HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Recipes For Tailgating and the Holidays Plus A Giveaway!

With football season in high gear and the holidays fast approaching I thought it would be a good time to share some wonderful recipes the folks at Bryan Products sent me.      I was recently contacted by them and asked if I would feature their products on my blog.    I would receive a sample package of Bryan products and some great recipes.      When I got the products and recipes, I couldn’t wait to try out some of the recipes.    Around here, we enjoy Bryan sausage and Little Smokies.   

Here in Alabama we are about to experience the biggest football game of the year ---- the Iron Bowl, Auburn vs. Alabama, to be played  the day after Thanksgiving this year.      And while we’ve been invited to Auburn to tailgate with my best friend and her husband, we will be babysitting my Birmingham granddaughter while her mama and daddy head to Auburn for a day of fun and food.

So here are some great Bryan recipes you might like to try, either for tailgating or for the upcoming holidays:

 

      BIG GAME SNACKERS (45 servings)

45 links – Bryan Cocktail Smokies

2 pkgs. fresh bacon slices

Mustard or barbeque sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Wrap each sausage with 1 slice bacon

Place wrapped sausages on shallow baking pan

Bake about 15 minutes or until bacon is crisply cooked

Dip in mustard of BBQ sauce

BRYAN COCKTAIL SMOKIES IN PEACH BARBEQUE SAUCE

1 can (15 oz) peaches in juice

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon mustard

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

2 pkgs. Bryan Cocktail Smokies

Place un-drained peaches, vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, garlic, cinnamon and ginger in blender.   Cover and process until smooth

Open Bryan Cocktail Smokies and drain off liquid

Place peach sauce and Smokies in medium saucepan.   Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer on low for 5 minutes

Carefully pour mixture in a 3-4 quart slow cooker

Cover, heat on low for 30-40 minutes or until flavors are blended

I made this recipe and it was just wonderful.    I served the smokies with various cheeses and crackers

 

 

 

CLASSIC JAMBALAYA (24 servings)

2 oz. (1/4) cup vegetable oil

2 1/2 cups diced onion

2 oz. (4-6) cloves garlic, minced

4 cups converted rice

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 can diced canned tomatoes, reserve liquid

1 1/2 lb. Bryan Smoked Sausage

1 cup Bryan 1/4” diced ham

Salt to taste

White pepper to taste

In heavy saucepan heat oil.   Add onions and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add rice and stir 1 minute.   Add chicken stock and reserved tomato liquid

Cover pan and cook on low for 20 minutes

Add diced tomatoes, Bryan Smoked Sausage, Bryan ham and stir well.   Return cover and simmer on low until much of the liquid has been absorbed.

Season liberally with salt and white pepper

Serve with crackers

BRYAN SMOKED SAUSAGE AND POTATO BAKE (6-8 servings)

8 oz. Bryan Smoked Sausage cut into 1/4” thick round slices

4 cups potatoes – large diced

1/2 cup yellow onion – medium diced

1/2 cup green pepper – medium diced

1/2 cup red pepper – medium diced

2 tablespoon canola oil

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Black Pepper

Place sausage, potatoes, onion and peppers in large bowl along with oil.   Mix together making sure all ingredients are evenly coated, then sprinkle with salt and pepper

Placed mixed ingredients down center of long piece of foil (about 2 feet long).    Fold in half lengthwise.     Then fold in sides, sealing all ingredients.    Double line the pouch so you don’t lose any juice.

Place on top of grill over medium heat 18-20 minutes.    Check for doneness by checking tenderness of potatoes.   

Alternatively, place ingredients in a casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

TRADITIONAL PIGS IN A BLANKET

32 Bryan cocktail smokies

1 can refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Cut each dinner roll in quarters

Wrap each cocktail smokie link in one quarter roll

Place wrapped sausages on ungreased cookie sheet

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown

Serve warm

These are just a few recipes that you can use with Bryan Smoked Sausages or Cocktail Smokies.

