Looking for a new routine to keep that back-to-school weight at bay? After giving a shout-out to our favorite Southern beauty queen this morning, I just couldn’t resist giving you a little workout inspiration to mix things up a bit. Please note that all exercise should be done wearing a specific uniform: leggings, silk, & espadrilles wedges. Trust me ladies, your booty will thank you!
Tag Archives: Southern
Why This Belle Covets Veronica Beard
While Spring styles are debuting in NYC for Fashion Week, let’s take a look at your Fall wardrobe.
Fact: When I laid my big brown eyes on Veronica Beard‘s Fall collection, my little Southern heart went aflutter. There are several things a Southern woman looks for when choosing her Fall wardrobe aside from the obvious fashion-foward considerations…
1.) We like cuts that give a little tip of the hat (or coonskin cap as the case may be) to the past.
2.) We love having at least one element that makes us feel ultra feminine–whether it’s a touch of pink or a silk skirt.
3.) There must be sass. Every Southern girl has an attitude, and we’re proud of it. We’re strong, we’re opinionated, and we’re self-reliant. The most important accessory a belle wears is that glint in her eye that tells the world not to mess with her.
So, with that in mind, it should be easy to guess why I’ve been swooning over Veronica Beard‘s Fall collection since it’s debut. These girls may be in Manhattan, but they have enough soul for a gal from Tennessee.
A girl that wears Veronica Beard know how to shoot a gun.
She loves her daddy.
Her childhood crush was Davy Crockett himself.
She can forage for her own food, and knows how to season an iron skillet.
She may even possess the ability to talk to animals.
The phrase “…wild as a mink but sweet as a soda pop”? That was written for her.
Detour by Way of the Shindig
You know what I really love to do in the summer? Take an unexpected road trip with my honey! Inevitably fabulosity always ensues. For example, this weekend we decided to take a slight detour on our drive to the beach and stop off in Florence, Alabama for Billy Reid’s Shindig. Talk about Southern hospitality! Florence was one of the friendliest towns we’ve ever visited–from the waiters to the mayor. And, thanks to the Shindig, was also full of great music and fantastic food! Highlights included St. Paul and the Broken Bones, JD McPherson, and meeting Mr. Billy Reid himself. There was also a brunch by Chef John Currence that I will be dreaming about days from now and a fascinating panel on “Telling Stories in the Modern South” with John Paul White, Natalie Chanin, Billy Reid, Michael Sellers of Good People Brewing (which we are now in love with), and New Orleans’ chef Donald Link moderated by John T. Edge of the Southern Foodways Alliance. Here are a few pics from the weekend…
Television’s Southern Sage
Last week, with all the unspeakable things found on the newsfeed every night, the only thing I wanted to do was curl up on the couch and watch a little Andy Griffith. I know it may seem silly, but it was just nice to escape for a little while into a time when everything seemed to make a little more sense–happy families and friends in a small town just gives me a little more faith in humanity. Doesn’t it you?
So tonight, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite lessons from The Andy Griffith Show in hopes that it warms your heart and brings a little smile to your face.
1.) Anytime you can, take an afternoon to picnic with family & friends.
2.) Parent + child bonding time is of the utmost importance.
3.) When someone you love makes you something inedible, sneak into the kitchen and secretly exchange the terrible something for a tastier something. Then, you won’t have to lie when she asks what you think.
4.) You’re never too old for a little dress-up.
5.) Be ready for action at all times… & always dress the part!
6.) Always be willing to offer your friends a place to stay when they’ve had a little too much.
7.) When your best gal wants to run for council, your time would best be used just making posters with your mouth shut.
8.) If you want to feel better about the state of the world, put the Christmas episode from the first season in your Netflix queue. (It’s episode 11.) You can thank me later.
9.) When in doubt, go fishin’… or, at if you’re anything like me, just lay out by the lake.
10.) There is no better way to end an evening than with a little singin’ on the porch.
