Monday, June 13, 2011

Jumpin' From The Frying Pan Straight Into The Fire!


I warned y'all I was going to be mighty busy this month, but I guess I forgot to warn moi...imagine that!

Things have really been jumping at W&T's (and for that I am most grateful), but reloading my space...not once, but twice...has added to my burgeoning Ta Da list.  Not that I'm complaining mind ya...aw con-tra-ree mes amies...but I do feel as if I'm neglecting y'all.  To try and make up for it, I'm offering up my "tried and true" recipe for cooking up one hot mess.  Got your pen and paper handy?  All righty then...let's get cookin'...


Trash's secret party recipe for Squirrel Stew!

I guarantee it'll have 'em begging for seconds...and thirds! 

First you'll need to assemble all the necessary components for this concoction.  This may take a little time and patience to find just the right spices and secret ingredients hidden away in remote, hard-to-reach places...but oh so worth the effort!

Since I like to make  jumbo batches for party-sized crowds, feel free to increase/reduce the amounts to serve your needs.

Step One:

Take three (3) truck loads of junk quality merchandise and
add two (2) backseat loads of very cool, smallish items. 
Slowly stir in a tub of glassware, taking care not to break anything salable, but don't cry over spilt milk if you hear the sound of tinkling glass.  After all...you can't make an omelet without cracking some eggs.



Step Two:

Once you have all your dry ingredients assembled, place in a roasting backyard pan and baste with three (3) buckets of sweat. 

This step is very important and is the roux that holds all the ingredients together, forming a  pastiche of taste and style!

(FYI...While a chafing dish is not recommended...keeping a box of baking soda on hand is.  When working in this much heat, the  danger of underwear fires caused by excessive chafing is always present!)



Step Four:

At this point of preparation, you'll need to be thinking about garnishes.  Your own personal taste buds are instrumental for creating your own unique bouquet garni!

As Julia Child must of (had to of) said at some time or another..."A copy never tastes as wonderful as the original."...so make it full of the flavor of YOU!

Step Five:

For those who like their dishes sweet, sugar can be added at this point.  In fact, my mother always added a pinch of sugar to a recipe calling for salt...and vicey-versey...so with 3 buckets of sweat... I highly recommend more than a pinch or two!
  Bear Claws are always a welcome addition, but I prefer my sweetener in this kind of cute packaging.

( I stole, I mean borrowed this photo from Sherry who was in the fantastic group of ladies  from the Gilded Life I met at W&T's!)

Nothing artificial about this cotton-candy dish.  In fact...just the right amount of spun sugar to make ya wanta slap yore mama!  This La LuLu of a cupcake is so deliciously divine...she deserves her own post and I'll be serving one up this week.  Be prepared to fall in love...I did!

Step Five:

You will now begin to separate your olla podrida into equal parts depending on your serving needs.  I just happen to need it for three upcoming special occasions.

One for Paper Cowgirls Vendor Night...which I just participated in this past Saturday!

One for Winnie and Tulula's Junke And Disorderly Sale ...which just happens to be this upcoming weekend!

And of course...

One to grow on...for The Greatest Show On Dirt!

For the first batch, I allowed the mixture to simmer outside in the Texas heat while the temperature inside the trailer rose to hotterthanblueblazes.  We popped our Junque Jambalaya into the pre-heated truck, burned up the highway to Waxahachie and being careful not to scorch ourselves, removed and placed it all on a steamy, hot parking lot outside the Paper Cowgirl Playground!  Served warm, straight off the griddle, to a bunch of hot nuts who love all things spicy...it was delish!

This piping, hot melange was guaranteed to melt in your hand...not in your mouth as demonstrated above by one of the lovely taste testers


(Did I mention hot nuts?
Beth (Happy Birthday sweet girl) and Lisa made setting up look like fun.  These two were hotter than a pepper's sprout...all the while glistening in the shimmering sun!)

I made sure to set my timer ('cause time sure does fly when we're having fun) to have a second batch ready and waiting for vendor night at Paper Cowgirls...where girls really do just wanta have fun.  Once again the old adage of "git 'em while they're hot" rang true!  No oven mitts required...in fact...all gloves came off when it came time to getting the goodies!
(Thanks to Cindy for letting me try out my recipe on a lovely bunch of coconuts cowgirls!)


Now I've got to start preparing the sizzling batch for our big 2nd birthday bash in Athens this coming weekend.  No left-overs y'all...always freshly picked!
I hope y'all will think about joining us...I'll save you a plate!  Heck...I'll serve pheasant under glass if that's what it'll take to get you to come see me and the Cat!


In the meantime...I'll be watching you...and wishing you the sweet smell of success!


23 comments:

Garden Antqs Vintage said...

Girl, can you hear me laughing all the way to Dallas... You do have the best posts! And Junk ( I mean quality merchandise) too. Have fun and don't overcook yourself this weekend, T

Debra@CommonGround said...

