Spring 2018

From Mary Kay's Front Porch - Spring 2018 Newsletter

 

The High Tide Club book tour

 

 

ATLANTA, GA | May 6 | Atlanta Launch Party @ The Vista Room

SAVANNAH, GA | May 7 | Savannah Launch Party @ The Brice Hotel

RALEIGH, NC | May 8 | Quail Ridge Books & Music

WINSTON-SALEM, NC | May 9 | Bookmarks Author Luncheon

RICHMOND, VA | May 10, 2018 | 12PM | Junior League of Richmond Book & Author Luncheon

RICHMOND, VA | May 10 | 6PM | Junior League of Richmond Book & Author Dinner

PAWLEY’S ISLAND, SC | May 11 | Litchfield Books

BIRMINGHAM, AL | May 12 | 11am-1pm | Crestline Piggly Wiggly

BIRMINGHAM, AL | May 12 | 3pm | Alabama Booksmith

SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL | May 13 | Sundog Books

FAIRHOPE, AL | May 14 | Page & Palette

HOUSTON, TX | May 15 | Murder By The Book

SEA ISLE CITY, NJ | May 16 | One Book, One Cape May County

FAIR HAVEN, NJ | May 17 | River Road Books

WAYNE, PA | May 18, 2018 | Main Point Books

MANASQUAN, NJ | May 19 | BookTowne @ Sailor Trading Company

PITTSBURGH, PA | May 20 | Mystery Lovers Bookshop

BLUFFTON, SC | May 21 | Palmetto Bluff Club

HILTON HEAD, SC | May 22 | Moss Creek Author Luncheon

ST. LOUIS, MO | May 23 | Left Bank Books

KANSAS CITY, MO | May 24 | Rainy Day Books @ Woodneath Library

REHOBOTH BEACH, DE | May 26 | Browseabout Books @ Rehoboth Beach Library

BETHANY BEACH, DE | May 26 | Bethany Beach Books

NAGS HEAD, NC | May 27 | Downtown Books @ Waveriders Coffee & Deli

DUCK, NC | May 28 | Ducks Cottage

NAPERVILLE, IL | May 29 | Anderson’s Bookshop

CLEVELAND, OH | May 30 | Cuyahoga County Library

GAYLORD, MI | May 31 | Saturn Booksellers

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA | June 3 | Gwinnett County Public Library @ Aurora Theater

WOODSTOCK, GA | June 4 | FoxTale Book Shoppe

MARIETTA, GA | June 5 | Book Exchange @ Crooked Tree Cafe

MILTON, GA | June 5 | Bookmiser @ Milton Public Library

ATHENS, GA | June 6 | Avid Bookshop

TYBEE ISLAND, GA | June 7 | Seaside Sisters

ST. SIMON’S ISLAND, GA | June 8 | Literary Guild of St. Simon’s Island and G.J. Ford Bookshop

Stitch

RENT ONE OF MKA’s COTTAGES

The Breeze Inn
The Breeze Inn
Ebbtide
Ebbtide

Did you know that MKA’s own beach cottages—that she has lovingly restored with her own hands and decorated with her own junking treasures—are available for rent?! You and yours can chillax in beautiful beach cottage comfort in the very spot where MKA pens her bestselling novels. Smaller group? Choose The Breeze Inn which MKA took from ramshackle to the pages of BH&G in a year’s time back in 2009. For larger groups, check out MKA’s new treasure, Ebbtide, which was featured in a huge spread in HGTV Magazine. Contact Tybee Island Vacation Rentals and book yourself in for the full MKA experience. Get yourself on “Tybee time” and discover the magic of slowing down.

Stitch

MKA Online

Dear Friends:

The thing I hate most about getting ready for summer? Trying on swimsuits! The thing I like best? Bringing you my brand new beach read!

MKA Tumbler

THE HIGH TIDE CLUB will be in stores everywhere on Tuesday, May 8, and my ginormous book tour will bring me to cities from Atlanta to Birmingham, Chicago to Pittsburgh and Cleveland, to Philly and the Jersey Shore and many stops in between.

There’s still time to claim your FREE GIFT! If you pre-order THE HIGH TIDE CLUB ahead of the May 8th on-sale date, you’re eligible to receive a custom MKA spill-proof wine tumbler. Details and entry form HERE.

