Styling for Santa: Bay City Rollers instill shortbread love

Ask me about my shortbread skills. It was the Bay City Rollers that got me to be a semi expert on all things Scottish. I knew how many stone these tartan-clad lads weighed and everything. Some issue of Tiger Beat magazine may have mentioned shortbread and I was on it, like I was going to get to serve some to these rockers.

Jump to Shortbread House of Edinburgh, offering a beautiful short tin of Truly Handmade Shortbread with Clotted Cream. Go to The Bee’s Knees British Imports to get your sweets. I’ve got to figure some way to reuse this adorable blue tin with pink/purple thistle. The rich, crunchy cookies are long gone.

If Santa is getting shortbread cookies and tea, serve it in style.

The Bee’s Knees British Imports flagship store is in Acton, MA. can connect you to the Christmas Toast tray with red and green lettering reading:

Nearest & Dearest, A Wreath on the Door, Wicked Cocktails

Parmesan Biscuits, A Fire in Every Room

Champagne on Ice, Clementines

Around the rim reads;

How I Love Winter Parties.

OCD Planners, Let’s plan a year – Would a detail of a juniper berry branch or aloe, roots and all, help your week?  The American Horticultural Society has created a weekly planner with drawings of plantes dated in the 1800s and early 1900s. You can journal a bit and mark appointments in this hardback book designed for beautiful thoughts. The owner/author/artist will write in the numbers and dates, so you could technically start anywhere on the calendar. But say we’re headed into an amazing 2026. I have a January birthday so I’d get an Opuntia with orange flowers. That’s a prickly pear cactus. Mary Emily Eaton drew this one in 1916. Honestly, these pages include names and varieties that are either new to me, or they are so beautifully blossoming that I’d never noticed them before. Remember old style phone books with tabs? The society has a lovely little Internet Password Logbook that also features floral beauty. One must stay organized.

 

 

Pumpkin Spice Watch – This week’s spotting is a pumpkin bread recipe and preserving your winter squash. Dehydrating is for hard-core pumpkin lovers. Do you make the cut? Maybe get support from your gardening accountability buddy. Maybe you can become a tomato snob. “The Preserver’s Garden: How to Grow a Garden for Fermenting, Canning, Pickling, Dehydrating, Freeze Drying & More” keeps you on your toes all year round. Staci & Jeremy Hill of Gooseberry Bridge Farm feed a family of eight year-round from a home pantry. Learn how they do it and feast on the beautiful photography of their labors. Okra, garlic or basil? Eat it all year with their tips. I want that pantry!

 

 

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie savoring the flavors of holiday gatherings. Share your family faves with her via panews@panews.com.

Pour Les Enfants, Casa del Sol benefits area children

Port Arthur references were everywhere at Pour Les Enfants Gala. The Casa del Sol theme greeted guests from the street with music from Bob Hope High School’s mariachi band on Nov. 20. They played attendees into a silent auction coveted goodies from donors including Snooper’s Paradise, Debbie’s Delights, Fred Millers, Buckstin Brewery and Texas Coffee Company. This is for The Garth House.

Funds help the Mickey Mehaffy Children’s Advocacy Program, Inc. interview about 800 children a year. That’s an outstanding figure, and I double-checked. For years this group has given a safe place for children tell their story of abuse and take the  steps to aid their situation.

"Abuse happens everywhere. Sometimes next door. You don't have to prove it. You just have to report it,” said Marion Tanner, executive director.

This group serves children from 6 counties and offers free counseling for the children.

A lighted tent again covered diners at adorned tables who enjoyed beef tenderloin with chimichurri sauce, paella, and/or seared chicken with roasted poblano cream sauce. Ironic to serve Mexican Street Corn Casserole, because parts of this affair are literally in the street.

So many familiar area personalities support this cause. Many of the people I chatted with work law enforcement or support in various capacities. It’s a cause they understand. Tanner says The Garth House group has interviewed more than 18,000 victims during the past 34 years.

As guests filled bid sheets, Tanner repeated that abuse can happen “next door” to any of us and should be reported. Call a hotline at 1-800-800 252-5400

Amy Pyburn, this year’s event chair, included a program note with this message from Matthew:516

“Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.”

Women behind the Lens – Go back in time. Imagine learning from experts when the field of photography was rather a new novelty. “The California Camera Club: Collective Visions in the Making of the American West” is both a picture and a history book. It’s remarkable that so many women were involved in trekking mountain sides and redwood forests in corsets, layered skirts and heeled boots to have a go at this camera thing. We’re talking about the late 1800s, where huge groups made excursions into the wilderness to frame, pose and study the land. Many pages note the large numbers of women in the group. They appear in photos holding banners proclaiming the club’s name. They were present as trees were felled, the earth quaked and architecture rose and fell. Carolyn Gorgen presents this University of Oklahoma Press publication.

