Monday, December 26, 2011

25 December 2011 – Merry Christmas!








We had a very special Sunday Supper last night! Not only was it Christmas, but we had some special friends over. including two local mayors and their adorable wives. The Honorable Gene Hobgood, Mayor of Canton, and the Honorable Rick Roberts, Mayor of Ball Ground joined us along with their better halves, Elly Hobgood and Elaine Roberts. We started the day with an amazing breakfast at Jeff's parents. They made waffles, eggs, sausage, and bacon. We got home around noon, and the preparations began. I prepared a huge standing rib roast with brussels sprouts, marscapone mashed potatoes, roasted carrots and parsnips and salt and pepper cream biscuits. Elly brought a delicious toffee pear cake for dessert! It was divine. Everyone arrived around 6:30, and we had cocktails, cheese gougeres, bacon wrapped dates stuffed with cream cheese and pecanss, and bloody mary shrimp cocktails. We stuffed ourselves at dinner and had some great conversation. All in all, it was a great Christmas. I hope everyone else had a great holiday with lots of wonderful food and fond memories. Cheers to all the Sunday Suppers in 2011, and I look forward to more memorable meals in 2012.

The Menu:

Appetizers:

- Cheese Gougeres

- Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Pecans and Cream Cheese

- Bloody Mary Shrimp Cocktail

Christmas Dinner:

- Standing Rib Roast with Au Jus and Horseradish Cream

- Marscapone Mashed Potatoes

- Brussels Sprouts with Pecans and Lemon

- Roasted Carrots and Parsnips with Rosemary

- Salt and Pepper Cream Biscuits

- Elly's Toffee Pear Cake

Sunday, December 4, 2011

04 December 2011 - Happy Birthday Cory!




We spent most of the weekend putting up the Christmas tree. On Saturday, we went to Christmas tree farms in Gainesville, Dawsonville, and finally Macedonia. I was looking for a nice open Noble Fir, but alas, there was not one to be found. We finally found a beautiful and indigenous 10' Georgia White Pine. It is beautiful and fit perfectly in the house. 3000 lights later and hundreds of ornaments, and One Britt is closer to being ready for Christmas. My family is coming down for the Grant holiday hoedown on the 17th and 18th, and I am very excited.

Today was hectic with the finishing touches to the tree and other decorating projects, but I had to make time to cook Sunday Supper to celebrate Cory's birthday! I prepared his favorite dish, Chicken Parmesan. I paired it with Brussels sprouts with pancetta. We had a decadent Bavarian Chocolate Cream Cake for dessert! We gave Cory the Adele DVD - Live at the Royal Albert Hall, and we are watching it now. She is amazing!

So happy birthday to Cory and happy holidays to all!

The Menu:

- Chicken Parmesan with Homemade Tomato Sauce and Perciatelli

- Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

- Bavarian Chocolate Cream Cake

Sunday, November 20, 2011

20 November 2011







What a treat! I worked today, so Jeff decided to cook Sunday Supper. I am still trying to get caught up at work, and next week is a three day work week with the Thanksgiving holiday. Jeff is also on a Weight Watchers program, so we are trying to eat healthier. He decided to cook a Weight Watchers Thanksgiving dinner that got really great reviews. I am thankful to not have to cook tonight and for a very productive day at the office. It's been a fun weekend. Dinner and bowling on Friday night, and dinner at our friends' house last night and then home to catch up on American Horror Story – great show! I LOVE Jessica Lange, and she is amazing in the show. Thanks to Jeff for a delicious and healthy Sunday Supper!

The Menu:

- Apricot Glazed Turkey with Roasted Baby Dutch Potatoes

- Fennel, Fig and Thyme Stuffing

- Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Maple Balsamic Drizzle

- Cranberry Jalapeno Sauce

- Pumpkin Ice Cream in Homemade Sweet Tortilla Bowls

Sunday, November 13, 2011

13 November 2011



Well the election was Tuesday, and I lost unfortunately. I did have a good showing and gained about 40% of the vote in a three man race. I am glad it is over, but it was a great experience – all in all. I had an amazing committee and some really enthusiastic supporters. I certainly learned who I could trust, and I met some amazing new people in the process. Now, back to doing the things I love: designing and cooking.