Sapelo Island

I can’t wait to tell you about this book, with a setting on a fictional barrier island off the coast of Georgia. Once single mom Brooke arrives on Talisa, a tale of old friendships, dark secrets, betrayal and a long-unsolved disappearance begins to unfold. It’s a story shrouded in mystery, Spanish moss, skinny dipping, love lost and possibly … love found.

Sapelo Island

To research the book I spent time on Sapelo Island, whose wide, abandoned beaches, spooky lighthouse and crumbling mansion were the inspiration for my own, fictional island.

As always, we’ll kick off the tour with a fabulous launch party in Atlanta on May 6, followed with yet another on May 7, in Savannah. Both parties feature swag bags, food, cocktails and awesome raffle prizes to benefit The Georgia Conservancy.

Check the sidebar for all the stops on the MKA tour and see full details on the EVENTS tab on my website.

And in the meantime, did you know that SAVE THE DATE is just out in mass market paperback? Not only is this the perfect size for your beach bag, but that book features Brooke Trapnell, a character who makes her triumphant return in THE HIGH TIDE CLUB!

Happy spring! I hope to see you while I’m out on the road this May & June!

Hugs,
MKA

Dividing Stitch

Bookclub Corner

Do you have a book club? If your club is reading one of my books, I would love to call in and join your discussion. You never know, I may even be able to drop by in person if it works out right. E-mail us with your request and we’ll see what we can do! Be sure to include a snail mail address and info about the size of your club.

New in Hardcover!

Book cover: Cookbook

Stitch

Now in Paperback!

Book cover: The Weekenders

Stitch


Order NOW!

Book cover: Cookbook

Stitch

Spring 2017

From Mary Kay's Front Porch - Spring 2017 Newsletter

 

The Beach House Cookbook
Ginormous Book Tour!

 

 

Atlanta, GA | April 30 | Launch Party at The Cook’s Warehouse

Atlanta, GA | May 1 | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Atlanta, GA | May 2| Book Exchange

Savannah, GA | May 4, 11:30am| Savannah Golf Club w/ E Shavers Booksellers

Savannah, GA | May 4, 5:30pm | Brice Hotel w/ E Shavers Booksellers

Charleston, SC | May 5 | High Cotton Author Series w/ Blue Bicycle Books

Atlanta, GA | May 6 | Food that Rocks w/ Bookmiser

Houston, TX | May 8 | Murder by the Book

Fairhope, AL | May 9 | Page & Palette

New Orleans, LA | May 10 | Octavia Books

Red Bank, NJ | May 11, 12pm | AAUW Luncheon, Molly Pitcher Inn

Sea Bright, NJ | May 11, 7pm | Ama w/ River Road Books

Richmond, VA | May 12 | Berkley Hotel w/ Fountain Bookstore

Atlanta, GA | May 13 | Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Showhouse, Eagle Eye Book Shop

