micheller123

Taste of Home Cooking School-episode 11

2009-05-18T15:55:52Z

I finished my last show for the season Thursday night in Aiken, SC. I hope you were there because if you weren't, you missed a great event. That was the first show in Aiken, SC in 3 years. It was a great success and we almost doubled the attendance from 3 years ago. There were lots of booths and entertainment. I got to listen to the sounds of South Boundary, which were beautiful and then ELVIS took the stage. I can't believe I had Elvis at 2 of my shows this year. I am a very lucky girl. He was alot of fun, so thanks to Jason!

My backstage assistants were very sweet and hardworking. I want to thank all of them for helping me make the last show a success. They really do make my job alot of fun. They were so helpful and kept me supplied with hot tea because I was having some issues with my voice. They were so sweet to do that for me. Thanks a bunch! I also had the pleasure of having a Taste of Home Field editor help me on stage too. Ruth Marie is awesome and has been a field editor since 1996. She is a very sweet woman and LOVES food! I hope she enjoyed the experience and will be back to help again next time.

I want to say that I have had a wonderful season and it has been alot of fun. Thank you to all of my media partners, volunteers, audience members, blog readers and new friends for making the season one never to forget. It was a joy working with all of you and meeting all of you. Your love of food is what keeps the program alive and keeps me excited to be on stage nigth after night. We all share a common love that will never will be broken, the LOVE OF FOOD! Thanks again and I will see you soon! Happy Cooking!

MEMORY: I was in culinary school and one day we were having a "clean out the fridge and pantry" day. The professors told us to make whatever we wanted to clean out the fridge and pantry. If it was in there we could use it. So my best friend wanted to know if I would make her some tomato gravy. Some of the guys had decided to make biscuits and she wanted gravy. Well we did have everything and so I asked if it would be ok that I do this. Well the professor wasn't from the south and had no idea what tomato gravy was, so it interested him. So the student then became the teacher. He stood over me as I made the gravy and kept asking me if I needed to add this or that and I kept telling him, "NO". It wouldn't have been tomato gravy if I added all of the stuff he wanted me to add. I finally just had to tell him to watch and learn. Well, tomato gravy consists of flour, oil, water, tomatoes (canned, fresh, frozen-whatever you have) and salt and pepper. I got it finished and he loved it. My best friend was so happy too. I have even made tomato gravy for her for a Christmas present. I have since started making it for one of my media in Florida. The show coordinator's grandmother used to make it and he had not had it in years, he is originally from Alabama. So I now make it the morning of show setup when I am in Sebring, FL. I have introduced the concept to lots of non-southerner's throughout the years. It has been well recieved.

QUOTE: "It's all gravy from here on out. We're just going to enjoy the experience." Coach David Gerrish

Taste of Home Cooking School-episode 10

2009-05-13T13:54:00Z

I have one more show left to finish up the season! I will be Aiken, SC this Thursday, so if you can, COME SEE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just finished a week full of shows, I had 3; Florence, SC, Clinton, NC and Mt. Pleasant, SC. It was a great week and great shows. Two of the show were SOLD OUT!!!! and the other was close! I love SOLD OUT shows. Well in Florence, there about 830 people and a good time was had by all. I had some awesome stage assistants and Cecil is always a joy to work with. He is too funny! There was an outrageous grand prize! Jewelry worth over $2000 I think. I will try and attach a photo.

In Clinton, people lined up outside way before the doors opened. I went out and waved at them and joked around with them a little. I took a photo of them so my friends would believe that people line up to come and see me. I am famous.....no not really. I'm just kidding. There were about 870 people in Clinton. They gave out 6 grand prizes, yes SIX! A dinette table with chairs, bistro table with stools, 2 microwaves, pearl necklace set and a diamond/amethyst ring!!! It was a great week for prizes.

