A Girlfriend Weekend

I've been busy, busy this week!

Cooking, baking and cleaning - oh my.

Precious old friends are on their way to Boone as we speak.

Nan and Dindy have been dear friends for about 35 years. Since many miles separate us now that Donald and I are living in Boone, we don't see as much of one another as we once did. But, the friendships - as do all truly true friendships - have survived and those lovely and fun girlfriend feelings have not dwindled a speck. I do dearly love these women. And I've worked my buns off this week to prove it! (See now - When you're REALLY good friends, you get away with saying stuff like that and everyone understands it's all in fun).

And 'cause I've been so busy, I've neglected my blog a bit. But I'll be back!! In the meantime - meet Nan and Dindy - -

This is Becky, me and Nan during the summer of 1981. Becky isn't going to be with us this weekend and we will miss her! But. Another time.







And here's Dindy and me (again!), and Beck (again!). This was taken during Christmas 1981.
















And here's Nan and me and Dindy this past Christmas.


And I'm betting I'll have a few more pictures to add in a few days . . .

Here's a couple of recipes. Good "Girlfriend Weekend" recipes! Enjoy!!

We're having a Broccoli Chicken Braid tonight since we're not sure what time we'll get around to eating. This is easily made ahead, tastes scrumptious and it's pretty to boot.

Broccoli Chicken Braid

2 cups diced, cooked chicken meat
1 cup fresh broccoli, chopped
1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1 clove crushed garlic
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons dried dill weed
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons slivered almonds
1/4 cup diced onion
2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
1 egg white, beaten

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees F).

In a large bowl, toss together chicken, broccoli, red bell pepper, garlic, Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, dill weed, salt, almonds and onion.

Unroll crescent roll dough, and arrange flat on a medium baking sheet. Pinch together perforations to form a single sheet of dough. Using a knife or scissors, cut 1 inch wide strips in towards the center, starting on the long sides. There should be a solid strip about 3 inches wide down the center, with the cut strips forming a fringe down each side.

Spread the chicken mixture along the center strip. Fold the side strips over chicken mixture, alternating strips from each side. Pinch or twist to seal.

Brush braided dough with the egg white. Bake in the preheated oven 25 to 28 minutes, or until golden brown.

Here's a recipe I love. I cut this out of Gourmet Magazine many years ago. (MANY years - like maybe 30). I only make it for my very most special friends for very special occasions.

Country Pâté

20- 25 servings (if this is too much for your girlfriend weekend, make it anyway - cut the loaf in half and freeze for another girlfriend weekend later on down the road).

4-6 bay leaves
6 thin slices bacon

3 tablespoons butter
1 cup chopped parsley
½ cup chopped green onion
½ cup chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 shallots, minced

2 pounds sweet Italian sausage
1 1/4 cups beer
1 teaspoon fennel seeds

1 tablespoon butter
1 pound ground veal

1 thin slice bacon, chopped
2 cups crushed herb stuffing mix
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Salt & freshly ground pepper
½ cup shelled pistachio nuts

Put bay leaves in single layer in 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Line length of pan with bacon; set aside.

Half fill a large roasting pan with water and place in oven. Close oven door and preheat to 350.

Melt 3 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ½ cup parsley, green onion, onion, garlic and shallots and saute about 2 minutes. Remove to large bowl.

Place sausage in large skillet; add 1/4 cup beer and cook over medium heat, mashing and turning with spatula, just until sausage starts to lose pink color but is only partially cooked. Stir in fennel. Remove from heat and add to parsley-onion mixture.

In same skillet melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add veal and saute until partially cooked, about 2 minutes. Add 1/4 cup beer and cook 1 minute more. Remove from heat and add to bowl.

Place chopped bacon in same skillet and saute about 2 minutes. Add stuffing and blend thoroughly. Stir in remaining 3/4 cup beer and cook 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove from heat and stir into onion-meat mixture. Add eggs, remaining ½ cup parsley and salt and pepper to taste; blend thoroughly. Mix in pistachio nuts.
Carefully pack mixture into loaf pan, pressing down firmly. Wrap entire pan in heavy duty foil (or doubled regular foil) as if wrapping a package. Place carefully in roasting pan and bake 1 hour. Very carefully remove from roaster and weight pâté for 3 to 4 hours by placing another loaf pan filled with heavy objects (such as books or canned goods) on top of a cookie sheet on top of wrapped pate loaf.

Remove weight and refrigerate pâté several hours or overnight. To serve, remove foil, loosen completely with knife and unmold onto serving plate. Pat off excess fat with paper towel.

and I've made us a pound cake. But of course! Y'all know how much I adore pound cake!


