Miller's Cafe, Cream Coffee

Until I moved to Tennessee, the only thing I knew about fried green tomatoes was that they made for a darn good movie...

and an even better book. Then I went to this place...

Miller's Grocery in Christiana, Tennessee. And I had these...

actual fried green tomatoes. Eating one is, to use a Southern colloquialism, a religious experience. They are crispy outside, soft inside, salty, sour, and piping hot. They are everything that is best about Southern fried food - they are unique and comforting at the same time. They are only available when green tomatoes are in season. Like today, for instance, when I met some friends for lunch at Miller's.

Everyone was excited to eat at Miller's because they all love it - and they know I love it. They were surprised when I - who have lost so much weight and try to eat so healthy - ordered the fried green tomato appetizer. You should have seen them when I ordered the Country Fried Steak with sawmill gravy, mashed potatoes, and fried okra. I told them I will bike the whole Greenway to work that off and it will be worth it. I wish so much that I had the presence of mind and self control to take a picture when my entree came out. Unfortunately, I was deeply involved in a conversation about Michael Cunningham and began inhaling my okra before I remembered to reach for my camera. I guess that means I have to go back for more pictures. Darn.

I did get a picture of my dessert. That is a mud bar. It is amazing. Brownie on the bottom topped with nut and marshmallow filled fudge frosting. Every year Miller's is voted best place to get dessert by the readers of Tennessee magazine. Can you see why?

After my amazing lunch, I came home to do a little cooking...

(two pans of bread and one pan of green beans not pictured) for the homeless shelter. My Sunday school class was providing Friday night dinner, and I offered to do the cooking while they helped with the funds. After all of that heavy food, I needed something light and creamy. So I used drinksmixer.com, and found this.

Cream Coffee from drinksmixer.com
Equal parts
coffee brandy
rum
milk
strong coffee


A good day over all. To end it...

"Goodbye" by Hootie and the Blowfish- the Friday song randomly chosen for you by my Zen DJ.

I hope you have a lovely Saturday. If you happen to be at the Murfreesboro Farmer's Market on the Square or the U2 concert and Vandy - we just may run into each other.

Fini-Dini Chicken - 3 Points, Music Friday on Saturday

"Is it okay to eat tuna on Ash Wednesday?"

I don't purposefully try to get traffic from Google, but it is fun to see exactly what people Googled in order to find my blog. Would you believe that 10 people found me by Googling the above question? True.

Most of the hits I get through Google come from people searching for "fini dini" or "fini dini sauce". The fact that my little blog is getting so many hits for my post on fini dini pork  tells me that there are not a lot of people cooking fini dini. That challenges me to share another version - this time with chicken - because I think that most cooks would be thrilled with this easy, unique sauce.

Fini Dini Chicken
8 chicken thighs
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced

1. Combine vinegar, soy sauce, onion, and garlic to create a marinade. Place the marinade in a gallon size Ziploc bag. Add chicken thighs to bag. Place in the fridge to marinate for at least eight hours.
2. Removed chicken thighs from the bag. Place in an oven safe dish. Cook at 375 for 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, place the marinade in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until chicken is ready to be removed from the oven. Serve chicken topped with sauce.
4. Yields 8, 3 point servings

I served my fini dini chicken with roasted Brussels sprouts and veggie rotini. The fini dini sauce on the pasta was a new dish for us; we usually have rice with fini dini. The rotini turned out to be the perfect shape to catch the sauce and the subtle veggie flavor of the pasta was an excellent compliment to the strong flavors of the fini dini.

It is not Friday, but I did forget to add my song for Music Friday last night. I am back to random for you tonight. I don't generally think of fini dini as romantic, but my DJ has chosen a very romantic song for you. Here is "You're the One" by The Carpenters.

Creamy Cabbage Soup - 1 Point

Yes, this soup is one point. I know, I know, you are thinking, "That must mean it tastes bland and boring." Not so, not so? First of all - cabbage and onions are always a good combo. Add in some broth, some sausage, and black pepper - ah, perfection. One point of oh-so-good!

