A Real Housewife

Earlier this week Beth Dunn at Social Climbers tweeted a question asking fellow tweeters what they thought about the Real Housewives of Miami reunion show.  Until this past Sunday or Monday night, I had never seen an episode of any of the "real housewives".  We don't have Bravo on our cable package and we choose not to purchase satellite service.  Some might think I have deprived myself, but after watching one episode I've decided I can live without it.  Please continue to enjoy if you like it.  My comment to Beth was "they seem like a bunch of retired Vegas showgirls".  I realize this entire franchise of shows was titled as a play on Desperate Housewives.  I enjoy reality tv as much as the next person, but I worry our young people are getting a distorted view of reality- noveau riche style.  I'm not sure I agree with the character Jim Williams from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil- he said, "Yes, I am "nouveau riche," but then, it's the "riche" that counts, now isn't it?"

Back to reality-This week is spring break at our house.  Hubby is getting to spend the week with us.  We visited my parents and now we have spent a few days at home.  After a year of nagging, my hubby finally sanded and painted the railing on our back porch.  I thought I would reward him with a week of homemade meals and dessert- recipes will start today and be posted over the next few days.  Today he enjoyed a round of golf while the children and I entertained friends.  Before our friends arrived, my daughter and I spent the morning cutting fresh flowers to put in vases throughout the house.  The children and I also enjoyed decorating our Easter tree with lots of paper mache eggs as well as small wooden ornaments.


Porch Painting Recipe #1- Homemade Pulled Pork

1 Boston Butt
1/2 cup white vinegar
BBQ sauce of choice

Place Boston Butt and vinegar in a crockpot.  Turn temperature to high and cook for 5 hours.  After five hours begin to pull pork with a fork- it should shred easily.  Continue to cook on LOW for 1 to 2 more hours.  Just before serving drain liquid from pot and place dry meat in the  pot to keep warm.  Serve on buns with your favorite BBQ sauce.

Porch Painting Recipe #2- Margarita Pound Cake

1 cup butter, softenened
1/2 crisco vegetable shortening
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp grated lime peel
1/4 cup key lime juice

Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
2 TBSP key lime juice
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp tequilla

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease and flour a bundt pan.  Beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer.  Add sugar gradually until light and fluffy.  Add eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition.  Stir together dry ingredients.  Add to the butter mixture, alternating with milk.  Beat after each addition.  Stir in vanilla, lime peel and lime juice.  Poor batter into the bundt pan and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Prepare glaze- place ingredients in a bowl and mix.  Cool cake for 15 minutes before inverting and removing from the pan.  Drizzle with the glaze and serve.

Coming up:  Strawberry Limeade, Grits Cakes (what do you do with leftover grits)