This week, I brought the excitement of a culinary competition to the April High Point Furniture Market where I hosted my own Great Party Challenge at the High Point Theatre during the spring Furniture Market.  This Market, I launched my new River House Collection with Universal Furniture.

The Competition
Based on the Spring Market theme of “Inspiration”, five teams of local students who are in the culinary school at Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, NC designed and prepared edible centerpieces inspired by one of five family parties: a child’s birthday, graduation, 4th of July, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. Students were selected for their creativity and ability to create under pressure. They had 50 minutes to work as a team to assemble their centerpiece, which needed to be 24 or more inches high. When the clock ran out, the audience helped me choose a winner. It was a hoot, y’all! 

And the Winner is!
The winning team was called “Red Hot Freedom” and they made their centerpiece out of fresh fruits and veggies, like watermelon, cantaloupe, radish and squash, for the 4th of July.  The team members were Zachary Foster, Amanda Hart, Shaina Jenkins, and Jerry Marsh.

Some of the 16 students in the competition came from as far away as Haiti and some were new cooks while others were looking to hone their skills. Their long-term goals range from owning a restaurant or a bakery to operating catering services and food delivery services. Students practiced for a combined 360 hours on their centerpiece – which is just amazing.

Each member of the winning team will receive a promotional video, with a personal interview taped with myself. Plus, they each get a signed cookbook and a trophy designed just for this competition. Plus, I slipped a little gift card in there since I know how hard it is to start out in this business.

Down Home Lovin’
With my new River House Collection, I share my love of Savannah and the casual comfortable lifestyle there. River House captures the beauty and hospitality of gracious life on the Savannah River. It is available in 3 finishes, River Bank, a deep brown cherry finish; River Boat, white with a gray rub-through and Oyster Shell – a beautiful grey accent.  Right now, I have five furniture collections, Paula Deen Home, Down Home the new River House and the Gals and Guys collections for kids that are a part of Universal’s SmartStuff™ youth furniture.
 
As always, I’m wishin’ y’all love and best dishes!

Photo courtesy of Anthony D. Thomas.

Savannah is known as the Hostess City—a place where you can’t hardly get your coat off before someone’s handin’ you a glass of sweet tea or bourbon depending on your preferences (and maybe the time of day).
 
I suppose that’s one reason why I’ve always felt so at home here.  It’s in my nature to make people feel welcome.  My grandmother and granddaddy made a business out of it running their motel and restaurant at River Bend, just outside of Albany, Georgia.  Anyone in hospitality knows that if people don’t feel welcome, they’ll be outta there in two shakes of a lamb’s tail, and I guess that sunk in.  I love to welcome people to my restaurant, my store, my home, my life….  My boys sometimes warn me not to let my mouth overload my tail—“oversharing” is what they call it—but I really enjoy openin’ my world up and letting good people in.

When Michael and I were building our new home, we knew we wanted a place where our friends and family felt comfortable with lots of space for entertaining both kids and adults.  We didn’t want “showrooms” you never stepped foot in, or furniture you couldn’t sit in ‘cause you were afraid your hinny might break it.  We wanted our home to wrap its arms around anyone who came by—a place that says, “Hey y’all, come on in.”

Right about that time I was approached by Universal Furniture out of High Point, N.C., to start my own line.  I was so excited because I knew exactly the kind of furniture I wanted to design: comfortable, but in good taste.  Together, Universal and I developed a beautiful line of good, strongly structured furniture and launched the Paula Deen Furniture Collection.

I’m real proud of what we created.  Sometimes when you come out with 2nd and 3rd lines you can be disappointed because the excitement can wear off and the consumer may move on to something new.  But we got a huge response from dealers and we’re getting a good track record behind.  This isn’t just some flash-in-the-pan endeavor for me.  I take a lot of pride in what we’re creating: a happy home.

It really put things in perspective for me when Universal arranged for two rental homes in nearby Bluffton, S.C., to be furnished entirely by the Paula Deen line.  It blew me away seeing how my pieces completely transformed those homes that felt so cold and empty before I put my touch on it.  The homes were so, well, so me.

Thankfully, our sales just seem to be going up and up, which I’m really grateful for.  But it’s no mystery as to why this is, y’all.  I just apply my Grandparents’ reasonin’: like the River Bend I was raised in and the Hostess City I now call home, my furniture makes you feel welcome—and let me tell y’all, that’s a wonderful feeling to come home to.

On January 27th the Paula Deen Cruise set sail on board the Royal Caribbean’s “Mariner of the Seas” with Ports of Call at three of the most beautiful places in the world: Honduras, Belize and Cozumel. It is truly a blessing for me to leave behind the dead of winter and get rejuvenated in the tropics. The beaches were breathtaking, the coral reefs were incredible and the partying with friends and family—well, what happens on the Paula Deen Cruise, stays on the Paula Deen Cruise.