Creamy Cabbage Soup - 1 point

1 small head of cabbage, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

6 oz low fat chicken sausage, sliced

4 cups fat free chicken broth

3/4 cup sugar free almond milk (fat free milk could be substituted)

1 tsp ground black pepper

1. Combine cabbage, onion, sausage, and broth in a large pot. Simmer until vegetables are tender.

2. Stir milk and pepper into soup. Heat until bubbly.

3. Yields 8, 1 point servings

I have missed a few Fridays of music Friday, but I do have a song for you tonight. This one is not chosen randomly by my MP3 player as per usual. Last night at Maundy Thursday services and this morning at Good Friday service, there were beautiful performances of the African American spiritual "Were you There?" Listening to the sounds of this sad song with its African harmonies took me back to childhood; I grew up listening to "Where you There" on an old Mahalia Jackson LP. Now, if you do not know the voice of Mahalia Jackson, you are missing out on one of the most beautiful and powerful voices of all time. The emotion she can convey in a single note is unprecedented. Whatever your spiritual beliefs, I don't think you can resist being touched when you hear her sing.

Since I have missed a few Fridays, I hope you will indulge me with one more song from Mahalia Jackson. This is my favorite of her songs, another African American spiritual entitled "Sweet Little Jesus Boy". Now, there is one person in the world who I think outdoes her on this song, but since my dad's ethereal tenor cannot be found on You Tube, here is Mahalia's stirring rendition.

Garlic Mushrooms in Creamy Sauce - 2 points, Belated Music Friday

I found mushrooms on sale and felt that a creamy, peppery sauce was called for.

Garlic Mushrooms in Creamy Sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb mushrooms, stemmed and quartered
salt to taste
black pepper to taste
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp white pepper
1/8 cup white wine
1/4 cup low fat sour cream

1. Heat a medium pan over medium heat; spray with non-stick cooking spray or kitchen spritzer.
2. Saute garlic in pan for 1 min. Add mushrooms, continue cooking for 5 minutes.
3. Add spices and wine. Reduce heat to simmer; cook 5 minutes or until mushrooms are done.
4. Stir in sour cream; rewarm.
5. Yields 4, 2 point servings

I served this over rice. The delicious, cheesy bread on the side was a store bought treat.

I finished the book A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby Payne. It was an excellent book exploring the cultural differences between those in poverty, the middle class, and the wealthy. While I think it would be useful to anyone, it is especially outstanding for teachers. I feel that I understand my students much better than I did before.

I didn't get my Friday Music for you last night because I was out late at one of those girly parties where one eats snacks and buys things. So, even though it is Saturday, here is the song my Zen DJ has chosen for your Friday Music. We haven't had any English music for a few weeks, so the DJ must have decided to get back to Britain. This is one of my favorites (obviously, or it wouldn't be on my Zen) "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay.

Amish Cinnamon Bread - 5 points, Date Night, Pink Saturday, Music Friday

Last weekend, a need arose for me to use some of my sourdough starter or risk my kitchen being overrun by yeasty liquid. I found this recipe through Allrecipes.com. It is full of nuts and fruit and cinnamon and pudding - four things which I believe make a very good cake. I was not disappointed with the dense, dark cake that emerged from my oven. In order to keep myself from eating it all, I sent some to school with Simon and took some to work. Everyone who tasted it gave it high praise - even the toddlers.

Amish Cinnamon Bread
1 cup Amish friendship starter
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
8 egg whites
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1 (3 oz) pkt instant vanilla pudding
2 cups flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup peeled, cored, apples chopped
1 cup raisins

1. Mix starter with oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
2. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the flour mixture to the starter and mix by hand. Add the pecans, raisins, and apples. Mix well.
3. Pour into a bunt pan or two bread pans (greased if not stone wear).
4. Bake for 1 hr at 325.
5. Yields 32, 5 point servings

You can see that my cake ripped a bit when coming out of the pan. I am still working on getting my stone wear bunt pan completely seasoned. It is important to cook lots of greasy food in your stone wear, or to oil it frequently. 

Simon has been hearing a lot about dating since Stone and I became involved. Tonight, he felt that he needed to go on a date with Aunt Angela. He wore his church shoes, put on cologne, and sang a song called, "We're Going on a Date" (the lyrics, like many popular songs, are simply a repetition of the title). He took me to The Bangkok and didn't seem to mind that a couple of friends joined us at the table.

I thought the soup was quite nice, and even chewed up some salad on the non-crowned side of my mouth. Simon wanted nothing to do with either dish.

He did enjoy the tempura shrimp and vegetables. He even ate a shrimp tail before I realized what was in his mouth. (Dear sister Alanna, I am joking, of course. I would never allow him to eat a shrimp tail. How silly. PS As an unrelated aside, I volunteer to change all of his diapers for the next couple of days).