Now Bryan would love for you to share your favorite recipe using either the Bryan Sausages or Cocktail Smokies by leaving a comment on this post.      You can share a creative recipe using Bryan products for holidays, parties, tailgating, etc.       Or you can share a favorite tailgate experience and your “fan story” for your favorite team!    The giveaway will go to the most creative recipe or fan story.

The contest starts today Monday, November  23rd  and will end at midnight Wednesday, November 25th.  I will announce the winner on Friday, November 27th  (Black Friday).        If you are selected, Bryan will send you a lip-smackin’ sampler of Bryan products.

Good luck!   I can’t wait to read your recipes and/or tailgating stories!

Small Town America Tour

We had the best time on our little back road tour.     This was planned as a very relaxing trip, no special places to stop unless we saw something interesting.    Of course, food was always at the top of our itinerary!     

We started out around 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning  hitting I-65 heading north.     We planned on getting off in Clanton and traveling on Highway 31 as far as we could.

    

Just outside of Montgomery looking toward Prattville

Sons of the Confederacy flag

 

Heading into downtown Clanton and some pretty scenery along the way

  

 

 

This old antebellum home was behind a fast food place where we stopped.   Unfortunately, it was in pretty bad shape.

 

From Clanton we arrived in Birmingham on Highway 31.    Hwy. 31 is also known as the Old Montgomery Highway or the Birmingham Highway.    It just happens to run by the Riverchase Galleria (as well as Old Time Pottery – and yes, we stopped there for a little Christmas shopping).

 

Skyline of downtown Birmingham

Just outside of Birmingham we next came to Warrior, Alabama where I snapped this old car.     My dad and mom had one just like it when I was a little girl!

This looked like a great place to stop to eat some good old fashioned barbeque and it was soooo good!

 

 

Here’s Big Daddy himself!

Continuing on Hwy. 31 we headed to Cullman, Alabama.

Cullman is home to the Ava Maria Grotto.    A monk who lived on the grounds of  a Catholic mission carved all of this work at the Grotto!    It is stunning to see his work!

Looking down the path at the beginning of the tour of the grotto.

Back to the town on Friday we discovered that Cullman was going to host their annual Christmas tour the next day.     All the shops were decked out for Christmas.

 

Years ago when my mom and I visited relatives in Cullman, I discovered this place called Southern Architecture and Accents.    Outside the shop was this huge urn planed with a fern.   Let’s go inside and check it out….

   

This place is unbelievable!    It stretches on forever with one-of-a-kind architectural pieces.    Most would be for a big home and a large pocketbook!

 

 

Way out of my price range but just gorgeous….

  

 

 

 

 

 
I actually saw this piece in their workshop.    Loved the color and I got a little sample of the wood to bring home to use in the future.

 

We saw this store around the corner and it turned out to be my favorite place.    

Lots of hand painted harlequins throughout the store.     One of the rooms was full of nothing but lamps and lamp shades.     I can’t believe I didn’t take a picture of all those lamps…

This large picture was so pretty

I would love to have a cozy spot like this to read or watch TV.     Again, more harlequins!

  

 

 

These were paper maiche (sp?) Christmas ornaments and only about $12 each!

More pretties…

 

Another wall painted with creme and gold

Then we started driving around the historical home district.     This was just a little building next to the one below

According to the sign outside of this cute little cottage, this was the first home built in Cullman

 

  I had to take this of these chairs in the side yard of this home.    I just got two chairs and a table like this from the lady who held my mom’s estate sale.    She had them painted red but I’m going to paint them white next spring

Look at that tree in the yard with the chairs….took my breath away!

 

I loved this little house and especially the front door.    This is the door I want on the front of my home which looks a lot like this one (painted brick, etc)

 

    

There were lots of planted window boxes which made me want to come home and plant something in mine

 

 

 

Moving on the next day to Decatur, Alabama.    This first house I fell in love with.    It’s hard to tell from the pictures but it was so darling.     I’m sure the lady living here thought we were stalking her…she was working in her yard and I made hubby go around the block several times so I could just drool over this cottage.    Wait till you see what I spotted around back on her porch!

