Home At Last! with Patty Gironda

This is a favorite Gironda family recipe for the holidays. A Coca-Cola and apple juice brine penetrate a whole raw picnic ham-studded with juicy gloves of garlic for three days, before a gentle smoking in a new "gently-used" gas smoker! 8 hours at 190 degrees, and, finally, two hours in a slow oven with a baste of honey water. Look out buttermilk biscuits, here we come!

I keep promising myself that I will learn a new biscuit recipe! One that imitates a favorite Louisiana chicken fast food restaurant's famous buttery recipe. The truth, I haven't! Instead, I fall back on this "no-fail" recipe shared with me by my Aunt Eva. Why I ever think I need to find a better recipe is beyond me. I bake this tasty version in a black iron skillet to create a crunchy, buttery crust with a tender delicate inside. Sturdy enough to hold up to thick preserves!

Our weekend guests were a mature couple-both Clayton University professors who found love!  Married at our city's gazebo-steps away from Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast-the bride and groom  toasted their new start with a sparkling Spanish Rose Cava, shared bites of chocolate and raspberry cake and a quick cup of my Home At Last! coffee before heading off to the Georgia Aquarium, dinner and a night at an Atlanta comedy club with friends!  No BRIDEZILLA here! Bravo! The bride wore a lovely taupe gown and cream veil complimented by a fresh bouquet of red and peach roses! Breakfast was a special preparation of French Toast made from a homemade Orange Brandy and served with a warm raspberry syrup prepared from the leftover Rose Cava and fresh oranges, raspberries and bananas!

The Furr Ball takes place Saturday night at the Newnan Country Club and serves as a important fundraiser for these amazing volunteers; tireless in their efforts to adopt animals into safe, loving homes!  Come One, Come All and Let's Have a Ball... a Fur Ball That Is!! Date: Saturday, November 12th Location: Newnan Country Club Cocktails and Silent Auction: 6:00 p.m. Three Course Dinner: 7:00 p.m.

It's hard to believe that in a few nights we'll celebrate our eighteenth year of Trick or Treating in the historic neighborhood known as the College-Temple District in Newnan . . .one of the scariest neighborhoods for young treat-or-treaters" in all the land! Spooky! Parents load up the kids on flatbeds, vans and pick-ups knowing that the kids will score "big time" and have plenty to share back at home. We've seen more adults in the past few years-claiming their "begging" is for unseen children left behind in some imaginary location . . .uh-huh!

It's that perfect time of the year in historic downtown Newnan, GA. Join us Thursday, 5:00 pm until 8:30 pm for the Fall Taste of Newnan and Chili Cook-off.

These are all photos taken after taping an episode of Home At Last! Amazingly, I photgraphed these over fifteen years-in four different kitchens. 

 One of the prettiest places in Coweta during the Fall months is The Veggie Patch  of  Newnan!  Always decorated and filled with beautiful flowering plants, their skilled buyers select the prettiest mumms in the south metro area of Atlanta!  Print out this page and enjoy 10% Off seasonal mums!

Elizabeth Beers, owner of Tour With Elizabeth will share some of her favorite spooky stories during the Halloween and "Trick-OR-Treating" season! Downtown Newnan and Oak Hill Cemetery are few of her favorite haunts- but let's get real -what would we do if a ghost snuck up behind us, tapped us on the shoulder or just appeared suddenly as Elizabeth was sharing the grizzly details of some unlucky ghost's earthly demise? Unfortunately, I'm afraid I know what I would do. . . I would beat myself silly, "re-kill" the ghost and/or possibly injure others around me.  Just sayin'! My worst experience at a haunted house, EVER, happened in Clearwater, Florida about twenty-five years ago. One of the scariest I had ever experienced my body just shut down and refused to move in any direction. After an what seemed like an eternity a very kindly "ghost" or "monster" was forced by the organizers to come and escort my party and ME out of the ...