Now, just don't let that sweet simmering concoction boil over in that Texas sun!! I was thinkin' about ya at Paper Cowgirl, so we need to hear all about it...pictures???? And of course we need photos of W&T's this weekend. Are ya too busy to cave to the demands of all us groupies out here?
love ya, don't work too hard and did you save me a bear claw?!! xoxo D

Sue said...

Great post, truly enjoyed myself! I'm fighting that damn "clock" all the time and it's making me crazy, real crazy!! Hope you find some down time for you & Cat Daddy very soon!

Take care, Sue

Tina said...

Haha...great post! Loved your recipe!

red.neck chic said...

I'm sorry... but you completely lost me at "underwear fires"...
seriously - I'm laughing so hard (and this is the 2nd time I've read it!!!) I've got tears streaming down my face...

I'll be back when I don't burst out laughing at "underwear fires". Look at that, I even like typing it - much less saying it!!! LMBO!!!!!!!!!

where's the baking soda......

Anonymous said...

What? You couldn't have told me about the baking soda BEFORE Saturday? Thanks for keeping me laughing all day and being a great neighbor on Sat night.

Vicki said...

LMAO - I was fine until I got to underwear fires. I loved this huge serving of one hot mess you are dishing up.

the old white house said...

You are hilarious! I loved every bit of this recipe, and wish I could be there to enjoy a heapin bowl of it with you! Thanks for the laughs! xoxoxo

Donna @ Simplicity Cottage said...

Thanks for the laugh, Deb...even when I thought I was too dang tired to laugh! This hot weather has me thinkin I bypassed the frying pan and jumped straight into the fire. Does the word "heat stroke" mean anything to you? I guess you can relate to heat after last weekend in Waxahachie, huh? I gotta get it in high gear and find an umbrella to set-up out there on the sidewalk...did a drive-by last Saturday...not a hint of shade at W&Ts. Ya think we might have a cold snap between now and Saturday? I can dream... See you and CD Saturday if the heat doesn't cook me from the inside out!

Dixie said...

I'll be in Dallas this weekend with Daughter #3 and grand kiddos to see the musical "Billy Elliot".... and you'll be... everywhere else!

ps... I have an off white train case.. but the interior of the cases are not a beauty to behold... ;(.... I think I need Rebecca (a Gathering of Thoughts) to give me a train-case redo!

Have a great time at the Paper Cowgirls and W&T's... wish I were going to be there too!!

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

OK...have to re~do my makeup before work because you had me in tears on this one!! Thanks for the recipe Deb...can't wait to see some photos fireside!

LuLu Kellogg said...

OMG I miss you!!! I am about to wet my brits reading "underwear fires"!!!

Do you have any idea how special you are? I do!

I can't wait to see more pics!!!

Love you Deb!
LuLu~*xoxo

p.s. Did I tell you I miss you? xoxo

Lisa said...

OMG speaking of one hot mess!! So you forgot to mention throw in a threes company style sleepover! I'm STILL trying to recover & not from the slumber party!
I'm so glad we got to hang out & I will always be in Cat Daddy's debt for finding my keys.
Lisa

Southern Shop Girls said...

Oh Debbie - your posts are the best! Chafing indeed! Baking soda was just added to my to-get list. Hmmm, wonder if I can get it by the gallon? You are wonderful! Your space looks perfectly cooked, stirred and plated. =)

Paula

Olive said...

You lovable nut! It is to hot to cook one blessed thing here! But I love your stuff!

Unknown said...

Funny, funny Girl!! Honestly, you need your own reality show!
Love you and hope to see you this weekend!
Valarie

Zita - Mlle Magpie said...

Gosh you've been busy, Debbie! Oooh, I see Karla there looking like she's having a great time. p.s.I love how you're always cooking up special stuff for your posts, Deb!

Rebecca said...

You just crack me up and everyone else! Only wish I could have been there... one of these days I am setting my cruise control in your direction.
I am finally home after a month! That flew by... getting ready for Tipton now, so thanks for the recipe... only here I can leave out the heat, hopefully.
Blessings to my sweet
RE
PS Sounds like someone has been preaching to the choir on being too busy!

countrycharisma said...

this was too cute! I am still laughing! And what results you got! You are amazing! thanks!

Nana's girl said...

Hi nana I love u and pop and how bout them mavs !!!!!

Nana's girl said...

And can u please do a post about me and Bella please!!!!!

Cottage Panache said...

They say that laughing burns calories ~ I am writing a weight loss prescription for myself right now: Visit and Read Talking White Trash blog three times daily. To be taken 30 minutes after a meal!!! Followed by a full belly laugh!
I think I just lost and inch of belly fat!
;> Maureen

Kathie Truitt said...

WHAT?! Lulu Kellog lives in Maryland? I'm just across the river from Maryland....tell her about me. I want to meet her!