Chapel Hill, NC | May 14 | Southern Seasons

Raleigh, NC | May 15 | Quail Ridge

Winston-Salem, NC | May 16 | Clemmons Library w/ Bookmarks

Greensboro, NC | May 16 | Greensboro Library w/ Bookmarks

Greenville, SC | May 17 | Fiction Addiction

Newberry, SC | May 18 | Library Benefit Luncheon w/ Books on Main

Florence, SC | May 18, 6pm | Florence County Library w/ Books-a-Million

Pawleys Island, SC | May 19 | Litchfield Books

Tybee Island, GA | May 20 | Seaside Sisters

Savannah, GA | May 22 | Hadassah Fundraiser

Birmingham, AL | May 23 | Piggy Wiggly w/ Alabama Booksmith

Birmingham, AL | May 23 | Alabama Booksmith

Destin, FL | May 25 | Barnes & Noble Crystal City

Destin, FL | May 25 | Emerald Beach House

Rehoboth Beach, DE | May 27 | Browseabout Books

Bethany Beach, DE | May 27 | Bethany Beach Books

Manteo, NC | May 28 | Duck’s Cottage

Cleveland, OH | May 30 | A Cook And a Book

Cleveland, OH | May 30 Cuyahoga County Public Library

Boonsboro, MD | June 3 | Turn The Page Bookstore

Macon, GA | June 17 | Design, Wine and Dine

Stitch

RENT ONE OF MKA’s COTTAGES

The Breeze Inn
The Breeze Inn
Ebbtide
Ebbtide

Did you know that MKA’s own beach cottages—that she has lovingly restored with her own hands and decorated with her own junking treasures—are available for rent?! You and yours can chillax in beautiful beach cottage comfort in the very spot where MKA pens her bestselling novels. Smaller group? Choose The Breeze Inn which MKA took from ramshackle to the pages of BH&G in a year’s time back in 2009. For larger groups, check out MKA’s new treasure, Ebbtide, which was featured in a huge spread in HGTV Magazine. Contact Tybee Island Vacation Rentals and book yourself in for the full MKA experience. Get yourself on “Tybee time” and discover the magic of slowing down.

Stitch

MKA Online

Dear Friends:

Here we are, just one month until the publication date of my very first cookbook! The Beach House Cookbook will be in stores on May 2nd. I can’t wait to share it with you!

If you order the book before May 2nd, you are eligible to receive a custom-designed MKA wine opener while supplies last. To claim your FREE gift, visit HERE.

Beach house sweepstakes

The Beach House Cookbook may be my 25th book, but it is my first ever cookbook. As you know if you’ve been reading my novels and following me online for a while, I am a bit food obsessed. I share recipes all the time, sometimes even in my books. My husband Tom and I love to entertain. Our favorite meals are the casual kind where family, friends, and neighbors gather in our Tybee Island beach house and enjoy fare that matches the book’s subtitle: “easy breezy recipes with a Southern accent.” In fact, I’m pleased as punch that Publishers Weekly called the book “a true primer on Southern cuisine.” They said other nice things too. Read the full review HERE.

MKA Family

As my gift to you, and with my heartfelt thanks for your support and for being a subscriber to my email newsletter, I am sharing with you 5 recipe card downloads straight from The Beach House Cookbook. I hope you enjoy this sneak peek. Hopefully these recipes will tide you over until May 2nd when you’ll have access to all 100 or so of the gorgeously photographed and lovingly prepared recipes in the book.

Recipes

The first event on my ginormous book tour is the big launch party in on Sunday April 30th. It will be at The Cook’s Warehouse on Piedmont in midtown Atlanta. In typical MKA launch party fashion, this will be an over-the-top event complete with a cooking demo by yours truly, an autographed cookbook, swag bag, food prepared from the book, signature cocktails, and prize drawings to benefit The Giving Kitchen. It’s gonna be a blast, all for a great cause! Get your tickets HERE.

Tom grillingWe have one fab gift already lined up for one lucky launch party-goer. Once we hit 50 RSVPs, we will give one lucky stiff this nifty Boulevard Brewing Company BBQ apron from our friends at Big Green Egg. It comes with grill tools and folds into a handy tote. (Mr. MKA not included!)

RSVP TODAY and you’ll be entered to win!

All the dates and cities on my ginormous book tour are listed at left. I so look forward to catching up with some of you while I’m out on the road. For further details on the tour, check the Events page of my website and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Please know how much your support means to me. Thank you for reading my books and for always spreading the MKA love to your friends and family.

Hugs,
MKA

Dividing Stitch

Bookclub Corner

Do you have a book club? If your club is reading one of my books, I would love to call in and join your discussion. You never know, I may even be able to drop by in person if it works out right. E-mail us with your request and we’ll see what we can do! Be sure to include a snail mail address and info about the size of your club.

New in Hardcover!
Coming May 2!
Order NOW!

Book cover: Cookbook

Stitch

Coming in Trade
Paperback May 2!

Book cover: The Weekenders

Stitch

Coming in Mass Market
Paperback May 2!

Book cover: Ladie's Night

Stitch

Summer 2016

From Mary Kay's Front Porch - Spring 2016 Newsletter

Summer 2016
– Announcing THE WEEKENDERS Book Tour!

