New Product Wednesday: Mamie Jo's Kitchen Pecan Cheese Wafers

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

If you are a regular reader, you may be aware that on Wednesdays I post "New Product Wednesday" product reviews of items that are new or at least new to me!  In honor of the first Trader Joe's opening in South Tampa, I have dedicated New Product Wednesday for the past several weeks to Trader Joe's products.

However this week we are going to take a break and feature a  non-Trader Joe's product.  Stick with me people, you won't regret it!

Growing up in the Northern Midwest, I never thought of Florida as being part of the "Old South."  Living ten years in Florida (man, does time fly!), I still don't really consider Florida to be the South - although I have noticed a few "y'all" and "bless her heart" sayings have crept into my every day vernacular.  

This past Memorial Day weekend, I went to visit my friend (who I have self-appointed as "The First Lady of Lynchburg") in her home of Lynchburg, Virginia.  I have worked in Roanoke and Virginia Beach and visited Richmond and the DC-adjacent Virginia suburbs, but I had never been to Lynchburg.  To me, parts of Virginia are still "the Old South."  

Now I have also recently been in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina on a business trip.  I was working incredibly long hours and had no time to explore the area.  I made one exception to visit my favorite Lebanese deli, but other than that I was chained to my computer.  I bemoaned to FLL (First Lady of Lynchburg) how sad I was that I did not have a chance to visit my favorite foodie paradise in Chapel Hill, North Carolina - the massive wonderful food emporium- Southern Season.  It's like NYC's Eataly but with a Southern flair!

Being raised outside of the South, I do not have the genteel etiquette and sensibilities of a Southern Belle.  Although I do have some social graces.  If a person offers me a gift, I usually do the "oh no, I couldn't … that's much too kind … no really, I just couldn't" 2-3 times denial before accepting said gift.  I don't know why, I just do.  

So when FLL heard that I had not had a chance to go to Southern Season, she pulled out a container of "Mamie Jo's Kitchen's Pecan Cheese Wafers" for me.  

Instead of doing my normal "Oh no, I couldn't possibly …" response when offered a gift, I swooped down on the plastic container of sharp cheesy wafers with gigantic pecans like a cracked out owl on a mouse!  I scurried away with my treasure and I am pretty sure I didn't even say "Thank you."  I needed to lock this gift in my suitcase before FLL changed her mind!  When it comes to pecan cheese wafers, the only word is "YES!"

I am not sure how I managed to not crack into the plastic tub before returning to Florida.  Extreme human restraint?  But let me tell you, the minute I walked through my door I turned on the television and out came the pecan cheese wafers.

I noticed on the label that it says they "freeze beautifully."  Which made me smile and laugh.  My friend Ms. Kentucky and I are going to see American Stage Theatre's production of "Steel Magnolias."  I have never seen the play, but I have seen the movie more times than I can count.  I also remember that there is a line in the movie about recipes in the "freezes beautifully" section of a cookbook.  So seeing "freeze beautifully" on the Mamie Jo's Kitchen Pecan Cheese Wafers label made me think of Dolly Parton.  

When I was in Las Vegas, I was surprised to see that there were Dolly Parton slot machines.  Listen, nothing is better than winning money while Dolly is singing "Jolene."

I won $109 at the Las Vegas airport while Dolly was singing her heart out.  It may have annoyed the man sitting next to me, but my wallet loved every single minute of it!

  In the American Stage Theatre production of Steel Magnolias, local actress Tia Jemison plays "Truvy" - the Dolly Parton role.  I am extremely excited to see Tia play Truvy as she was wonderful in Stageworks Theater's production of "A Raisin In The Sun" and American Stage Theater's "The Wiz."    

But enough about Dolly Parton, how did the Pecan Cheese Wafers taste?

Like absolute Southern Heaven.  

Incredibly cheesy with a sharp, rich, buttery cheese taste and the pecans were so amazingly fresh.  I had to pace myself because I wanted to gobble up the entire plastic tub (45 calories per wafer).  

Mamie Jo's Kitchen has a Facebook page that lists where you can buy their products.  If you like sharp cheese shortbread with hearty, tasty pecans, you HAVE to try these little buttons of delight!  They are sooooo delicious.  And they do freeze beautifully.     

P.S.  See Steel Magnolias at American Stage Theatre through June 15.  Read the Tampa Tribune's review of the play here.

