Goodbye Lie Diaries - Miss Ella's Cheese Toes

Fernandina, Florida
1880s

Miss Ella writes:



Miss Ella

   Mrs. Jane Kalem copied down this delight for me after I told her  how much I enjoyed it Tuesday last at our monthly bunco gathering.  Roll dice, eat, roll dice, eat.  Eating is way more than half the reason we play that game.  Anyway, her Cheese Toes recipe will be perfect for Sunday dinners and holidays. It’s rich and will be so popular with the family since we all love cheese. (Michael actually gives cheese up for Lent!)

 

   I got to thinking how so many of my recipes come from friends and relatives who have tried them and are proud to put their name behind their ingredients.  Oh, and potluck suppers, too.  At church, the orchid society, Aqua Verdi office parties, it is literally a treat to discover new recipes. Some I am able to have our chefs recreate to serve our guests on the passenger line.  I’ve never been one to keep my recipes a secret.  If it’s good, I want to share.  I can hear Peeper saying, “You might be awillin’ ta share, Miss Ella, but Aunt Noreena sure ain’t.  Why, she’s so selfish, she’d rather take it ta her grave than be generous with it.  Acourse, ya won’t find me awantin’ her recipes nor eatin’ anything she’s prepared.  I want ta live ta be one hundred years and it won’t be occourin’ ifn I ingest her rotten chow.”  Or something like that.   All I know is those two rarely miss an opportunity to speak ill of one another.  Hmm. I’m wondering if, unbeknownst to them, they deep down jab at one another because they find it entertaining .  I know we often do, when we can ignore the ugliness of their confrontations and just listen to their silly jousting.
 

Cheese Toes

Potatoes with skins left on, cut in one inch pieces, the size of a big toe, boiled until tender

1/2 cup melted butter  

Salt and pepper

1 cup sour cream

2 -3 cups sharp cheddar cheese

4 strips of  cooked and crumbled bacon

Large baking pan
 

Grease bottom of your pan. Drain boiled potatoes. Spread evenly in pan. Pour butter over potatoes. Lightly salt and pepper. Spread sour cream and sprinkle cheese and bacon evenly.  Bake for 20 minutes in a medium oven until cheese melts. 
 

(Miss Ella is the matriarch of the Dunnigan family in Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie Trilogy.  She is responsible for determining what is served on the ships of the family owned Aqua Verdi passenger line which runs up and down the east coast of the United States in this historical romance series.)

  

Goodbye Lie Trilogy Trivia

In Amelia Island's VELVET UNDERTOW, what does young Jack Patrick Dunnigan hang from the trees?

 

 

Excerpt:

   "Do you know what your son has done this time?” Mrs. Ickles hollered in Miss Ella's face.

   "Good day to you, too."

   "Apparently, you don't. So, let me enlighten you. ...  I go into town to learn he and those other savages have been hanging dead snakes from the tree branches across South 3rd and Broome. When the ladies pass underneath in their buggies, why, I myself have seen two faint dead away! And one of them was driving alone! Her horse saw the snakes, bolted, and ran the whole rig into the iceman’s wagon, spilling huge chunks all over the street. What with the screaming and whinnying, it was one disagreeable agitation, I can tell you. It was so bad, we've had to cancel this morning's meeting of the Literary League, and we have our annual Buy a Book sale in two weeks' time! Frankly, Miss Ella, that boy of yours is the meanest white child in Fernandina!"

 

Goodbye Lie Diaries - Peeper Worries plus Coffee Roast

1880s Fernandina, Florida



Grandmother Peeper

Grandmother Peeper writes:

Aunt Noreen just give me a earful, Jane Marie, saying ya ought not ta be writin' about the squabbles betwixt my Breelan and them two fellas, Captain Waite  and Lt. Trip, the gents achasin' her. Them words a yourn in The Goodbye Lie is pretty personal, I admit, but if'n Breelan don't mind folks reading 'bout her findin' her true love, who is Aunt Noreen ta say different? Why, if a singin' kangaroo jumped out of a tree and landed in front a her, she'd scold him fer bein' off key. So what's she know?  Nothin'!  She ain't worth the spit it takes ta say her name.

Oh, I forgot ta tell you, Janie, we gots ta git ourselves a new fish fer the well.  I think one a Jack Patrick's friends come by, pulled it up in the bucket then took it home fer supper. Nugget is down at the creek just afishin' hisself silly, getting another sos it can eat the bugs in the well water fer us. 