Atlanta, GA | May 15 | 3:00pm
Launch
Party at Ponce City Market

Savannah, GA | May 16 | 5:30pm
Launch
Party at The Brice Hotel

Savannah, GA | May 17| 11:00am
E.
Shaver Bookseller

Mt. Pleasant, SC | May 17| 7:00pm
Barnes
& Noble Mt. Pleasant Towne Centre

Raleigh, NC | May 18| 7:00pm
Meredith
College hosted by Quail Ridge Books

Fairhope, AL | May 19 | 6:00pm
Page
& Palette

Marietta, GA | May 20 | 1:30pm
Book
Exchange

Gaithersburg, MD | May 21| 1:00pm
Costco
Wholesale

Gaithersburg, MD | May 21 | 4:15pm
Gaithersburg
Book Festival

Oakmont, PA | May 22 | 11:00am
Mystery
Lovers Book Shop

Sykesville, MD | Monday, May 23 | 7:00pm
A
Likely Story Bookstore

Hanover, PA | May 24 | 6:00pm
Guthrie
Memorial Library Hosted by A Likely Story Bookstore

West Chester, PA | May 25 | 7:00pm
Chester
County Book Company

Fair Haven, NJ | May 26 | 7:00pm
Nauvoo
Grill Club Hosted by River Road Books

Pawleys Island, SC | May 27 | 11:00am
Pawleys
Plantation Hosted by Litchfield Books

Pawleys Island, SC | May 27 | 2:00pm
Litchfield
Books

Rehoboth Beach, DE | May 28 | 2:00pm
Browseabout
Books

Bethany Beach, DE | May 29 | 12:00pm
Bethany
Beach Books

Duck, NC | May 30 | 9:00am
Duck’s
Cottage

Manteo, NC | May 30 | 2:00pm
Downtown
Books

Charlotte, NC | May 31 | 7:00pm
Park
Road Books

Winston-Salem, NC | June 1 | 11:00am
Reynolds
Library

Greensboro, NC | June 1 | 7:00pm
Glenn
McNairy Library Hosted by Bookmarks NC

Asheville, NC | June 2 | 11:00am
Friends
of Madison County Library Author Luncheon at Mars Hill University

Asheville, NC | June 2 | 7:00pm
Malaprop’s
Bookstore

Greenville, SC | June 3 | 2:00pm
Fiction Addiction

Spartanburg, SC | June 4 | 2:00pm
Hub
City Bookshop

Jefferson, GA | June 5 | 2:00pm
Jefferson
Public Library Hosted by FoxTale Bookshop

Roswell, GA | June 7 | 7:00pm
Bookmiser

Decatur, GA | June 8 | 7:15pm
Decatur
Library Hosted by Eagle Eye Bookshop

Woodstock, GA | June 14 | 6:30pm
FoxTale
Book Shoppe

Highlands, NC | June 18 | 2:00pm
Highlands United Methodist Church Author’s Tea

Stitch

RENT ONE OF MKA’s COTTAGES

The Breeze Inn
The Breeze Inn
 

Ebbtide
Ebbtide

Did you know that MKA’s own beach cottages—that she has lovingly restored with her own hands and decorated with her own junking treasures—are available for rent?! You and yours can chillax in beautiful beach cottage
comfort in the very spot where MKA pens her bestselling novels. Smaller group? Choose

The Breeze Inn
which MKA took from ramshackle to the pages of

BH&G
in a year’s time back in 2009. For larger groups, check out MKA’s new treasure,

Ebbtide
, which was featured in a huge spread in

HGTV Magazine
. Contact
Tybee Island Vacation Rentals
and book yourself in for the full MKA experience. Get yourself on “Tybee time” and discover the magic of slowing down.

Stitch

MKA Online

Dear Friends:

Here we are, in the final weekend before my 24th novel,

THE WEEKENDERS
, finally hits bookstores everywhere.

I have been as busy as I can ever remember being getting ready for the 30+ city tour that my publisher, St. Martin’s Press, is sending me on. You can see all the details of my book tour on the
Events & Appearances page of my website. There is also a snapshot of
the dates and cities with links in the left sidebar.

Of course, as is the norm each year, we’ll be kicking things off with
a massive launch party extravaganza! On Sunday May 15th I’ll
be at Atlanta’s super-cool Ponce City Market at 3:00pm for a couple fun hours of eating, drinking, dancing, mingling, and making merry with you—my friends and readers. If you’re in the area, come on out and party with me for a good cause. We’ll have goody-filled
swag bags and amazing raffle prizes with proceeds going to Atlanta BeltLine’s “Light the Line” initiative. Call or email
FoxTale Book Shoppe to reserve your tickets.

