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

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

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