We're havin' Grammy's Coffee Roast Beef after church, come Sundee noon.  Ya need ta be acookin' some a that meat fer yourself and your family, making sure your Barbra has the recipe when you're gone.  It's a keeper.

**********************
Present Time, Fernandina, Florida 
Jane Marie writes:

Hey Peep,
I appreciate you cautioning me over my writing.  Don't worry.  Remember, I dedicated The Goodbye Lie to my father, because I didn't want either of us to be embarrassed when he read it.  He wasn't.  So, if it passed the Daddy test, I think we're safe.

I've made the Coffee Roast before. You're right.  It's time to make it again.  And yes, I'll be sure Barbra has the recipe.

We've had terribly cold nights last week.  I hope my orange tree will survive.  It has dropped some leaves, but I think it is still hanging on. Fingers crossed.    

And try not to fight with Aunt Noreen.  Although, we all find your tiffs interesting to follow, dare I say entertaining, they can't be good for your blood pressure or your bunions.

Love to the family- and that includes Aunt Noreen! Remember, she's still Michael's sister and if you love him, and I know you do, you'll love his sister. Well, you can at least pretend, can't you?

*********************

Coffee Roast Beef

(The recipe is below but here, also, is the link to the recipe on our 700 page website, www.GraciousJaneMarie. It is for those who love a rich beefy taste. http://www.greenlightwrite.com/coffeebeef.htm )

The story goes that cowboys in the Wild West roasted beef seasoned with coffee over the campfire.  My husband came across this recipe in Roswell, New Mexico at a potluck supper.  Give it a try for something different and delicious.    Enjoy,     Jane Marie

http://www.greenlightwrite.com/homegraciousjanemarie.htm

You'll need: 3 pound beef roast (with the fat removed) 6 cups of strong brewed coffee 4 to 6 garlic cloves, minced or garlic powder Preheat the oven to 325° F  Make several slits in the raw roast and insert the garlic chips or sprinkle the roast generously with garlic powder.  Place the meat in a roasting pan and pour the coffee beside it - not over it or it will wash off the garlic powder.  Cover with foil or lid.  Bake 2 1/2 to 3 hours until the meat falls apart, removing the cover during the last half an hour to brown the meat. Cool 10 minutes before slicing.  Make gravy from the drippings or serve the unthickened coffee/beef broth left in the bottom of the pan over noodles, rice or potatoes.  Pass the salt and pepper. I’ve also made this in the slow cooker set on low for 6 to 8 hours until it turns into stringy meat.

Goodbye Lie Favorite - Apple Butter

a Goodbye Lie favorite Recipes: Apple Butter Home: greenlightwrite.com featuring GraciousJaneMarie.com - Roses, Recipes, Romance

Breakfast Recipes   Fruit Recipes I was raised to love apple butter, and I still do. Miss Ella, matriarch of the Dunnigan family in my historical novel, The Goodbye Lie, pacifies her husband Michael's empty stomach with a slice of hot cornbread spread with her homemade apple butter.      Enjoy,      Jane Marie

Apple Butter You'll need: 4 cups unsweetened applesauce (made from cored apples that have been slowly cooked to reduce them to pulp or purchased applesauce) 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoons cinnamon Nutmeg to taste (use sparingly) Cloves to taste (use sparingly) Combine the ingredients and bring them to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.   Spice to taste. Serve on warm cornbread, muffins or bread. Makes five cups.     Reprinted from http://www.greenlightwrite.com/applebutter.htm, part of our 700 plus page website, also available  at www.GraciousJaneMarie.com.

Goodbye Lie Trivia

What stuffed critter makes a cameo appearance in each of the Goodbye Lie series books? You guessed it.  It's Martha Bear!

Read Martha Bear's free family-friendly short stories at www.MarthaBear.com and watch our Captain Fancy Patch read a bedtime story at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owujwL7dEng.

Martha Bear in her courtyard flower garden at Stately Martha Manor
 with Airborne, her grasshopper companion, on her shoulder


PS- Notice Martha Bear has no eyes.  That's okay because she "sees with her heart!"  Ahhhh...

Goodbye Lie Diaries- Peeperisms

1880s
Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida

Grandmother Peeper writes: 
Before I meet my Maker, I wanna pass on some a what my kin calls Peeperisms.  They're things I'm athinkin' are inerestin' and if'n theys not writ down, they they might get forgot. Some I heard over the years, some I make up. It makes no nevermind. They's all fun.