Why have just one launch party when you can have two?! On Monday, May 16th, I’ll head to Savannah where we will celebrate THE WEEKENDERS in grand fashion again at the elegant and hip Brice Hotel.
This shin-dig kicks
off at 5:30pm and there will be swag bags, a signature cocktail, and delicious food from local chefs, as well as raffle ticket drawings for amazing Savannah packages of local goods and services with 100% of proceeds going directly to the American Diabetes
Association.

The events after these launch parties are pretty much non-stop through the end of June. I hope there are some stops local to you that you can make it out to. I just love meeting readers!

There are a couple giveaways you should be sure to get in on before it’s too late…

May 17th, you can claim one of these cute embossed leather luggage tags, care of St. Martin’s Press, while supplies last. Details and entry form are
HERE. Act fast before they’re all gone!

Macmillan Audio also has a Vera Bradly “Weekender” bag stuffed full of my books and audiobooks up for grabs. There is no purchase necessary. Go
HERE to get more information and to enter to win.

Keep an eye on my Facebook page,
Twitter feed, and
Instagram account as I am always sharing news you can use and letting you know when there’s more
MKA swag and free goodies up for grabs.

OK, now I have to get back to packing for tour and attending to the last minute details for the upcoming mother of all launch parties.

Please know how much your support means to me. Thank you for reading my books and for always spreading the MKA love to your friends and family. I hope to see some of you while I’m out on the road this month and next.
Meanwhile, happy (almost) summer, happy reading, and happy #weekending!

Hugs,
MKA

Dividing Stitch

Bookclub Corner

Do you have a book club? If your club is reading one of my books, I would love to call in and join your discussion. You never know, I may even be able to drop by in person if it works out right.
E-mail us with your request and we’ll see what we can do! Be sure to include a snail mail address and info about the size of
your club.

New in Hardcover. In stores May 17! Pre-Order Now!

Book cover: Weekenders

Stitch

Now in Paperback! Order Now!

Book cover: Beach Town

Stitch

New E-Book Novella! Order Now!

Book cover: Change of Scene

Stitch

Now in Mass Market! Order Today!

Book cover: Spring Fever

Stitch

Spring 2016

From Mary Kay's Front Porch - Spring 2016 Newsletter

Spring 2016—New
e-book novella Change of Scene! Weekenders coming soon!

BAILEY'S IRISH CREAM CUPCAKES

BAILEY’S IRISH CREAM CUPCAKES

Cupcakes:

  • 2 1/2 cups cake flour
  • 3 teaspoons of baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cups unsalted butter softened
  • 3 eggs at room temp.
  • 3 teaspoons of vanilla
  • 1 cup Bailey’s Irish cream, divided in half

Frosting:

  • 1 stick salted butter, softened to room temp.
  • 8 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temp.
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp. Bailey’s Irish cream.

For the Chocolate drizzle over the top:

  • 1/4 cup of heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips (or if using a bar, chopped)
  • 3 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line the muffin tins with 36 cupcake liners or 4 dozen or so mini cupcake liners.
In a large bowl mix together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt.
Cream together softened butter and sugar with mixer. Add eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
Add dry ingredients, a third at a time, alternating with the half cup of Bailey’s, starting and ending with the flour mixture.
Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full and bake for approximately 17 min. for regular cupcakes, 15 min. or less for mini. Check often.
Cool in pan for 5 min., then remove & cool on baking rack.
While cupcakes are still warm, poke holes in the tops, and using a pastry brush, brush the additional 1/2 cup of Bailey’s over the cupcakes.
After cooled, make frosting—whip together butter and cream cheese, beat in lemon juice and powdered sugar, a cup at a time, and add Bailey’s a tablespoon at time, til desired consistency.
For drizzle-melt chocolate chips and cream together in ovenproof bowl in microwave, 1 min. at time, until melted. Mix in Bailey’s, drizzle over top of frosted cupcakes.