So tell me: What television shows do you use for a little escape?
A Sick Day Calls for a Hot Toddy
Today, I took a sick day (as did many in America if you watch NBC News). Tomorrow, we will be back to your normally scheduled programming. In the meantime, how about a little hot toddy? Sure to cure all your coughs, fever, aches, & pains.
How to Make a Hot Toddy
1. Boil water, and make yourself a cup of tea.
2. To that add: a squeeze of lemon, a bit of honey, and a shot of bourbon.
Small Steps a Beautiful Life
Secrets of a Belle is all about simple moves you can take to create the beautiful life we all desire. Today’s small step is so simple, but I can tell you that it has had a definite effect on my peace of mind. We subscribe to both The NY Times and the Wall Street Journal, but up until recently we were spending more weeknights watching shows in our Netflix queue than reading. So at the beginning of the year, I decided that I would try to read a bit of each paper in the evenings, and then boldly attempt the Times crossword. A simple act that’s had a big impact. I feel a lot more calm reading the paper at the end of the day rather than staring at my computer screen and (*bonus*) I feel a little smarter too. If you’re stuck in a rut, as we were, let me suggest closing the laptop or iPad and picking up the paper.
Connecting Through Food & My Favorite Brownie Recipe
I consider myself very blessed. I have always loved to cook. My very first memory is of learning to dredge chicken for frying while standing on a chair at my Nanny’s house. Before I was 5, I would put on little cooking shows from the organ bench for an audience of stuffed animals. (Yes, there are videotapes to prove it.) I remember dishtowel aprons in my Aunt Vangie’s giant kitchen around the holidays, watching my grandfather bake bread every weekend, and watching my WooWoo, for hours on end, cook for a houseful of people–completely mesmerized by the authority she seemed to possess over the ingredients. It felt like she could take nothing and somehow manage to feed 40 people at the drop of a hat. (A skill I firmly believe every belle should possess, but we’ll talk about that at a later date.)
I’ve always liked to think that there’s something special about how we approach food in the South. For Southerners, cooking is often a spiritual thing; there is love and passion and history tied into our recipes. However, as I’ve traveled more, I’ve realized that this is true of many cultures and really not at all specific to my own region. Another thing that’s become very apparent is that not everyone is lucky enough to experience ‘being in the kitchen’ like me. Not all children are taught to cook and many come from families that rely on their microwaves and drive-thrus. But I would like to think that there’s something that can be done about this.
Cooking is an invaluable skill. When you cook, you are very aware of where you food comes from and exactly what you’re putting into your bodies and feeding your loved ones. (For a really great read on the science/nutrition part of this, might I suggest Food Rules.) But there’s something more than that: Recipes carry histories. They carry stories along with them and pick up little anecdotes along the way. My college thesis was actually on this very topic, and it has been on my mind again a lot lately.
I know I’m an old soul, but I really do believe in the power of the past to influence and connect us to the here & now. So, with that said, I wanted to start a new series here on the blog of recipes & the stories that go with them. The first recipe I’d like to share with you is actually the very first recipe I ever cooked by myself when I was 6 or 7 years old: WooWoo’s Quick-as-a-Wink Brownies.* I remember that I couldn’t wait to call and tell WooWoo what I’d made… with my father’s supervision to turn the oven on & off, of course! This recipe was a favorite around the Green house because even the most finicky of palates likes brownies, and the recipe is so easy to double. It is also a very easy baking project for beginners so I hope you’ll try it!
Ingredients for the Brownies:
1 C (2 sticks) soft margarine or soft salted butter
2 C sugar
2 tsp vanilla
6 eggs (beaten)
– – – – – – – – – – – –
1 C flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 C cocoa
– – – – – – – – – – – –
1 C chopped walnuts or pecans (Husband doesn’t eat nuts so I use this as one of the toppings!)
Ingredients for the Icing:
1 C confectioners’ sugar
2 Tbsp. cream
1 Tbsp. cocoa
1 Tbsp. butter
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
1.) Combine the first 4 ingredients one at a time, beating after each entry. I do this part in my KitchenAid, but a hand mixer works just as well.
