Funny, but there are still a handful of smells that I can distinctly remember from my youth. One was the smell of a new baseball mitt, a strong leather scent that lasted until you left your glove out in the rain just once. Another smell was that of a new pair of blue jeans, the aroma of the strong indigo dye was tantalizing. Another unforgettable scent I recall was from Grandma Brewer’s kitchen … [Read more...]
Cville Buzz
For reasons unknown, sometimes the server for Cville Buzz will drop a subscriber. It has dropped me on several occasions. If that happens, simply go to CvilleBuzz.com and re-subscribe. I always send out a Buzz, every Friday, so if you don’t get your copy, assume they dropped you and go to CvilleBuzz.com. By the way, if you ever want to go back and reread an old article, everything I have done … [Read more...]
Ritz Cracker Pankos
I found myself without Panko crumbs this week and I needed something to hold my ground chicken patties together. No problem. I had a whole box of Ritz Crackers ready to get in the ballgame. I also had my Food Saver bags to make the job easy. I put a sleeve of the crackers in the bag and pounded them down to an appropriate consistency, then used them in my chicken mixture. Ritz Crackers add a … [Read more...]
My Pet Crow
I think I have a pet crow. Then again, maybe the crow in my back yard has a pet human. Whatever the case, it’s strange. I have always had a few crows around. Sometime three, sometimes four. They stop by periodically to see if there are any seeds or corn kernels left over after the squirrels have finished, and sometimes they will dunk a piece of bread in our bird bath. I like having crows … [Read more...]
Nancy’s Cole Slaw
My wife Nancy makes the best Cole Saw in North America – maybe South America, too, assuming they make Cole Slaw. I had a request recently to print her recipe and she agreed. As with all good cooks, Nancy uses the taste test when making her Cole Slaw, adding stuff as needed and she recommends that others do the same. Some may like slaw a little sweeter, for example. Taste and see. Start with a … [Read more...]
Bull Reds
The big bull reds are just starting to move into Virginia waters. Schools of redfish are starting to move into the Chesapeake Bay. There was a report from a boat fishing south of Poquoson that caught several this week. The fish were cruising along grass flats in around five feet of water. The larger schools of drum have yet to arrive to the Bay, but that will change over the coming weeks. In May, … [Read more...]
Shad are No-Shows in Fredericksburg
In years past, the shad run on the Potomac at Fredericksburg would almost be over by now, but this year, it hasn’t really started. Mark Scott said he drove to Fredericksburg to try for shad last week and never saw a fish. He said that locals noted that the herring haven’t arrived, and they are usually ahead of the shad. Mark also said the water was extremely low. The shad runs are still in … [Read more...]
They Melt in Your Mouth
“They melt in your mouth, not in your hand.” M&M’s that is. I remember watching Saturday morning cartoons as a kid and a big-time sponsor of many of the shows were M&M candies. We would break out a bag and grab a handful and grasp them tightly, to see if it was true. Would they melt or not? They usually didn’t and when the commercial finally came on, we gulped then down. I always liked … [Read more...]
Pardon our Dust…
By Nancy B While we prepare for greatness. This is what the sign says on our door and posted all around the showroom. We have beautiful fixtures arriving that are sure to be wonderful additions to your home. In preparing for all the new fixtures, we have moved wall clouds and made special places for lamps, mirrors and shades. We are adding some new lines you are sure to love and … [Read more...]
Evaporated Corn Pudding
There are two things I most remember about evaporated milk. First, it was the creamer for my mom and dad’s morning coffee. There was always a little can of Carnation Evaporated Milk in the refrigerator with two small holes punched in the top, and my folks used that along with some sugar for their coffee. The second memory involves my Uncle Jim’s recipe for homemade ice cream. Instead of milk … [Read more...]