Did you know that white cats are oft deaf?

If you hang a boot upside down, the weather will change.

Don't never drink milk and eat fish together or else your shirt will wrinkle.

Making the Mark

Mark of a Man Update (Amelia Island, Florida's upcoming historical novel, part of The Goodbye Lie Trilogy, set in 1898):

The five year old boy featured in my story has been called Mac since day one.  A colorful child, mischievous but loving, independent and tender-hearted, this character is one of my favorites. He spouts wisdom and offers comfort with his simple logic.  He was all set in stone until today when I changed his first name. Mac was fine. It was a family name, but I heard another name a few weeks ago and I've been thinking about it and today I hit the "find and replace" keys. From this time forward, little Mac will be called Nugget!  -jmm

MARK OF A MAN Working Cover

Here it is - the working cover of Mark of a Man, my next novel in the Amelia Island Trilogy©, The Goodbye Lie series, coming 2012!  Set in 1898, danger, drama and deceit are just part of Mark of a Man set on Amelia Island, Florida...  jmm

Grand Opening of Gracious Gifts by Jane Marie

For Immediate Release:

Gracious Jane Marie is proud to announce the grand opening of Gracious Gifts, a wee gem of a shop filled with riches from the imagination and hand of author and artisan Jane Marie Malcolm. Located in North 3rd Trading, 13 N 3rd St, Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida, Gracious Gifts is spilling over with one of a kind treasures. Novels Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie and Velvet Undertow, part of the Goodbye Lie historic suspense/romance series, are signed by the creator, herself, and include a free recipe insert. Complimenting the series are hand painted Secret Pebbles™ with verses and organza gift bags, glass carafes for juice, wine or water, old timey tic-tac-toe boards to pass down through the generations and framed art to turn a wall, corner or counter from blah to gay! Pretty Petal hair toys, greeting cards with Jane Marie's signature rose painted envelopes, magic keys for little princesses and pirates plus an assortment of miscellaneous delights, capture the eye and treat the senses. For personalized items and information, ask for Gracious Jane Marie Malcolm at North 3rd Trading, 904.261.0405 or email JMM at graciousjanemarie@yahoo.com. Take a piece of Amelia Island's GRACIOUS home to entertain and beguile - until you return to paradise…

The Goodbye Lie Diaries- Aunt Noreen

1880s July

Fernandina, Florida

Aunt Noreen writes - I don't understand why Ella can't discipline her children a little more.  Here we were, eating some of my delicious peach cobbler that I'd made special and carried over to Dunnigan Manor and Mac says, "I'm done."  Ella smiled that smile of hers and I just had to correct the child.  "Turkeys are done, young man.  You are finished. Now how hard is that to remember."  You'd have thought I'd said a bad word from the hateful look Peeper threw at me.  Sometimes I wonder why I endure those family dinners over there. Sometimes, too, I feel almost unwelcome.  Well, I must do what is necessary for family harmony.  Mother and Father would expect that of me. 

More Goodbye Lie Trivia

What is the name of the Dunnigan family dog?

Scoll down

Keep going

Almost there

Blackie-White-Spots

the Goodbye Lie Diaries - Peeper

1880s July
Fernandina, Florida

Peeper writes:  Little Mac found a nest in the pine tree out front a Dunnigan Manor two days ago. He come arunnin' ta tell me. He was wantin' ta remove them three eggs to show me when the mama bird come aflyin' down straight away. After I splained how he was not ta be abothering them eggs, he was a good boy and dun-did what I said. Now we can hear them babies atwitterin' and atwitterin'.  It's a happy day. Old Monstie cat best not be abotherin' them birdies neither.

Goodbye Lie Diaries - Miss Ella

1880s June
Fernandina, Florida

Miss Ella writes:  As I always do in the heat of summer, I had the boys remove the detachable headboards from all the beds. Sliding the beds to the windows to catch the breeze makes for much better sleeping. It is also a fine time to clean. The children get such a tickle from finding the big dust bunnies. Aunt Noreen thinks this is in poor taste. Grandmother Peeper giggles and cheers the babies on. So do I, but I am careful not to let Noreen hear me. No need making her moods worse.   

Goodbye Lie Trivia

What is the name of the place in New York where Breelan honeymoons

 in the historic suspense novel, The Goodbye Lie, set in 1882 Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida?



Breelan



Answer: Birch Bark Inn