Darragh Castillo is a Port Arthur area foodie wishing you the happiest of holiday seasons. Reach her via panews@panews.com

The holidays are BOOMING!

Our area's oil industry is something to celebrate. Here are two holiday-related ways. Museum of the Gulf Coast features a mural and other displays focusing on the area's oil heritage. Enjoy it all for free from 10 a,m.-1 p.m., Dec. 6 for Jingle All the Way Family Fun Day at the Museum. Beware The Grinch. 

Spindletop Boomtown Museum shows us how it all began. I recently stopped by when Boomtown put out some cheese and crackers to showcase the gift shop jam. The xpread gave a peek as to how staff can host your holiday parties and other events. Imagine your office hanging out at the saloon. Cheers to Gladys City. I took my plate outside  to admire the moon by the oil rig. When a grape rolled off onto the ground, I got a new friend. A pretty kitty followed me, hoping I'd drop something else. I hear her name is Gladys and she gives tours./

TruWild – If you don’t “hike, ruck and trek,” you may need an into into high-impact outdoorsing. I’m more of mall walker when it comes to exertion. Nate and Zac created a product I didn’t know I needed. The line includes Hydrate, a powder of electrolytes and aminos to replenish, rebuild and recharge. This was a blessing when I got seasonal allergies and passion fruit guava and watermelon flavors got me back in balance. I want to mention their branding. Truwild represents values of dedication, purpose, honesty and conviction. To stay True. They want to give back freedom, connection, exploration and primality. Here’s to staying Wild.

This has got to bring to mind Bun B of UGK, rappers from Port Arthur, who brought us the concept of keeping it Trill, true and real. www.truwild.com

Not Sticky at All – How can you snack on sriracha sticky rice right out of your purse? Learn to love Brussels sprouts if they crunch and taste like sweet Thai chili sauce? Go Mediterranean with a snack mix of eggplant, sweet pepper, zucchini and onion? Get Woodbridge Snacks to crisp it all up for you. These are crunchy little scientific miracles of flavor. Unroll a Tropical Fruit Roll in mango, too. I shared these from my bag at a Symphony of Southeast Texas concert at Tyrrell Park and my companions were hooked.

Here's how they describe three newbies in the line:

Tempura Seaweed Chips – Real umami seaweed coated in light tempura batter and seasoned with either simple sea salt or a sweet and mildly spicy sriracha blend.

Sticky Rice Chips – Handmade chips featuring whole grain, Japanese-style Mochi sticky rice harvested from sustainable farms in Thailand.  

Mochi Rice Nuggets – Offered in Teriyaki or Tom Yum flavors and made with short grain, slightly sweet white rice baked to a crisp. Enjoy Teriyaki for splashes of soy sauce and sake and a hint of ginger, or Tom Yum for the taste of a traditional Thai soup favorite. www.woodridgesnacks.com 

 

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie ready to make the holidays BOOM! Share with her via panews@panews.com

 

Advent is about waiting; put a rush on it

Advent calendars with adult themes are trending. Companies that sent me some say they are about to sell out. Advent is about patiently preparing, so please, “wait” for this story about my mom, Jeannette. 

Ladies of St. Jude shared their crafts at a recent meeting. There were painters, those who crochet and make "softies," blankets, rosary and wreath makers. I actually brought my columns, and shared how I like to write about food. I also used my time to share my late mom’s crafts. She loved to make something from nothing. A true '70s crafter. I love her spool tree the best, fashioned from fabric and paper, it stays out all the time at my house. She decoupaged Christmas cards onto wooden triptychs and curled can lids into intricate snowflakes. 

Jeannette Pennell Doiron was not allowed to take shop in school. She was a girl, after all. So she hung around her dad and taught herself carpentry, wood carving, brick laying, sewing, embroidery, gourmet cooking beading and more. I want to grow up to be like her.

