Roots

I loved the stories that we shared and the things we had in common... so much in history and food!

"Lynn, this really takes me back! I'm drooling all over myself! Actually the kind of meal you describe takes me back to Oklahoma when my grandparents had a place on Grand Lake. No crabbing there, but tons of fish! And my Grandmother Dolly had a fantastic vegetable garden. Mercy, mercy, mercy... As for the oysters and crabs, we spent some time in Colonial Beach VA, which is right at the mouth of the Potomac..... little oysters fresh out of the water, the sweetest I've ever had! I never did cook any crab in those days, but I sure did eat a lot!"  Soft Shell Crabs from Mitchum Creek

The more we connected, the more we felt connected!

"OK Lynn, I'm pretty sure your Grandmama Bradham and my grandmother were related! :)" Mama’s Date & Nut Bread

I think that her comment here is my favorite. I loved all her stories, but when she called me "Sistah!", I knew I was something special! 

"LOVE this, Sugah! Takes me straight back to long ago summers in Oklahoma with Grandmother Dolly and Granddaddy Mack! I still have vivid memories of watching her wring a chicken's neck, just the way you describe! And Granddaddy Mack cleaning squirrels and rabbits, and whatever else he might have brought home from the woods... We are soul sistahs fo' sho'! xoxoxoxo"

And a friendship bloomed, and we exchanged phone numbers. We had glorious talks on the phone! We rejoiced, complained, discussed, confided, cried, laughed and shared all manner of stories. I even sent her parts of my two books to review for me... In return, she sent me two cookbook, with a note attached...

"Read these! Look over them carefully! They are garbage! You are 100 times better than them!"

Michele was an awesome Mentor, Friend, Cook, Writer, Mother, Sistah and all around Woman! It was my PRIVILEGE to have known and loved her! I am a better person for having her in my life!

Oh how I'm gonna miss you my Sistah from another Mothah! I'll keep you in my heart Always and Forever! Until we meet again! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Please visit Michele's beloved website La Belle Cuisine and get a look at the wonderful, amazing woman that I had the privileged to get to know and love!

Foodies On a Farm Day Excursion and my Tuscan Soup!

Yesterday my foodie friend, Mary from All Things Food ~ Cooking with Mary and Friends and I went with four of her friends to two local farms, Old McCaskills Farm and Sunny Cedars Farm! What a fun time! We had lunch at Old McCaskills Farm... Marinated Grilled Pork Chops, Rosemary Rice, Green Beans, Rolls and Coconut Cream Pie! Awesome! We wandered around looking at all the animals. When we first got there, one of their calves had gotten out and was wandering about. I walked over and she came straight up to me and let me pet her :-)

Oops! Who let the calf out? :-)

Kathy McCaskill led her back into the pasture.

This little fellow needed his hoof cleaned out.

I have a feeling I'm being watched!

A bunny!

I'm thinking the canning room. :-)

The Store on the right and Kitchen on the left...

 Come on in... I didn't get pictures of the food.
Sorry, but I was hungry! I forgot! ;-)

Kathy McCaskill waiting on us in the store. 

I love the glass sign!

Cathy found some friends... baby lambs!!! 

 I love the feeder!

The Garden Shed...

 The back of the Garden Shed

My buddy :-)

 Itty Bitty Goat!

Cathy's new buddy! 

I purchased a Sheep Tape Measure and

Eco-Friendly Wool Dryer Balls! Awesome lunch also!

If you'd like to have lunch or just visit the farm,

go to Old McCaskills Farm!

Cathy and I get in the last few pictures,

while the rest of the girls discuss our next stop...

Sunny Cedars Farm!

We have arrived at Sunny Cedars Farm!

Mary, Russel and me!

He let the pigs out into

the pasture when we got there.

I could not get the videos to load,

so if you want to see them, please visit me on

Facebook at Southern With A Twist. They really are

a must see... "The Running of the Pigs!"

If I can find out why the blog is not loading,

I'll add them here as soon as possible!

  Big Girl! :-)

BP, the pig and her babies!

Piglets!

BP getting a drink of water! Awesome waterer Russell! 

Gathering eggs...

 Mary found a big one! 

Ten eggs in one roost...

Russell grinds his own feed here. 

Time for some shoppin' ladies! :-)

My Goodie Bag!

Sweet Italian Sausage, Bratwurst, Garlic Bratwurst,

Mild Pork Sausage and Country Style Ribs!

I held out the Italian Sausage from the freezer for this Tuscan Soup! Let me tell you that I noticed a difference immediately. The sausage didn't stick to the pan like the sausage I cooked for the Paella the other night! The hubby hollered, "What are you cooking? That smells amazing!" I told him and he said that it didn't smell like the Italian Sausage that I usually cook! He said, "If you need somebody to sample that... bring me a piece!" (He's in the recliner because his back it out.) The verdict? Sooooo good! It does make a difference the way a product is raised, fed, treated and processed! If you don't believe me, go see Russell at Sunny Cedars Farm and try some for yourself!!!

Tuscan Soup

6 cups chicken broth
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp minced garlic
4 links of Italian sausage
3 large potatoes, cubed
1 bunch fresh spinach, washed and chopped
1/4 cup evaporated milk
salt and pepper to taste

Remove skin from sausage and crumble into a 2qt sauce pan. Add chopped onion, and cook over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic and continue to brown the sausage a little. Add stock and potatoes. Boil until potato is cooked. Add spinach. Continue boiling until spinach is lightly cooked. Remove soup from heat, stir in evaporated milk, and season to taste.

What an awesome outing!!! I urge all you to seek out your local farms and try to do what we did. Ask to come out and take a look at the working farms and fresh local products. It is well worth it in the experience and the quality products you'll find. From the farm to the table... know where your food comes from and how it gets there! Thanks so much to Kathy McCaskill and Russell Singleton for letting us come out and visit! I'm already looking forward to another visit!