In Mt. Pleasant, there were around 500 people. We had to compete with college graduations and a concert. So I want to thank everyone that chose to come see me and enjoy the Spring Sensations Taste of Home Cooking School. I had some Wando High School culinary students helping me on stage. They were so professional and well prepared. They had a good time and I hope I was able to impart a little of my knowledge to them. I also had some firefighters there just in case we got a little out of hand with the flames. Fortunately they didn't have to do anything, but sit backstage and enjoy the show. They tried to convince me to come and cook for them at the fire house. They were ready to go shopping RIGHT THEN. They were a hoot and we enjoyed having them there. Thanks guys, but I am glad you didn't have to do anything!

It was a long week, but a very successful week.

MEMORY: When I was in high school I knew I wanted to cook for a living. All my friends loved me to cook too. Well, for 2 years I had Chemistry/Advanced Chemistry first thing in the morning. So we decided that I would cook breakfast occasionally and bring it to class. I made a breakfast casserole several times and brought it. My friends would bring the plates, juice and stuff and I brought the food. We had a good time. I think it may have helped my grades just a little bit! :) lol That continued for 2 years. I was the only one the teacher (Mr. Zumbro) trusted to unlock his door for him. So he left me his keys everyday and I would unlock the door and turn the heat or air on whichever the weather called for and get the room ready for breakfast. I continued to unlock his door my senior year even though I wasn't in his class anymore. He even asked to bake some cakes for him throughout my years in high school when he needed something for a teacher meeting or whatever. I miss those time of school, but not everything. Hmmm I want breakfast casserole now! lol

QUOTE:

“There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast” TRUST ME I KNOW

Taste of Home Cooking School-Episode 9

2009-05-07T04:03:00Z

Oh my goodness, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE forgive me for not blogging for so long. I had more computer issues! It got sick sick. I am back up and blogging for now. I have had some very interesting shows since I last blogged. Let me just tease a little with what you will read about, cows, pigs, leprechauns and ELVIS! Yes, I said ELVIS!!!!!! Of course me being from Mississippi, Elvis holds a special place in my heart. He was a Mississippi boy! So now for the good stuff, what I have been doing the past 2 weeks. I was in SC, GA and NC. I have had some wonderful experiences and met some awesome people.

I was in Orangeburg, SC and Dublin, GA where I was involved in 2 meet and greets. I signed alot of books, shook alot of hands and hugged alot of necks. You know in the South we hug! It is our way of life. I got my picture made with Leroy the Leprechaun, Mr. Cow and the Chick-fil-a cow in Dublin. I was rubbing elbows with the big wigs! Can you tell I had a good time? Dublin, GA surprised me when they told me that they were giving away 500 loaves of bread at the show!!! That was AWESOME! Not to mention that there were 5 grand prizes! Then last week I was in Salisbury (China Grove), NC and Raleigh, NC.

Elvis graced us with his presence in Salisbury (China Grove). He entertained the folks there while they browsed around in the vendor area. Elvis (aka Mike) doubled as my emcee for the show. That was too much fun! I loved it. I also had a wonderful show in Raleigh and had one of the most enthusiatic crowds. We had a good time.

I indulged in a little CAROLINA BBQ and CHICKEN PASTRY! YUMMY! Can I just say how much I love food!!!!! :) If you ever have the chance to eat Carolina Bbq - DO IT! Now this week I am back in SC and NC. I will let you know about this week when it is over. I have 3 shows to do before I get back home. Only one more week to go before the Spring 2009 season is over. If you didn't get to a show you really missed out. It has been a great ride or drive---lol! I hope to see you next season! And to all of the Mother's out there, a big HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! Thank you for all that you do for the rest of us!

MEMORY: Since this week is leading up to Mother's day, I guess I will write about my Mama. She will read this and probably wish I would quit writing about her.... NEVAH (that is "never" in Southern Belle lanuage). lol Anyway, there is a dish that my Mama makes, I call it Chicken and Noodles. There isn't a recipe, it is just something she makes. I don't even know how to make it. Everytime I want some of it I tell her that I want the noodles that she rolls out using the green bottle. Green bottle you ask? Yes a green bottle. Instead of using a rolling pin, she has a green bottle that is filled with water that she uses to roll out the dough for the noodles. As a little girl, I remember watching her roll out the dough, then roll the dough tightly, then she would cut it in pieces. I would get to help her unroll all of the noodles. I think that green bottle is still there under the kitchen sink. It is amazing how vivid memories are. It just shows you that the things that matter are the things you remember. Everyone, if you can hug your Mama this week!

