NORMA'S FAMOUS BREAD PUDDING

Welcome back to Estelle's Kindred Spirits....
as promised, I am sharing my treasured Bread Pudding
recipes that were the speciality of Norma's!
It was tradition to reserve large pans of her
scrumptious puddings and sauces
on our family beach trips....the grandchildren
still talk about how wonderful those days were and
remember those fabulous ocean side dinners.....

Norma was a very special person who was gracious enough
to share her talents in the kitchen and hospitality industry so
that we all could achieve greatness in our own kitchens....
I  will bring you other recipes that you will want to try
and will promise to bring your family to gather around the dinner table....

This sauce should be made in a blender
in order to achieve a smooth consistency....

This will be first in the Bread Pudding series so
stay tuned for a few more of her most requested speciality desserts!

DESSERTS ALWAYS ARE IN DEMAND

 Good Morning Loves.....
I was doing a bit of reminiscing the other day..
I think when you reach a certain age,
 that happens  often....

I was remembering Norma who owned her own cafe

It was a hot spot for business lunches, a morning stop for coffee
and a slice of her poppy seed bread, which was
a popular request among her customers.
The poppy seed bread is still in demand.....
Her food was in such demand, she opened two
more locations successfully!

Now my personal favorite was her chicken salad followed
with a serving of her bread pudding!!
If you are a bread pudding connoisseur 
then I will tell you that Norma's was
the best ever....not to mention her custard sauce....

The holidays featured her
Apple Bread Pudding with Brown Sauce..laced with Apple Brandy

Fiesta Bread Pudding with Orange Sauce...
this recipe uses Cuban Bread and Fruit Cocktail

and
Lemon Poppy Seed Bread  pudding with Lemon Sauce

I have these original recipes, so if you are interested in one of her
bread pudding recipes, leave a comment and I will gladly publish.

When I think of Norma's I remember the good times
and dab away a few happy tears....
Norma also was in the catering business
and had her helpers dress in Civil War costumes
for one of the city's historic events...she was fun like that..
No one could master the art of looking like Scarlett,
Mammy or Prissy.....



Norma's was a family affair...
her daughters often helped her prepare the foods,
her Daddy kept the financials straight and
they held a strong bond for family...

FALL PREVIEW...LET'S START A NEW SEASON!

Hello Kindred Spirits....
Summer was pretty darn wonderful
for us with the highlight being our family beach trip....

a week of great weather oceanside enjoying our children and grandchildren,
sharing delicious foods and cocktails until the moon was shining down
on that gorgeous soft white sand.....

This is THE very first time it has rained
the majority of our drive down to Florida.
in fact, this turned into a twelve hour trip!!!

FAMILY BEACH TRIP JULY, 2021

The month of August....not much going on.....

Lots of days swimming and cooling off poolside.....

 I so hope you enjoyed your months of Summer
and made heart-warming memories with those you love!
I hope you grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, ate
ice cold watermelon and served up a lovely homemade peach cobbler!
Did you visit your local Farmer's Market for some big fat tomatoes
and fresh corn?
Did you sit outdoors and sip iced tea while listening to the sounds of Summer?
I hope it was a good three months for you!!!
So I am refreshed and renewed after the break ...now let's get on with
the Fall season...a favorite of so many of us!

I added a few new ribbons to my stash
that I plan on using for some lantern toppers.....

My all time favorite product line at Target is THRESHOLD!
I have many of their kitchen linens, throws and pillows that I have
purchased over the years!
I purchased these beautiful yellow French Country placemats
which I plan to use in a fall tablescape!

Then decided, why not purchase the same design in
this beautiful Autumn orange also!
Who doesn't need to add a few table runners here and there?

The floral Autumn spray is from Hobby Lobby....
I decided the kitchen farmhouse table will be transformed into
a lovely fall vibe by using creams, ivory, with touches of brown and deep yellow golds!

I am not someone who is fond of using white in fall decorating...
why on earth would you not incorporate all these rich, vibrant
color shades for the season?
I also am adding new candlesticks for my collection..love these!

And....I simply cannot wait to smell one of my all time favorite

candles from A CHEERFUL GIVER....Blueberry Muffins!!!!

I am pretty excited about transforming a few rustic baskets
with these florals.......

The inspiration photo I found, used shades of burgundy
and pink for the accent colors, but I decided on deep
navy to use in my foyer vignette....

I think this would be gorgeous for an autumn wedding.....

Plans are underway for transforming our outdoor
patio, with new pillow covers and a back door wreath!

Hey, it's never too early for Pumpkin Pie!!!

Mae is doing well....she's my constant companion when
working on DIY's and decorating.......
we discuss what works and what didn't turn out so well......
it's absolutely wonderful to have such a beautiful love bug by my side!

So that's it guys and dolls...I am looking forward
to this new season and making the most of our days....
I would love for y'all to share your fall plans with us also!

SPICY CAJUN SHRIMP DIP

THIS is tradition on our family beach trips..
we have been going to Joe Patti's seafood market for years...many years in fact!

The grandbabies love their trips to Joe Patti's!
It's tradition and we plan our big seafood boils around this trip
to celebrate good times!

Hot French bread...a must have!

In 2004, Hurricane Ivan flooded much of Pensacola, including
Joe Patti's market....this is how high the water level was that September!

All my kiddos....boy are we havin' a good time!

