Thanksgiving has come and gone, but it is always good to be greatful! I have always loved the song “Simple Gifts” and this particular version is one I really like. YoYo Ma and Alison Krause blend cello and voice together for this song about being grateful! We had a wonderful time with family in New Orleans….so much to be grateful for. Now to take a few deep breaths and begin plans for Christmas. Trying to keep that to simple gifts this year that come from the heart and keep on giving! Wishing you a peaceful and loving Sunday!
On The Radio
I had such a wonderful talking to author, Jingle Davis, and photographer, Ben Galland, about their wonderful book “Island Time”. Listen in as we discuss the rich history of St. Simons Island and Coastal Georgia! You’re in for a real treat!
Finally Friday!
This is a Finally Friday! post that I am revisiting from last year. I can assure you we will be having Turkey Gumbo in New Orleans. YUM! I hope you enjoy…this is the perfect recipe for leftover turkey!
Thanksgiving always means gumbo! Not on the day, but with the leftover turkey. This has been a tradition in my family for so many years I won’t tell you! Friday is cold turkey sandwiches on sourdough bread with all the trimmings then I take the meat off of the bones, place the bones in my dutch oven, cover with water, bring to a boil and simmer overnight. I add any leftover gravy as well. This is so delicious! In Louisiana you’d be served a delicious potato salad with this, but we opt for a crisp green salad with crusty french bread.
Here’s the recipe! Note: this dish is spicy and perfect when accompanied with ice cold beer.
Turkey Gumbo
Start with a roux, 2 cups of vegetable oil and 2 cups of all-purpose, unbleached flour. Mix this in a heavy iron skillet or dutch oven and stir over medium heat until the roux is the color of rich, dark peanut butter.
Add the Cajun “Trinity”: 1 large yellow onion, finely diced; 1 bunch of celery, finely diced; 2 sweet green peppers, finely diced; 1 bunch scallions with the green ends, diced; 1 cup chopped flat leaf parsley; 5 cloves of garlic, minced. Add this mixture to the finished roux and cook over medium heat until the veggies are wilted, the onion transparent.
Remove the bones from the dutch oven and add the “Trinity” mixture as well as 4-5 cups of meat from the turkey. Add a couple of tablespoons of hot pepper sauce, a couple of tablespoons of cajun seasoning blend, a dash of cayenne and salt, if desired. Allow the mixture to simmer for an hour or so. After the first half hour I also add 2 cups of sliced andouille sausage that has been sliced thin and lightly sauteed in a pan until just browning. You can also add sliced okra at this point if you want.
Make a pot of sticky white rice and serve the gumbo over a large scoop of rice. Easy, delicious and such a great way to deal with leftover turkey! I can already taste the deliciousness!
Giving Thanks!
Wishing all of my readers a blessed day with family and friends!
Happy Thanksgiving from New Orleans, Louisiana…so grateful to be here!
Here’s some wonderful classical music to begin the day…..enjoy!
Time on Tybee
A couple of weekends ago we had an invitation to visit friends who have a fabulous home just off the beach on Tybee Island. Having only visited Tybee once years ago, I really didn’t know what to expect. To my surprise this thriving beach community had a little bit of everything.
We had dinner at the Tybee Island Fish Camp where the freshly prepared seasonal menu was an absolute delight. Bite after bite of some of the most delicious food I have had, owners Sarah and Kurtis Schumm have a hot, hot, hot dining experience going with this fabulous place! You can expect culinary creations such as smoked duck bruschetta, a lovely turnip soup with duck confit, lobster and shrimp risotto and one of the best salads I’ve every had with butter lettuce and a delicious housemade green goddess dressing. I was in foodie heaven at this place and highly recommend it. To read more go here: http://www.tybeeislandfishcamp.com/
We danced the night away at Nickie’s, a favorite night spot that serves up great libations and wonderful live music. More proof that my new knee is operating just beautifully, thank you!
Sunday brunch found us at the Tybee Island Social Club, also owned by the Schumm’s. What a treat! Live blue grass music and a delicious menu with everything from Southwestern to hamburgers to a chicken biscuit with collard greens and sausage cream gravy. Pure heaven. This unique restaurant has been voted the best place to be on Sunday in the Savannah area and I now know why! More on The Social here: http://www.tybeeislandsocialclub.com/
Plan a weekend and go to Tybee. Our friends, the Crowes, even have a couple of charming properties you can rent. I guarantee they are beautifully decorated and have all the bells and whistles! Here is the website to take a look: http://www.tybeeseaside.com/ There is so much of Tybee we didn’t have time to see, I’m already anxious to return! Thank you Paula and Bob for your awesome hospitality!
An Autumn Afternoon
Living in Coastal Georgia is always a joy. Everywhere you look there is something beautiful to behold. Last Saturday afternoon was just such a time, even with the rain. All sorts of birds congregated on the lagoon behind our home providing a nature show to rival anything we have seen on television.