Stitch

RENT ONE OF MKA’s COTTAGES

The Breeze Inn
The Breeze Inn
Ebbtide
Ebbtide

Did you know that MKA’s own beach cottages—that she has lovingly restored with her own hands and decorated with her own junking treasures—are available for rent?! You and yours can chillax in beautiful beach cottage comfort in the very spot where MKA pens her bestselling novels. Smaller group? Choose The Breeze Inn which MKA took from ramshackle to the pages of BH&G in a year’s time back in 2009. For larger groups, check out MKA’s new treasure, Ebbtide, which was featured in a huge spread in HGTV Magazine. Contact Tybee Island Vacation Rentals and book yourself in for the full MKA experience. Get yourself on “Tybee time” and discover the magic of slowing down.

Stitch

MKA Online

Dear Friends:

Dear Friends:
Like a spring bouquet of flowers, everything seems to be popping up MKA beach reads right now. On Mar. 1st, the mass market paperback edition of SPRING FEVER hit the shelves in supermarkets, drugstores, Target, Wal-Mart, and local bookstores. If you can’t find a copy near you, there are buy links in the right sidebar where you can order.

And now for my sneaky little super-secret project. On April 5th, St. Martin’s Press will release my first e-original novella, called CHANGE OF SCENE. This is a prequel to last summer’s BEACH TOWN, which will bring you up-to-date on the backstory of BEACH TOWN protagonist Greer Hennessy, her mother Lise, and grandmother Dearie. CHANGE OF SCENE is a novella and only available for e-readers–like your Kindle, iPad, Nook, or however you read electronic books. The buy links are right over there in the right sidebar of this newsletter. Just think, you can download and read on the way to your spring break destination…so long as you’re not behind the wheel!

Speaking of BEACH TOWN, it will be released in trade paperback on May 3rd. While you’re waiting for that, why not go ahead and download the prequel, CHANGE OF SCENE.

In the meantime, we’ve got a fun promotion in March to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (did you know my maiden name is Kathleen Patricia Hogan?) and the advent of spring. You could be one of 25 winners to get a copy of the new SPRING FEVER mass market paperback, as well as a trade paperback copy of IRISH EYES, the last book in my Callahan Garrity mystery series. The winners’ goodie bags will also be stuffed with a new bookmark and a recipe card for some tantalizing seasonal treats. Enter to win HERE.

Giveaway

And of course, while all that spring celebration is going on, I’m gearing up for the May 17th publication of THE WEEKENDERS. Plans for the Atlanta and Savannah launch are well underway, as are the plans for my book tour. Stay tuned to my website and social media for news about where I’ll be this May and June. I always look forward to meeting friends, old and new, while I’m on the road.

Happy reading!
MKA

Dividing Stitch

Bookclub Corner

Do you have a book club? If your club is reading one of my books, I would love to call in and join your discussion. You never know, I may even be able to drop by in person if it works out right. E-mail us with your request and we’ll see what we can do! Be sure to include a snail mail address and info about the size of your club.

Now in Mass Market! Order Today!

Book cover: Spring Fever

Stitch

NEW E-book Novella! Coming April 5! Pre-Order Now!

Book cover: Change of Scene

Stitch

Coming in Paperback May 3! Pre-Order Now!

Book cover: Beach Town

Stitch

New in Hardcover. In stores May 17! Pre-Order Now!

Book cover: Weekenders

Stitch

Cherrylicious Glazed Ribs

This recipe would probably work with Cherry Coke or Dr. Pepper, but if that Southern staple CheerWine is available in your neighborhood, that’s what will give it that uniquely cherry taste. Use two big disposable foil pans for this messy recipe. Serves 4

For the ribs:

2 tsp. kosher salt

2 tsp. light brown sugar

1 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper

1 tsp. chili powder

4 lbs baby back pork ribs

4 c. Cheerwine

 

For the glaze:

1 1/2 c. Cheerwine

1/2 c. cherry jam

1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce

1/4 c. apple cider vinegar

1/4 c. tomato paste

1/4 c. dijon mustard

3 tbsp. soy sauce

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°. In a small bowl, mix together salt, brown sugar, black pepper, and chili powder. Rub all over ribs. Divide ribs between 2 large disposable aluminum roasting pans, being sure to place the slabs in meat side up. Pour 2 cups Cheerwine into each pan, and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Roast ribs, switching pans’ positions halfway through cooking, until very tender, about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

While ribs cook, prepare the glaze. In a medium-size saucepan, whisk together Cheerwine, jam, brown sugar, Worcestershire, vinegar, tomato paste, mustard, and soy sauce. Set over medium heat. Let cook, whisking occasionally, until reduced and syrupy, about 20 to 25 minutes. Set aside.