QUOTE: I don't like gourmet cooking or "this" cooking or "that" cooking. I like good cooking. ~ James Beard

Taste of Home Cooking School-episode 8

2009-04-14T15:47:47Z

Well I have 2 more shows under my belt and now it is time to rest. I will not be traveling this week unless I am called to another territory. Each culinary specialist is scheduled a bye week. We each have one week each season that we do not schedule shows. This is so that if anyone gets sick we can go to that territory to cover the show. It is also scheduled so that we can then spend that time getting reorganized. Make any changes we need to update our show notes and get just get caught on phone calls, emails and paperwork. It is sort of like being on call for a doctor in a round about way. So far no one has gotten sick. I am still sending well wishes to my fellow culinary specialist! Take your vitamins and drink your orange juice! I have been getting everything back in an orderly fashion and I just wanted to sit a moment and blog. I wanted to write a little bit about my last 2 shows.

I was in Jesup, GA. I love going there. I have been doing that show for 5 years now I believe. They do an outstanding job with the event. They are SUPER organized. Even though the event is amazing, what impresses me the most is their creativity. The stage is amazing, awesome, unbelievable, dynamic. Need I go on? They bring in furniture, decorations, plants, curtains, wall hangings etc. They landscape the floor in front of the stage complete with outdoor furniture, plants, flowers and even a working water fountain. It is unbelieveable what they do with that stage each year. I always look forward to seeing what it looks like. Then I went to Laurel, MS. This was their first show. It was a complete success. We had almost 800 people at the show. Their booths were so elaborate. The furniture that was brought in to decorate the stage was adorable. There were several pieces that I would have loved to have in my home. The staff did a great job with the show and I look forward to more shows in the future in Laurel.

Well the season is almost halfway over. I hope you have found a show near you to attend before it is too late. Don't forget that you can find one at www.tasteofhome.com click on cooking schools. But if you are reading this blog, you are already in the right place. So put in your zip code and find a show and "Let's Get Cooking!!!"

MEMORY: My family has a favorite cake, it is Peanut Butter cake. It is my grandmother's recipe. My grandmother used to make them for us on birthdays. We always had one or two for family reunions. My family would usually get a slice of the cake first then fix a plate because they knew if they waited, the cake would be gone!!! Well I was in college and had a craving for Peanut Butter cake. So I called my mother and got the recipe. I had watched it being made lots of times but until you actually make it, it is hard to understand the mechanics of hot peanut butter icing. I had my cake layers baked, cooled and ready to assemble. For the icing you have to cook it for a couple minutes then you can start putting it on the cake layers. Well that is what I did. My mother didn't tell me you had to put a little bit on at the time allowing the icing to cool slightly with each addition. My cake layers were sliding everywhere. I had icing up to my elbows. It was dripping all over the counter faster than I could scoop it up. It was probably a funny sight to someone else. I was so embarrassed because here I was in culinary school and I couldn't even put icing on a cake! Of course my mother got a big laugh out of that. I can tell you now that I have perfected the art of icing that cake. My mother and I have now taken on the responsibility of making the cake for family get togethers and birthdays. I want some RIGHT NOW! LOL

QUOTE: “Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.”
Jim Davis, 'Garfield'

Taste of Home Cooking School-episode 7

2009-04-03T23:12:00Z

Let me start by saying I had a BLAST in Paris, TN! This was a 2 show town, we had back to back shows and it was so much fun. Paris is a great place and the people are so friendly. It has lots of fun things. I took a photo of the Eiffel tower and the big catfish. I will get those attached to the blog so you can see. Not only did I find the catfish this year, I SWUNG FROM HIS WHISKERS!! Not really but that leaves a pretty funny mental image now doesn't it? This was the first time that I have done back to back shows and I have to tell you, I really had a good time. I think I had the best emcee ever, Mike Wilson was TOO FUNNY. I was laughing so much during the show. I felt like we had conjured up Tim Conway and Harvey Korman from the Carol Burnett show. Me being Harvey because I kept laughing. You know Tim tried hard to get Harvey to lose composure, well Mike did a fantastic job. EVERYONE had so much fun. I even had people come back for the second night! I was truly flattered!!