The 2011 Coweta County Fair presented by our county's Kiwanis clubs has officially opened and visitors are pouring in. Corn dogs, smoked Kielbasa, cotton candy, and even banana pudding were a few of the fairs foods I spotted or enjoyed! Crowds were light Saturday afternoon but the beautiful weather promised a spectacular night under the midway lights!

Our new streaming site is offering logo and video services that are designed to drive traffic to websites and blogs! $470 yearly fee includes a standalone page with unique address, up to three minutes of streaming video embedded on WestGAtv.com , WestGAtv.pegcentral.com  and your personal or business website. Check out our newest example at The Veggie Patch in Newnan.

Unfiltered and maybe an hour away from ready this last batch of peach syrup was screaming for some vodka and lemonade! I always test my syrups but this was a "taking one for the team" moment in our 90 degree heat! The addition of the slightly-sweetened whipped cream made the "task" a enjoyable experience and I am excited to say that my peach syrup made from Indian Blood Peaches is a great success. A drop of raspberry essence was added to this experimental batch and greatly enhanced the natural raspberry-like flavors of the peach!

Dedicated, loving volunteers at the corners of Animal Rescue Rd and Boiled Peanut Pkwy continue their mission of saving lives by rescuing our area's throwaways and surrendered pets! President LouAnn Nociforo Jones leads the pack in the fight and is seen here stirring a large vat of boiling peanuts. Stop by PetSmart in Newnan any Sunday between 12:30 and 3:30 PM and meet your next furever friend! President LouAnn Nociforo Jones NCHS.org Friend, Kathy Ward and I caught up at a roadside garage sale during Powers' Festival weekend and encountered a new litter of kittens and their unneutered mother! Please help save these precious companions by spaying or neutering! Be responsible friends to your pets! Kathy Ward

Georgia Ann's Garden was a happy place to be. Bottle trees and ever-blooming varieties of drought-resistant varieties of colorful flowers-all fashioned from recycled cans. 

  The food vendor displays were colorful and popular with the crowds! This was one of my favorites-filled with rustic charm!  Great eye appeal and one happy woman matched her drink to  her finger nails and polo shirt!                                                 The menu was rustic, too! Roasted corn on the cob, smoked turkey legs, large baked potatoes with plenty of toppings! You must admit this is a charming stand. I wonder if the booths earn awards? Hmmmm. . . .maybe next year! Great job guys!

So many smiling faces this past weekend at the 2011 Powers' Festival in Newnan! Rain or the lack of sunshine didn't dampen the spirit of festival go-ers! This old man shared his love of dancing and happily performed for our cameras! Good food was abundant and the new vendors brought some crowd-pleasing festival favorites like Blooming Onions and Gyros!  

Unlike so many I'm always sad to see summer end! I've elected to "weather" the cooler months by discovering new activities that require cooler temps! This fall's project list includes my usuals favorites-smoking chickens, making fresh sausage, curing fish! Limoncello! All fun things I love to do that really are so much more pleasant without the scorching heat! I look forward to the Newnan Oktoberfest Beer Tasting, Fall Taste of Newnan and art walks showcasing local artists! There are so many opportunities to stroll our beautiful square when the cooler weather rolls in. In other parts of the county cruisers gather for car shows, neighbors stroll the streets of historic neighborhoods during progressive dinners and many groups host wine tastings to raise needed funds for favorite projects.   It's really a beautiful time in South Metro Atlanta and a pleasant time to reflect on the front porch with a great glass of wine!

  More fun things to do this Labor Day Weekend in Newnan, Georgia!

Hurricane Central at the Weather Channel has determined that Irene will be a major threat to the Eastern coastline of the U.S. We can thank our lucky starts that we could be missed here in Georgia. It reminds me that we all need to be thinking about our Emergency Kits and posting important numbers in a safe place! Having a trustworthy tree removal company during emergencies is a MUST. For those of us living in the south metro Atlanta area I'm posting one the most reliable and professional companies to trust during severe storms. Call Danny and Tina at 678-378-8420 and let them take a look at your dead, diseased and downed trees!