The Competition

I've had several people ask me, "are your pies as good as Armstrong's"? My response has always been, "I can't say because I have not tried their product". Today, I had the opportunity to try their Blueberry and Chocolate Home Style Turnovers. Once I purchased the product I realized that they are not called "Fried Pies" but "Turnovers" as these are definitely a Mass Production product and not the Homemade product that Grandma used to prepare. As a customer and IF I had never had the priviledge of tasting my own product I would have given it a grade of "A" -but- since I have had the priviledge of consuming my own product I would have to give the Armstrong product a "C". The crust is no where as flaky as my product. The filling is nothing more than a filling product as you would find in a filled donut. Plus there was ALOT of area that had no filling in it. At least I can now answer when asked that I honestly feel that I have a product that is much better than the Armstrong Home Style Turnover. And keep in mind this is comparing two of their flavors that are NOT my best products. There were no Peach and Apple for me to do a comparison. So for all of you out there that say they have a great product you need to give mine a try ... they are the Best Around!

Another throw-together

Today we had left-over throw-together and not to pat myself on the back but it was FANTASTIC! Like I said yesterday it must have been because my worst food critic commented about it 3 or 4 times and ate 4 bowls yesterday! Today the food critic prepared a throw-together so we will see if it holds up to my Cabbage Soup. The critic is preparing a Homemade Vegetable Soup throw-together but is actually using "my recipe" with a few substitutions. It's got everything good in it ... greenbeans, peas, limas, corn, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. so once it has time to simmer and come together we will give it a try and see how it stands up to my Cabbage Soup. Have a great cooking weekend!

Throw-Together

Today I took the time to make Cabbage Soup Throw-Together. It has pretty much everything but the kitchen sink in it, but it's pretty healthy and comforting. Cabbage of course, tomatoes, beef, carrots, potatoes can't go wrong with that. It was a little crunchy when I ate it because I hadn't given it time to do it's thing but when the wife ate it she said it was PERFECT so much so that she didn't wash her bowl because she knew she was going to want more. So I must have done good if my worst critic enjoyed it. So we will see what tomorrow's throw-together brings. Enjoy!

Thanks for the Comments!

I wanted to send this post out to both Lee and Dan for your comments over the weekend. It is great to know that people are actually reading my Blog. As for Dan's statement concerning Chocolate Fried Pies that was a request we received quite often when we had product at Pawbowsky's http://pawbowskys.com/ Dog House in Murfreesboro, TN. We even provided them with some for a short period of time. But I was not happy with the results and therefore discontinued the item. To me they did not have a rich chocolate flavor. I have performed many test sessions and now feel that I have a product that provides both the rich chocolate flavor and still provides my signature flaky crust. They are not my best sellers and that is why I don't promote them ... but for the Chocolate Lovers in the World I think they would be very pleased. Should anyone have any other special requests please feel free to let me know.

Anyone grilling yet?

What's your plans for the weekend? Has anyone out there started grilling yet? I usually grill year around but this winter has been so harsh I haven't done any grilling since the late Fall. Tell me what's your favorite thing to grill and do you use charcoal or gas? I have a gas grill but I have a secret that makes people think I use a smoker. I grill a mean mouth-watering porkchop! Today for lunch we had steamed rice and cauliflower with baked chicken. I have to say the chicken was the best I have ever fixed. It marinated for 3 days and that made a remarkable difference in both the taste and the tenderness. So let me know what you're grilling! Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

So "someone" is reading this thing!

I'm glad to know at least 1 person is reading my blog. As you can see I hadn't posted since last Friday because I felt I was wasting my time and felt neglected. And then today I was surprised to see that I had 1 comment ... Thank You! The food sounded wonderful! Oh SPAIN ... I see ... if there is anyone else out there that is reading this blog - Jane (poor thing ~ we feel so sorry for her ~ NOT!) lives in England and dining out for her and Steve consist of going to places like LONDON or SPAIN. Makes dining at the ... well, actually nothing here even comes close. She's even dined or had tea at The Ritz Carlton. We are so envious! To answer your question Jane a Chess Pie is a Southern delight that consists of sugar, eggs, cornmeal, butter and a few other secret ingredients. I'm not sure what it may compare to over there. Thanks again for the comment and I hope you will continue to enjoy my blog.