Next, I wish everyone a happy Pink Saturday.  I've already found a post I love for this Pink Saturday - check out this adorable Barney cake! My pink item for this week comes from a scrapbook I created when I was eight. My family took a drive through Southern Africa (South Africa to Botswana to Zimbabwe to Zambia to Malawi). It turns out that my parents were on a business trip, but I thought we were having a vacation and thoroughly enjoyed myself. This is a brochure from one of my favorite stops, the Stellenbosch Museum.

I got a lovely little doll at this stop. She is now resting happily in my attic. If ever I have a larger house, she will come downstairs and find a cozy bed upon which to recline.

Finally, it is music Friday. I do love music, and I love sharing it with you. This week my Zen DJ has chosen for you, "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" by Simon and Garfunkel. I have fond childhood memories of my mother singing Simon and Garfunkel to me to the accompaniment of an eight track tape. I also love Frank Lloyd Wright dearly. My mother has a friend who lives in a FLW house. If she ever gives me permission, I shall show you dozens of pictures of her amazing home.

Much love to you all and happy weekend.

Piperade - 3 points, Pink Saturday, Music Friday

I have certainly had a crazy week! My computer crashed last night, just to make things interesting. I have managed to repair it for the moment but anticipate further problems since I am not a techie and don't know what I am doing.

First, here is a terribly delicious, very easy recipe for you! I have eaten a ridiculous number of egg whites since healthifying my diet. They are my new favorite protein.

Piperade from 1000 Vegetarian Recipes
1 tsp olive oil
1 cup onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup green bell pepper, sliced
2 1/2 cups tomatoes, chopped
1 1/2 tsp basil
salt and pepper to taste
2 eggs
8 egg whites

1. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; saute until onions are transparent.
2. Stir in the peppers and continue to saute until peppers are soft.
3. Stir in tomato, basil, and pepper. Cook, uncovered, 15 minutes.
4. Beat eggs and egg whites with salt.
5.  Add eggs to skillet. Cook, stirring gently, until eggs are set.
6. Yields 4, 3 point servings

Here they are, accompanied by some roasted Brussels sprouts:

Second, Happy Pink Saturday! This week my pink picture is of the lamp on my bedside table. My mom bought this piece at a garage sale when I was in high school. I was completely enamored of roses at the time and wanted my whole room to be covered with them. I no longer have the rose comforter, curtains, or rug, but I still love this little lamp. The delicate crocheted doily you can see beneath it was purchased from a lovely lady in an art market in Zimbabwe.

I am so excited to do my resolution round up tomorrow! I have a lot to tell you. But, I have a husband who is about to finish his homework, so for now I will leave you with my Friday song. Up until now, I have let my Zen DJ pick the song. But, this week I felt like it had to be Amy Grant and it had to be romantic. So, here are Amy Grant and Keb' Mo' with, "Come Be with Me".



Pork Meatballs - 1 Point Each

Time for the final piece of Valentine's Day dinner - the meatballs. I love to make huge batches of homemade meatballs and keep a bag in the freezer. I can pull out a few at a time for sandwiches, sweet and sour, Swedish, Italian - whatever my heart desires. This is my go-to meatball recipe. I don't always use pork, but ground pork was the cheapest meat for sale in the grocery store this past week.

Pork Meatballs
2 lb ground pork
1 cup steel cut oats
1/2 cup fat free milk
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
2 egg whites
1 tsp salt
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp pepper

1. In a large bowl, mixed all ingredients until well combined (I use my hands). Shape mixture into 50 meatballs (about 1 1/2 inches each).
2. Place meatballs on in an ungreased cast iron skillet or baking dish.
3. Bake at 400F for 20-25 minutes
4. Yields 50, 1 point meatballs

Second on my list tonight, I wish you a very happy Pink Saturday. Here is my pink pictures for the week; embroidery detail from a quilt my grandmother made many moons before I was born. Because the quilt includes several pieces of fabric taken from dresses my mother wore in high school, my grandmother gave the quilt to me a few years ago. I cherish it. (For good measure I decided to show you another piece of the quilt - a sunbonnet girl made from some of my mother's high school clothes.)

For the Pink Saturday challenge, I have chosen one of my favorite posts from last week. Check out this decadent recipe for pumpkin soup!

Finally, I always leave you with a Friday Song, randomly selected by the DJ on my Zen. I do have very eclectic tastes so we are going from British folk alternative to Christian hip hop to this week's offering - country. Raul Malo, lead singer of The Mavericks and talented solo artist, has one of the sexiest voices in the world. Here is "I Should Know" by The Mavericks.