Blueberry Pound Cake presented by Sweet Biscuit Inn, Asheville, NC

1 lb butter, salted
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 cup milk
2 tsps lemon extract
1 tsp fresh lemon rind, grated
1 Tbsp baking powder
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add eggs, one at a time mixing on medium speed. Combine milk and lemon extract in a separate bowl. Combine baking powder and three cups of flour in a separate bowl. While running the mixer on low speed alternately add the wet and dry ingredients. Mix until smooth and well combined. Fold in lemon rind. Toss the blueberries with the remaining 1 cup of flour and gently fold into the batter. Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake for approximately one and a half hour, cool for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a platter. This makes a delicious breakfast bread or a mid afternoon treat with tea or coffee.

And there's a pitcher of Iced Latte chilling in the fridge . . .

Southern Living's Iced Latte

Iced Latte
2 cups ground coffee
12 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 quart Half & Half
1 quart milk
1 Tablespoon vanilla extact
Brew coffee using 12 cups o water. Stir in sugar untl dissolved. Stir in Half & Half, milk, and vanilla. Chill. Serve over ice.

okey doke - off I go to get ready for my girlfriend weekend!

Girlfriends and Giggles

What feels better than a giggle?

Not much, unless its a full out belly laugh.

Tears rolling down your face?! Even Better!!!!

And being blessed with girlfriends to share these giggles and guffaws with is beyond measure.

There are several little pieces that float around the internet extolling the virtues of girlfriends. Some are funny, some are sweet, some are sappy - but what they all have in common, I think, is that they stem from that undefinable "something" that blossoms when you're spending time in the company of best girlfriends.

There's a magic about those times.

They're special in a way that should probably just be left to experience, and not analyzed or explained - but, just "be."

I am lucky enough to still have women in my life who I've known since I was a little girl. I consider them best friends, and more - they're family. Sisters of my heart, each of whom I cherish deeply. And since then I've met a few more women along the way who are still hanging in there with me; sharing a few tears, and a whole lot of giggles - who are cherished just as deeply. Lucky me - MORE sisters! What a blessing for this gal who is an only child!

But wait - there's still more; a few women who I've never laid eyes on, but share a deep bond with through our email conversations. Amazingly enough - these women have become every bit as dear to me as the women I'm able to spend face to face time with. Admittedly, I'm one of the last believers in this phenomenon. But. The proof is in the pudding, as they say. (What EXACTLY does that mean, anyhow???) It seemed to work with what I wanted to say, so I'm leaving it, but deconstructed it makes not a whit of sense to me.

Friends do tend, sometimes, to disappear out of our lives, but there are always going to be a few special people we click with, and something quite unexplainable happens. When it does, I believe quite strongly that it should be
embraced and nurtured and treasured. Life is short, and going through it without women who can grasp and understand fully, and without judgment, some of the things we think and feel is too sad to be comprehended.
If there's a woman who you're missing; someone who used to be an important piece of your life, but has somehow disappeared, put aside whatever the reason might have been that's interrupted your time together and reach out to her. Bring her back. If you're not needing one another right now, chances are you will on down the road.

In the meantime, let's celebrate our best gal pals right here.

Here are a couple of those fun, silly, friendship things that we've all seen on the internet a whole bunch of times - one is sweet and sappy, and one makes me hoot. And, I think, there's enough truth in each to make them a little less silly than they actually seem with first reading.

Two Types of Friends -- Real & Simple

A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.

A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names.
A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.

A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook and clean.

A simple friend hates it when you call after he has gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.

A simple friend seeks to talk with you about their problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.

A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it.

A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.
A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself.

A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument.
A real friend knows that it's not a friendship until after you've had a fight.

A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.
A real friend expects to always be there for you!

Author Unknown


and then, just so we don't get TOO carried away with ourselves being serious and/or sappy - truthful or not - let's have a dose of just plain ol' out and out fun with this one. Because girlfriends, if nothing else, can and need to show a great deal of irreverence from time to time.


Friendship Oath

*

When you are sad,
I will get you drunk and help you plot revenge against the jerk who made you sad.
*

When you are scared,
I will laugh at you and tease you about it every chance I get.
*

When you are worried,
I will tell you how much worse it could be and to quit complaining.
*

When you are confused,
I will use little words to explain it to your dumb ass.
*

And when you are lost,
I will answer my cell phone and give you directions.
*

When you are sick,
I will hold your hair while you pay homage to the porcelain god.
*

When you fall,
I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.


This is my oath, I pledge till the end.
Why you may ask?
Because you're my friend.