P.P.S. I am so happy that the insanity around the new South Tampa Trader Joe's seems to have died down.  I drove there the other day and 1/3 of the parking lot spots were actually open!  Of course by the time I came out of the store, there were only 3-4 spots open … but it was the first time I had shopped at the new South Tampa location without wanting to stab everyone I saw in the head.  Progress!

How I Have Missed You! Sunny Caribbee's Down Island Dill Mix

Dear LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

I was in the British Virgin Islands in February on vacation (Rough life, I know!)  This was my third time visiting the BVI and as such I already had my "routine" of places I regularly visit.  One of those places is Sunny Caribbee spice shop on Tortola.  (Read more about it here.)

I love the spice mixes, condiments, sweets, kitchen gadgets, artwork and syrups from Sunny Caribbee.  There are several Sunny Caribee spice mixes that I use religiously.  One of these items is the Down Island Dill spice mix.  (Read about my lemon dill coconut bread recipe using Down Island Dill here.)  Before my BVI trip, I had used up all of my beloved Down Island Dill spice mix.  Although you can order Sunny Caribbee online, I decided to wait to stock up until my trip. 

And then the horror struck ... when I arrived on Tortola, I discovered that both the Road Town and Soper's Hole Sunny Caribbee stores were out of Down Island Dill Mix and they weren't sure when it would be back in stock - "maybe a few weeks, maybe a few months" I was told with the typical "Relax, it's island time" attitude.  

Well hello, I am an American jacked up with a Type A/Gotta Have It NOW NOW NOW mentality.  This island time was not sitting well with me.  When I returned to the States, I basically checked the SunnyCaribbee.com website every couple of days like a neglected girlfriend stalking her ex-boyfriend.  After 2 months, I gave up.  Oh Sunny Caribbee, you have broken my heart.  

But then a ray of light ...

Wednesday evening - in what surely was a fit of self-loathing and need to be disappointed, I checked the SunnyCaribbee.com website once more.  I typed in the word "dill" in the search field and ...

The angels sang.  I wept.  The clouds parted.

THERE WAS DOWN ISLAND DILL AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONCE MORE!

I know this may seem a tad overly dramatic for some dill seasoning, but it is really is that good and I use it on everything.

Also great for yourself or for gifts is Sunny Caribbee's most popular Herb Pepper Blend.  I also love their "Bloody Mary Magic" as well as their Passionfruit tea.  I also am a huge fan of their spices that come in their own grinders because both the grinders and the tin shakers are refillable.  Less waste - reduce, reuse, recycle!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have an online order to place at SunnyCaribbee.com!

P.S. I receive no compensation for writing about SunnyCaribbee.com but any time they want to send me some Ginger Beer Syrup; which is not available on their website.  I would gladly accept it!

Google Affiliate Ads:
Have you tried this dill pickle popcorn seasoning?  If you have, please leave me a comment and let me know how it is. I am both intrigued and scared ...




  

A Homey Gift Idea

Looking for a great and unique gift idea?  

My friend Stacy is selling hand drawn portraits of homes via her website.  

Check out the link to see samples of her work and to learn more!

Alien Pod People, Barbecue Grills in Drag and Other Gift Buying Ideas

Happy Monday LilyOntheLam.Com Readers:

I hope you're feeling energized and spunky today!  If not, a few more cups of coffee please ...

Today's LilyOnTheLam.Com blog post is a gift to my friend JS' husband ... let's call him ... The Dog Whisperer.  

I refer to him by that name because JS & TS have recently adopted a stray dog into their household.  The new dog and TS have forged a very fast, very strong bond.  So for the remainder of this blog post, I shall refer to TS as "The Dog Whisperer" or "The DW" for short.  Oh the lengths I go to preserve anonymity ... (and then post my blog on a person's Facebook for all to read-- HAHAHAHHAHA!)

I met The DW's wife over 8 years ago, but I don't recall the exact moment or occasion when I met The DW.  I just one day knew The DW - it was no gradual building up of friendship.  It was just BOOM - there's The DW!  Perhaps I have such good humor toward The DW because he makes the most mack daddy awesome flourless chocolate cake with Earl Grey ice cream I have ever had ... or maybe it was lavender ice cream - my memory is a bit jagged due to watching too many Honey Boo Boo clips on YouTube.

