Here in the South (that’s the southern part of the U.S. for the uninitiated), we have an annoying habit of planning our next meal while we’re eating the current one.
For example, a standard Southern conversation at lunchtime might go a little something like this:
Mama: “I’ll tell you what, I think these blackeyed peas are the best I’ve ever had.”
Daddy: “Well, they’re good, for sure. But remember that time we were at that place next to the gas station? They had some mighty fine peas if you recall.”
Mama: “OOOOOH, they sure did. And they had good fried catfish, too. Now pass me some of that cornbread, honey, if you don’t mind. Anyway, just thinkin’ about their fried catfish makes me hungry even though I’m eating, so I think I’ll fry up some fish for supper, maybe make some homemade macaroni and cheese, then whip up a little cole slaw and make some homemade tartar sauce. And then maybe some lemon icebox pie for dessert? Wouldn’t that be good? Now pass me those peas, baby; I believe I need seconds. You want some homemade ice cream?”
And y’all, I promise that’s an accurate description because for the last two days I’ve been living it. My sister-in-law Janie and my nephews came in town for Alex’s birthday, and we have eaten until we don’t even want to think about food, but somehow, inevitably, we end up talking about a meal we’ve had before or a meal we want to have, and as a result of all the eating and all the talking about eating and all the planning to eat, I am as full as I’ve ever been. Borderline miserable. And considering trying Tums for the very first time in my life.
We started off yesterday afternoon with cake and ice cream, then came home from Alex’s party and had an assortment of appetizers before we ate grilled hamburgers and French fries. Before we had more cake. And ice cream.
Today I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast (translation: I popped open a tube and placed the dough ever-so-gingerly on a cookie sheet, then spread the icing from the enclosed plastic container over the warm doughy goodness), and then this afternoon we headed to our favorite Mexican place where we ate way too many fajitas and way too much cheese dip and salsa.
And tonight, instead of leaving well enough alone, we rolled out the appetizers again and had pork tenderloin and baked potatoes. Plus, you know, more cake. And perhaps a little ice cream.
Which is why Tums are suddenly such an attractive option.
So while I know I shouldn’t be thinking about food again, I find myself with a strange desire to make my favorite Paula Deen coffee cake for breakfast in the morning. However, I’m going to stand firm and resist because I have to stop the insanity before we all clog an artery.
But I will share the recipe with y’all because it’s one of my favorites – ever-so-delicious.
Granite Steps Coffee Cake
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (12-ounce) can buttermilk biscuits
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup sugar
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Generously grease a 9-inch square baking dish. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon and mix well with a fork. Separate biscuit dough into 10 biscuits. Cut each biscuit into quarters, and dip each piece in melted butter and coat with brown sugar mixture. Arrange in a single layer in baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the oats.
Combine blueberries and sugar in a bowl and toss to coat. Spoon over oats and biscuits and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup oats. Drizzle remaining melted butter on top. Bake for 20 minutes or until cake is golden brown and center is done. Cool for 20 minutes. Serve warm.
So see? It’s actually totally healthy because, you know, it has oatmeal.
Oh, mercy.
This type of behavior isn’t going to do one thing to help me reach my goal of losing forty pounds by tomorrow.
I don’t know if you should skip that coffee cake or not—what else goes THAT good with the coffee you’re going to have to have because ya’ll stayed up late chattin’ and all? And isn’t that what one DOES when company(family) comes? We NEVER stop eating when we go to my in-laws it seems, and it’s always so good! You diet when they leave, I tell ya. please pass those tums….
From one Alabama girl to another, I have just three words…
MIXED BERRY TUMS!!
Great. Your post had made me ravenous. And I just ate. Alot.
THANK YOU for the HEALTHY recipe–sounds deelish!
HAPPY EATING!
STEP. AWAY. FROM. THE. STOVE.
OH, that coffee cake sounds delicious! I may have to make a midnight run down the street to the Gas Mart and grab some of their nearly expired canned biscuits.
You’ve NEVER had tums? I thought they were one of the food groups on the bottom of the pyramid!!
MMM,MMMM. Boy hidey, as my Papa would say. ALL that cake sounds dee-licious. And of course you have tons-o-food – you are ENTERTAINING. Entertaining is like our version of The Olympics….it’s The Food Olympics. We’ve got company coming to our house for Easter Sunday dinner (lunch) and I’ve already commenced my spring training.
Enjoy yourself for me!
just reading it, suddenly i can’t button my pants.
Well, you know that Gulley doesn’t think she’s had a good time somewhere unless she needs some Tums by the time it’s all over.
And you have to be careful going for seconds, it might kill you.
I would think all the sugar you get from Alex would make you apoplectic with sweetness! What a sweetie he is:)
Tums Away!
Wait- I odn’t think I said “sweet” quite enough yet.
Sweet
Sweet
Sweet
Sweet
Sweet
Ok. I’m all a’through now.
Did you know they make Cocoa and Creme Smoothie flavored Tums? Yep.
And go for the coffee cake. Not only does it have cholesterol-lowering oatmeal, it has fruit. We all know the antioxidant properties of blueberries, right?
You just might die if you don’t eat some.
Missed you, Boomama…but glad to hear you’ve been celebrating that cutie-pie of yours…oh, did I say pie?!?!?!?
So sorry…**giggle**
OH my goodness, that coffee cake sounds fantastic! A good hostess would go ahead and make it . . .