            Check out these Advent calendars that have come my way:

Delicious Texas is a box as big as a Texas boast. Behind these doors are some goodies from all across the Lone Star state including:

·        Mostly Chocolate ( Houston, TX I Hazelnut & Pop Rocks Bar 1 pc)

• Cacao and Cardamom (Houston, TX I Gingerbread Spiced Pecans 2.0 oz.)
• Toffee Treats (Dallas, TX I Milk Chocolate Peppermint Toffee 2.0 oz. )
• Lone Star Bee Company (Houston, TX I Tuscan Blue Rosemary and Pepper Honey (3 oz. Jar) )
• Millican Pecans (San Saba, TX I Caramillican - one dark chocolate and one white chocolate )

Do you have someone who misses Texas on your list? Let www.deliciousfooddelivered.com level up the holidays. Wait for it… there are other states in this line of Advent calendars. Texas is a popular one, of course.

            DM Snacks.com has a couple of packages from Forty Fort, PA they can set you up with. I may sneak ahead to Door 20 for Beer Cheese Crunch Stix. There’s a cheat sheet so you know to plan ahead for something spicy on the 11^th with Wasabi Taproom mix. www.dmsnacks.com

Warming Joy and Winter Chalet are Tea Forte selections that are the essence of the season. Wind down and cozy up with amazing tea flavors from these collections with flavors such as Ginger Lemongrass and Chocolate Fondue. Open little numbered doors to find what joy you will experience for the day. www.teaforte.com

 For the Foodie with Flair is how 15 Olives makes its pitch. They had me at Robust, but Bold Tuscan Blend and Mild Extra Virgin Olive Oil also do their job this time of year. Between the holiday extravaganzas, try a simple meal of bread, eggs and these fine oils to refine your cravings. They’re rich and indulgent and a little goes a long way. These are perfect hostess gifts. For an extra drizzle of luxury:  holiday gift sets 

Check out an Alter Eco first-ever truffle Advent calendar: alterecofoods.com.

 

Darragh Doiron Castillo wishes you ALL the Happy Holidays. Reach her via panews@panews.com

Beach Life Breakfast

 

Beach Blessings

It’s more than a bumper sticker thought that the beach refreshes the soul. Catch a sunrise on the shore to remind you of your place in the world. We’re blessed to enjoy the Gulf’s beautiful waves on a peaceful day. It’s spiritual.

And a foodie appreciates the fine details of soul nourishment with a cup of coffee in this atmosphere. A classmate refreshed some women who have known each other most of their lives with a weekend full of positive vibes. There was also a competitive washboard game. As if simply being there was not enough, she prepared breakfast casserole and layered yogurt parfait for an outdoor breakfast. Again, phrases like “Food, Fun and Friends” appear on décor pillows and T-shirts for a reason. It’s good times. Bless the soul who blesses others.

By the way, a quickie tour of Camp Margaritaville Resort Crystal Beach impressed as well. In addition to a way-cool concert arena, guests can dine with flair or take a dip in the License to Chill pool.  

Pumpkin Spice Watch – Here’s a new-to-me use of pumpkin I condone. Pumpkin and Pearl Couscous Salad involves ginger, chili powder, spinach and cashews. People around the world are using their pumpkin for more than coffee. In “Plantasia” Pamela Chia offers Asia’s Vegetable Wisdom in Recipes, Stories and Techniques. So many countries can make their produce a full and flavorful meal Typhoon Shelter Mushrooms, Tempeh Satay with Sambal Matah, Savory Corn and Bell Pepper Cake with Guacamole and Butternut Squash Dengaku are dishes you can make at home now. I’d never heard of many of these combinations and spices before. Now I’d love to try them all. Deviled cashews and pea cookies are more temptations. This book is lovingly written. The are interviews, painted portraits, recipes and history. Wisdom is delicious.

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie working to experience as many new flavors as possible before 2025 is history. Share your ideas with her via panews@panews.com

Okra pops in on pumpkin season

Okra pops in on pumpkin season

 

Okra taught me a couple of new tricks this week. A gardener snipped a little pod off the plant and handed to me. You can eat this very southern food raw. On the spot. 

I took it home so my best knife could cut it into sections. I loved it, as is. With vinaigrette it was over the top, crunchy, wholesome goodness. I asked gardener friends if they ate theirs raw. Some were skeptical. One asked how it tasted and I came up with “green and fresh with the essence of crunch.”

Another friend shared a video of how to eat the leaves fresh or bit sauteed. Another success.

Of course this raw experience was with a young, tender growth. If this gardener keeps some on the vine, the okra may end up in gumbo, stuffed peppers, a tomato dish or some rice concoction. 

There's your tip. Now, find an okra plant and get your snack. 

 

 

Granola Memories - Remember making hippie granola in the '70s? You'd toast your seeds and oats and drizzle honey? So good. Nostalgic? Good. Now go ahead and let Alter Eco toast it for you. 

