I Can Cook Like Paula!

This is a tad bit over due. But, my fabulous parents gave me a super awesome Christmas present! Paula Deen's cookware! YES! WOOT!! Look at the fabulousness of it all!

Hello! Now I can really gourmet it up. I was just pretending before ;)  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this cookware. NOTHING sticks. It heats up so much faster than my old pots and pans. It is just so pretty! I am in the kitchen much more than before. And, I don't dread having to scrub a pan.

It. 

Is. 

Awesome. 

My parents rock! Thank you, Mom and Dad! Jason is loving all the meals that I cook up, too, so a "thanks" from him, as well! :)

By the way, how CUTE is this little pot? Need to melt some butter? Pppssh! I gotta pot for that y'all! :)

Mini-Menu Plan

Since we are headed out for the Thanksgiving holiday, here is what I will be cooking up before we leave:

Heather vs. the Chicken

Paula Deen, what have I gotten myself into?

I go to make the Chicken Rice Soup (page 69). Um, yes, I did buy the whole chicken. No, I have never cut up a whole chicken. Yes, it freaked me out a bit. No, I will not be doing that again.

First, ew. Thanks for the bag of nasty that I had to pull out of the chicken. Awesome.

Second, do they make a how to cut a whole chicken app? When I get an iPhone, I will need it. Apparently, I may have to do this again.

Third, ok. It really wasn't that bad. The first 1/2 of the chicken, I was all, like, "What the hell?" And, I was laughing my butt off in the kitchen, talking to this chicken. Oh, the boys were both asleep. Max was in our room. Yes, I am the crazy chicken lady. Did I mention that our yard guy was walking around the backyard, too? Super. The second 1/2 of the chicken, I got the hang of what to cut and where and all.

It was a interesting experience.

But, a few good notes about this:

I learned how to cut up a whole chicken!

Paula's Chicken Rice Soup was SOOOOOOOO GOOOOODDD!!! She's right about those chicken bones :) You will just have to get the book to see what she says.



By the way, cough cough hint cough, have you seen this amazing Paula Deen Cookware? The Oatmeal color is just lovely, don't you think? ;) Gorgeous, y'all!

Paula Deen Week at the House!

Now, y'all remember when Rachel and I met the fabulous Paula Deen and her hubby, Michael, right? Well, I had to finish up October's menu plans before I could start eating my way through Paula's new cookbook.

The time has finally come! WOOT! Have you read/watched "Julie and Julia?" Well, Paula is my Julia. I still can't believe I met the woman though! Anyhoo! Are you ready for the menu this week? I included the page numbers, if you want to join me in the kitchen.

Doesn't that menu just wanna make you grab a glass of sweet tea and gossip with your friends while enjoying some good old-fashioned Southern cooking? Well, grab your ingredients and get to cooking!

But wait! You didn't think I forgot about Freezer Cooking Fridays, did you? Nope. I've got that covered, too. I am making Paula's Biscuit Doughnuts (page 293) on Friday. Also, I'm cheating a bit, but I am making  double batch of the Chicken Rice Soup on Tuesday and a double batch of the Baked Egg Crisps on Saturday.


Do you have a favorite chef? Have you eaten your way through their cookbook(s)?

Guess Who I Met Last Night?!

PAULA DEEEEEEEEEEN!!!!!

 Oh, my gosh! Rach and I met PAULA DEEN! And her hubby, Michael.

It. Was. AWESOME!

And, yes, they are even cuter in person! You can totally see how much they are in love with each other.

Thank you, Rachel, for getting this pic! I wish I could have gotten one of you, too.

I have never met any one for-real famous. Ok, an astronaut, but not Neil Armstrong or anyone like that. Anyway, this was my convo with the Fabulous Paula Deen:

Me: "I just. I just. I just LOVE YOU!" (lots of nervous laughter)

Lame-o guy moving me along. It's not like I was the girl who was 4 people ahead of us telling her life story... Seriously. 

Paula (in her buttery -ha!- Southern accent): "And I return that love to you, sugar!"

That's right. Paula called me SUGAR! 

Can I just say for the 500th time since yesterday afternoon....

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

That was the highlight of this week!! WOOT!!

Paula's autograph and her hubby's, too!

 Paula's awesome tour bus! Again, thanks, Rachel for this pic, too :)

Ah, what a great night! And, yes, starting next month I plan on making EVERYTHING in this book until it's all been done. Good thing the holidays are right around the corner...

TIS THE SEASON FOR EATING!!