grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Arkansas in Retrospect – the next day

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Before you read this, make sure you read part one by clicking HERE… This post won’t mean anything  without the first part of the story.

***
I programmed my GPS for Eureka Springs, Arkansas via Berryville. Berryville added twenty miles to my route in theory, longer considering I would stop to take pictures of whatever caught my eye along the way. It’s what I do.
I took five tree pictures before even leaving the Fayetteville city limits (confusing the heck out of my GPS woman…recalculating…)
Fayetteville, Ar

A few miles before reaching Berryville, I saw a sign for Farmer Cemetery. How could not stop at Farmer Cemetery?
Farmer Cemetery, Berryville, Ar

I stopped even though a graveside service was just concluding. (Yes, I crashed a funeral…recalculating…) Trying to blend in, I nonchalantly strolled underneath the iron gate and walked straight to the largest tombstone as though I belonged there, as though I visited a great-great-relative. 
Ingersoll?

Hmmmm, wasn’t Ingersoll the author of the book I read last night—Arkansas in Retrospect? 

The grave belonged to a couple born in the 1800s—not my book’s author—but still, same last name! Chill bumps…

Was Ingersoll a common name? Probably, I told myself.

Back in my car, I pulled the book from my bag and looked again to make sure the spelling was the same.

It was.

Arkansas in Retrospect, William Henry Ingersoll

We are travelers on a cosmic journey… Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity. ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

talya

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Arkansas in Retrospect.

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Saturday night when I arrived in Fayetteville, I became instantly annoyed. Our UVerse was on the brink—And.On.College.Football.Night!

In retrospect, this turned out to be a good thing, not because the Razorbacks lost in grand form but because of the UVerseless events to unfold…

I poured myself a glass of wine, calmed down, and remembered the reason we bought our cozy place—to escape Dallas, to escape constant news and noise, to rest and think and write.

At a scant 893 square feet it’s filled only with things we absolutely love such as vintage Fiestaware, second hand books, beds covered in heirloom quilts, and leather club chairs from Paris I feel certain Hemingway once sat in.

Arkansas in Retrospect
Hemingway sat here? 
In reality, with only 893 square feet there isn’t space for okay or average or it’ll do. And there really isn’t room for UVerse…

With no sound other than leaves turning, I settled in to read.  
I read a Margaret Atwood poem. 
I finished a book of short stories by Dot Hatfield. 
I read an article about Northwest Arkansas museums. Located in Berryville, the Heritage Center Museum sounded interesting with collections of pioneer and artifacts from the early 1900s. With no real agenda, I decided to make a side stop in Berryville on my way to Eureka Springs the next day. Berryville was only a few miles off my regular route.
What to read next?

On the bookcase lay an old hardback book I found last year at Long Ago Antiques in Fayetteville, a place I am convinced is as magical as the Narnia wardrobe. The sturdy cover of the book was ridged like burlap and the center bore a faded drawing of the Arkansas state capitol building. It felt substantial and important yet was small enough to carry in my bag.

Inside, the first page was tagged Arkansas Collection then stamped ‘discarded’. 

Arkansas in Retrospect
Arkansas in Retrospect by William Henry Ingersoll
Clearly the book needed me. 
Although I had never heard of Arkansas in Retrospect, nor the author, William Henry Ingersoll, his surname reminded me of a Donald Harington character. Ingersoll stuck with me as Harington’s characters often do.

Donald Harington Books - arkansas author

The book (published in 1943) was one long poem about Arkansas. 
The first four lines…
In Arkansas where I was born,
Some fifty years ago or more,
A thousand tales do now adorn
And grace the State her sons adore.

Clearly I needed this book. It was speaking directly to me.

With heavy eyes, I fell asleep thinking when I get to Dairy Hollow, I’ll do some research on Mr. Ingersoll…tomorrow…

Tomorrow brought a truly AMAZING turn of events.
For the rest of the story, click HERE…
talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Almonds and Feta

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This recipe was recently published in the November/December issue of Front Porch Magazine… 
Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Feta and Almonds
Arkansas Women Bloggers held its annual blogger conference in September at Ferncliff Camp just outside Little Rock. Day One on the agenda—a food challenge demanding quick and creative kitchen skills not unlike today’s reality cooking shows made popular by Iron Chef.
Seven teams were provided boxes of identical ingredients along with a pantry stocked with additional basics. With only forty-five minutes to create twenty appetizers, competition was fierce. To make things more interesting, each team was allowed one secret ingredient.
I was part of the winning team led by Kellee Mayfield (Delta Moxie) of Lake Village. Kellee came with a box of tricks including our secret ingredient, Miso Soy, plus decorative napkins and serving platters. Every southern girl knows presentation is an important part of the food equation.
The appetizer our team created was inspired by one of my favorite Southern Living party recipes, Bacon-Wrapped Almond-Stuffed Apricots. Our first stumbling block—the pantry had no apricots. Instead, we substituted dates then put our heads together to create the winning dish using Arkansas Petit Jean Bacon and other locally grown ingredients.
(I can’t go into specifics, but there was even a bit of bartering to secure the feta cheese from another team…)
Hard at work! (photo courtesy of Julie Kohl of www.eggsandherbs.com)
According to the slate of foodie judges from Memphis and Little Rock, our dipping sauce made with orange marmalade and Miso Soy would make plywood taste great! 
It was that good.
The saltiness of Petit Jean bacon and crumbly feta paired with sweet dates and orange marmalade proved to be a delicious combination and possibly even better than the original inspiration. This recipe is sure to be a crowd pleaser at your next holiday gathering.
Bacon-Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Almonds and Feta
(makes 24 pieces)
 
12 slices bacon, cut into halves
24 dates
24 whole almonds
feta
green onions (4-5)
3/4 cup orange marmalade
Miso Soy paste (or 2 tablespoons of Soy Sauce)
Method
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Slice a pocket into each date and stuff with one almond and a small sliver of feta cheese.
Close date and wrap with bacon slice. Secure with wooden toothpick.
Place on wire rack in an aluminum foil-lined cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, turning once to brown each side.
Mix miso soy paste with water (according to package instructions) to make two tablespoons. Add to marmalade and heat in a small, microwave safe bowl at medium 1 minute or until blended.
Arrange appetizers on a serving platter. Drizzle with dipping sauce and top with a sprinkle of chopped green onions. Serve warm with extra sauce for dipping.
Enjoy!
talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center - Arkansas Women Bloggers
Ferncliff


Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!