If you've been grabbing overprocessed supermarket bars with the notion that you're doing it all wrong, you might be. Get back to the basics with Dark Chocolate Organic Granola, Cashew Butter and Cinnamon Raisin. It's the best. Sweet, crunchy heaven. I didn't even bother with milk. It's great from the bag, over yogurt or cottage cheese or blended banana. www.alterecofoods.com will connect you to some amazing dark, dark choclates in a variety of flavors. Tropical Fruit Roll Mango is both crunchy and chewy and hard to share. Read how the company works to restore ecosystems and snack on! 

 

Pumpkin Spice Watch – Readers, we’ve been sharing our pumpkin spice season finds over the years and the trend is still strong. Crave it or hate it, it has to make you smile. I love Dawn soap products and just about fell out in the aisle when I saw seasonal versions of Dawn Platinum Plus Powerwash Dish spray. I love the cleaning power. I was going for lemon scent when I noticed there were pumpkin, cranberry and pine versions. No joke. You can see it on shelves for yourself, unless someone has snapped them all up. I stuck with lemon.

 

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie falling for the flavors of this season. Share with her via panews@panews.com.

Doirons take Starks

                   Last summer my sister and I reconnected to Louisiana Doirons at a family reunion. Since I hadn’t seen them in years, I kind of forgot this branch was Pentecostal. The Texas branch was raised Catholic. They welcomed us with joy. But this year I wore a floral dress instead of the denim shorts I had before. They loved on me again. I even got a cemetery tour.

                   A week before I met a woman from Starks and I told her I was headed that way. We got excited and loud.

“I’m going to Starks!” I exclaimed.

“Where is the reunion?” she queried.

“At the Pentecostal Church” I said. all loud like.

“Which one?” she shot back, even louder.

I looked perplexed. She belly laughed at my expression. I know Starks is a small town, but they’ve got TWO Pentecostal churches?

            I found where I was supposed to be, then drove around town. At Dress Like an Angel, I mentioned why I was visiting and a woman said she’d just driven past First Pentecostal and it looked like people were arriving. Got to love those small town connections. More Starks Road Trip highlights here:

·       My old gumbo pot still faintly reads DOIRON in a neat lettering my mother made with Magic Marker in the ‘70s. Good job, Mom, that pot went to countless parties and always got back to you. This time ALL the plates, cups and coolers were all marked DOIRON. There were also LSU serving pieces.

·       Style note: I admired a vintage blue bauble on a relative’s top. She’ fashioned ‘50s era earrings into a new use by clipping them over the neckline.

·       A hostess gifted me a tea-filled mug adorned with pink roses. She asked if I could read the French. De La Feté donne Par La Ville de Paris. She offered me a “life of the party” translation. Fascinated, I later researched the phrase referring to a city holiday in order of a royal wedding or national affair. A related artwork  portrays air balloons decorated with men on horseback floating above the city. That notion makes my tea fancy.

·       Relatives told me they shop for groceries in Orange, as it’s the closest store. When I enjoyed leftovers later, I reflected that ingredients were purchased in Texas, assembled in Louisiana, and sent back home to me in Texas.

·       Dress Like an Angel is a big ol’ fashion shop with a big, big ol’ chandelier. Anyone will tell you there are plenty of churches in the area and there must be an outfit from this place in every pew come Sunday. I asked about chocolate chip cookies by the counter. The pastor’s wife of the church across the street makes them. Saleswomen pointed to Calvary Apostolic Church. We chatted and it turns out both women working the store hailed from Port Arthur.

·       The dress shop women did mention that this area is not as Cajun as people in Lafayette. I asked what they were and one described the area as a “no man’s land” of folks maybe hiding out from the law and that’s why there are so many name variations from this locale. She hastily added that it’s not that way anymore and there are many churches in the Starks area.

 

Wrapping up the day: The relatives loaded me up with leftovers at the end and I turned the car toward Texas. My next stop was Delta Downs, where I read a book until it was time for Catholic Mass in Vinton. Now those are some things that branch of Doirons would probably not do at all. But I turned out okay.

 

I attended Mass at St. Joseph's Church in Vinton, Louisiana. They announced we would pray for hurricane protection. I looked around for the prayer card. This congregation recited it from memory. While there may be variations, areas of Southeast Texas and Louisiana include thoughts such these:

We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control: the Gulf of Mexico, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its sleep, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land and spread chaos and disaster.

During this hurricane season we turn to You, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our Beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son on our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem where a stormless eternity awaits us.

 

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie with Cajun roots. Let the good times roll with her by sharing foodie tales via panews@panews.com