2.) In a separate bowl, sift together the next 4 ingredients (aka the dry ingredients).
3.) Add you dry ingredients a little bit at a time to your wet until just mixed.
4.) Fold in the nuts.
5.) Grease a baking dish. (WooWoo used a 15″x10″ but I use a 9″x13″ aluminum pan) Pour in your mixture, then lift it about 1/2in. above the counter and drop it a couple of time to get rid of any air bubbles.
6.) Bake for 20-25 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Then, allow to cool.
Now for the Icing…
1.) Combine ingredients in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a boil.
2.) Spread over brownies. Let set and then cut into squares. Serve with icecream, whipped cream, & nuts!
Tips & Tricks:
Baking powder should be light, fluffy, & seem nearly weightless. A sure sign to know if you’re baking powder is bad is if it is difficult to get a spoonful. A good rule of thumb is to write the date right on your can and replace the powder once a year.
My cousin Tas prefers a denser brownie so he only uses 1/2tsp baking powder, and the darkest cocoa he can find.
My grandmother *loved* the icing and always doubled the recipe. I, however, hardly ever eat icing and have actually left it off entirely on several occasions… it’s good either way!
*Originally, this recipe came from a newspaper clipping my aunt sent WooWoo from New York so it is worth noting that this recipe has been passed down in our family; even if we weren’t the first to come up with it.
Classic: Gone with the Wind
Do you have a copy of Gone with the Wind
Recently, I watched the movie
1.) Well brought-up girls take naps in the afternoon.
2.) It’s bad form to show your bosom before 3 in the afternoon.
3.) “With enough courage, you can do without a reputation.”
Presenting: The 1st Ever How-To from Bestie Matt
This morning I am super excited to introduce you to my best friend, Matt. Not only did he decorate a cubicle junior year like a boss and sing all the words to every Disney movie made between 1987 & 1995 with me while we were in college, he also happens to be one of the craftiest people you will ever meet in real life. So, needless to say, I was super excited when he called to tell me about this How-To he’d put together for us. It is a super cute project that can translate any time of year. So without further ado, meet Bestie Matt…
Fewer things go together like southern belles and mason jars. But southern belles and mason jars *covered in glitter* would be a match made in the Heaven all southern belle’s hair strives to reach. When I was brainstorming for an idea, I thought, “What is more southern than a mason jar?” The next question was, “How do I ensure my front door doesn’t look like a recycling bin?” Welcome glitter to the situation.
What You’ll Need:
Jar Lids
Glitter
Glue
Drill or Metal Punch
Office Brad
Hot Glue Gun
Ribbon
The first step was to lay out how I wanted the wreath to look. This should be a close approximation. I ended up using a few less lids than I originally thought as I began connecting the lids together.
Next, select the colors of glitter that you want to use. I chose colors of fall. I glittered a few of each color.
Next, I laid out the colors in a pattern that I liked. Once you lay them out, mark each one with a black dot where the connection point between the lids will be.
Either using a drill or a metal punch, make a hole in the lid where the connection will be made. After the hole is created, place the insert back into the rim of the lid. I used a dab of hot glue to hold it together.
Using an office brad, connect the two together. To ensure a tight connection, put some hot glue on the open end of the brad. The more connections you make, the more sturdy the wreath will be.
The last touch is to add a bow to the front and you have a festive and southern touch to your decor!
Debra Shriver: Take It With You
Let me start by telling you about an afternoon in late summer that I spent reading in Central Park. I sat down on a park bench next to The Met, the different languages of the passing park guests were like music, and 2 hours later I looked up and realized I was still sitting in the same spot in the middle of Manhattan. I had been lost in New Orleans–or, more accurately, in a love story to New Orleans. I was reading Debra Shriver’s first book: Stealing Magnolias.