 

Look at her pumpkins and gourds all piled up here..so cute.

And her windowbox….to die for!

 

But look here!    Drop cloths on her porch!     I had already planned to do a drop cloth treatment on the frame of my gazebo in the back next year but isn’t this stunning?

 

    

  Cotton fields of Alabama!

Our hotel was in the downtown historic district, right across the street from antique and speciality shops

Pretty little tablescape in this window

Looking down the street at the shopping area.    You can see the hotel where we stayed in the far right corner

   

Lobby in our hotel 

    

  

  More windowboxes!

 

 

  

And finally heading home!

 

We had a wonderful time.     We even stopped at a yard sale Saturday morning in Decatur where I scooped up a rusty-looking candlestick for $1.00 and a huge rattan thing-y for my front door for 5.00.    

Yesterday (Wednesday) I had the pleasure of meeting a lady who had made a comment on my blog when I posted about Taylor and the Christmas on the Coosa pageant.     She works downtown close to me so we met for lunch.     I think it’s the beginning of a great friendship!    Hi Michelle!

Also, on Monday I’ll be giving ya’ll some great recipes using Bryan sausages and Little Smokies.      More on that soon……until then, stay safe!

Back Roads and Small Southern Towns

Tomorrow hubby and I will head out bright and early for a few days.    We have no specific destination in mind….just drive toward north Alabama to see the fall foliage traveling the backroads of Alabama and  passing through small southern towns.   We hope to see some sights like this:

….while driving down a beautiful tree lined road like this….

and I have no doubt we will see something very much like this:

 

 

I will be sharing lots of photos with ya’ll when we get back.            See ya’ll then!

Christmas On The Coosa

Saturday kicked off the Christmas season in the little town where my daughter and her family live with the Christmas On The Coosa pageant.    There are several categories and Taylor wanted to participate in the Petite Miss Christmas On The Coosa.     All along, we never talked about “winner or losers” but that it would be fun to do and MiMi (me) would have her a fabulous dress made!    Some of her friends from ballet were also participating so Taylor was really excited  and looking forward to having a good time. 

After an initial meeting and one practice session, today was the big day.     Of course, the mamas (and grandmammas) were more nervous than the little girls.    

We tried a couple of bows in her hair to see which one we liked best.  Taylor’s hair is so thick (like her mom’s and mine) that her curls fell out before we left and we had to re-roll (is that a word) her hair again.

 

I found a wonderful lady that makes beautiful clothes for little girls.     Taylor’s dress is a simple “pillowcase dress” that ties on the shoulders.    I had her initials monogrammed in white,  just lovely. 

 

Lots of the little girls congregated in the bathroom to dress and primp.    Taylor and her friend posed for this sweet picture.     I also surprised Taylor with a little pearl bracelet with a silver cross.    She had seen one she liked a few weeks ago and I decided to gift her with one for her special event.

Each girl was asked a few questions about their likes, interests, and hobbies.    Here Taylor is telling the interviewer her favorite singer is Taylor Swift.    And yes, she is barefoot….it’s a Southern thing for little girls to wear their heirloom dresses and go barefoot!    She got her toenails painted a ballet slipper pink.

    Doing “the walk”….she was so poised for such a little girl

 

How could you not fall for that face?

 

Beautiful mom and daughter

Taylor and one of her cousins

 

Taylor and her sweet friend Mary Ashley.     You might recognize Mary Ashley as being the daughter of Melissa at A Little Loveliness.     

While neither Taylor nor Mary Ashley won a crown or title, no one can deny these girls are winners in anyone’s book.

I was so proud of how Taylor handled herself.     She went to have a good time and that’s exactly what happened.    It didn’t bother her in the least she did not get crowned.    Now that’s a winner to me!