The Chiefs made it (one step closer) to the Super Bowl, and it is almost Valentine’s Day. The Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift frenzy is at a fever pitch and I have been sucked in. The only thing that would make Super Bowl weekend and Valentine’s Day better would be for Swift to play the halftime show and Kelce to propose during the show. Yes, I really wish that could happen.
Over the past year, the world has been hyper-focused on Taylor Swift. She was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year and continues to break records with her earnings and music. I do not have a teenage daughter and my kids are definitely into other music, but I have become fascinated with her fanbase, her incredible business sense, and the economic power she wields. I also have to admit that I “might” have googled a story or two about her and Travis Kelce. I LOVE a good romance.
In all seriousness, I am not a “Swiftie” but in an attempt to understand this phenomenon and to also celebrate a young friend’s birthday, we went to a Taylor Swift “Exclusive” Dance Party. It consisted of a gigantic room of hundreds of 20 to 30-something females who were singing every word to every Taylor Swift song. The music was played by a DJ with a computer and a good Taylor Swift playlist. We paid $30 each for this?!?
It was fun and everyone enjoyed the party, but I still did not get it. What is it that these young women (because that is who makes up Swift’s incredible and devoted fanbase) hear in her songs? To put the scale of it all in perspective, I read that 31 million people pre-registered for tickets to one of her Eras Concert’s in Canada, and only 36 million people live in Canada.
Then one afternoon, I decided to make a big pot of grits and grillades for dinner. Grillades are traditionally made by cutting up a large beef or veal roast into small pieces. It is delicious, but it takes some time and effort to cut up the meat and sear the individual pieces in small batches so you do not overcrowd the pot.
I settled into my afternoon of cooking. Dealing with a bunch of raw meat and vegetables, I knew I would need my hands free. I popped on some music and it turned out to be a Taylor Swift playlist. For the next two hours of cooking, searing, and cleaning, I had the opportunity to do nothing but listen to Taylor Swift. I did not want to bother to wash my hands to change the music so I listened on.
Finally, by the addition of the last ingredient, it struck me as to why Taylor Swift has such an amazingly devoted following: It has to be her powerful lyrics. I know that should be obvious, but she has a lot to say and her lyrics speak for a lot of young women. Remember that Taylor started out on the country music scene and country music prides itself on the stories being told through its lyrics.
She sings about love, lots of love, getting dumped, and about being young, awkward, and invisible. Her lyrics are intense and emotional. They are profound and important to many young girls. These young fans have felt like Taylor, they have welcomed her into their lives, and have grown up alongside her and her music. They are not violent lyrics, nor are they derogatory or mean spirited. Honestly, I liked every song that I heard and each had a lot of good things to say.
I have watched a million rom-coms movies and they are still my absolute favorite. I can describe Taylor’s music as “romance movie music.” I want the girl to get the boy in the end. Period, and that can be the end of the story for me.
I do not think I should be classified as a “Swiftie.” I am not obsessed and I am not going to fly across the country or across the world to attend a concert. I have not cried during any of her songs.
However, I have loved watching a good love story and hoping that it turns out well in the end. I will always root for love. I will always root for the happily ever after. I wish that for Taylor and Travis, and pretty much anyone else hoping to find the love of their life. Happy Valentine’s Day. These lyrics from Taylor’s 2008 hit song “Love Story” say it all. We want the prince and princess to be together, forever.
“You'll be the prince, and I'll be the princess.
It's a love story, baby, just say yes.
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring
And said, Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone.
I love you, and that's all I really know.
I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress.
It's a love story, baby, just say YES!”
Taylor, we are rooting for you. Hang in there and I hope Travis is your Romeo.
Swift-Tea Cocktail
I made this drink for a birthday celebration for Clara Killman. She is an amazing, smart, and confident young friend; and is a true “Swiftie.” She grew up on all the music and knows just about every word to every song. The drink was a big hit at the birthday party and it can get just about anyone up and dancing to a Swift song.
1 cup sweet tea (I used unsweet and thought the drink was plenty sweet for my tastes)
3/4 cup frozen lemonade concentrate
1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
3 cups water
3/4 - 1 cup bourbon
Cherries, for garnish
Stir in frozen juice concentrations into tea until they dissolve. Add water and bourbon. Stir well and put in a large plastic pitcher and Rubbermaid container and put in the freezer overnight or at least eight hours. Because of the bourbon, the mixture will not freeze completely, but will make a nice slushy consistency. You can also serve the mixture over crushed ice.