But because I’m not so good with keepin’ secrets, I will spill the beans about a few of the highlights that made this cruise—our 5th annual—one of the best yet. To begin, I have to tell you that about 30 of my closest family and friends joined me on this cruise—a good number of them being the people I only get to see once a year, including a bunch of old high school friends. (‘Course, we aren’t actually old, but we do go way back.) A lot of them brought me sweet, sweet things; some of ‘em brought me cookbooks, one of my friends made me this beautiful purse with my initials on it in rhinestones, and my special friend Georgeanne made a doll with my face on it. I just love that doll. I’m going to put it up right in the store for everyone to see.

Then one night, my friend Doc surprised us when she came in my room wearing a horse’s head. Y’all heard me right: a horse’s head—like a mask.  And I said, “Well we really have the horse’s ass with us now!” She has a real good sense of humor so we had a big laugh over it. That’s the kind of craziness I’ve come to look forward to when I’m traveling with my friends.

It was a family affair as well.  Michael and Bubba prepared some of their favorite dishes and of course, I was there putting my two cents in. 

The Deen Family Olympics was so much fun.  At the orange-passing game, I started the line and had to pass an orange along without using my hands!  Courtney, my make-up artist was shaking her booty to get the golf balls out of the tissue box that was strapped to her waist.  That was a sight to see!

But in all seriousness, my favorite moment of the trip was when we held our annual auction and raised money for a very special cause that I’ll be sharing with y’all in the future. So while this wonderful trip with my friends and family changed my life, the money we raised will do so much more.

Without a doubt, it was a wonderful vacation y’all, but sometimes the best part about leaving is coming home to the life that I know and love. I adore the tropics, the sun, the beaches. But I adore coming home to Savannah even more. Yes, we have cobblestones instead of white sands, and kudzu instead of coral reefs.  But nonetheless, it’s good to be back—refreshed, renewed and re-inspired.

January is as much a time for new beginnings as it is a time to look back and see how far you’ve come. This past year was a mixed bag of blessings and setbacks for me, but as long as I keep puttin’ one foot in front of the other, I feel like I’m making progress.  I just hadn’t realized how far I’d come until a couple of weeks ago when I circled the wagons, bringin’ together my entire Savannah team, which includes folks from The Lady & Sons, Uncle Bubba’s, the Paula Deen retail store and Paula Deen Enterprises.

The two restaurants and the store had temporarily closed for the holidays so I saw this as the perfect opportunity to thank everyone for their years—and in some cases decades—of service, and to get them excited about the New Year.  Thinkin’ back on my high school days when I was a cheerleader, I wanted to recreate that pep-rally excitement—people comin’ together under one roof, whoopin’ and hollerin’ and getting excited about what we do best: makin’ people happy. 

But no one was happier than me that morning, standing in a huge hall at the Savannah Riverfront Marriot surrounded by the more than 300 people who make up the “Deen Team.”  In the 22 years I’ve been in the restaurant business, it was the first time we’ve been together in one place—and it was downright overwhelming.

Some people, like my “soul sister” Dora Charles, have been with me every step of the way, starting off with me at The Lady—the first restaurant I opened in a Best Western more than two decades ago.  Others have only been with me for a couple of months and are just cuttin’ their teeth.  But as I see it, we’re all in this together for the long haul.

I expected we’d have ourselves a party that morning, but I didn’t expect to get so overcome with emotion.  I don’t think I really had a sense of how far this stubborn little girl from Albany had come.  I’ve had so many setbacks over the years—Mama and Daddy dying so young, divorce, poverty, agoraphobia—but seeing all those familiar faces and listening to my boys talk about how far we’ve come together, I thought to myself, “Well, ain’t this somethin’.”

And then when they called me up on stage, everyone started cheering. “Paula! Paula! Paula!” they yelled.  I stood there for a few moments, dumbfounded, and I got a little choked up.  I’m rarely at a loss for words, but I finally managed to say what I felt deep in my heart: “This takes my breath away.”

Moments like these are few and far between, but it’s the sweetness that flavors my life—the reason why I keep moving forward.  And the reason why I’m always excited about what’s to come.

Hospitals aren’t my favorite places.  It just breaks my heart to see people struggling with illnesses.  It can be such a frightening, uncertain time for both patients and their families.  But good things happen in hospitals, too—real good things.  Everyday, doctors and nurses help bring babies into this world, and that’s nothing short of a miracle.

