I’m passing the platform over to my friend, Nancy Kirkpatrick, today!  She and her lovely husband are on a Disney cruise aboard “The Magic”.  This magnificent ship will take my friends up the East Coast and across the Atlantic to Europe.  Nancy is going to share her experiences, photographs and observations with us as they make their way on this trip.  What a treat for us all!  Enjoy and look forward to more posts from Nancy as she travels!

The Magic is real. And Disney’s cruise ship, “The Magic”, is a personification of that real magic. Let me explain.

Walt Disney was a person of this world. Very much of this world, but also of the world of dreams. Big dreams. Huge dreams. And the drive to activate those dreams. And that’s magical. So let me introduce you to the Magic that I discovered on my first ever Disney cruise, beginning on embarkation day and the first day “at sea” (how I love those marine terms!).

First is an eight year old girl in line for check in. How many cruises have you been on? Eight? And you are eight years old? She giggles and moves on.

Then there’s Ed. I hear Ed describe himself to another passenger not in terms of what he does for a living, but what gives him pleasure. He loves to help people. As he chats with us at dinner the second evening, he is engaged in the conversation, for sure. But you see his eyes dart here and there. He halts the conversation politely…he’s spotted someone dining alone and that won’t do.

Ed excuses himself, speaks with the solo diner and shortly she is seated atour table and her story unfolds. Dena’s husband and three daughters missed their plane and won’t be allowed to board until Halifax, she explains. So for five days she sails alone. She is tense. Sad. Trying to make the best of it. So we invite her to become part of our story. And she does. Next night at dinner she joins the table with a huge smile and we all bask in her glow. Thank you Ed, for bringing this new, lovely person into the fold. You do that so well.

That’s the Magic. The real Magic.

Then there is Savio, Luis, Lana, David, Linda, Jennifer, Al. Hailing from Brazil,Peru, St Lucia, Ohio and Georgia. And Jerrod, Ellen, Don and Gabrielle (notGabby!). We collect names and nationalities.

Luis. What do you do when off the ship? I have a restaurant with my father. When I am home, I am building a bigger restaurant with a bar. Talk drifts tophotography and Photoshop. And when we part, he gives us the name of hishometown and restaurant. Says confidently we will have a drink together there some day and I will show you my hometown.

And that is the Magic. The real Magic. It’s the people. Luis, Lana, Jerrod,Savio, Bianca, Yanupa, Hernando, Francisco. They all know what makes thereal Magic. And and they live it for you. They ARE the Magic.

Nancy Kirkpatrick 

www.nancykirkpatrickphotography.com

Melissa | people | 05 21st, 2015 | 2 Comments »

I grew up on the Gulf Coast of Texas, outside of Houston.  The neighborhood was as much a part of Louisiana as it was Texas.  I remember eating Shrimp Creole, Chicken Gumbo and all of the various seafoods that were available in the local waters .  Every holiday meal that involves a turkey in our home results in a big pot of gumbo to be served a couple of days later.  Otherwise, as in this case, I use chicken, with the bone in and andouille sausage.  You can add oysters and shrimp to the mix as well!

One of the most important parts of making any gumbo is the “roux”.  If the roux isn’t right the gumbo will not be either.  When I say in the recipe that you want to slowly cook the roux, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until it is the color of rich peanut butter, I mean this:

Come to think of it, there really isn’t a recipe that I follow.  I’ve made this for so many years it just comes together instinctively!  I think I can list everything in a way that you can follow, however.

Melissa’s Chicken Gumbo

1 whole chicken, cut into pieces

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Brown the chicken pieces in the oil, season with salt and pepper then add the browned chicken to a dutch oven, cover with water and boil for 2-3 hours.  Remove the chicken pieces from the pot, take the skin off and debone the pieces, returning the meat to the pot with the cooking liquid.