After the show on Monday night, I went out to eat at one of the only places open after 9 pm, the Huddle House. I love good breakfast food! There were lots of people there that had attended the show. We were all joking and carrying on about how it was sad I had to go out to eat after cooking all night. But I give all of my great food away, so I have to go out to eat. Plus I am starving after I have cooked all of that delicious food and have to give it all away. I told you how friendly the Paris folks are, a couple of ladies that had attended my show asked me to come and sit with them. That was so sweet of them. We talked and visited. They really enjoyed the show. One lady had been to one a long time ago in Michigan and one had been to my Paris show last year. Thank you for allowing me to sit with you and for a great visit. I found out there is a running joke in the town of Paris. One of my backstage assistants told me that the locals call themselves "Parisians" which in only fitting because it is Paris after all. She then said that people that move to Paris are called "Parisites". I thought that was hilarious. It is all in good fun. After we set up for the second show on Tuesday, I went out to lunch with my backstage assistants, all "Parisians" by the way, to a local restaurant, The Olive Pit..... DELICIOUS! I love pasta! Well I hope that everyone had a great time at the shows and I look forward to an exciting show next year! And if you want a place to get some good fish, The World Biggest Fish Fry is the last FULL week in April! Y'all have fun and eat some fish for me!

MEMORY: This was just last year. My nephew had volunteered me to make cupcakes for his end of the year party. Well, I made him make the cupcakes with my assistance of course. We had so much fun. I was helping him measure out everything, he was adding and mixing. We made homemade buttercream icing and colored it to match sprinkles we had. We were into the icing up to our elbows. I was helping him frost the cupcakes and I had done about 3 to his 1. I told him he needed to pick up the pace, he quickly informed me that he hadn't done this as many time as I had. We finally got them all done and we still had icing left. We had 3 different colors, blue, yellow and peach. Well being the boy that he is, he wanted to mix them all together to see what color it made, it made a grayish green. We laughed about that. I took the cupcakes to school the next day and he made sure that everyone knew that he made them this time!

QUOTE: You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces - just good food from fresh ingredients.

Julia Child
US cook & cookbook author (1912 - 2004)

Taste of Home Cooking School-episode 6

2009-04-02T19:39:39Z

Hello everybody. So sorry I haven't written a blog lately. It's been hectic between travel and bad hotel internet. So I have alot to write about. I will try to keep it brief and entertaining. Since I last wrote, I have done 5 shows. Those shows were in Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. I have been driving ALOT. I have been listening to some great CD's, The Greencards, James Hunter and Brett Dennen. I have also been listening to some books on CD. My cousin has introduced me to some new authors, Greg Iles and Harlan Coben. I hope by now that everyone has looked online to find a show to attend. This season is a great one. I would hate to know you let the once in lifetime chance to attend a Spring 2009 Taste of Home Cooking School pass you by. This show will never be seen again, so find one near you.

Well, I have had a some really great shows. I got to eat some really great Mexican food in Florida. I have had some record audience numbers the past couple weeks. One show, Sebring, FL had 1100 in attendance and Daytona Beach, FL had 1800!!! Their biggest shows ever. I had a show on St. Patrick's Day.... Oh I was decked out for that big time. I have had alot of fun and I will try and add some photos, if I can figure out how to do that. I am now in Paris, TN. I have 2 shows here. One show on Monday and one on Tuesday. This will be a first for me, to have shows back to back. Before I checked into the hotel, I went to look at the big Catfish and the Eiffel tower. Paris, TN is home of the World's Biggest Fish Fry. When I am finished here in Paris, I will be headed off to Jesup, GA. I plan to have a good time this week. Please plan to attend one of these shows and join in all the fun.