As you can see, the market is always packed!

I chose this beautiful seafood platter on our last trip.....
and.....

I always purchase some Gullah Gourmet products!

Each product bag  preserves a little of Lowcountry culture
with a sampling of the beautiful Gullah language
 (a cross between Elizabethan English
 and various African languages). Delightfully Lowcountry! 

Of course, you always try to have your cocktail napkins
reflect the theme of your appetizer, right?

Estelle's Cajun Shrimp Dip
One bag of Gullah Shrimp Dippin'Ting
One 8-ounce cream cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
12 ounces of frozen shrimp, thawed
2 T. fresh lemon juice
1/2 of lemon zested
2 t. Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella

Combine all ingredients in a baking dish.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Stir to combine well. Bake another 5 minutes.
Serve with assorted cocktail crackers!

This recipe is simply THE BEST ever!!!!!

The darling said,
"you must make this for the holidays...the boys will love it!"

This made my BEST OF THE BEST appetizers served at Estelle's!

I just placed an order for more of my favorites
so that I would have them on hand for the upcoming holidays!
I highly recommend these unique gourmet food products!
You can order here!

GULLAH GOURMET, INC

 

PRE=FALL DECORATING...LET'S GET THE PARTY STARTED!

Good Morning Kindred Spirits.....

Yes, Estelle's is back a bit earlier than planned...
there is so much to talk about and plan for
for the upcoming fall season and I simply
cannot wait to get stated....LET'S GO!!!

 
Before the pumpkins come out from their bins,
I was ready to bring out some items for a transitional look
of a few fall touches for the month of August...
I guess you could say we are in the "planning stages!"
Time to rummage through the drawers and cupboards
and pull out things I haven't used in a while........

The kitchen farmhouse table
was transformed into a new look for the month....
Following the first of decorating rules....
try to use things in three's.........
this simple little tablescape was really such fun to create....

Two table runners from the Target dollar spot which
I purchased a few years ago...
a creamy white canister from years ago....
a bean pot I saved filled with beans and a used candle,
and a floral arrangement I keep on the upper cabinets.....
I remember buying this canister years and years ago
from a craft mall I used to shop at!

Creamy plates, with linen napkins and rustic napkin rings....
a setting for two....

I think they blend well together...
and I love the look....
now to plan for a new look and vibe for Autumn.....
I think I'll pull together some new recipes
to try for September....
This is what I love to do.....
I hope you all had a lovely summer.....
we sure did...
and now it's time for a new school year
and getting our groove back..I plan to enjoy every minute!
It's so good to be back....we have so much to share!

Here is a photo of Miss Judy, my sister
visiting us at our beach house......
August 1st was her birthday....
we gossip, we laugh, we share memories....
she is very patient when I am always telling her what to do!
Sisters!!!

A COOL BEACH VACAY AND THE TRANSITION INTO FALL

THE LAST SUMMER HURRAH...

CALGON TAKE ME AWAY....

You know the feeling....

let's get away from it all....

so The Divine Miss M reserved a beach house

in a rather secluded area in Florida...

a place they have never been and took a chance

on the house AND the beach being good...

turned out, it could not have been better!!!!!

The beach was private and so pretty....

not a lot of surf, which Luke loves, but

tons of sea life to discover!!!

Oh, how I wish we could have gone too...

our tradition....to wake up to greet the morning

on the oceanside with a good Bloody Mary.......

How incredible is this conch shell....

I have never seen anything like this!!!!

Days of relaxation and just all the time

in the world to read, nap, snack and explore.....

Kayaking with Dad...

What a wonderful way to spend the last of Summer

right before middle school begins....

Virtual for the first semester....

Catching Stingrays....

Crabbin'.....Blue Crabs at that....WOWZA!!!

Dinner every night was amazing....

A Shrimp Boil, Crab Cakes, Steaks.....oh honey, honey....

I think the very best experience was Luke's first in-shore

fishing trip with his Dad and Captain Jimmy....

he even caught a shark!!!!

If you have never experienced sunset on the beach...

then you simply MUST...there is nothing like it...

it's a divine experience.....

Now, for what we are doing back in Texas.......

This month of August is a time of transition....

Gala Apples and Freestone peaches......

shall I make an Apple Crisp or a Peach Cobbler.....

Summer is just not, SUMMER, without making

a fresh PEACH COBBLER.....

These darling little ramekins are my color inspiration

for the Autumn season...I adore the colors of Fall.....

I have plans and thoughts of the vignettes 

and am just hoping it comes together as I would like...

I'm going to ignore the fact that we are close to 100 degrees

every day this week.....

This year, I seem to being dreaming of deep goldens

and organic designs....

I keep a stash of Fall candles and have used them year after year....

I feel so joyous just thinking about the season....

such lovely and fun memories flood my mind from my youth...

football games, school dances, grilling out on Saturday nights

with Mother and Daddy....kissing Mr. Wonderful under the Harvest Moon...

camping in the Smokey Mountains....Ole Miss days..

raking leaves, fall clothes....Spice Tea and The Wizard of Oz.....

This was my first DIY I did last weekend...

I love the look!!!!

Mae is my little helper when I decorate....she plays and bats anything

that she can find....especially little pinecones, pumpkins and acorns...

what would I do without our saucy little minx.....

I hope you too, are finding ways to keep your hands busy

and your thoughts happy.....

Sending hugs.....