After about day 8 of picking loquats, I needed a new recipe. Over the weekend I wanted to make loquat preserves. Yet canning anything is a labor of love and time commitment. Before I started this undertaking, I needed to find a recipe that did not require hours or make a big mess.

One of Grill Man’s prize possessions is a plastic bag that contains a Home Economics Cookbook that is literally hand-stuffed with handwritten recipes. The cookbook and handwritten notes of recipes belonged to his Grandmother. When I want to spoil him, I look in the bag and cook a Grandmother recipe.

In addition to making him cobbler, she spoiled him rotten.

Over the years I heard him describe how lovely her cobbler was to eat. Oddly enough, I had never tried to make it. All of the other recipes in “the bag” were good so no doubt this one would be as well.

Before I knew it, I picked more loquats and located the cookbook stuffed with handwritten recipes. After reading the recipe, I knew instantly what to add in order to tempt Grill Man with cobbler.

How to make Sun Kiss Loquat Cobbler and why?

Any time I am able to make a recipe in just one bowl without a mixer, I’m in. If you’re in a hurry, you really don’t have time to whip up multiple items for one dessert. No one ever wants to make a mess in the kitchen, but sometimes there is no way around it.

Sun Kiss Loquat Cobbler may be mixed with a whisk and only using one bowl. This leaves you more time to move on to other things. If you don’t have loquats, peaches or strawberries may substitute. Recipe is easy to bake. Cobbler is delicious on its own but a single scoop of ice cream might make your smile a little bigger.

Loquat fruit for sweet or savory recipes

Gulf Coast of Alabama is loaded with loquats bursting from the trees whispering, “Pick me. Pick me.” If you have beaucoup loquats, read LOQUATS Eat, Ferment, Freeze, Preserve, Steep and Share. If you have not tasted a loquat it has the texture of a cherry with a flavor that is bit of peach, plum and mango with a hint of citrus.

By this point, I had eaten my fair share for smoothies and loquats in other dishes. One night I created a salsa for a piece of salmon. Soon I hope to add this recipe at a later date. Be inventive and add loquats to sweet or savory recipes.

Fruit is lovely and nutritional. All very good reasons to pick, eat and share. Pick loquats and cook Sun Kiss Loquat Cobbler. Let me know what you think. Grill Man and I have taste tested more than our fair share.

Loquats are luscious and remind me of bites of sunshine. In Alabama we have lots of green spaces to escape to during this covid-colored-world. If you can’t escape, turn up the music and pray for better days. Stay safe and wash wash your hands.

Alexa Shout out to Natasha Bedingfield for Pocketful of Sunshine.

Take me away (take me away)
A secret place (a secret place)
A sweet escape (a sweet escape)
Take me away (take me away)Take me away (take me away)

To better days (to better days)
Take me away (take me away)
A hiding place (a hiding place)I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine.

I got a love, and I know that it’s all mine.

With love,
From Mimi’s Kitchen

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Of course, living near the Gulf Coast  with easy access to fresh seafood will spoil you for more than one reason. Being able to buy fresh shrimp, crawfish and  fresh catch fish is a luxury I adore. If  your landlocked and not as fortunate, most seafood markets will ship fresh or frozen seafood overnight. Trust me it is totally worth it.

Surprisingly, I have never cooked shrimp and grits. Yet I thought that it would be easy based on my love and familiarity  with the ingredients. What could go wrong with shrimp, butter, seasonings, shrimp stock, garlic and grits? Plus my grits were specially sourced from my Rural Alabama Trip To Inspire.

How to cook Spicy Gulf Shrimp Gravy, Andouille Sausage and Grits

As a rule, growing up Southern you  learn about grits early.  Since I am always trying to cut carbs I rarely cook grits. It is important for me to save carbohydrate allowance for my obsession, potato chips, Doritos, chili cheese fritos, ZAPS etc.   Thankfully, the grits package  will provide instructions. You will only need to read and follow directions.

All in all gravy requires more skill but you will manage it well. Spicy Gulf Shrimp Gravy, Andouille Sausage and Grits Recipe is easy to cook. At the same time, the hardest part of this recipe is peeling shrimp and making  stock. Great idea to recruit your man for peeling shrimp while you chop vegetables. Bribe him with a glass of wine or two if  you must. Trust me it is totally worth it.

Finally, shout out to Skate Mountain Records for Jimmy Lumpkin and The Revival  My Name is Love. I have only recently discovered this band but I love the soulful sound. Visit web site for tour dates and tunes. Trust me it is totally worth it.

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I fell in love with the Dijon Mustard on my first visit to Paris.  The spicy  pungent bite lured me in every time. Crispy french bread, cheese that will make your mouth water,  very fine house wine and other delights to your senses. Can you hear me sigh?

France on the brain and French mustard in my mouth

My senses could use a French delight or two. Since France is not an option, a dose of Dijon smeared on Creole Sausage Crescent City Savory Appetizer will have to do. France has been on my brain recently since I finished reading my favorite expat’s new book.  I read David Lebovitz’s new book L’appart over a few days. L’appart delivers an entertaining ride through  David’s “Delights and Disasters” of making Paris his home.

With  a book that starts with “Pee in this cup,” David offers humor along with the highs and lows of making his home in Paris. I admire David for having the gumption to pick up, move a world away and start anew in a foreign country. Starting all over is exciting and nerve-racking all at the same time.

As a person still struggling to parlez vous in French, kudos to David. My ear hears the French language but my brain truly moves into slow motion when engaged with the rare opportunity to speak in French. My French Canadian friends have said that I have a sexy accent when I attempt to speak French-Southern . As much as that makes me smile, I believe that they just want to make sure that I feed them again.

David’s  newest book will transport you to Paris. L’appart provides an inside look at acquiring a home in Paris. A must read if this is on your list. France has an interesting take on the home acquisition process. David learns what it truly means when you hear ‘pas de probleme’ from your contractor too many times. David is a gifted writer and weaves in the Paris that I love in between the renovations.

L’appart offers lagniappe along with the coaster ride in Paris

A great story on its own but David provides a bit of lagniappe with recipes in between the story lines. I am looking forward to trying David’s recipe for Thai Curry with Lamb and Haricots Verts since Grill Man and I love Thai food. Chocolate Souffle will be another recipe that I add to my next soiree.

If you’re not familiar with David check out  his web site at www.Davidlebovitz.com. Upon arrival you will discover mouth-watering photos which provides any traveler a longing for a visit to city of lights. David’s site is a great resource of information on Paris sights and sounds. Who better to suggest amazing food?

New Orleans is the closest city that I know that weaves French  throughout the fabric of the city. While your pouring your next glass of Viognier shout out to Alexa for Lucinda William’s  song “Crescent City” and make  Creole Sausage Crescent City Savory Appetizer.

If you need another appetizer to continue the French theme, check out my pate. It is delicious and also freezes well.

Au revoir  mon ami!

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