It’s funny how tastes remain with you for long periods of time. It seems like just last week that I was on a church picnic at Beaver Creek Lake just outside Beckley, WV. I was 9 or 10.  Boy, what a spread those Beckley Presbyterian Church ladies set before us. Fried chicken, ham biscuits, yeast rolls, homemade pies and cakes, but the one thing I remember to this day were the pimento cheese … [Read more...]

I was making my periodic run to Sam’s Club to stock up on paper towels, napkins and toilet paper and stopped by the back counter with prepared hams and meats. I noticed a boneless, oven roasted turkey breast. Hmmm! A couple of great meals and piles of turkey sandwiches? It was about $18 and I squeezed it into my now-brimming cart. The instructions said to cover it with foil and heat it about … [Read more...]

I confess. I am not a wine connoisseur, nor could I even carry on a conversation with a sommelier. I used to drink Boone’s Farm when we were poor as church mice. It wasn’t bad if you got it cold enough and it was 89c a bottle. So, I’m definitely not qualified to write reviews on wines, except that I know what I like, and I really like some of the wines offered at Aldi’s. They taste good and … [Read more...]

If I even think about a hot dog, I’ve got to have one in the next few days. Same with Fried Chicken, but when a plump hot dog dressed with mustard, onions and chili enters the mental picture, it’s all over. Get me a dog! There are only a few really good places to get hot dogs in Charlottesville – Jack N Jill and Dairy Queen come to mind, but since it was Labor Day Weekend, I figured I’d have to … [Read more...]

My Brewer family hails from Clemmons, NC, just outside of Winston Salem. This is Moravian Country, home to the best cookies on the planet. The Moravians are from the historical region of Moravia in the Czech Republic, who then fled the counter revolution in 1722. In 1753, many found their way to North Carolina and made their homes in the Piedmont Region. Of German descent, the Moravians can … [Read more...]

I have noticed that the number of brands offered at big box stores like Wal-Mart and large grocery chains like Kroger’s have been shrinking. I used to be able to buy Close-up toothpaste at Wal-Mart, but no more. They carry just three or four of the most popular brands, but dozens of varieties among these brands, such as Crest. It’s hard to find Mrs. Myers soaps, and certain soft drinks, like RC … [Read more...]

Hands down, Food Lion has the best frozen shrimp on the market. When defrosted, it comes out plump and juicy and packed with flavor. I’m sure it’s farm-raised shrimp, but it’s the best. It’s also among the lowest priced. This week I saw their ad for a 1-pound bag of Jumbo Frozen Shrimp for $7.99. We’re having that for tonight’s dinner – steamed and with heaping helpings of Old Bay on … [Read more...]

We saw our son Jimmie recently at a family get together and he said he had bought me a 3-pound log of Canadian Bacon. That’s nice, but why?An impulse, he said. I guess I looked like I needed a 3-pound fix of Canadian Bacon even though I haven’t eaten that much in my entire life. When I got home, I hacked off a few slices, put them in a hot frying pan with a bit of olive oil and wolfed them … [Read more...]

We were packing our lunch for a road trip to NC. I always like to make sandwiches ahead, so we don’t have to stop so often. I had made a nice batch of Egg Salad and wanted some sliced bread worthy of my creation. I went to Kroger’s to check out their choices and found that all the brand names were $4-plus and none were thick. Then I saw a loaf of Kroger’s Private Selection Artisan Bread. It was … [Read more...]

Each morning, Nancy and I brew a big pot of coffee. We prefer a milder blend, and our favorite is Chock full o’Nuts. Sometimes, however, when you go to an Air B&B, they only offer Keurig-type coffee makers, and you have to bring your own pods. The nice thing about a Keurig is that you can make just one cup if you want, and you can offer several types of blends to suit various tastes. The bad … [Read more...]