Jeff's birthday was the day after the election, so I took him to Atlanta for a birthday dinner at La Grotta. It was amazing, as usual, and we enjoyed chatting with the owner's son afterward at the bar. We stayed in the city overnight, and we had lunch at Mary Macs Tea Room on Thursday. Last night, we invited friends and family over to celebrate Jeff's birthday, and I prepared fajitas, refried beans from scratch and a Mexican chocolate cake for dessert. It turned out great, and everyone had a good time.

I worked today, and now I am preparing Sunday Supper. It feels good to be back on schedule! I saw a show on the Food Network this morning, and I wanted to make a dish from that episode. I prepared Spaghetti and Meatballs with a Bacon Tomato Sauce. It hit the spot and provided just the right amount of comfort on a chilly Fall night!

Winning!

The Menu:

- Spaghetti and Meatballs with Bacon Tomato Sauce

- Grilled Rosemary Olive Oil Breadter

Sunday, October 30, 2011

30 October 2011






Happy Halloween Eve! I have been on the campaign trail, so I have not had a lot of time to cook Sunday Suppers lately. Tonight, I was determined to make it into the kitchen! Without a doubt, this campaign for Canton City Council has been a real experience. The twists and turns are a little bizarre, but I am confident things will turn out as they were intended. At the end of it all, I will be very proud of how I have conducted myself, and I am proud of the many supporters that I have on my team. I believe the future of Canton is worth the battle, and I have enjoyed meeting so many like-minded people throughout the city. We all believe that we can preserve Canton's unique character and small town charm while also creating the quality and strategic growth that is necessary to meet our fiscal responsibility. Since I moved here in 1996, Canton has tripled in its population, and it will continue to grow. We can sit back and let it take its own course, or we can be proactive and design a strategic plan for the future. It's about making the right business decisions along the way.

Okay, so enough campaigning. For tonight's Sunday Supper, I made a classic Beef Stroganoff. I have been wanting to cook this meal for a while, and the crisp Fall air only provided added encouragement. Some friends came over to help us carve our pumpkins, so I cooked while they carved. Everyone was happy. TJ and Jeff even carved some Grant 4 Canton pumpkins! It was a nice and much-needed Sunday night in the kitchen. A while back, I signed up to get "Season's Peak" produce emails from Publix. It is a great service, and this week's feature was pears. So I made one of my "go-to" recipes for dessert –a rustic thin pear tart!

So, one more week and one day until the election. Who knows what this week will bring, but I am determined to accentuate the positives of it all!

One last thing, I want to thank Linda Flory for promoting my Sunday Supper blog. I appreciate the many friends, near and far, that follow my online journal of food and life. It is the good, the bad and the ugly that dignifies our day-to-day existence, and I will continue to hunger for great food, honest experiences, human kindness and the comfort of my dear friends and family.

Peace be with you!

The Menu:

- Classic Beef Stroganoff

- Fresh Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

- Thin Pear Tart

Sunday, October 2, 2011

02 October 2011





Happy Fall! It has been a beautiful autumn weekend, and I love the cool, crisp air. Sorry I have not posted in a while, but I have been on the campaign trail. As you may know, I am running for Canton City Council, and so far, it has been quite an experience. I have had some wonderful support and a lot of encouragement, so wish me luck. The election is November 8, and here is my campaign website: www.grantforcanton.org. Also, please visit my Facebook page to "like" and "share" with your friends: Grant for Canton. The last few weekends have been hectic. Last weekend, we had Riverfest, an arts and crafts show sponsored by the Service League. They did a great job, and our Grant for Canton scarecrow won first place. We donated the $100 prize money back to the League for the great work they do to assist the needy children of Cherokee County.

To celebrate the arrival of Fall and cooler weather, I cooked my mother's old fashioned beef stew. My brother, Chuck, is visiting, so I thought he would enjoy it. I made Southern skillet cornbread to accompany it, and a North Georgia apple pie for dessert. All in all, a perfect Sunday Supper for early October. A busy week of work and campaigning ahead...

