Southern Drawl or Southern Drool? You Decide.

I'm a little late posting about our Tuesday soiree' this week.  My Lost Finale Party has taken over my life!  It's going to rock--can't wait to share it with you on Sunday :)

This week, we went all out in the Southern Hospitality department.  Try not to drool on your keyboard....

First off, who has ever tried a yellow watermelon?  I was a teensy bit skeptical, but my sons begged me to get one and they were cheap, so we gave it a whirl and guess what?  Tastes the same and makes such a pretty picture......Try getting a yellow and a red and alternating little hand-sized slices on a platter.  It's sure to add some punch to your picnic or party. Don't forget to let the kids have a seed-spitting contest in the backyard.  Maybe you'll have some free watermelons growing next season!

So I decided to make my sweetheart, David, his favorite cake.  Red Velvet.  I've never made this at home before and I was praying Martha had a good recipe.  Well, the girl didn't disappoint.  I followed it to the letter and it came out moist and fluffy.  This is what it looked like before and after it came out of the oven.  Unfortunately, we scarfed it down so quick, I forgot to take a photo of it completely iced and under it's cake dome.  Boo!  It was a beauty--take my word for it.

I'll just go ahead and say it:  I hate Martha's version of Fried Green Tomatoes.  Basically, there are two ways (well, about a million weird ways, but only two normal ways) to make FGTs.  With flour or with cornmeal.  She uses cornmeal.  I've found over the years that this makes the outer batter too crunchy.  Almost like onion rings where you can take a bite and the entire outside batter comes off and you're stuck with a flimsy piece of cooked onion in your hand.  So, I did it her way for my "52 Weeks With My Homegirl Martha" project and must say, yes, I still hate using cornmeal for green tomatoes.  Actually, my favorite recipe comes from Bea Arthur (RIP).  Yes, that Golden Girl could cook!  She lets hers marinate in sour cream before coating them with seasoned flour, then egg, then flour again. 

Here are the ones that I made (which got gobbled up anyway), modeled by my gorgeous mom, Iris.

Buttermilk Biscuits are delicious on their own.  With Apple Butter from Cracker Barrel, they are worthy of praise---Hall-e-lujah!

And, last but no-way least was this incredibly easy barbecue pulled pork.  There wasn't a trace to be found shortly after I set it on the table!

First, start with a Boston Butt pork roast.  It will come trussed with string.  Leave it like that while it's cooking. 

 Next, I made a rub with paprika, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, salt and pepper and placed that on all sides of the meat.  Then I mixed apple cider vinegar, a little water and a handful of garlic cloves, minced and poured the concoction over the spice-rubbed roast.  Cover and cook on 350 for 2 hr 30 min.  You should be able to shred it apart after it cools a bit.  Then, of course you need a little barbecue sauce.  You can make your own, but why bother when there's Sweet Baby Ray's Honey Barbecue Sauce!?  Mix in a little at a time until it's saucy but not soupy.  Serve as is or on warmed hamburger rolls.

Yes, that is Samantha from Sex And The City eyeing our barbecue.  Hands off, Jones!  This bowl isn't big enough for the two of us.....