For the roux:

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup unbleached flour

This takes a bit of time and patience, but it’s worth it!  Combine the oil and flour in a cast iron skillet and cook over low heat,  stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture’s color is the same as the photo above.  Then add the Cajun Trinity and the other ingredients.  Let this simmer for 10 minutes, add to the pot with the chicken and broth.

The Cajun Trinity:

1 cup chopped sweet onion

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 cup chopped celery

To the Trinity add:

1 cup chopped scallions, green ends included

1 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

1/4 cup minced, fresh garlic

To season the pot

1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning (I use Sangre de Cristo Spice Company, Zatarains’s or Tony’s will also do…add more if desired.)

1 bay leaf

1 pound andouille sausage, thinly sliced

Let the gumbo simmer, covered for a couple of hours.  In the last half hour you can add 2 cups of fresh, sliced okra if you desire.  Make a big pot of sticky white rice to serve the gumbo over.  I use a professional ice cream scoop to get just the right serving size.  To serve I sprinkle each bowl with chopped flat leaf parsley and scallions.

This is a great meal for a rainy Saturday evening, served with a crisp green salad, or the traditional creole potato salad you would find on the table in Louisiana.  Hot garlic bread is a must and plenty of ice cold beer, whatever your favorite brand is.

MAKES 8 SERVINGS
Courtesy of Chef Patrick Mould (thank you Louisianacookin.com)
January/February 2013

• 5 cups peeled and cubed red potato
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup Creole mustard
• 1/4 cup minced green olives
• 1/4 cup minced green bell pepper
• 1/4 cup minced celery
• 2 tablespoons minced onion
• 2 tablespoons minced green onion
• 1 tablespoon minced parsley
• 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brine from green olives
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

In a large saucepan, combine potatoes, eggs, and 1 teaspoon salt with enough water to cover. Bring to boil; reduce heat to simmer, and cook for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain potatoes, and refrigerate until cold. Cool eggs by running under cold water; peel and dice eggs, and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, mustard, olives, bell pepper, celery, all onion, parsley, relish, vinegar, olive brine, Worcestershire, pepper, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Fold in potatoes and eggs.

For dessert you might make a batch of pecan pralines, let them harden and crumble them over good vanilla ice cream.  We’re talking delicious now!

Pecan Pralines

1 cup white sugar

1 cup light brown sugar

1 pinch of salt

1/2 cup of milk

2 tablespoons Karo syrup (light)

1 teaspoon bourbon vanilla

2 cups pecan halves

Mix sugar, salt, milk and Karo syrup in a heavy pan and bring to the soft ball stage.  Add butter and vanilla, beat with a whisk and cool.  Add pecans and drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper.  When the pralines are firm they are ready to eat.

As they say in New Orleans……Bon Apetit, ya’ll!

I am now accepting sponsors for this site.  If you are interested in a unique, affordable way to promote your business or service please contact me:  melissa@thepermanenttourist.com.

Melissa | Finally Friday!, food & entertaining | 05 21st, 2015 | No Comments »

Stacks of boxes arrived via UPS yesterday.  Copies of my long awaited book, “Emmeline At Commander’s Palace” were safely nestled within four cartons delivered to my front door.  It has been said that everyone has a book inside of them.  I seem to have an abundance of them!

Until now I’ve felt like I gave birth and never got to hold the baby.  Writing is like that.  It’s a very personal journey when you are a writer.  You hope you write things others will enjoy.  That is the quest, when it’s all said and done.  My parents each held a book in their hands with tears in their eyes as they read my children’s book and told me how proud they are of me.

Moonflowers via Google Images

And I continue writing.  The first novel in the Moonflowers Saga is well underway and being edited by a very dear friend here!  She is one of the guiding stars who saw to it that my daughter, Skylar, did not lose her vision, that she stayed the course and is actually graduating highschool after a very, very long struggle.  I remember her teacher in the private school she attended in Florida telling me that Skylar would not make it, that she would not graduate with all of her learning issues.  WELL….I beg to differ!  Thank you Dr. Susan McLemore for your belief in my child!  You are the most amazing teacher, in every sense of the word!

