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.