Hope your early Fall weekend was meaningful and enjoyable!

The Menu:

- Old Fashioned Hearty Beef Stew

- Southern Skillet Cornbread

- North Georgia Apple Pie Al-A-Mode

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

04 September 2011 – Labor Day Wedding







Sorry for the delayed post, but I was in Perdido Key, Florida over Labor Day weekend for my niece's beach wedding. Yes, so was Tropical Storm Lee! It rained and stormed most of the weekend, but there was a very short break in the weather, and Lori had her sunrise wedding on the beach! It was very windy but very sweet. Congratulations to Ray and Lori Burgess-Osborne! My nieces and nephews were there for the wedding, as well as Jeff and our friends, Kim and Josh, who got married at Perdido about the same time last year. Kim's dad owns Perdido Seafood, so we ventured over to get some Gulf-fresh Royal Red Shrimp and homemade Key Lime pie! Sunday night was a total rain out, so I prepared Sunday Supper in our condo for my nieces, nephews and our friends. The kitchen and equipment was not what I am accustomed to, but I made the most of it! All went well except for a brief, but scary, oil fire! Funny in retrospect but quite alarming at the time! I decided to make shrimp scampi with linguine and asparagus. The fresh shrimp were divine, and it was great to cook for Kelly, Brian, Drew, Kenneth-Ney, Kim, Josh and Jeff. We stuffed ourselves and later had a nice game of team Scrabble! All of us had to fight the storm all the way back to Georgia, but we made it safe and sound. Here's hoping the newlyweds have better weather this week for their honeymoon!

Hope your Labor Day was equally memorable but less stormy!

The Menu:

- Smoked Gulf Tuna Spread

- Fresh Royal Red Shrimp Scampi over Linguine

- Pan Roasted Pencil Thin Asparagus

- Key Lime Pie

Sunday, August 28, 2011

28 August 2008







All in all, it's been a great weekend, and it seems like a lot got accomplished. This was a welcome change after the past few weekends. Yesterday, we ran errands and did some shopping. Last night, I made homemade bacon cheeseburgers with oven baked steak fries. It was simple and delicious. Afterward, we watched "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" with Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. They were such a beautiful looking couple at that time. Jeff had never seen the movie, but he really enjoyed it. After watching The Help last weekend, we have been seeking more Southern adventure, and Tennessee Williams delivered.

Today, I worked most of the day writing copy and retrieving some old files. I was more productive than I thought I would be. We got some great summer vegetables at the Canton Farmers Market yesterday: okra, cabbage, red peppers, silver queen corn, pink eye peas and watermelon. We also still have some heirloom tomatoes in the garden, so tonight's Sunday Supper was vegetable-centric. I was concerned about what to prepare for dessert, but our dear friend and fellow cook, Wanda Roach, called me this afternoon to tell me that she had made me a pie as condolences for the recent passing of my baby sister, Stacy. She visited a while later to deliver a beautiful butterscotch pie – her most requested! It was amazing – mile high meringue and all! Thank you Wanda and to all of the wonderful friends who sent notes, prayers and other loving thoughts to me and our family. I am truly blessed with an amazing circle of friends and a loving and kind family.

First thing in the morning, I am off to officially qualify to run for Canton City Council in the upcoming election on November 8! I am cooking up some new ideas for meaningful change, and you can find more information on my campaign's website: www.grantforcanton.org.

The Menu:

- Country Style Pepper Steak with Local Peppers and Vidalia Onions

- Fried Okra

- Silver Queen Corn with White Truffle Oil

- Braised Baby Ball Ground Cabbage

- Local Pink Eye Peas

- Jalapeno and Hoop Cheese Corn Muffins

- Wanda Roach's Famous Butterscotch Pie

Sunday, August 21, 2011

21 August 2011 – For Stacy Grant Charles





Well this weekend was certainly better than the last one. As many of you know, my dear baby sister, Stacy, passed away last Saturday from ALS, a horrific disease. We will all miss her very much, but we have wonderful memories of her. She was one of the most loving and selfless people I have ever known, and I loved her very much. So tonight's Sunday Supper is dedicated to Stacy Grant Charles!


