It's always good to have a backup plan, right? Don't tell Ann, but she could pay me to waitress with Hummingbird cake. And to my friends out there that just 'swear' they can make Hummingbird cake as good as Ann's, I say...put your cream cheese icing where your mouth is.

I know, gross. You should see the other girl. And no, I didn't catch my finger in a coffee grinder;) I got in a fight with a glass vase....and the vase won, in the way of 22 stitches. I just knew I hadn't blogged in awhile, and I had to come up with some sort of good reason....so almost cutting off my finger was the best idea...right? And you're welcome for not posting the un-bandaged photo.

There's nothing that makes me prouder than to be able to say that this colossal chicken fried steak AND ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls came from MY hometown of Noble (and from just about the nicest folks you'll ever meet). If you've never been to Kendall's, then you: 1. are experiencing a gravy insufficiency, 2. probably have low blood cinnamon 'n' sugar, and 3. have a skewed perception of the 'proper' serving size of chicken fried steak. You don't need medication to fix any of these problems, you just need to pay a visit to Kendall's! No co-pay needed. And wipe off your computer screen silly, you're drooling;)

100 South Main Street
Noble, Oklahoma
Open Tuesday - Saturday
11am - 8pm
872-0303
Come on by for your comfort food fix!

Way back in 1999 (said in old lady voice....or Prince...whichever you prefer), when Henderson Coffee wasn't even a twinkle in my eye, I still had a heartfelt love of coffee. I was doing freelance artwork for individuals, and for Devon's INK in Norman, Ok. Among my specialties, were custom hand painted cards. While packing to move to my new house, I unearthed some of the remaining collection of my original works of art, including this precious little card. So if you're one of my coffee customers, don't be surprised if one of these little guys ends up in your mailbox:)

Every journey has a beginning, middle, and an end. And for these 150 lb. bags of coffee beans that came from Brazil, Mexico, and Costa Rica- Henderson Coffee in Muskogee would be riiiiight about the middle of that journey. The end of the journey for these coffee beans should in your cup:)

Of all the places in the world I would have thought would carry TOMS Shoes, Goldsby Store off of I-35 would not have been top of the list. For those of you who are not familiar, TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good. I shouldn't have been surprised that a small town, family owned business would have the thought and heart to be so passionate about such a product. So all you trendy hipsters out there, forego Neiman Marcus or Bergdorfs and get your TOMS in Goldsby! Philanthropy AND supporting a local business; win-win! For more on the cause, check out: www.tomsshoes.com

How about a road trip? Anyone? Anyone? Ah, how about with the brother and sister-in-law, driving through dense fog, to Fisherman's Cove in Medicine Park? Perfect! Well worth the drive for the amazing smoked bbq ribs, homemade apple fritters and hush puppies. I'd like to point out that the apple fritters are included with your meal, AND served first! Dessert first is always best in my book! And let's not forget the infamous catfishalope- legendary creature of the Wichita Mountains. You only THOUGHT it was a myth. Thanks for the hospitality and the great coffee Tom and Debbie!:)

If you're looking for a place with charm, look no further than Cadillac Ranch in Lindsay. You can eat an amazing hamburger, fried catfish, AND gift shop- all in one stop!

What do you when you're stuck inside because of the snow? I pilfer through my Henderson samples, find some biscuit mix and get baking. In order to be an expert for the company, I need to be able to make, and taste everything, right? I only did it for field research. It had nothing to do with the fluffy, buttery, hot, melt-in-your-mouthful of sunshine during a snowy day. Nothing at all.



The chocolate chip cookie has officially been de-throned. Pack your bags Chips Ahoy, see ya later. The new kid in town is the cherry white chocolate cookie from DC Cake Appeal in Shawnee. Oh...my....goodness.

Hot Diggity Dog! I know you'll be shocked to know that this mile-size dawg is from the same place as the Big Bopper- Happy Days Diner in Pauls Valley. And the Kitchen Sink sundae- which I tried as hard as I could to get someone to order while I was there- no such luck. I guess the saying goes "everything's bigger in...Pauls Valley?" (No picture available for the delicious piece of homemade coconut cream pie....my gullet was faster than my camera trigger.)

Camels on the highway...and now giant strawberries? Am I following the trail of a carnival? I don't know, but anywhere that has camels AND giant strawberries- I want to go there.

If I stop by to see one of our customers, and fresh baked cookies, or cinnamon rolls, or cake, or homemade rolls (you get the picture) have just come out of the oven- they always offer you one! And it would of course be so rude to say no! So I of course have to say yes, only because they're twisting my arm. This was from one of the new City Bites in Oklahoma City, pumpkin cookie with cream cheese icing.

One of the perks of selling coffee (besides getting to drink alot of coffee), is the relationships you have with business owners. They give you presents! Leo and Ken's in Lawton, gave me one of their t-shirts as part of my Christmas present, they're a very generous couple. Leo and Ken's also hosts an annual Christmas party with presents for the local children, AND a 'Trucking for Jesus- Mobile Chapel Ministry'. Chaplains and authors, Bunny and Blonnie Gregory, travel nationwide in their 1962 Kenworth, and have written a book that they publish themselves, and hand out for free- along with the free ministry to the truckers. 'Beating the Highway Blues', it's a good read.

It's not always what you see when you get where you're going, but what you see while you're on your way. And sometimes what you see...are camels on the turnpike.

Don't adjust your computer screens, you are not at the state fair. That IS, however, deep fried bacon....and peanut butter pie. I've found that the fried batter on the bacon counteracts the calories and fat from the peanut butter pie. It's the lunch of champions at Round-Up Cafe in Chickasha. They've also got a wicked fried Snickers- but I'm watching my weight.

Really, there's not much description needed here. This is The Big Bopper Hamburger, THAT'S AS BIG AS YOUR HEAD! (Actually, I'm a pin head, so it's a little bigger than mine). Happy Day's Diner in Pauls Valley- I think you get your picture on the wall if you eat the whole thing? They also have an ice cream sundae called The Kitchen Sink- which involves 6 scoops of ice cream, 1 pound of cake, multiple syrups and sauces, four bananas, and a partridge in a pear tree. Unfortunately, you cannot get The Kitchen Sink in a to-go box.

It might not look like much, but my friends, this is the flakiest, butteriest, (is that even a word? I dare you to google it) most amazing homemade bread I've ever sunk my teeth into. It's from a little spot in Lindsay- 77 Grill. And watch out for the mile high meringue on their pies- it'll knock you over!

During a Saturday afternoon coffee run to Michelangelo's in Norman- this college student walked in with a red, cold nose, and a violin case. The owner asked her if she could play, and I suggested he 'pay' her with Henderson Chai Latte (and I suggested SHE get the largest one they had)- which both happily agreed. What a bargain for both! It's not always cake that you get with your coffee, sometimes it's live music!

During my daily adventures of selling coffee, I come home with some pretty interesting stories, and some food that is fantastical. As I spin my yarns of coffee and these little Oklahoma nooks to my friends- the inevitable questions are; do you have a picture (as in, I need proof, I don't believe you, there's no way you had fried bacon for lunch today), where is this place, and how quickly can I get there.

So I find it only fitting for the first post of the Okie Coffee Charm blog to be the inspiration....the Hummingbird Cake at Ann's Country Kitchen in Elgin. Think moist banana nut bread, slathered in cream cheese icing, that I would swear is a mixture of cream cheese, sugar, sunshine, and rainbows. Speaking of sunshine, if you get to make a trip out to see sweet little Ann (yes, there really is an Ann, she's not a fictional marketing ploy), give her a big hug and tell her Henderson Coffee sent you!