If you are reading a blog for the first time and want to read the others, you can click on HOME to the right side of the screen or you can scroll and all of the posted blogs are listed on the right side of screen. Enjoy!

Well I will try to do better and blog more often from now on.

Until next time...........................................

MEMORY: When I was in Culinary School at Mississippi University for Women, our department had a kitchen camp for kids. I worked the camp one summer and took my niece with me. That was about 9 years ago. I bought her a little chef coat and 2 pairs of chef pants. She was the fanciest dressed kid there. The camp was a day camp and lasted a whole week. She learned how to make pizza dough, homemade tamales and watermelon sorbet. She still talks about that sorbet. I think that is only time I have ever seen kids fight over who gets to wash the dishes. They all wanted to use the big commercial dishwasher. I was in charge of the sweet tea. So everyday the menu listed out "Ms. Michelle's Sweet Tea". My professor was from PA and fell in love with my sweet tea. I was always the one to make it in our classes too. He wouldn't let anyone else make it. I even had to pass it down to other students. That was a great week in Columbus, MS.

QUOTE: "A woman is like a tea bag, you can not tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water!"

~ Nancy Reagan

Taste of Home Cooking School-episode 5

2009-03-31T16:05:38Z

The first full week of shows is over! Whew, I am beat. It was a blast. I had the best first week I've ever had. If you happened to miss the DeFuniak Springs, FL show check this link out to see just what kind of fun I did have....;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbhcYV9qn4I&feature=player_embedded; Just copy and paste the link into the address browser.

Art Dees of WZEP radio is telling me that he is gonna play matchmaker...... He wants to advertise me on the radio during their "country store" segment. He is such a hoot!!! The shows went great and the recipes are a big hit. I knew that they would be a hit. Everyone "oohs" and "aahs" in all the right places. I thought that I was going to set off the sprinkler system in Panama City. The first recipe was exciting to say the least. My pan started to really smoke, not a little but A LOT! I told everyone I hoped that they brought their umbrellas. It was pretty funny. I didn't get anyone wet, thank goodness. I hope that everyone had a good time at both shows. If you don't want to miss whatever excitement that may happen, you better check out www.tasteofhomeschools.com and find a Taste of Home Cooking School near you.

I have had some requests for the sugar scrub recipe that I mentioned in the show. You will find that at www.dominosugar.com on the Fun Corner under Fun with Sugar. There are actually 3 scrub recipes to pick from, 2 brown sugar and 1 white cane sugar. I hope that you enjoy these and remember that all of the national sponsor websites are listed in your Taste of Home Cooking School Brand Name Cookbook.

Well I am on my way to Sebring, FL for another great show this week. Can't imagine what fun things are in store for me there. Come on and be a part of a great event.

See you at the shows!!!!

MEMORY: I have been told that I have a great memory. People can't imagine how I can remember things from such an early age. I get that from my papaw. He could remember EVERYTHING! Anyway, I have a brother that was 15 when I was born. So we were both really raised like an only child. He had his time alone and I am pretty much still having mine since I am the BABY! Well as a small child I remember that while Mama was cooking supper, my brother would lean against the kitchen counter and eat a couple sandwiches. He would've been about 17 or 18 years old so that made me 2 or 3 years old. I can actually see it in my mind right now. This is an actual memory that I have and not one that has been told to me. Anyway, he would stand there and eat his "appetizers" while Mama cooked. He was a big ole' growing boy-big football player. You may be wondering where was I while all of this was going on??? Well I was sitting on the floor in front of the refrigerator "protecting" dessert. Mama made alot of the no-bake cheesecakes and I would call myself protecting the dessert from my brother. I didn't want him to eat it all before I could have some, but come on, its not like he couldn't just slide me out of the way. He let me think I was actually tough enough to keep him out of the refrigerator. It must have worked because he knew I would probably throw the biggest fit if he did try to move me. Mama usually made the blueberry cheesecake, and she would have to scrape those off for me. Blueberries were HIS favorite. I like strawberries on MY cheesecake. We are still that way today. That memory just makes me laugh. It just shows you that I was very devoted to food and very determined at an early age.