Garnish with a cherry and serve immediately.
Grillades and Grits
I decided to include the recipe for the grillades and grits. It is delicious and perfect for a cold winter night. Make a pot, and hope that you will put on a Taylor Swift playlist when you do.
4 pounds beef top round, cut into 2-inch pieces
1/2 cup oil or bacon grease, divided
1/2 cup flour
1 to 2 tablespoons of your favorite Cajun or creole seasoning
2 to 3 onions, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 bunch or about 5 large ribs of celery and tops, chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 regular can diced tomatoes with the juice
1 cup red wine
1 to 2 cups beef broth
6-8 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons Tabasco or hot sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
4 bay leaves
1 bunch parsley, chopped
2 Tablespoons fresh thyme (optional but very good addition)
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and the Cajun seasoning with the meat. Tossing it well and making sure the meat is well coated in the flour.
In the bottom of a very large cast-iron pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil or bacon grease. When oil is hot, add meat in small batches. Brown meat evenly on all sides for about five minutes and be sure not to crowd the pot. You want the meat to form a nice crust. Remove meat to well-greased crock pot, if using. If not, set meat on a plate and reserve.
Once all the meat is finish, add the onions, bell peppers and celery to the Dutch oven and continue stirring, scraping the bottom and insides of the pot to loosen any brown particles. Cook for about five to six minutes or until the vegetables are wilted.
Add the garlic and canned tomatoes. Cook, stirring, often and scrape sides and bottom. Add the entire mixture to the crockpot, or add meat back into Dutch oven. Add remaining seasonings, the bay leaves, beef broth, wine, and season with additional salt and pepper.
Set crockpot on low and cook for at least eight hours until the meat is tender and easy to shred. If cooking in Dutch oven, simmer about five hours until meat is tender.
This is best made the day before and reheated slowly. Remove the bay leaves and serve with regular grits or baked cheese grits
Baked Cheese Grits Casserole
This casserole can be made several days ahead and either reheated or baked when needed. It is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner.
2 cups grits (before cooking)
8 cups water
1 stick butter
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons garlic salt
4 eggs
Cook grits in water according to package instructions. Add in remaining ingredients. Pour in a well-greased casserole dish. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 350 or until grits are fluffy and top is slightly browned.
Slow Cooker Stone Ground Grits
1 1/2 cups stoneground grits
6 cups water
4 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoon salt
1-2 cups cream
Lightly grease a six-quart slow cooker or crockpot. Stir together grits, water and salt and cook on low for seven to eight hours stirring occasionally. Stir in butter, cream, and additional salt, if needed. Serve immediately.
Millionaire (or Billionaire) Shortbread Bars
Valentine’s Day would not be complete without something sweet and the aptly named treat came to mind when writing about Swift. They are decadent and rich consisting of one layer of shortbread topped by caramel and chocolate.
To move these from Millionaire Bars to Billionaire Bars (just as Swift has moved into the billionaire category) simply top with 2 cups toasted chopped pecans.
Shortbread Crust:
1 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg yolk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Caramel:
3 cup sugar
2 cups cream
1 1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Chocolate Ganache:
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Course sea salt for sprinkling
To prepare the shortbread layer, mix butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolk and vanilla extract, and stir well. Gradually add flour being sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Dough will be crumbly.
Drop dough into a well-greased 9 x 13“ baking pan lined with parchment paper. Press dough evenly into the bottom of the pan. Bake on 350 for 20 to 25 minutes until the edges are golden brown. Allow shortbread to cool while preparing caramel layer.
To prepare caramel layer, combine: sugar, cream, corn syrup, and butter in a very large heavy duty sauce pan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Stirring occasionally, cook until temperature reaches the softball stage or about 240 on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour caramel over shortbread layer. Allow to cool for at least one hour before topping with chocolate.
To make chocolate layer, combine: chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 second intervals and stir frequently until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in vanilla extract. Spread chocolate over prepared caramel layer. Wait several minutes and then sprinkle with sea salt. Allow chocolate to harden.
When millionaire bars are completely cool and firm, remove from the pan using the parchment layer and cut into small squares.
