Three Friends and a Fork

I recently read an article in Huffington Post entitled Retro Holiday Foods We're Glad Are History. Now, I will admit, some of the foods were questionable. Apparently, in the 50's, 60's and 70's, anything could be turned into a Christmas tree, because there was a tuna tree, a cocktail weenie tree, a shrimp tree and even a tree made of Cheerios. Those were all a little strange, so I can see why they were included on the list. Tomato aspic has always seemed a little odd to me, so I have no problem with adding it to this list. There was a Christmas candle salad using bananas for candles and a plum pudding, neither of which tempted me in the least. But, there was one entry that bothered me. It is a cookie called Santa's Whiskers and it just so happened that I was whipping up a batch when the Huffington Post article caught my eye. I've been making Santa's Whiskers for Christmas for years. Why? Because they are delicious! The author of the article apparently included this sweet little cookie on the list, not because it didn't taste good, but because she didn't like the name! Well, I don't care what you call it, Santa's Whiskers are delicious and do not deserve to be lumped in with the other food oddities mentioned in the article. They are buttery and full of pecans and red and green candied cherries and wrapped in coconut...delicious! So, in an effort to rectify this situation and save Santa's Whiskers from being buried in the trash heap of retro foods, here is the recipe. Try them for yourself and see if you don't agree that they are worth saving and baking!

1 c. butter, softened

1 c. sugar

2 T. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

2 ½ c. all purpose flour

¾ c. chopped red and green candied cherries

½ c. chopped pecans

¾ c. flaked coconut

Cream butter. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add milk and vanilla, beating until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients except coconut. Shape into two (8x2”) cylinders. Roll each cylinder in coconut, cover and chill 3-4 hours. Cut into ¼” thick slices. Place on parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake at 375˚ for 12-14 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

I know...it's been a while! We meant to be here, telling you all about our great discoveries, but sometimes life just gets in the way. Between the three of us, we've had illnesses, a job change, a move, a graduating senior, cross country and track meets...you know...LIFE! So, the blog was one of the things that just got put on the back burner. We are still having trouble working in an excursion, so I thought I would catch you up on some of the things we have done, but failed to talk about.

The unpretentious outside...

The rest of the backyard.

The unpretentious inside...

First, we did manage a little trip down the road to Barry's BBQ in Fyffe, AL. For those unfamiliar with the backroads of Northeast Alabama, Fyffe is in Dekalb County high atop Sand Mountain. Fyffe is also known for its UFO sightings. On February 11 and 12, 1989, more than fifty residents of Fyffe called to report sightings of strange banana shaped lights in the sky. There was never any explanation given for the lights that people saw in the night sky on those two dates, but two certain things did come of the sightings. First, the state legislature officially declared Fyffe to be the UFO capital of Alabama and second, the city now celebrates the sightings every year with UFO (Unforgettable Family Outing) Festival Days complete with hot air balloons and live music.

Now, the friends did not make it to the UFO Festival, but we did manage to bebop on down to Barry's Backyard BBQ and we also managed to talk my niece, Haley, into joining us. Ask anyone in Fyffe where to find Barry's BBQ and they will likely tell you it is in Barry's backyard. So it is! Barry's is an unpretentious white concrete block building with unpretentious styrofoam plates and cups and plastic forks. The tables are fully equipped with rolls of paper towels. But don't let the unpretentiousness fool you. Barry is serious about barbeque!

We went on buffet night and we had our choice of barbeque (of course), fried catfish, or fried chicken. Along with the three meat choices, the sides included barbeque baked beans, pinto beans, turnip greens, creamy coleslaw, potato salad, hushpuppies and cornbread. For dessert, our choices were homemade ice cream, peach cobbler or peach cobbler with homemade ice cream.

Sherri, Lu and I went for the catfish. If you sense a pattern here, I admit it. If there is a choice between freshwater fish or seafood or any thing else, I'm going for the stuff that lives in the water! Sherri and Lu added on the barbeque pork as well. Haley went for the fried chicken. I had the barbeque baked beans, creamy coleslaw, turnip greens and hushpuppies. Luanne added on pinto beans, hushpuppies and cornbread. You KNOW she wasn't going to touch the coleslaw or potato salad! Sherri got potato salad, turnip greens, coleslaw and pinto beans. Haley went for the potato salad, turnip greens and cornbread. No matter what the combination, we all enjoyed every bit!

Lu's digging in!

Haley's got the fork!

Homemade ice cream and peach cobbler

Homemade peach ice cream

Everywhere we go, Lu runs into someone she knows.

Well, we all ran into people we know! Two of my favorite people in the world right here, Pat and Bill Freeman, enjoying Barry's with friends of theirs.

As we left Barry's, full and happy, Sherri, true to form found some friends of the four legged variety! And driving off, we took a little detour to find another Dekalb County spot we've heard lots about, Bucks Pocket Steakhouse. I promise, if I had to find either of these places again on my own, I could not do it! Of course we were too full from our meal at Barry's even think of having anything at Bucks Pocket, but we did check out the menu for a future excursion.