5 Reasons Why Your Food Doesn’t Taste As Good As Your Mama’s

…Or your grandma’s or granddaddy’s or whoever your culinary hero happens to be—personally, I have several!

Anyway, now that we’ve got that settled, please feel free to accept or decline the following holiday cooking Public Service Announcement, from me to you.

LadyG: Seekthebestblog.com

Flat out, your food will never taste as good as mama’s.

Come on now, somebody must tell you why your apple pie is pallid and your fried chicken is fretful. 

Apparently, I am that ‘somebody.’

Yes, my love, I know… It hurts.

But be of good cheer, there is joyful news!

Yes!

I’m here to call out your mistakes and to help you figure out how to fix them.

As such, you may refer to me as your culinary ‘good fairy’ or ‘kitchen witch.’

Allow me to thank you, in advance, for welcoming me into your home.

And so…

Let us commence!

There are at least 5 reasons why you’ll never reach ‘legendary’ cooking status within the realm of mama–and they are as follows:

You chose to use different brands. In the words of my brother, Tack, if you want your food to taste like Mama’s, you gotta buy what Mama buys. So, if Mama used ‘Dixie Crystal,’ do not get ‘Thriftymaid.’

You make unnecessary modifications. Substituting margarine for butter, using the ‘lite’/’light’ version of things, using canola for shortening in the can, Splenda for sugar, or, God forbid, canned fruits and/or vegetables for fresh. Of course, you must follow your doctor’s dietary guidance if you have certain medical conditions.

You fail to time your cooking. Simply put, you cannot start cooking all of your food at the same time. Start slow cooking things first, then gradually cook other items as you go by cooking fast cooking foods last.

You’re doing too much with seasonings and spices. Stop experimenting with everything you ever thought you heard about how to season things. As for my mother, she typically only used about 2 or 3 seasonings. Baking is the only real exception to that rule; however, my mom was decidedly not a baker.

You’re not cooking your food long enough (or vice versa) or not blending, stirring, or mixing long enough for certain items. ‘Nuff said!

Now that you know better, do better! LOL! By the way, there are plenty of other reasons why you can’t beat Mama’s cooking! LOL!

LadyG loves YOU!

*This post is NOT sponsored, brand names shown are for illustrative purposes only. It’s all in fun!


Video:

A Better Way To Meal Prep

LadyG’s butternut squash, mushroom and spinach medley with baked salmon

Stop! 

Don’t waste your time prepping the same or similar meals for a week in advance!

Consider prepping several items in bulk in order to create various combinations so that your taste buds will remain happily stimulated.

Personally, I often prep sides in advance, but I prepare my meats just prior to meal time.  

Steamed Brocolli

For me, it’s a matter of preference since I can’t appreciate the taste of certain meats/seafoods after they have been cooked and reheated—especially in the microwave.

That said, feel free to cook your meat in bulk if that works better for you. 

Of course you could also leave the meat off and make it vegetarian/vegan.

It’s all up to you!

Seriously, you can do this!

Just think about all of the produce that many of us buy and ultimately waste because we didn’t take the time to cook it before it spoiled.

Use that good food!

Here’s a plan:

Go through your fridge/storage bins and find some vegetables that you can prepare in bulk to pair with other items for upcoming meals.

Next, designate time to steam, roast, sauté or bake whatever you have on hand–all in one go!

Recently, I prepped several sides, then combined them later. 

Here’s what I prepped:

  • Steamed broccoli
  • Sautéed mushrooms
  • Roasted butternut squash
  • Baked sweet potatoes

Roasted Butternut Squash

How did I combine them?

So far, I pan seared slices of baked sweet potatoes and drizzled them with honey and a sprinkling of cinnamon. 

Sweet potatoes

On a different day, I sautéed some of the pre-prepped mushrooms and butternut squash—I added a handful of fresh spinach to round it out.

Neither of these meals took more than 5 minutes—excluding the salmon which took a few additional minutes to wash, season and bake.