Remove ribs from oven when tender. Remove foil and ribs from pans; pour fat and remaining liquid out of pans and discard. Carefully arrange for oven rack to be about 8 inches from broiler (no closer); preheat broiler. Brush ribs all over with prepared glaze and return to pans, meat side up. Broil for about 5 minutes or until lightly charred. Serve with extra glaze on the side.

‘Mater Tots

This easy-peasy recipe was inspired by one from Paula Deen. If you’re taking these to a party, fix them ahead of time on disposable foil baking sheets and pop in the oven when you get to the party. Warning: you will never be able to fix enough of these to satisfy your guests!

 

Ingredients:

½ cup finely shredded parmesan, romano or mozzarella cheese.

1 package mini phyllo shells—I find Athena brand in freezer case by frozen fruits or biscuits

¾ cup peeled and finely diced fresh tomatoes

1 tsp. finely chopped fresh basil

2 tsp. finely minced onions—preferably Vidalia

¼ tsp. each, fresh ground black pepper, sea salt, garlic powder

¼ cup mayonnaise—preferably Duke’s

2 Tbsp. bacon bits

 

Preparation:

Peel and dice tomatoes, sprinkle with seasoning mixture and let juices and seeds drain in colander. Mix onion and basil with tomatoes and spoon into mini phyllo shells. “Frost” top of tomato-filled cups with mayo piped from a plastic bag with the corner snipped out. Sprinkle with cheese, add bacon bits, bake in 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes or ‘til tops are lightly browned. Serve warm.

Grits n’Greens Casserole

Ingredients:

2 cups whipping cream or half and half

8 cups chicken broth, divided.

2 cup grits-not instant or quick cooking.

1 lg. bag frozen collard greens

2 sticks butter

2 1/2 cups parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper

1 cup cooked and crumbled bacon

 

Preparation:

Grease 13×9 casserole.

Combine cream and 6 cups chicken broth and bring to boil. Stir in grits and cook over medium heat until grits return to boil, cover, reduce heat to simmer and stir frequently to keep from burning, 25-30 minutes. Add milk if needed to thicken to proper consistency. If you’re Southern, you know what that is, if not, think of slightly runny oatmeal. While grits are simmering, cook frozen collards with remaining 2 cups of chicken broth til’ tender, about ten minutes. Drain well in colander, squeezing out remaining liquid. Add butter, parmesan and pepper to cooked grits, and stir til’ butter is melted. Stir in cooked greens, and spoon into greased casserole. Top with additional parmesan, and crumbled bacon. Dish can be served at room temperature, or heated in 350-degree oven til’ browned on top.

Beyond the Grave Chicken Salad

Did y’all hear about the Coca-Cola heiress who got kicked out of the Junior League for making chicken salad with dark meat? It’s an urban legend in Atlanta, but every Southern woman worth her salt has a tried and true recipe for chicken salad. My personal favorite used to be served in the dearly departed tea room at Maas Bros. Department Store in St. Petersburg, Florida. I’ve tasted some great versions over the years, but none greater than the one I sampled at the wake of a friend’s father in Dalton, Georgia. It inspired the recipe for Beyond the Grave Chicken Salad in Little Bitty Lies.

Beyond the Grave Chicken Salad Recipe

5 lbs. chicken breasts
2 quarts water
parsley sprigs
1 large onion, quartered
1 tsp. seasoned salt
2 chicken bouillion cubes

In large pot, bring water and seasoning to boil, add chicken, lower heat and simmer 40 min. Remove from heat, cool. Shred chicken and refrigerate.

Dressing:

1/2 cup bottled Italian salad dressing
1 cup Duke’s mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. white vinegar
1-1/2 tsp. celery seed
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
dash paprika

Blend well together.

For salad:

Toss shredded chicken with one cup of dressing and let stand at least one hour to marinate.

Combine remaining dressing with:
1/2 cup sour cream
1 Tbsp. honey

Add to chicken and mix well. May add canned water chestnuts, blanched almonds or chopped pecans.