QUOTE: “In the childhood memories of every good cook, there's a large kitchen, a warm stove, a simmering pot and a mom.”
Barbara Costikyan (10/22/84 New York Magazine)

Taste of Home Cooking School-episode 4

2009-03-02T03:36:39Z

Well, I am getting ready to head out to my first week of shows. I will be heading to DeFuniak Springs, FL and Panama City, FL this week. For those of you who don't know these 2 places, they are located in the top pan handle of Florida. It will be about a 4-5 hour drive for me. Not too bad. I can't wait to see all my friends at WZEP 1460 AM and The News Herald. I know that I will have 2 great shows this week. Be sure to keep a check at www.tasteofhomeschools.com for the show nearest you. Look out FLORIDA and move over teenage spring breakers, a little red van is headed your way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MEMORY: I remember when we got our first microwave. I was probably about 5 years old or so..... not really sure. But the first thing I learned to cook in it was HOT DOGS. And yes, we ate lots of hot dogs. I am sure that everyone got so tired of hot dogs, but I didn't. I loved being the one cooking! I guess I got bitten by that bug really early in life. I still think about that when I pop a couple of hot dogs in my microwave. By the way, I said our first microwave.....Mama still has the same one and it is still working..... that would make it about 25 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They don't make things now like they used to!

QUOTE: The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook. ~Julia Child

Taste of Home Cooking School-episode 3

2009-02-23T23:54:56Z

Well, the countdown is on for the start of the Spring 2009 Taste of Home Cooking School season. The first show is in Toledo on Thursday, February 26. The first full week of shows starts March 3 and will be in the following States: Oregon, Florida, Oklahoma, Ohio/West Virgnia, Indiana, Minnesota, Kentucky, Iowa, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Illinois. Have you gotten your tickets yet????? Don't let this pass you by......I don't want emails saying you waited and then the show was sold out. I would hate to see you outside with your cute little face pressed against the window trying to sneak a peek..... lol.... For information on these shows and all of the shows don't forget to check out www.tasteofhomeschools.com for all ticket information.

I hope everyone survived Cupid and Valentine's Day. I know I dodged his arrows once again this year. My best friend did not however. My best friend got engaged the day before Valentine's Day, which just so happened to be Friday the 13th.... This happens to be my favorite day. I went out to eat with my SINGLE (smart) (hahaha just kidding) girlfriends and to a movie that Friday. I did do something romantic on Valentine's Day.... I went to a wedding! (collective sigh-how sweet!) It was really sweet and pretty. But let's get to the good part-WEDDING FOOD! OMG There was some good eatin' going on let me tell you. The cake was gorgeous, white 3 layer with red roses. The groom's cake was the cutest thing ever, it looked like a pool table complete with sticks and pool balls! Then of course all kinds of dips, sandwiches, fruit, crackers etc. If you left hungry it was your own fault. Everything was just great. I wish the happy couple all the success in the world!

MEMORY: My maternal grandparents (Mr. and Mrs. John M. Watson) wedding anniversary was Feb. 14, 1932. I remember as a child that my papaw would get my mamaw a "sweetheart" card and one of those BIG boxes of chocolates from the local drugstore every year. Then when he got to where he could not get out and drive, he would send someone for the card and chocolates. My mother said he did this every year even before I was born. It was hard to think of my papaw being a romantic. Looking back, he was a true gentleman! They were married 62 years when my papaw passed away in 1994. My mamaw passed away 2 years later. I still like to think that he gets her a card and chocolates every year up there in Heaven.

QUOTE: I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon. ~Author Unknown

Taste of Home Cooking School-episode 2

2009-01-29T17:29:55Z

I hope that everyone is staying safe and warm wherever you are. I am in Alabama and one day it was in the upper 60's and the next it dropped to the 30's. Gotta love Mother Nature. I have been at home for several days getting ready to head out to Wisconsin next week. We are having our meetings for the new spring shows. I hope I get to play in the snow a little bit.....make a snow angel maybe. This will be the time that the culinary specialist prepare for the show. We have to get all of the fine tuning done before we all head out on the road to present a fabulous show to all of you. We want to make this Spring 2009 Taste of Home Cooking School SPRING SENSATIONS! the best show ever. The recipes will be fun and flavorable. I am sure you will find a favorite or four...lol. It will be alot of fun and I hope I get to meet alot of you. Be sure to keep checking the schedule to find a show near you.