So, I begin this day, sharing my thoughts with you and planning to begin writing.  It is what feeds my soul and makes everything come into focus.  I’ll have much news to share with you in the coming weeks.  Some of it may make you sad and some of it will life you up.  That is, after all, what life is all about!

Melissa | Out&About | 05 20th, 2015 | 3 Comments »

It’s that time of year again!  I’m staring time on the beach and by the pool straight in the face. Time to scale back on carbs, increase my exercise and begin the search for just the right swimsuit.  Oh dear God….help me!  I began to browse through the various new styles on Pinterest.  I’m sharing some of those with you today!  There are many choices and shops here on the island that offer fine swimwear as well.  Have fun and find your perfect style!

This a fun suit!  It’s available at m.swimspot.com.  This cute tankini gives a bit of coverage but also has a young feeling.  Perfect for long walks on the beach!

I know, I know….you’re thinking she looks all of 16, but this suit is a great color and it’s really cute…for any age.  The peplum hides some imperfections in a stylish way as well.  Find this at limericki.com.

I found this cute little romper on cupshe.com.  Fun and kicky!  I’m loving this look.

I think this is my favorite.  I love the color, the style and the elegance of this suit.  You can find this at fashiongum.com.  This is my choice!

Have fun, find your style, make your statement!  Summer is almost here!

Melissa | Out&About | 05 19th, 2015 | 1 Comment »

Pinterest

In his book, “Hotel New Hampshire”, John Irving uses the term, “keep passing the open windows” throughout the story as a term for survival.  It always makes me think about what we see through windows on a daily basis that we take for granted.  So much of life passes by unnoticed by us until something drastic happens and we are “jolted” into consciousness.  Being aware of our surroundings is so very important.  When I become aware that I’m taking things for granted I stop, take a deep breathe and look around me at all of the wonder of my world.  We each see things differently, we have our own interpretations and view points.  It’s what makes life interesting, what keeps it fresh and always changing.

Pinterest

You may see a pastoral country scene from your window……

Pinterest

Or a city skyline.

Pinterest

Maybe it’s the ocean that you crave and want to surround yourself with.

Pinterest

Whatever it is that makes you happy…….find it!  Don’t wait to experience and savor the things that make you happy, that really have meaning!

Pinterest

It’s a new week, a new beginning with new challenges.  Embrace each moment and live them to the fullest.  And you might ask yourself as each new day dawns….am I really living?  It’s a good question with an answer only you can know.  Find the path you’ve been looking for and set your feet upon it.  You never know what you may find!

Melissa | Out&About | 05 18th, 2015 | 5 Comments »

I’ve been surfing through YouTube once again and found this lovely piano piece, “At The Ivy Gate” by Brian Crain.  I love the gentle flow of the piano as the music intensifies and then comes to a lull.  Perfect for a relaxing Sunday morning!  I hope you’ll enjoy and that you’ll have a very simple Sunday filled with love and plenty of time to breathe and say “Thank You”!

Melissa | Simple Sundays | 05 17th, 2015 | No Comments »

Join me as I talk with one our most interesting local figures, Harlan Hambright!  Harlan brings his wit and refreshing attitude to everything he does.  We had a great time talking!

Melissa | On The Radio | 05 16th, 2015 | 1 Comment »

Easy summer living…..it’s the only way to go!  We’re cooking fresh chicken sausages with peppers and sweet Vidalia onions.  My family loves this dinner accompanied by grilled, garlic Ciabatta bread.  This is one of my “go to” menus when it’s been a long hot day.  Everything goes right on the grill…..it’s oh so easy!