Anyway, it was on one of my visits to The DW's home that I noticed this big green oval thing near the pool-patio area.  It was bumpy on the outside, kind of like a golf ball but huge.  It looked like a compact carrying case for dead bodies ... or for alien life forms.  

I made a mental note that The DW was either a mafia hit man or the Human Servant to a superior alien race that was planning to take over the Earth.  I asked The DW's wife what the big green egg-shaped looking thing was and she replied "Oh, that's The DW's Big Green Egg."

Well duh, I kinda already got that - but WHAT IS IT?

"It's a Big Green Egg.  It's The DW's Big Green Egg."  The DW's wife repeated.

I shook my head and made a mental note that the alien overlords needn't bother to interrogate The DW's wife because her evasive answers would yield no useful information.

Then one day I was driving down Kennedy Boulevard in South Tampa, Florida and I saw an outdoor barbecue store.  They had a sign advertising "The Big Green Egg."  I wondered when The DW's wife started manufacturing cryptic and NOT helpful advertising signs.  I kept driving.

Eventually the knowledge that "The Big Green Egg" is a ceramic cooker (or as their website calls it "The Ultimate Cooking Experience") somehow settled into the nether regions of my brain.  It's supposed to be a combination grill/smoker/oven and possibly alien incubator.  

I still don't quite trust it and am pretty sure "The Big Green Egg" may grill me a steak but it may also hatch a 10 foot tall alien master race as well.  You can't fool me, alien pod people! 

I was in Minneapolis three weeks ago, visiting my sister Squidge - who may also be part of an alien master race.  We went shopping in Uptown Minneapolis/Lake Calhoun area.  We had to stop at one of our favorite stores - Kitchen Window at Calhoun Square.  

If you like kitchen gadgets or entertaining supplies, you have to check this store out.  It has one of the biggest paella pans I have ever seen in my life.  If I ever need to make paella for 200 people, I know where to get the pan!

Squidge and I walked in to the Kitchen Window and lo and behold, there was The DW's Big Green Egg ... but smaller ... a table-top size version.  I literally screamed like a kid seeing Santa Claus and ran to it.  My little sister, with blood streaming from her now punctured ear drums, looked at me in bewilderment.  (Officially the item below is called the Big Green Egg - Mini Size aka Mini Egg.)  

I suddenly had this vision of me carrying in my table-top Not-so Big Green Egg into The DW's house.  I'd somehow smuggle it in and then when The DW looked the other way, I'd pull out the black metal stand and the Not-so Big Green Egg and plop it on the table in front of me.  Of course I'd have put a straw hat and a bow tie on said Not-so Big Green Egg and maybe a blond ringlet wig ... corn cob pipe ... overalls ... some sort of Southern outfit.  And then when The DW turned around, he'd see the face of "Not-so Big Green Egg" staring at him - and he'd know that his days of being the only Big Green Egg owner I know were LONG OVER.  A tear may actually roll down his cheek too.  

I would stand up and laugh maniacally at his pain.  The music track from Dynasty or Dallas would cue up and I'd sneer "For too long, you thought you were the King of the Big Green Egg, DW!  But you were WRONG!  Look who has a Big Green Egg now TOO!  Oh sure, it's not as big as yours - but can yours sit on the dining table and wear a straw hat and suspenders?  Oh noooo .... I think NOT!"  

I would then start absent-mindedly stroking my Not-so Big Green Egg while I laughed and laughed and laughed.

My sister ended my day-dreaming by saying "I still don't understand what the big deal is with this little green egg."  Sigh ... kids just don't understand.

But then I turned around and SCREAMED AGAIN!  My sister was now sick of losing her hearing to my insanity and walked away.  But I would not walk away ... NO...  what did I spy at the Kitchen Window store?  

Patio string lights - like Christmas tree lights but for your patio and for more than one holiday (heh heh) - patio string lights in the shape of ... THE BIG GREEN EGG.

Obviously I have died and gone to heaven ... have you ever seen anything so fabulously beautiful?  I quickly calculated how much it would cost to buy enough Big Green Egg Patio String Lights to completely wrap The DW's entire house ... unfortunately for me, The DW is a successful attorney and his house is quite large.  Until my line of Moroccan-themed cat costumes brings me my first billion dollars, I probably didn't have enough money to completely cover The DW's house in Big Green Egg Patio String Lights.  I decided dedicating a blog post to The DW and his Big Green Egg would have to suffice.

