Author: The Bayou Belle

This Buttermilk Cake with Peach Buttercream will knock your socks off.

I recently visited the Saturday Farmers Market in Downtown Bentonville, Arkansas and I can quickly tell you that if I lived there, that would be a routine visit for me. The amazing array of locally grown fruits and vegetables, as well as the fresh breads and pasture raised meats, was spectacular. The town square was crowded with locals and their pets (and gaping-mouthed visitors like me!)

I gathered up as much as I could carry and included in my haul was a basket of fresh peaches. I have been craving a peach cake here lately and gave this recipe a try. When your peaches become ripe and juicy, it is the best time to indulge. See what you think!

The weekend is just around the corner. Get out and find a local grower in your area! Happy Peaching!

This decadent, triple layer, chocolate cake is filled with a rich chocolate ganache and topped with a creamy chocolate praline buttercream. Inspired by the beauty of Louisiana‘s cattail season, it is adorned with hand painted marzipan cattails and edible cake “moss.” It turns this cake into whimsical treat, fit for the most discriminating outdoorsman. Living in a state that dubs itself, “Sportsman‘s Paradise,“ our landscape is rich with natural beauty and those who appreciate its abundance of flora and fauna are sure to delight in the edible cattails.

Celebrate the Outdoor Loving Guys in your life by baking up a treat that is as special as they are.

Don’t you just adore the vibe of Valentines’ Day? Yesterday, the sun was shining, so the streets were filled with lively traffic, as were all of the retail stores in town. People were smiling more, seemingly happier, and had a generally better attitude. Perhaps is was the sunshine, since we have not seen that much in several weeks, or perhaps it was just because they were allowed to have a lighter spirit on the day celebrating love for others.

My favorite things are flowers and sweets, so any day that’s filled with both is delightful, as far as I’m concerned. I adore having an excuse to create with both flowers and flours. Here are some things I shared with others to express my love for them on the day designated for it.

I found this adorable black and white striped vase at Wal Mart and filled it with roses, snapdragons and a variety of filler. I thought it was a sweet and whimsical way to celebrate her.

My mom, whose birthday is the day after Valentine’s Day, gets a double – duty arrangement. A lover of roses and English country garden style, she gets a lush arrangement filled with hydrangeas, snapdragons, ranunculus and beautiful peach colored roses.

Always on the lookout for unusual containers, most especially anything blue and white, I discovered this vase in a small antique shop in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

My son’s girlfriend‘s favorite flowers happen to be hydrangeas, so back to the store we went to get some fresh, vibrant blue blooms for his Valentine. He really loved the vase I did for his sister, so we created a little different look using soft pink spray roses, hydrangeas, and snapdragons.

It was a sweet experience, teaching him how to cut and arrange the flowers. I simply guided him and he did the rest. We were both very proud of his work and it made the gift even more special to her.

I had enough left over to create this arrangement and then was surprised with a beautiful bouquet from my precious daughter that I added to the mix to create a bedside table arrangement. She is always so thoughtful.

But the sweetest surprise was turning around in the grocery store line to see my son in the next lane purchasing something for his mom. The look on his face when I turned around and caught him in the act was priceless….

I even received an adorable pink potted azalea from my sweet mother as the cherry on top for a wonderful day of fond memories.

I hope your day was filled with joy, happiness, laughter, and love. It comes from a variety of people in a multitude of expressions.

With Thanksgiving behind us and the focus on moving forward To Christmas, I realized that I was in such a hurried pace to get the Christmas decorations up, I’ve been remiss in getting my Thanksgiving tablescape pictures posted. We were away from home for the feasting, but I couldn’t let the holiday pass without pulling out all my favorite things. 

Living in Louisiana provides me with a huge variety of wildlife and natural greenery opportunities for bringing the outdoors in. With family and friends that are avid duck hunters, I’m never lacking in mounted creatures to display. For the greenery, I brought in the last remnants of my okra pods from the garden and clippings from an enormous magnolia on a friend’s property.

Nothing says fall like a Pumpkin Poundcake. Especially one that is a recipe passed along from your best friend’s mom, who is no longer here on earth.

I adore painted and decorated sugar cookies for every occasion. I love teaching myself new ways to create them. This year, I ordered an adorable cookie cutter and stencil from Lulukuku creations. Aren’t they cute?!

On to Christmas!!

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to stop and check out this unique, quirky, Southern landmark just south of Natchez, Mississippi

Built in 1940 by Henry Gaude’, she is one of the few commercial buildings of this architectural style still standing. According to the current owners, the Martin family, she has housed a gas station, craft center, and restaurant.

Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch from 11 to 2, they offer home-cooked lunch specials, sandwiches on freshly baked sourdough bread, soups and the ever-coveted homemade desserts.

I was greeted and seated by Mr. Terry, one of the owners, who is about as friendly a person as you could imagine. When I sat down and spotted the fresh baked pies on the sideboard, he was so thrilled at my reaction that he took me back in the kitchen to show me the large array of fresh- baked goodness. Heaven, I tell you.

You know you’re in for a treat when the meringue is as high as a Southern Pageant Girl’s hair!

I don’t have much time, so I opt to go for the homemade chicken salad rather than the plate lunch special. I have a long drive ahead and a full workday, so I’m guessing I would need a nap after a big, hot meal

They bake all of their bread in-house, so I’m really disappointed in myself for not going for it. I’ve tried really hard to avoid flour and sugar, so it took a lot of willpower to turn down that beautiful, fluffy bread. The chicken salad has a hint of curry, with sliced almonds and a side of pineapple. It was cold, fresh and delicious.

I had my eye on the pie, and knew I couldn’t resist, so decided I had to use some restraint somewhere. Mr. Terry was kind enough to waltz past my table and let me admire each and every dish before he served it to my neighboring tables. Y’all, that bread though… I’m really not sure I’ll have any restraint on my next visit.

So now for the best part. PIE!  There were so many to choose from, but I was feeling the banana caramel with whipped cream topping. Look how beautiful…..

Well, needless to say, several slices of the meringue pie went back home with me, and had I had an ice chest with me, probably some of the whipped cream would have made the journey also.

So if you find yourself along Highway 61 south of Natchez, pop in and give it a try. I highly recommend it. Get the bread..and the Pie.