PRIZE PEACH COBBLER (and a giveaway)

My favorite cookbook is 50 years old! I read about it in the local paper today...

50 years ago, a group of women in Tampa's Junior League were looking for a way to raise money to help with their civic projects. They decided to write a cookbook. Little did they know that this book would become iconic...a staple gift for a young (or old ) bride, a housewarming gift, a tourist souvenir... Even Jackie Kennedy Onasis bought a copy at the Florida Pavilion at the 1964 Worlds' Fair. Her photo, carrying the cookbook, spurred nationwide sales of the cookbook!


What I love about this cookbook, is the glimpse it gives to the way of life in Tampa during the early 1960s.  Each chapter is prefaced with beautiful stories of family, food, and the culture of the day. An example of this is the story telling of the manner in which Cuban bread was delivered...
"Long ago, when the 20th Century was still young, Cuban bread was delivered in a horse-drawn bakery wagon, and the deliveryman, swinging the loaf of bread like a bat, would impale it on a nail hammered to the side of the customer's house." 
Another favorite example of the times is "Here in Tampa we women look forward to the Fall of the year when our men go forth in the morning as hunters, and return in the dusk as providers....There is something primitively satisfying in receiving from your man food for the table."
Throughout the book, recipe contributors are identified by their MARRIED names...such as Mrs. Joe Black. There is also a wonderful mixture of  Spanish, Italian, Greek, Cuban, and Southern recipes found in its pages, reflecting the diversity of Tampa...and Florida. I especially love the recipes from favorite restaurants of my childhood...places that closed many, many years ago.

 The artwork throughout the book is quite special. It was done by a local celebrity...Lamar Sparkman. His drawings were found in the pages of the Tampa Tribune, for years. This is one of his drawings of the pirate, Jose Gaspar, and his (decorated for the Gasparilla festival) pirate ship.






(You can read more about this festival at: http://artfullygraced.blogspot.com/2010/01/pirates-are-coming.html )

OK....why am I telling you about this cookbook...besides the fact that I love it so much that my copy is beginning to fall apart (It is 35 years old...)? 


On September 25, I am going to give away a 50th Anniversary edition to one lucky winner. Here's how you enter...
   1.  Leave me a comment.
   2.  Become a follower of Artfully Graced
   3. Tell others about this giveaway.


Here's one of my favorite recipes from the cookbook...


Prize Peach Cobbler  
from Mrs. Julian Lane (Frances and her husband, Sen. Julian Lane, were very dear family friends. I have used her cobbler recipe for 35 years...and ALWAYS receive raves!)

3/4 cup flour                            
Less than 1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 cups fresh sliced peaches
1 cup sugar


Sift flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix with 1 cup sugar; slowly stir in milk to make batter. Melt butter in 8 x 8 x 2-inch baking pan. Pour batter over melted butter. Do not stir. Carefully spoon over this the peaches and sugar, mixed thoroughly. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees. Serves 6. Delicious hot or cold. Serve with cream, if desired.
***I have cut the sugar in half... 3/4 cup in the batter, and 1/4 cup in the peaches. I also use the batter recipe with different fruits or fruit mixtures, such as blueberry and peaches, together. Yum!

I am linking with Foodie Friday

CRESCENT BEACH...and a PAINTING GIVEAWAY!

There is nothing more soothing to my soul than the sounds and scents of the ocean.


Luckily, living in Florida, the ocean is just a short drive away...


Although I live on the Gulf of Mexico, my sanctuary is a small strip of beach on the Atlantic Ocean, just south of St. Augustine...it's called Crescent Beach.

I first discovered this beautiful beach when my brother owned a condo here...
Shortly after my family moved back to Florida, Big Brother asked me why I never used his condo. Of course, I asked, "Condo? Where is it?"


That very first trip began my love affair with this beautiful beach...

Not only did I fall in love with it, so did all my boys. When given the opportunity to choose vacations, every one of them asked to return to Crescent, year after year...even after my brother sold the condo. 

There is something special about this place...

Perhaps it's the wide, flat beach...perfect for skim-

boarding...

Maybe it's the waves...usually good for surfing... or for riding boogie boards... or for body surfing...

Maybe it's the beauty of the natural dunes...the sea oats waving in the warm (or freezing) breeze...

Maybe it's the wildlife that lives along the shore...in the dunes...in the bird sanctuary that abuts the shore...or the dolphins frolicking in the waves...

Or it might be the surf-fishing...at least that's what my husband loves...

Whatever it is that draws me, it's one of the few places I have found where I truly RELAX...

I sit here
...sometimes with my sketchbook and pencils
...sometimes with my Bible
...sometimes
...just with myself...and I dream.

I get back in touch with ME...

It's my sanctuary...

In honor of World Ocean's Day, I am giving away one of my original crab paintings...The winner will receive her/his choice of one of these three...

 This is one of my "bling" crabs...custom designed with YOU in mind...This lady is toting a Chanel shopping bag, wearing pearls, shiny silver bracelets, and a huge diamond ring. It was designed as a gift for a lady who truly loves BLING and shopping! And it began a whole line of crabbies! It's done on a flat canvas board (can be framed), measuring 6" x 8". The winner can choose her/his own colors and choice of bling... 

 This is "Blue Crab". A kaleidescope of colors defines this more traditional lovely. (It's about as traditional as I get!) The cerulean blue continues onto all sides...She measures 8" x 10" and is ready to hang...

"The Patriotic Crab" has a lot of personality and is a perfect summer painting. Many of my customers have several "holiday" paintings which they switch out for each season...This one is July 4th, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, all rolled into one...It's painted on a 9" x 12",  flat board canvas and can be framed...or just propped up on a stand. 

To enter this drawing, all you have to do is leave me a comment, telling me what love about the ocean...and which painting you would choose to win. Tell others about my giveaway (and leave me a separate comment), and I'll give you a second chance to win! The drawing will be held early next week...post your comments, soon!

(This giveaway is limited to US and Canada...sorry to all my other international friends.)

I am linking with Shellbelle...for World Ocean's Day and Susan for Outdoor Wednesday. Come join the party!!!


Head to the beach...even if it's only in your mind!
Jane

Another CSN Stores Giveaway!

Spring is here! The azaleas are bursting into bloom, buds are forming on the orange trees, and all the oak leaves are dropping into my pool (YUK!). It's time to get our yard and the play area ready for the outdoor season.  I don't have grandkids, yet, but I do have a lot of neighborhood kids who love to come play at my house...so it's time to replace the swing set in my yard.

I'm really liking this one!

And who do I visit first?   Our friends at CSN Stores! They have the most unbelievable choices of swing sets and play yards from which to choose!!! There is everything from the classic swings and slides  to rock climbing walls, tire swings to forts. And best of all, they offered to give a $30 gift certificate to one of my blog friends, for just checking them out. This gift certificate may be used for ANYTHING on the CSN Stores website. (Sorry, this is only available to my US and Canadian readers.)


All you have to do to be eligible is visit CSN and check out their SWING SETS. Let me know which one you think would be fun in your yard. I'll be drawing the name of the winner on  Friday, Feb. 25. Good luck to you...

Jane