Stacy loved shrimp, so it was fitting that a friend brought us six pounds of fresh shrimp from the Gulf this week. I bought some local veggies at the Canton Farmers Market yesterday, and we did a low country boil for dinner. I used some of our fresh heirloom tomatoes and basil to make a caprese salad, and we had watermelon for dessert. Jeff's parents and Cory joined us for dinner on the side porch, and it was a good think we were cooking outside with propane because the power went off after a storm.

Stacy's daughter, Kacey, came to visit us last night, and we had a wonderful date night! We started our visit by seeing The Help. It is such a wonderful movie. Afterward, we ate at our favorite Mexican dive and came home to make brownies and play Scrabble on the side porch. It was a wonderful visit, and we hope to do it again soon.

Hoping for a better week ahead...

The Menu:

- Low Country Boil with Fresh Gulf Shrimp and Local Organic Vegetables

- Herirloom Tomato Caprese Salad

- Local Ice Cold Watermelon

Sunday, August 7, 2011

07 August 2011







It has been a fun and hectic week. On Wednesday, we went to see Dolly Parton at the Verizon Ampitheatre in Alpharetta. I saw her a few years ago at the Fox, but she was even better at the outdoor venue. She performed for three hours in 95 degree heat and a few wigs. She was dancing all over the stage and played over a dozen instruments. Her voice is still amazing, and it was a great concert in support of her new CD, Better Day. Her Optimism is contagious. As if Dolly is not universal enough, it is, indeed, a small world after all. At the concert, we sat right next to our friend and neighbor's daughter-in-law - Rebecca Johnston! The rest of the week was as odd and busy as Dolly...

On Friday, we had dinner with our dear friends Bill and Sheree Ramsey at Downtown Kitchen. We are very excited that they will be moving back to Canton next month, and we look forward to all of the great dinners, debate, and fun times ahead. I went to the Canton Farmers Market on Saturday, and all of the farmers had okra. I was so excited! I also bought some crowder peas and a beautiful arrangement of sunflowers and zinnias. Summer is progressing way too rapidly.

So for tonight's Sunday Supper, I fried the local okra and cooked the crowder peas from the Farmers Market. I also found some local corn and paired the veggies with a Lee Brothers recipe – marinated flank steak. The most amazing course came with dessert! I picked some more fresh figs from the backyard and prepared an amazing fig gelato. It was divine – period.

Now, on to another busy week of working, designing, and campaigning. I have received great support for my campaign, and the committee volunteers are amazing. I am humbled, honored and privileged to have such great friends and community support. We all have a collective appetite for advancing Canton in a productive and effective manner. I love this town.

"When I'm inspired, I get excited because I can't wait to see what I'll come up with next." Dolly Parton

The Menu:

- Bourbon and Soy Marinated Flank Steak

- Local Fried Okra

- Flip Corn

- Cherokee County Crowder Peas

- Backyard Organic Fig Gelato

Sunday, July 31, 2011

31 July 2011




It has been a fun and interesting weekend. Last week, I officially announced my candidacy for Canton City Council – www.grantforcanton.org. I'm sure it will be an interesting experience, so wish me luck! For tonight's Sunday Supper, I made a quiche from local farm eggs I bought at the Canton Farmers Market yesterday. The eggs are beautiful, and I buy them from the same farmer every week. I added heirloom tomatoes and basil fresh from the garden. I am trying to find a way to use all of the tomatoes, and I have also been giving a lot of them away. Also, I used the first figs of the year in a salad and a rustic fig tart. It was a simple, but delicious, garden to table supper.

Please visit and "like" my campaign's Facebook page – Grant for Canton. I'll be cooking up some fund raising events in the weeks ahead, so sign up to receive email alerts on grantforcanton.org.

Hope your Sunday Supper was equally enjoyable and a lot less political!

The Menu:

- Heirloom Tomato and Basil Quiche

- Baby Spring Lettuce with Figs and Virginia Sweet Tomoatoes

- Rustic Fig Tart