Cranes, wood stork, heron and egret searched for fish and whatever else they could find to feast upon.
One heron was territorial and continually tried to “shoo” the other birds away. Kingfisher swooped over the top of the water in pairs participating in a swirling dance as they let out their strange calls.
I love this photo in particular. The reflection of the one bird on the far bank and the one sitting on the small, fallen tree is one of my best photos to date!
An occasion such as this can’t help but remind us that we live amid the beauty and wonder of nature. Take time to look around and see what amazing things there are all around you and have a wonderful Tuesday!
Bloom and Grow!
I first knew of Nancy Kirkpatrick when, through mutual friends, she began to follow The Permanent Tourist. Then, when I attended the Witches Hour event in October, there she was snapping photographs of all of the ladies in their witchy costumes. I knew from the way she had me pose before taking my picture that she truly knew what she was doing. I will always treasure that photograph and I now have a wonderful new friend to treasure as well. When Nancy and I met to discuss my writing a post about her work we talked for well over an hour about our lives, where we’ve been and where we hope to go. Then she mentioned that she really loves photographing flowers. She even returned to the Market at Sea Island, where we met for coffee, and snapped a photo of one of the beautiful zinnias blooming in the lovely gardens there.
After our meeting Nancy began to send me her floral photographs and I was just blown away. First of all, she is a very talented photographer, but secondly, her ability to capture a bloom with the right light and shadow is just spectacular.
White peonies have long been my favorite flower and this photo sends waves of happiness wafting through me! Isn’t it fabulous?
And these flowers in tones of pink and, what I call, ashes of roses!
Hydrangea? Yep, Nancy photographs them in all their glory.
Calla lilies, gardenia and ranunculus….so feminine and soft.
She’s working on a line of cards using her photographs with soft graphics, I want the entire collection!
Nancy will be launching her Fine Art Photography, featuring these wonderful floral beauties and more! She also continues her work with portrait photography, capturing the soul of her subject in magical ways! You can visit Nancy’s website here to view her beautiful floral photography: http://fineartamerica.com/art/photographs/nancy+kirkpatrick/all
Simple Sundays
I love the music of “Bliss”. The piece I’m sharing today is entitled “Sunrise”. Get your cup of coffee or tea, sit back and relax. The holidays are upon us so take a moment to breathe deeply, calm your mind and be quiet as you listen to this soothing music. It’s a beautiful video too! I’ll be heading off to New Orleans on Tuesday, but I’ll be writing from there! So much to share in one of my favorite cities! We’ll be enjoying time with family and eating way too much delicious creole and French food! It’s always a wonderful time that we look forward too! Wishing you all a blessed Sunday with the peace of understanding and the company of family and friends!
On The Radio
I had a great time talking with Jane Bangert and GeeGee Adams about this year’s Cassina Garden Club Tour of Homes. This year’s event promises to be a real treat! Listen in as we discuss all of the wonderful things in store for you to see and enjoy!
https://soundcloud.com/thepermanenttourist/show-59-november-18th-20th
Finally Friday!
I have been having more fun exploring all of the delicious combinations of olive oils and vinegars available at Golden Isles Olive Oil. Mr. T and I have embarked on an 80/20 version of the Paleo diet. We’re feeling better, losing weight just in time to go to New Orleans for Thanksgiving and the food I’m preparing is delicous, thanks to the right seasonings and condiments. I sometimes wait until the last minute to decide what I’m making for dinner, which was the case on this particular day. We are still including a bit of dairy, not daily, but we haven’t cut it out entirely. So you’ll see some dairy in the cauliflower recipe I’m featuring along with this fabulous Chicken Provence I dreamed up. This was so delicious, seconds were requested and offered since we followed all of the rules!
Chicken Provence
Cauliflower Gratin with Fresh Baby Kale
Merlot
Chicken Provence
Marinade:
1/4 cup Wild Mushroom and Sage Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Lavender Balsamic Vinegar
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon Sangre de Cristo Spice Company, Herbes de Provence
1/4 tesaspsoon SDCS dry mustard
sea salt & pepper to taste
1/2 dry white wine
Mix all ingredients together. Place two large, boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a large ziploc bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken and refrigerate for 2 – 4 hours, turning every half hour or so.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a cast iron skillet, or other oven proof skillet, heat 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil over medium high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear for four minutes on each side. Pour the marinade over the chicken and place in the preheated oven for one half hour. Remove and thinly slice the chicken for serving.
Cauliflower Gratin with Fresh Baby Kale
1/2 head of cauliflower, separated into flowerets (this should make about four cups of cauliflower)
4 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup shredded gruyere cheese
Place the cauliflower in a pan and add the butter and heavy cream. Cover and lightly simmer for about fifteen minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender enough to mash. Season with salt and pepper and add the shredded cheese, stir to combine. Heat through and serve with chopped baby kale. I got my kale at Uncle Don’s….always fresh and so delicious!
