Me and The Butter Queen

There's no denying I am a fan.

I own several of her cookbooks (autographed!), one of her sons' cookbooks, lots of the magazines, and I am (at this moment) seriously considering buying some of the dishes she's signed her name to. I just gotta justify putting out the moolah. Apparently, fame ain't cheap.

Yes, friends I am talking about Paula Deen. The one-time small-town Southern cook who now reigns supreme at the Food Network. She came to see me this week, and I just wanted to share my pictures with ya'll.

Here's me. Standing in the FREEZING cold with my tickets, waiting to get in.


Here's a snowflake on my hand, people. I said it was cold. Yes. It SNOWED while we were in line. Snowed.




Here's the "tent" where the event was held. We Army folks love us some tents.



And, here she is. Yes. My pictures are grainy. I need (want) a new camera. That's my hint to Santa. Or the Easter Bunny. Or the Deployment Fairy.


Did ya notice something? She didn't cook. Nope. No food. No stove. No sink. And, to my husband's dismay, no free tastings. She just talked.

At first, I was miffed. (Not as much as the lady behind me... but, that's another story...) I wanted to see some cooking. But, she actually was quite honest and up-front when she told us...

"Ya'll can turn on the TV 4 times a day and see me cooking. I just wanted to come here to talk to ya'll."

And talk we did. A microphone was passed around the audience, and several people asked questions. Food-related and not food-related. And, the butter queen answered them. She was kind-hearted, genuine, and FUNNY. Very funny. Tears-in-ya-eyes funny.

She thanked the soldiers there for their service and sacrifices. She called up a female soldier and congratulated her on receiving the Silver Star. She recognized two widows in the audience who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. She thanked us all over and over again. Such a nice lady.


Oh yeah... her cute little husband came with her, too. He was as funny and entertaining as she was.


It was all over way too soon. Of course, her newest "label" was promoted... Smithfield Hams. There was a giant truck in the parking lot passing out free hams to soldiers who had received vouchers for them. Soldiers who probably wouldn't be able to afford them otherwise.

As she left, we overheard her staff mention that she was running behind schedule to visit "Womack." That means she was on her way to visit our hospital. To see wounded soldiers. Very nice lady indeed.