The REAL Story On Me and Paula Deen

** I am sorry I have been MIA and late posting my blog. I had a colonoscopy a few weeks ago and my stomach has not been the same since. So, the idea of food and cooking has made me feel ill at times! I'm slowly getting better though. :)**


If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE Paula Deen. You may have read my first blog, “My Obsession With Southern Cooking”. When I moved down to Alabama, I became enriched with the southern culture, including cooking. I believe that within a week or two of moving down to Alabama and getting settled in, I started watching the Food Network. And with the Food Network came this lady that reminded me a little bit of my mom, southern style. That was, of course, Paula Deen. Her food was simple and real, wholesome and fattening. This was in 2006, before she really got too crazy with all of her business adventures. She had two restaurants, a handful of cookbooks, and one show on the Food Network--Paula's Home Cooking. And I learned that Paula's hometown, Albany, GA, was not too far as the crow flies from our town in Alabama. As I mentioned in my Southern Cooking blog, I loved her two original Lady and Sons cookbooks and I find them to have some of the best southern style recipes. So, every day I watched her religiously and tried many of her recipes, still using the local southern influence to inspire me.

Brian and I went to Europe in June of 2006 and were fortunate to fly out of Charleston for the flight. We had a few days to spend in Savannah and Charleston. This is when I fell in love with Savannah and I still say to this day "the best part of our European vacation was Savannah, Georgia"... We didn't have time to eat at her restaurant though. Many months later, we moved to NY and I was determined to get back to Savannah and to continue my love for Paula even in the extreme north. I will sheepishly admit that I wrote her a letter and she replied immediately with an autographed photo, which I proudly displayed on my fridge. During an after church dinner at the house, my new friend, Christin James, told me SHE loved Paula as well. This made me even more determined to get to Savannah. When Sarah wants something, she gets it!!! Three months later after B deployed to Iraq, I convinced my parents to accompany me on a trip to Savannah and Charleston. And, I wanted to treat my mom to a Mother's Day lunch at The Lady and Sons. After being completely and utterly stuffed, we all agreed that she had a buffet filled with the richest, most tasty foods ever. We also ate at Uncle Bubba's and found it to be almost as great if not better than the other restaurant. I was in heaven and both were everything I hoped they would be.

But BEFORE I even made the trip to Savannah, I started researching Paula Deen's website. I was determined to get more...I was going to MEET Paula Deen! At this point, in May of 2007, Paula was really starting to get popular. She had a magazine, an increasing amount of cookbooks, and a second show, Paula's Party. On her website, she was advertising they were taking applications for audience members. I hastily called Christin and within an hour or two we had typed up our "reasons" for wanting to be on the show. Of course, we had to use the Iraq card...and Christin's anniversary was the same weekend as one of the tapings. Words cannot describe how elated we were when I got the call saying we were accepted and scheduled for the June 16 taping. Meanwhile, the producers called me and asked how we could plan a suprise anniversary wish to Christin from Jason, her husband. Long story short, we headed down to Savannah and Christin did not have a clue that the producers had arranged for Jason to do a videotaped message and they were going to prepare her dream wedding reception dinner, filet mignon and lobster. Three weeks after my trip to Savannah with my folks, I was heading back to be on Paula's Party.

Early that morning, we arrived at the site of the taping, Uncle Bubba's Oyster House. We were treated so wonderfully and were placed right in the front row. We sited several celebrities (Billy Joel's wife and wedding planner David Tutera). The producers reminded us repeatedly to always wash our hands if we were on tape and they encouraged us to ask questions. I remember when they asked us if any of us would NOT eat caviar...Christin nudged me and said "don't you DARE say yes!" The taping began...it was lengthy and just plain silly at times. We were all driven to tears when Christin was finally called up and they played Jason's message. There were many memories of the day..but two stick out in my mind. First, Paula was walking away and I got her attention. We told her we "bonded" through our fascination of her..she was so sweet and kind to talk to us. The second moment was after the show--we were given beautiful flowers and we got to meet Paula's husband, Michael Groover. What a wonderful guy...he was so kind and down-to-earth. Overall, it was an amazing day we both will not forget. The show aired on September 9th and Christin and I hosted a watching party. I made all of the food from the show..and Christin was on the verge of giving birth to Nathaniel (she did two days later).

But my story with Paula is not over... A month later after we returned from the show, I got an email asking if I had any recipes that could be featured on Paula's NEW show, Paula's Best Dishes. I shared the recipe that is one of Martha's most popular and requested recipes--Cream Cheese Bread. A day later, I got a call from the producer saying that my recipe was chosen and they were going to book my flight soon. I was pretty estatic. To know that I was going to make my recipe WITH Paula..ON TV...I just could not wait. Unfortunately.... I got a call a week before my flight saying that the Food Network didn't approve it. This broke my heart. I saw it as an opportunity to really get my foot in the door in the southern cooking world. At the time, there was talk that our unit would move to Savannah..and I thought I could be the sugar mama in the family by owning my own bakery in Savannah!! It was not meant to be though and I still hold hopes for that opportunity.

So..I am not going to post my favorite recipes by Paula Deen. There's nothing I would do to change them and they are a little lengthy. Surprisingly, my favorite recipes AREN'T too southern or rich. But, they are amazing and great for company.

Baked Spaghetti http://www.pauladeen.com/index.php/recipes/view2/baked_spaghetti/

**This is honestly one of the best recipes ever..much better than traditional baked spaghetti recipes. It's my favorite for company.

Tastes Like Lasagna Soup http://www.pauladeen.com/index.php/recipes/view2/tastes_like_lasagna_soup/

**It really does taste like lasagna..and it's much easier! My favorite soup recipe of all time.


And finally..here is the recipe I think Paula would love. It contains all of her favorite ingredients: butter, sour cream, and cream cheese. This was the recipe that was going to be featured on her show.

As Paula would says..."Best Dishes!"

Sassy Recipe of the Week:

Cream Cheese Bread
Bread:
1 8 oz. carton of sour cream
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c margarine
1 tsp. salt
2 pkg. yeast
1/2 c warm water
2 eggs
4 c flour

Filling:
2 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
3/4 c sugar
1 egg
1/8 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla

Frosting:
2 c powdered sugar
3 oz. package of cream cheese
1/2 stick of softened butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Enough milk to make spreadable

Melt first four ingredients of bread ingredients in a pan. Put on heat and mix together till melted and smooth. Cool these ingredients till lukewarm. Meanwhile, mix yeast mixture and warm water in large bowl. Let sit for five minutes. Add eggs and cooled sour cream mixture. Stir in flour till smooth. Cover tightly. Refrigerate at least four hours.

Beat filling until ingredients are smooth. Divide dough into 3 or 4 pieces. Roll out into 8x12 pieces of dough, very thin. Spread equal parts of filling over bread to 1/2 inch of edge. Roll up tightly, sealing edges and placing edges down on lightly greased cookie sheet. Make slashes across top of roll. You may also make individual rolls. Form small balls and make an indention on the top with a spoon. Put one spoonful of filling on top of roll. Cover with plastic wrap and let raise 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Frost with frosting.