Italian Chicken Sausage

Grilled Peppers & Vidalia Onion

Grilled Garlic Ciabatta Bread

Red Wine Spritzers

Italian Chicken Sausage

Most supermarkets carry Italian chicken sausages.  At our local Harris Teeter they have them, freshly made, in the butcher’s case.  Simply take them out of their container, score them a couple of times on top, spray your grill with a bit of olive oil and place the sausages on the grill.  We like ours to be medium well and that takes around 4-5 minutes on each side.  Remove from the grill and cut the sausages in half to serve.

Grilled Peppers & Vidalia Onion

1 large Vidalia onion

1 large green bell pepper

1 large red bell pepper

3 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

sea salt and pepper to taste

I always keep plenty of green and red bell peppers this time of year.  We love them raw or grilled.  You’ll want to remove the stem, core, seeds and any membrane on the inside before slicing the peppers into thin strips.  Peel and half the onion, then slice in “1/2 moon” slices.  Chop the garlic and toss it into the pepper and onion mix with seasoning and olive oil.  I have a teflon grilling “wok” that I use to cook this.  Simply place the wok on your grill top and cook the veggies for 7 – 10 minutes, depending on how done you want them.  My crowd prefers the peppers to be slightly crunchy so I go with  seven minutes.

Grilled Garlic Ciabatta Bread

Split a loaf of Ciabatta bread in half, lengthwise.  Generously brush both sides with olive oil and sprinkle with finely chopped fresh garlic.  Place the bread split side down on the top rack of the grill and cook until golden brown.

Red Wine Spritzers

I like to use a sweeter red wine for spritzers, Barefoot makes one “Sweet Red Wine” that is great mixed with lime seltzer and plenty of lemon and lime slices.  This makes a light, refreshing summer drink and the slight sweetness compliments the spiciness of the sausages.

There you have it!  An easy summer menu sure to please just about anyone…..and you didn’t have to heat up the kitchen!  Summertime life is good!

Melissa | Finally Friday!, food & entertaining | 05 15th, 2015 | No Comments »

My buddy, the wine guy, Mark Gagliano always has the best selections to share with me when I visit our local Harris Teeter.  I asked him what his favorite recommendations for good summer wines are and he shared the three I am now posting about today.  I hope you’ll give these a try and when you in to see Mark, tell him I sent you!  He never steers me wrong so you can be sure these will be on my list!

If you listen to The Permanent Tourist radio show and catch a Chef and The Wine Guy segment, you’ll know that Mark loves a good Rose.  This variety from Muga is sure to please.  When visiting the website I found what the vintner has to say about this wine.  “Full, supple mouth-feel thanks to the time spent on fine lees, adding hints of baker’s shop aromas. The typical acidity of this wine is perfectly balanced to give an overall smooth taste. The aftertaste and retronasal phases are dominated by velvety smooth, yet fresh, sharp peach leaving a lovely final sensation which makes you want to try more.”  Mark will steer you in the right direction when you ask him for Muga Rose!

Acrobat Pinot Noir is next on Mark’s list of fine summer wine’s.  I like the fact that this bottle has a twist top.  We’re seeing these more and more.  I prefer a twist top bottle when taking wine to the beach or on any outing.  Produced in Oregon at King’s Estate the vintner talks about the flavor of this delicious wine “Aromas of bright fruit lead into flavors of cherry cola, cranberry, earth leather that give way to vanilla and plum. The finish blends fruit and earth together for a lush and generously lingering experience.”, sounds good to me!  I love earthy wines and the hint of cherry cola intrigues me!  I hope you’ll try this along with me and let me know what you think!

I am a big fan of Chilean wine so I’m very happy Mark has one of his favorites on the list!  Concha Y Toro’s Reservado Sauvignon Blanc.  The winemaker’s notes on this wine say “Bright straw-yellow. Citrus fruits and mineral notes. Fresh, long, and intense.”  I love a citrus note in a good Sauvignon Blanc.  This wine is perfect for summer pasta dishes, fish and seafood as well as chicken.  I can’t wait to try it!

That’s this summer’s selection!  Go see Mark and begin building your wine selection today!