Some of those birthing rooms, however, aren’t much of a fit for the miracles they hold.  It’s no fault of the hospitals; most don’t have the extra resources it would take to make a room look like a suite at the Waldorf-Astoria.  That said, a little comfort does go a long way.  So when the Mary Telfair Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph’s/Candler, a wonderful hospital right here in my hometown of Savannah, approached me about donating some of my home furnishings from the Paula Deen Home Collection to renovate one of their 24 private mother-baby rooms in the birth center, I jumped at the chance.

Whoever said you can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear would eat their words after seeing how a few touches of home can transform a hospital room.  The renovations began with money raised by the Telfair Directresses, a board of women dedicated to supporting the Women’s Hospital.  They took down the wallpaper and fixtures, repainted and put in a great big flat-screen TV.  They also updated the flooring and the countertops.  And then I added four pieces of furniture from my line, including a special sleeper for dads that Jamie is particularly fond of.  (I think he’s a good judge since both of his boys were born in this very hospital.)

The hospital gave me the honor of doing the ribbon cuttin’ ceremony and they even dedicated the room in my name.  I couldn’t be more proud.  Michael, Jamie, Aunt Peggy, my niece Corrie and my friend Hollis were all there as the CEO of the hospital, Mr. Hinchey, and the vice president of Patient Care Services, Ms. Danello, said the nicest things.  And y’all, the finished product is just beautiful.  The room is so cozy and warm that it’s hard to imagine you’re in a hospital where more than 3,000 babies are born every year.  Instead, it feels like home—the perfect place to welcome a little baby, including Corrie’s first born.  That’s right, my niece is scheduled to be in that very room this month and she couldn’t be more excited.  But what Corrie doesn’t know is that I’m gonna sneak in there before she arrives to add a few more personal touches to the room.

So I guess you could say I caught the baby bug real bad during this process ‘cause I’m hoping to donate even more furnishings to spruce up the other rooms.  And while there’s no place like home, the Paula Deen room at Mary Telfair would sure give a good Hostess City welcome to any baby.

It’s that time of year, y’all. Decorations are going up, cookies are in the oven, and gifts are waiting to be wrapped. But it’s also a time for hope, compassion and charity, something that’s kept me pretty busy this month.

Last year, my team and I started a new holiday tradition. Local students in one of the schools we help design Christmas cards. We pick our favorite and send them out to all our friends, and instead of sending them with Christmas gifts, make a donation to help feed those children. It’s probably one of the best ideas this team has ever had.

This time of year, the American Red Cross is always in need of blood donations. That’s why we are happy to keep partnering with them for blood drives. Our blood drive last week collected over 200 units of blood, and since one unit of blood can help save 3 lives, that’s almost 600 lives!

Helping women and children is at my core, and I was honored to be the honoree at this year’s CHAIRity Fundraiser for the Safe Shelter of Savannah last Saturday. It’s so important that women have resources to help them and their children in times of crises, and the Safe Shelter does an excellent job helping them.

And y’all, I still can’t wrap my mind around the devastation from Hurricane Sandy I saw this week, and how touched I was by all the volunteers at our food donations on Staten Island and in Long Island City. You just don’t get to see everything on TV, and let me tell you, these volunteers are all angels. I was so happy to be able to help out, even if it was just a small part. It’s through working with charitable organizations like the Helping Hungry Homes initiative and advocates like my friends at Smithfield and the UFCW that we can make a difference.

So take a minute from all your running around this month. It will be ok if the decorations aren’t all up right on December 1st, or that the cookies are a little extra crunchy, or you just couldn’t get that one gift your loved one so desperately wanted. Remember that there are so many others who won’t have those luxuries this year. Hug your families tight, count your blessings and say a prayer for all those in need. That’s what the real Christmas spirit is all about.

Visit City Harvest online to learn how to help provide relief from Hurricane Sandy.

My life changed dramatically this past year when I announced to the world that I have Type 2 diabetes.  But really, my life changed long before that when my doctors first gave me the terrifying news.  It was at that moment that I was faced with a choice to make some important changes, or risk leavin’ this wonderful life far too soon.  Y’all, the choice was easy—and it turns out the changes haven’t been as hard as I imagined because I’ve been taking it at a turtle’s pace: slow and steady.

It’s paid off.  I’ve rearranged my plate, makin’ more room for the foods that are good for me.  I still treat myself to the occasional “comfort food” I grew up with, but more often than not, I enjoy a big salad for dinner and chase it down with a leisurely walk.  I plan ahead and make sure my kitchen is always stocked with fresh-picked fruits and vegetables that are within reach.  I’m not moving mountains or partin’ seas, but these moderate changes to my life have made such a positive difference on my health, my waistline and my spirit.