I agree with Lori. It’s your duty as a hostess to make it.
Yummo!!! (Sorry, Rachel Ray just went off) Gotta love anything that comes from my *ADOPTED* Grandma
Sounds like y’all have been doin’ some mighty fine eatin’ over there!!!! I love Blackeyed peas. Bein’ an Alabama girl too, I have to ask, how do you eat yours (what with)?
I agree with the rest of them..what good hostess wouldn’t make that delish coffee cake :D
My word! I’m at my mom’s house and we are going crazy with the food. We must be stopped. Someone please stop us. Save us from the food.
BooMama,
I really enjoy your blog. Thanks for the recipe. I’m all about losing 40 pounds by tomorrow. I think I’ll go get started on the coffee cake! Thanks for the laughs and smiles.
That is so true! My grandmother is planning what or where she is going to eat while eating the meal preceding it. I find it hilarious! However, that is just the South and I wouldn’t live anywhere else! Blessings!
unfortunately, you don’t just do that in the south, us midwest people do the same (but all my family is from the south, so maybe it just migrated right along with us)! as you said, this does nothing for my weight loss plan. my goal is that when i go to florida in may i’m not the biggest, cellulite-ridden girl on the beach.
I think I’m stuffed just reading about the food. Thanks for the good laugh! I could practically here the southern twang of Mama and Daddy. :)
I agree with Amber. I’ve lived in the Midwest most of my life, and my family plans vacations around food. “So where should we have breakfast tomorrow? And what about dinner? Should we go Mexican? Or how about that adorable cafe on the beach?” And Lord have mercy when we get together for a visit!
Yum! Did you see Paula Deen on Oprah? She was making her famous pound cake and Oprah was marveling at the 2 cups of butter and 3 cups of sugar and said, “What do you say to people that ask about eating healthfully?” (or something like that) and Paula said, “I’d say ‘I’m youh cook, not cha doctuh!” The audience exploded! Gotta love Paula.
You are sooo right…food is life here in the south. THAT, my dear, is why in the 3 years since I have returned South I have gained 20+ lbs…with out even tryin’! When I lived in NY it was real easy to diet.
Have a wonder filled day!
I’m surprized I didn’t hear you saying you were “full as a tick.” I was raised in the panhandle of Florida and heard this phrase often. I now live in Ca and my husband just wants to hide big time when I utter this comment after a huge satisfying meal.
I love it! I’m so glad I”m not the only one who thinks about the next meal while I’m eating a meal! It’s happened too many times (I’m from SC).
That is why I am from the south b/c I love to shove food in my mouth!
Yes ma’am. That’s why participating in Menu Plan Monday over at Org Junkie has been NO problem for me. There’s always a menu plan a brewin’. LOL
oh I’m exhausted just reading about all of that cooking.
I come from a long line of fabulous Southern cooks. But sadly, it didn’t rub off on me… I’m lucky these days to open that tube of cinnamon rolls…
Blessings,
Karla
My mother, who lives 8 hours away, will discuss the visit for the menu of our next visit a month ahead of time. SHE is teeny–me–not so much.
And, this brings to mind one of my favorite lines from “Steel Magnolias.” When Truvy is relating the CupaCupaCup recipe and one of the gals (I believe it’s Clairee) says, “Oh, that sounds rich.” And Truvy says, “It is. That’s why I serve it with icecream to cut the sweet.”
Only in the south y’all.
This is soooo true. I do it all the time, plan the next meal while I’m eating the current one.
Any cake by Paula Deen is to die for. I plan to make her coconut cake for Rob for his birthday. That one has to “age” in the fridge for three days before you frost it. Can you imagine! Yum!
Printing that recipe out right now. I LOVE ME SOME CARBS!
Some of this sounds familiar to us. :)
You crack me up. :) I lived in the south (TN) for 4 years and I’m sure missin’ my friends down there. Girl, enjoy that coffee cake. Take Care.
That sounds YUMMMY.
Do you have room for one more? I’ll come and help save you by eating a portion. That will help you all because then nothing will go to waste…
No need to thank me – just send directions!
I love to get my grub on as well, I will never understand people who don’t eat. Didn’t you know that mixed berry tums are one of the food groups? They taste like candy!
Copied it in the ole’ TextEdit Recipe File! Love me some Coffee cake!
You are so stirring up the memories right now. My family – both sides – are deep South Southerners. Apparently I started out a small child but spending every summer with my grandparents in Georgia (and back then that was when you had 3-month school vacation) usually had me returning home nearly unrecognizable to my distressed mother because I had gained so much weight. Oh well. I did so enjoy the food!
Yum!!! I love me some Paula and I have made that coffee cake many times and now you made me want to go to the store (which I returned from 3 hours ago) to buy the ingredients to make it in the morning. Thanks a lot. :)
If we didn’t have 2 inches of snow and counting outside right now, I would drive to the grocery store and pick up the ingredients for that coffee cake and promptly make it tomorrow morning. It sounds so very yummy. Thank you for sharing it.
Oh dear.
Happy Birthday indeed!
You know, I am all for the gift that keeps on giving, but that crosses the line! Although not as much as spoiled sushi….
Poor Alex.
Poor Mom and Dad too.
Wishing the three of you a speedy recovery because really, all three of you are suffering in this.
Mrs. Pear