Anyway, let me know what you think in comments!


Check out the video!

Cooking Tips, Garden Talk, Juicing Complaints and Spiritual Guidance In Less Than Three Minutes

LadyG’s famous collard greens with ham

Today, I am in a random mood so I decided to cull together a few cooking tips along with some pictures from my garden and a quick talk about spirit.

Peep below to get the goods!

Be warned, there’s a bit of salty talk (cussing) in this video. So if you have delicate ears or you are under a certain age–chile, please move on and know that LadyG loves you anyway.

And now…

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Meal Prep with LadyG

This NOT my table! LOL!

Today, I’m bringing you guys along with me in the kitchen while I prepare for Thanksgiving dinner.

In this video, you’ll watch me prep my cornbread for the dressing.

Sorry, there’s no “stuffing” in this Georgia kitchen.

LOL!

Check out the video to see what else I’m doing.

Comment below if you have any questions.

I may upload a follow-up video to show next steps–we shall see.

Enjoy!

I Don’t Like Kale!

And I don’t WANT to HAVE to!

Flat out…

I’ve concluded, after several attempts at it, I just don’t like kale!

I mean, I’ve done pretty much everything I could to make it tolerable to my palate!

Seriously, I’ve massaged it…

I’ve oiled it…

I’ve tossed it…

I’ve seasoned the hell out of it.

And despite all that…

I just don’t like it.

Well, I take that back, I do like it pulverized into oblivion in a smoothie.

Other than that…

I just don’t like kale!

Do you have a food that you feel kinda pressured to like?

In the words of my Southern playmates of yore:

“I said, I meant it, I’m here to represent it!”

I am a proud veggie lover who actually hates kale!

Good day.

Chef Daddy: Pizza Night Fail

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Yeah…so it’s been a minute since I told a story about my wonderful father whom my mother often referred to as “the black Clark W. Griswold.”

And that, he is!

Anyway, one random Friday night in 1982, on the rare occassion that my Dad was off work, we planned to have a family pizza night!

YAAASSSS!

Well…Er…

Let me advise you to please hold your excitement because THIS pizza night, unfortunately, did NOT involve Pizza Hut…

Nor did it include Godfathers…

and Dominos was nowhere to be found!

Uh oh….

THIS pizza night was compliments of my Daddy!

Ugh!

And so…

In the pursuit of prime pizza ingredients, Dad hopped in his 260-Zx and drove down to the local Winn Dixie to purchase a box of Chef Boyardee Family Pizza…

Just like the one pictured above.

Ta Da!!!!!

Now then…

It is important to note that all of the ingredients to any normal pizza are NOT included in the box.

Did I have to actually say that?

Anyway, with that being the case, my Dad was left to his own devices which can be quite problematic to say the least!

So, off he goes over to the refrigerated section where he bypassed the pepperoni, and made a beeline for a huge box of country sausages!

Yes, my loves, you read that correctly!

The man bought Roger Wood Country sausages just like these:

Screen Shot 2019-06-01 at 12.35.16 PM

Ok..

After Dad’s quick trip to the store, he commenced to get down to the business of preparing pizza for the family!

Being the genius that he is, he properly followed all of the directions, as given by our dear Mr. Boyardee.

But then, in a tragic twist of events, he decided to veer from the script by cutting up several links of those Roger Wood Sausages to be gingerly placed on top of his edible masterpiece.

Next, of course, he baked it!

And when it was done, we overlooked the fact that Daddy’s pizza was

completely drench with about a liter of Roger Wood sausage oil…

notwithstanding all of the grease from the hoop cheese that he piled on that sucker!

We overlooked the odd smell of the canned pizza sauce which was now inextricably married to this horridly fake Italian cuisine tomfoolery!

Yes!

We overlooked ALL. Of. THAT!

And

we

ate

that

pizza!

Fast forward about two hours…

I spent the rest of the night puking up everything that I had ever eaten in the year of our LORD 1981 and, no doubt, ’82.

