Home At Last! with Patty Gironda

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

By now I know many of my friends and associates understand my great passion for fine food, good wine and adventurous travel but there's another side to my personality that many don't know. . . I'm a "technology" junkie and love learning about new technologies that stretch the imagination and widen the audience for the love of storytelling! While I don't expect many of you will ever have the need to understand the technology behind Home At Last! I do hope you will appreciate the potential to reach a new audience through streaming video that has "come of age"! Our new streaming channel will feature community and entertainment at one simple location! Just like you already enjoy on your newly purchased ATSC-equipped TV's. No longer bound by cable restrictions and contracts WestGAtv.com will feature many of our popular programs-which can be enjoyed on your computer or better yet! on your newly-acquired ATSC TV with internet features! More later ...

100-mile treks and patience finally yielded two boxes of luscious Moro Blood Oranges. Finally, I was able to serve my Vampire's Kiss Blood Orange Martinis.  I made a syrup of champagne and black raspberry and transferred the cooled syrup to a bottle with a pourer. Same with the strained blood orange juice. Vampire's Kiss Blood Orange Martini 1 1/2 oz vodka 1/2 oz Champagne syrup 1 oz blood orange juice Place ingredients in a shaker with cracked ice. Stir until well-chilled and strain into pretty martini glass.

I am often asked to exchange links and very seldom find reasons to respond. But yesterday I received a request to download a free trial of SnapIt and my curiosity got the better of me. I regularly use my PrintScreen function  but this software promised features that would save some tedious steps. . . if it work - as described.  So I gave it a shot! I am loving the ease of the tool-can only imagine how much fun I am going to have with it! My brain is racing imagining all the applications where this will be extremely time-saving and productive tool. My Coweta County Fair photo was snapped right from the county website. I didn't check but I am fairly certain it was a flash file.  I saved the screen shot as a jpeg file-inserted the jpeg in the timeline of my editor for our local county television show. (INFOCoweta).  I was pleased that I was able to accomplish both tasks quickly using the same fi...

The breakfast table at Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast allows me a chance to pull out all my beautiful dishes and pretties! A Spanish toile topper sets the mood for Saturday's table while rattan chargers add texture to the bare wood. I opted for white accessories in the center of the table rather than traditional flowers-a great option when time doesn't permit a trip to the market. I opted for a creamy white artichoke surrounded by tall white fleur de lis on either side.

On a cold, wet night this is one of those dishes that can be pulled together so easily. My first attempt at a similar dish was made after watching Anthony Bourdain exploring the African Bush. He made everything sound so delicious; causing me to rush into the kitchen one Sunday and stewed a pork roast with sweet potatoes. It was fabulous. As my interest in African cuisine has grown so has my intrique for the subtleties of flavorings that spice these humble dishes. I query every African cook I meet about cooking methods as well as favorite herbs and spices. Methods are familiar and practical! Yesterday,I found myself behind a man at the check-out lane at my favorite H-Mart. He had placed a few simple ingredients on the conveyor belt. I smiled and politely asked "what was for dinner". He eagerly shared his recipe! Jamaican Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash. "What spices?", I asked. "Only salt". Never one to leave a recipe alone, I created my ow...