Southern Protocol

I’ve really been into aprons lately. I actually have garnered quite a few, and 90% of the time forget to wear one while I’m cooking, but I still love getting them out every now and then. Whether it’s a waist-apron or a full-apron, they can be sassy, sweet AND functional!

All of our followers know that we love a good, homemade company with lots of family history, and it makes our day when they let us in on their favorite sites and steals. That’s exactly what happened today when we were tipped off about IceMilk Aprons, an apron making company that started as a way for a family to spend more time together and pay a tribute to their late grandmother.

The aprons are definitely a higher quality than the throw away varieties you find at places like Target; they’re meant to last, and meant to see a lot of cookies and casseroles come out of the oven! They’re beautiful colors, can come with girly monograms and big bows, and all have names that reflect a time in the kitchen. Not to mention that they’re PERFECT for all you entertainers, who are doing last minute seasonings and chopping before your guests arrive for your dinner party – tie on one of these and it’ll seem like that’s your chic hostess outfit!

You can also buy an “heirloom kit” so you can make your own memories making an apron with loved ones. They come with a heritage tag (a small piece of fabric that you handstitch initials on and sew to the inside of your apron), an apron, and vintage recipe cards to record all of your secret family recipes. And it all comes packed in a sweet as tea jam jar!

Visit their website, read more about their story, scope out the blog, and place an order for yourself or your favorite entertaining hero.

Looking for a fun way to spend quality time with little ones? One of the best places to go is your very own kitchen! I used to love cooking with my mom and grandmother when I was little, and it’s so great to have those sweet memories as we get older – not to mention my love of cooking was sparked there!

Obviously children aren’t going to be capable of creating a 5 course 5 star meal, but there are millions of kid-friendly recipes that are super simple and equally delicious. Perfect example: Pigpen Sandwiches, a recipe from Dierbergs School of Cooking that they actually use in their kids-oriented cooking classes. They are SO cute, beyond easy to prepare, and will give you plenty of time to laugh with your children – or just make them for yourself!

Pigpen Sandwiches (Makes 8 “piggy” sandwiches)
1 can (7.5 ounces) buttermilk biscuits
1 can (17.3 ounces) golden wheat biscuits (like Grands)
1 wooden skewer
16 raisins
8 slices of ham, thinly sliced
8 slices of American cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Place buttermilk biscuits on cutting board; using bench scraper, cut each biscuit in half. Cut 8 of the biscuit halves in half to form 16 triangle shapes for ears, and set aside.

Using a 1-inch round biscuit cutter, cut out 8 circles from remaining biscuit halves for snouts; set aside.

For each “piggy”: place wheat biscuits on prepared baking sheet. Place 2 triangles on top of each wheat biscuit for ears. Press firmly. Place 1 circle cut-out in the center of each wheat biscuit, not touching the ears, for the snout. Press firmly. Using wooden skewer, poke 2 holes in each “snout” for nostrils. Insert 2 raisins above each snout for the eyes.

Bake biscuits in a 400 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Place 1 slice of cheese on top 1 slice of ham; roll up. Serve next to warm piggy biscuit.