Melissa | food & entertaining | 05 14th, 2015 | 1 Comment »

This post debuted about a year ago.  In light of the recent blessing of the fleet that Brunswick celebrated over the weekend, I thought it was worth reposting.  I first heard about the Signature Squares project last year when a friend was driving me through the downtown historic district of Brunswick.  I have always been fascinated by the idea of rebuilding the historic parts of cities, unearthing the past and renewing what was into something that is fresh and new.  My friend mentioned Julie Martin as the contact person responsible for the project called Signature Squares of Brunswick.  I made a mental note to find the website and make a connection.  Months passed, life happened and I did not move forward with this plan.

Jekyll Square

When I began this blog in February, Julie’s name came up again and again.  I finally connected with her last week and made an appointment to get together and discuss Signature Squares.

Hanover Square

I arrived at Julie’s lovely historic home that sits across the street from Hanover Square.  This is the site of the first renewal project.  A project that began with a group of people living in the area exploring the possibilities and asking “why not?”.  One of the members of the group, Jeremy Spencer, is a well known landscape architect.  He became actively involved in planning the restoration of Hanover Square, put together a viable plan and helped the group move forward.  Julie spent countless hours with the people at the Piedmont Park Conservancy in Atlanta and those involved with the Project for Public Spaces in New York City.

Machen Square

An initial board formed and strategic partnerships were put in place.  Half of the necessary funds were raised privately and the City of Brunswick matched the amount.  That was twelve years ago.  Since then restoration has been completed on several of the fourteen squares in the downtown historic area, but many are left to be renewed.   Jeremy Spencer, Julie Martin and countless others have worked tirelessly to finish these projects to perfection.  They work in partnership with the Jekyll Island Authority, Georgia Power and the City of Brunswick as the project continues to grow.

The process of renewal doesn’t just happen  overnight.  The past, present and future are taken into consideration before any work is done.  Groups meet to decide what will best serve the neighborhood the squares presently exist in.  Will it be an area within a commercial setting, or is it a place in a neighborhood where families will meet to relax, visit and play?  None of the projects begin without full funding.

Volunteers do all of the planting of new vegetation in the squares.  They join together out of love for their homes and the history of Brunswick.  Raising the necessary funds to keep these projects alive and growing is part of the process.  Currently, meetings are being planned to expedite upcoming events that enable the Signature Squares project to continue.  It’s not that it takes millions of dollars, but it does take a consistent cash flow to pay to have the heavy work done and to purchase the plants, benches and other components that go into making each square unique.

Hanover Square

James Oglethorpe planned the city of Savannah around the same kind of network of squares located throughout the central historic district.  These squares have all been renovated and now provide shady parks in which residents and visitors alike can enjoy sitting on a bench, listening to music and people watching.  Brunswick’s squares, though different, can become such places as well.  The squares that have been completed are frequented by families living in the area as well as visitors seeking historic information and a place to sit and relax under the shade of huge live oak trees.  The squares provide a common “green” area in which people can congregate.

Machen Square

The continued work on downtown Brunswick is an ongoing project.  It takes people who are interested, who have ideas and experience in the areas of urban renewal, historic preservation as well as the economics involved.  The raw material is there and key people are emerging.  I have a vision of what Brunswick can become, the Signature Squares project is at the heart of it all.  Providing a beautiful space, restoring the history and using  or duplicating fountains and other architectural features creates a bond with the past that will enable movement into the future.

I’ll be posting about upcoming events and information regarding both Signature Squares of Brunswick and the renewal of the downtown area as things progress.

On the website:  www.signaturesquares.org, you will find more valuable information and history.  One of the quotes I found there really speaks to the work that is being done:

“Make no little plans.  They have no magic to stir men’s blood….make big plans; aim high in hope and work.” – Daniel Burnham (1846-1912) 

Contact information is available on the website.  Please visit the site, read about the project and become involved if you feel a call to.  Be a part of ongoing history!

Melissa | people | 05 13th, 2015 | 4 Comments »