Finally FRIDAY!

It's been a long week at work and I am looking forward to the weekend off. With Valentine's Day being this Sunday I was wondering ... will you be cooking for your someone special ~or~ will you be going out to your favorite restaurant? If you are cooking "something special" for your "someone special" and care to share ... I would love to hear what you are cooking.

Ready for Summer!

I don't know about ya'll but I am ready for summertime. Hopefully this summer I will be able to put the Hot Dog Cart out for more business. I used it last year during the Street Festival and it drew alot of attention. I would really like to buy a Commercial Concession Trailer -but- that just isn't a possibility at this time.

Here is a link to one I would REALLY like to buy. http://nashville.craigslist.org/bfs/1594163786.html

Guess I can dream!

SUGGESTIONS ...

It appears that no one out there is impressed with my blog enough to come back each day and read it much less comment to it ... SO if you do happen upon it and have SUGGESTIONS please let me know what I can add to make you come back day after day to see what's new. If I could add smell-o-vision I would because there is always something smelling good in our kitchen!

Does ANYONE cook anymore?

OK people I am beginning to feel like I am blogging to outer space here ... I've not received any THROW-TOGETHER ideas, NO responses to my Super Bowl weekend blog ... is ANYONE even reading this thing or am I just wasting my time? OR maybe there just aren't any CHEFS left in the world! Seems like everyone thinks a meal is something out of a can, out of the freezer or at the closest Burger King, Mickey D's or KFC. Children growing up today have no clue to what greens, squash, okra, corn, turnips, hot water cornbread ~aka~ HOME COOKING or SOUL FOOD is. No wonder so many people have health issues. I will keep blogging until I know for certain that I am the only one reading this thing and that all of my thoughts are going unnoticed. Prove me WRONG!

Weekend Cooking anyone?

What did ya'll cook this Super Bowl weekend? I bought a rice cooker and so I tried out some various rice dishes. I have to say the rice cooker did a better job than I thought it would. I also cooked some Homemade MeatBalls and Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies. So as you can tell I spent the weekend cooking and of course watching the Super Bowl yesterday. Let me know what you cooked this weekend.

Another dreary day - but - it's FRIDAY!

Even though it is another cold and rainy day here at least it is F-R-I-D-A-Y! I am thankful for that. And I don't have to work this weekend, which is always something to be thankful for. I know some of you reading this will think that is not nice since there are so many people out of work ~but~ at my age and after 31-years of service 5 days a week are too many ... sometimes. And for those of you who know me ... I mean REALLY know me ... will know why I say that. This is Super Bowl weekend so I will probably be cooking up something tasty for that. Not sure what right now ... the Spaghetti Bologonese with a jacket potato mentioned by Jane in her comment to my post yesterday sounds fabulous! If she would like to come "across the pond" and cook up some of that ... come right over! Exactly what is a jacket potato? Jane always has tasty ideas to share. To all reading I am going to stop at this and if I don't blog over the weekend you will know it is because I am sitting on the couch taking it easy or busy in the kitchen. Hope all of you have a great, tasty weekend.

Rainy and Cold today

It would be a great day for either chili or homemade vegetable soup. Too bad I've got to go to work. Another day maybe. So what are ya'll having to eat on this cold rainy day ... let me know!

Thanks to all of you who commented!

Your kind words are greatly appreciated! As for the question about a "Cookbook" that is something we have been working on ... I definitely have enough recipes. If we ever get one together and printed I will include it here on my page along with all the details and pictures. Please tell all your friends about my page! Have a great day everyone.

What's cooking today?

Hello, I am sending this post out there to see what my fellow Southern Chefs are cooking today? Let me hear from you!