I then turned around one more time and SCREAMED AGAIN.   I think at this point, my sister had had it with me and left the store.  But who could blame me ... there sitting on a display grill were these ...

BARBECUE NINJA!  Where was THAT option on career day??  Why am I a corporate drone when I could be a BARBECUE NINJA???  Can I change my CV on LinkedIn.com to say Current Role: BARBECUE NINJA?  

Let's take stock of my life ... I don't own a Big Green Egg.  I don't even own a Not So Big Green Egg.  And I am not a Barbecue Ninja.  Truth be told, I live in a condo so I couldn't have a grill even if I were the world's foremost barbecue ninja.  No, I just have a Cuisinart Griddler.  I'm a Griddler Ninja.  I know, you don't have to say it - "Griddler Ninja" does not sound cool.

Sigh.

Someone needs to buy me a large house, buy me all sorts of sizes of Green Eggs and become my patron ... like in the old days where rich families would sponsor artists.  I need a billionaire to sponsor my Barbecue Ninja artistry.  

Do you really want to live in a world where there is one less Barbecue Ninja?  

Gasp!  No!  

Until that glorious day, I'll be saving my pennies so I can make my dream of showing up at The DW's house with a Not So Big Green Egg in a blond wig with a corn cob pipe a sparkling reality.  

A girl can dream, can't she?


P.S. In researching this blog post (yes, I actually do some research at times), I found out that there is a whole line of Big Green Egg -themed accessories!  Candles, picnic table weights, salt and pepper shakers, stuffed toys, baby onesies and my absolute favorite - BIG GREEN EGG CORN COB HOLDERS.  

I have heard rumors that Big Green Egg owners/lovers are beyond dedicated and have their own version of fan cultdom (EggHeads) over this ultimate cooking experience tool.  Kind of like Furries, but obsessed with grills ... please don't try to have sex with your Big Green Egg, I beg of you!

They also have an annual Eggtoberfest - which by the time this blog post is published will be 2 days after 2012's Eggtoberfest.  

P.P.S.  If your Big Green Egg has ever given birth to a master race of alien pod people, please leave me your story in the Comments section below.  Thanks!

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Shop Here Now! Toffee to Go!

A couple years ago, my friend NT brought a box of homemade white chocolate macadamia nut toffee from a local Tampa business to a party I was hosting.  I don't care for white chocolate, so I didn't think I would like it.  Well, I was wrong.  Darn you NT and your tasty treats!  This toffee was beyond fabulous!  It was crunchy but yet melted in my mouth.  I was instantly hooked.  My party guests and I demolished the entire box in 3.2 seconds.  Some serious yummy deliciousness.


I drove out to the small Tampa store to check it out.  The company is called Toffee To Go.  A simple name for a very sophisticated tasting toffee.  It is rich, buttery and oh-my-goodness super fantastic!  Since being introduced to this toffee by NT, I have bought Toffee to Go toffee for many housewarming gifts.  And I've used their mail order service to send a "good luck studying" gift for my little sister at University.  Everyone goes insane for this fantastic toffee! 


So the other day, I find out that Toffee to Go has opened a new store and it's now ridiculously close to where I live.  Oh Toffee to Go, are you stalking me?  I am going to weigh 500 pounds if you move any closer! 


As it turned out, my friends R&S were having a joint birthday party.  What's a good gift for a birthday party?  Oh yes... toffee!  I used the upcoming party as an excuse to go check out Toffee To Go's new store.  It is much bigger than their old store and chock full of their delicious toffee, toffee sauce and now new toffee popsicles!

I selected a one pound box of three flavors- dark chocolate pecan, milk chocolate almond and white chocolate macadamia nut toffee.  The clerk had to run to the back to get a fresh box put together - leaving me alone with a plate of toffee samples.

I secretly wonder if there is a hidden camera in the foyer to watch people gobble the entire plate of samples while waiting for their toffee order!  I had one piece of dark chocolate pecan toffee and seriously wanted to eat more and more and more.  But I stayed strong!  Darn you, Toffee to Go!


If you're looking for a great gift or if you're craving excellent handmade toffee, try Toffee to Go!