Now down to the real nitty gritty: SUPERBOWL! I have to be honest, I don't even know who is playing. I know I know, I should be ashamed. I may watch just to see the commercials. But my favorite part is the FOOD!!!!!! I hope that all of you have been checking www.tasteofhome.com for some awesome party food. There are some delicious recipes that will make your party FABULOUS! My cousin has already requested something for me to make for his party. He wants a bread pudding, so I have been searching. There are 115 recipes for bread pudding on the website!!! I told him that really wasn't what I considered a "party food", but he wants it anyway. So now all I have to do is decide WHICH ONE! Well I hope that everyone has a safe and fun SuperBowl weekend. Until next time.......

MEMORY: My grandmother, Mamaw as I called her, used to make a banana pudding almost every Sunday. That was usually the gathering place on Sunday's after church. Well, I have alot of older male cousins that would sometimes beat my family there and they all LOVE banana pudding. Well I am the youngest of the 12 grandchildren, and the cutest.....hahaha. My mamaw would always make a small dish for banana pudding and stick it back for me in case it was all gone before I got there, or at least that is what I thought. As I grew up, I figured it all out. She may or may not have done it all just for me, but she let me think that she did. The reason she would end up with a small container of pudding is that it was the rest that wouldn't fit in the big serving dish. But I still like to think it was all just for me.

QUOTE:

Never eat more than you can lift. Miss Piggy US Muppet and Pig

Taste of Home Cooking School-episode 1

2009-01-20T03:43:50Z

Hello Hello Hello!!!!!

Well let me introduce myself, I am Michelle Roberts. I am the Senior Culinary Specialist for the Taste of Home Cooking School and I travel the southeastern US (LA, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, FL & TN). I am going to be "blogging" this season about my exciting adventures with the Taste of Home Cooking School. I hope I encounter some interesting things and funny experiences to tell you about this season. I will try to entertain you and let you know a little about me and the Taste of Home Cooking Schools.

First let me say that I am a true Southern Belle, born and raised in the deep south of Mississippi, Eddiceton, MS to be exact which is located in Franklin County. I do have a little cajun blood in my veins because my paternal grandmother's maiden name was Thibodeaux. That explains why I like my food nice and spicy. Probably also explains why I am a little bit fiesty, along with being a red head! I am the youngest in my family, so I may be just a little bit spoiled.....naaaah..... lol.

I love my family and I love food. Food always brought us together and still does. I am sure that all of you have memories of family gatherings and they probably include food 99% of the time.

Well tonight I am in Paris, TN. I am here to meet with the fine folks at the Paris Post-Intelligencer tomorrow to get organized for their upcoming Taste of Home Cooking Schools in March. I hope that if you can attend, you will. I would love to see you there. I drove by the Eiffel tower tonight heading to my hotel. If you have never been here, it is really a neat thing to see. I was out all last week meeting with newspapers that will host Taste of Home Cooking Schools this spring. I had some very nice visits and I hope you will keep a check on the schedule and shows closest to you. Please come out a see a show or three.

I plan to end each blog with a memory and a favorite quote, saying, joke etc.

Memory: My family is big on nicknames. I have a few nicknames that some friends and family call me, but I have a nickname that only my Mama calls me. I remember coming home one day from school and telling Mama that I wanted to be called "Tootsie Bell". I am not sure how old I was but quite young. She looks at me and asked me if I was sure or did I mean "Tinker Bell"? I looked at her very seriously and punctuated out, No, I want to be called "TOOT-SIE-BELL". I have no idea where that came from or why I wanted that nickname, but from that day forward, I have always been her "Tootsie Bell".

Quote: God couldn't be everywhere, so he created mothers
— Jewish Proverb

Stay tuned for the next exciting episode!