Baby, trust me when I tell you that I didn’t touch another slice of pizza until late 1986!

Rest assured, my Daddy gave us all a night to remember!

But what else do you expect from the black Clark W. Griswold?

By the way… don’t tell him, but I bought this God awful thing to give him for Father’s Day because it is sooooooooo Dad!

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Seriously?

Who needs a hot dog cooked any faster?

The answer?

My Dad!

Love you Daddy!

-LadyG

NOTE:  Please check out Daddy’s stories about Railroad life under the category “True Railroad Stories.”

 

 

 

 

A Charming Southern Cottage in Augusta

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Lady G of Seattle at a cottage in Summerville (Augusta, GA)

Salutations!

After last week’s post about my visit home, I got a lot of questions from people who were much too chicken to post a comment on the blog, asking about the accomodations in Augusta.

Well, basically, my dear friend, Lady G of Seattle, rented an Airbnb during the holidays and I must say that she stumbled upon a hidden GEM!

To be specific, this darling little cottage was nestled in a tony section of Augusta known as Summerville.

Now…

If you are a fan of the idea of Southern class, grace, charm, civility and hospitality, this type of place will DEFINITELY exceed your expectations!

According to Lady G of Seattle, the host at this cottage, Mr. —….don’t ask me his name…was the penultimate proprietor! She shared that his main goal was to ensure that all of his guest’s needs were promptly met.

Indeed, this visit was a much needed positive shift away from a world filled with folks hell-bent on hatred and destruction!

And so…

If you’re ever in Augusta, consider staying at a Summerville cottage like this one.

They are absolutely approved and endorsed by the Ladies G!

Love and light,

LadyG 😘💋💋  Don’t forget to like, follow and share!

 

Thanksgiving Week 2018 with LadyG

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Hi Guys!

I hate I missed you on Thanksgiving, but I pray that all went well, and you are blessed and content! 💋

Please feel free to drop by comments to let me know how you are doing.  I really do look forward to that.

And so…I thought about it and decided that it was about time I did a good emptying of the old iphone.

I hope you don’t mind 🙂

Hell, it don’t really matter cuz imma do it anyway! LOL!!!

Anywhats, here are some shots from this past week.

Warning…if you are dieting, there is some food porn…but there are also some meal options to get you back on the healthy side of things.

You can thank my dear son for that.

As an aside, I did enjoy a candlelit meal with someone special which consisted of  Dover Sole with Fingerling Potatoes and Haricot Verts…

or…Green beans for us country folk!

LOL!

There was also a glass of Prosecco and dessert involved.

Oooh chile! Let me hush….sorry…no pictures! LOL!

With that…Let’s go!

 

 

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Black Friday!  YAAASSS!  Lady G’s in the building!  I was shopping for ME! LOL!!!

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Blogging in my recliner!  Resting up for the week to come 🙂

Love and light to you all!

Remember to check me out at https://alluringintuitive.com/

Have an awesome week!

LadyG 😘💋💋

Happy Mother’s Day 2018

2018-Mother'sDay Flowers
A gift from my children!

Greetings Friends and Family!

Lady G is happily relaxing on this lovely Mother’s Day!

My children surprised me with flowers, candy and brunch!

I also got a fitbit to help me get in shape!

Smile!

No doubt, I am so blessed.

BUT…

I can’t help missing my own mother.

There are so many of us who know that destination all too well.

Alas…it is a place in which we cannot dwell…

Life demands that we move forward and continue to grow; being fully present for our own children and for those whom we love and who love us.

Right HERE…

Right NOW!

Anyway, I pray that you all are doing well and that you are celebrating the mothers in your life… or that you are celebrating your own motherhood!

I miss you guys!

Love and light to you all!

Have a magnificent day and week 🙂

Please drop by and say hello!

2018 Mother's Day Brunch
Brunch prepared by Lady J and Rod 😘

That plate was clean about 5 minutes after this shot was taken…hence the fitbit! LOL!!!