Several days later, I found myself near the top of the Hearst building sitting in front of quite a spread: iced tea, pimento cheese, deviled eggs, & a few of the other Southern delicacies that are so hard to come by in the city. In a city of 8 million people, I’d found a corner of Southern hospitality that made this overwhelmed Southern girl feel right at home thanks to the *lovely* Debra Shriver.
When I asked her about how these Southern roots had influenced her life in New York, she said simply, “I take it with me.” That seems to be her way of saying that the people and places she’s come from–the traditions, the food, the language, the lifestyle–inform her everyday life.
Raised in Alabama, Debra comes from four generations of working Southern women who not only taught her to have a good work ethic, but also taught her to make a mean jambalaya. Whether it’s hosting a dinner party in New Orleans or Southern hors d’oeuvres in her New York office, you know immediately that this lady is the real deal. She’s the epitome of a belle: poised, driven, and the perfect hostess. “I can leave New York at 7am,” she said, “arrive in New Orleans by 9:30, and feed 40-60 friends a great Southern meal by 6.”
Today, Debra is self-proclaimed “New-New,” she and her husband divide their time between New Orleans and New York City. If you’ve ever been to New Orleans or New York, you know that they both seem to be on their own time table. New Orleans is the definition of laid-back. There you can take your time to enjoy the meal, enjoy the music, enjoy the drink… New York, on the other hand, seems to constantly be running at a quicker pace than the moment before. Why, you ask, would Debra choose to be a “New-New”? Because she has this “art of living a more beautiful life” down. It’s not about where she is, it’s about the lifestyle that she takes wherever she goes.
For example, recently the Shrivers down-sized their New York digs. Why, you ask? To move into a historic building where Debra can walk to work every morning instead of getting caught in traffic. (She had to sell several china patterns in the process from what I understand… tragic, I know, but que sera!) She takes the time to get to know her neighbors. She’s invested in the city. She values living and working in historic buildings–in places that have a history & a story of which she and Jerry, her husband, are now a part.
This is also true of her other home in New Orleans. After the devastation of Katrina, the Shrivers were among the first to buy and restore a home. They’d always loved the city: the people, the pace of life, the history, the food. So it seemed only logical that they would put down some roots there. In her first book, Stealing Magnolias, she writes a captivating story of restoration and a love letter of sorts to the city. Her new book, “In the Spirit of New Orleans,” she wrote for people who want to really experience the city.
“In the Spirit of New Orleans” will be released by Assouline next month. Whether you’ve been to New Orleans a million times or are just beginning to plan a trip, this is a book you’ll want on your shelf mainly due to the fact that it gives you a real feel for the city. Shriver’s writing is so vivid, so descriptive. You can almost hear a horn player wailing on the high notes in the corner of a smoky room. She paints a beautiful picture of the mysterious spiritual aspects of New Orleans. And, perhaps a favorite feature of mine, she has loaded the book with resources. Everything from what restaurants to eat at, how to mix a sazerac, and how to translate the language of Mardi Gras. (After all, your first New Orleans cotillion is not to be taken lightly, my dear.)
Where to Read It: on the front porch where you can watch the world walk by
Reading Cocktail of Choice: Sazerac
Get the book, read about the traditions and the history, and then “take something with you.” After all, that’s what the art of living a more beautiful life is really about. What choices do you make that allow you to live a beautiful life regardless of your location? Perhaps it’s walking to work in the city like Debra or turning on a little Louis Armstrong while you cook a big pot of gumbo for dinner (recipe on page 94). Read Debra’s books and then take something from her story of New Orleans. Me? Well, I’m probably going to spend the afternoon listening to a little Ella and learning to make a Ramos Gin Fizz (page 106).
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Notes:
You may have seen my live tweets from the book release party at Marcus Samuelsson’s restaurant in Harlem. If not check them out.
You may also want to follow @DebraShriver on twitter… obviously, she’s fabulous!