And I hope you’ll make them, too.  If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you may feel isolated and alone.  I know I sure did.  But I’m here to tell you that you aren’t alone.  Over 25 million Americans are living with this disease.  And I’m here to help.  To celebrate National Diabetes Awareness Month, I’m going to be posting daily tips and facts to my Twitter and Facebook so that we can fight this disease together.

Do you think you have what it takes to be a part of the Deen Team? I want to see your stuff!

This fall I’ll be announcing a new team of bloggers to add to my blog circle, and I can’t wait to see all of the entries. Here’s how to be considered:

1. Write a blog post demonstrating why you think you’re the next Deen Team blogger and post it on your current blog!

2. Send me an email to pdblogger@pauladeen.com with the following information:
Name:
Name of your blog:
In one sentence, give us an idea of your blog’s feel and niche:
About how large is your current audience?:
Link to your blog post describing why you’ve got what it takes*:

*If you don’t currently run a blog, include in the body of your email why you think you’re a good fit for the Deen Team bloggers, and include any applicable writing samples.

LEGAL STUFF AND FINE PRINT

Contest opens on Monday, October 15 and closes on Wednesday, October 31.

Blogger entries will be reviewed based on the following criteria:
1. Content – must demonstrate original, quality content
2. Photography – must include original photography
3. Readership – must include monthly unique visitors
4. Engagement – must demonstrate engagement level via comments, and activity on social media
5. Brand – must fit within the Paula Deen brand image

Bloggers on PaulaDeen.com will be expected to:
1. Work with our Editor to produce compelling blog entries.
2. Promote their blog on personal social media outlets.
3. Contribute one monthly post to PaulaDeen.com.
4. Agree to blogger terms and conditions to be provided upon selection.

Well y’all, the moment has finally arrived! “Home for Dinner with Jamie Deen” is here!

A lot of blood, sweat, and tears – okay, so maybe only the sweat part – has gone into the making of my brand new show, and I can’t wait for you to see it.

When I was thinking of a concept for my new show, it took me a minute to think of something that I really loved. I knew that I loved the idea of cooking locally and seasonally, with fresh ingredients, but I wasn’t sure what the right angle was. Then I thought about my family, and other working families. It’s tough, if you’re a family always on-the-go, to provide well-balanced meals for your loved ones.

So I thought that’s the way to go – and I’m so passionate about it; so is my family. Brooke, Jack, and I love preparing meals together, and I know it won’t be too long before our newest addition, Matthew, joins in the tradition as well.

I had such a blast filming these new shows for y’all, that I wanted to take you on a behind-the-scenes look at the process. All of the photos are courtesy of our dear friend Christine Hall.

Mic check - one two, one two!

And here we go – Home for Dinner – take one…or a million. I forget!

Here’s my little Sous Chef, Jack Deen, helpin’ Daddy out with dinner.

Gosh, I am one lucky man. I’ve got such a gorgeous family.

Even my producer, Gordon, and the rest of the production crew got caught babysitting a time or two.

Doesn’t that look good, y’all?

Mama came by, too, to help out. But secretly, I think she just wanted to spend time with her grandbabies!

That’s a wrap, y’all!

Do good things,
Jamie

As you probably know, I don’t spend my days just cookin’ in the kitchen.  There are shows to film, recipes and articles to write, and more travel than you can imagine.  I’m not complaining.  All that travel takes me places I never would’ve gone and introduces me to wonderful people I never would’ve met.  Last month I spent a week on the Paula Deen Cruise with my fans aboard the most beautiful cruise ship.  And in October I traveled across the country—in a bus—to promote my new cookbook, “The Southern Cooking Bible.”  In between those adventures are flights to countless television appearances in just as many cities, from the smallest TV stations to the “Today Show” in Rockefeller Center.

All those television spots can be a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of waiting around.  First, you’ve got to “get your face on” so you don’t scare anybody.  And, honey, the older you get, the longer it takes—usually 2 to 3 hours!  But the producers of these shows—especially the ones at the big networks—always have it in the back of their mind that a flight is going to get delayed and that a guest isn’t going to get there in time.  So they always want you there early.  And if I’m scheduled to do a cooking demonstration, they’re going to want to take me out on stage and go through a rehearsal just to get me familiar with where everything is.  That way I don’t spend half my time asking, “Where’s my spatula, y’all?”  It’s not easy cooking in someone else’s kitchen, especially when millions of viewers are watching.

Not that I get nervous anymore.  You do anything enough times and it becomes as natural as breathing.  But it wasn’t always that way.  Public speaking used to paralyze me.  I quit going to Sunday School because I was so afraid that they were going to call on me to read from the Bible.  We would go in a circle and take turns and as it got closer to my turn, my heart would beat so hard that I was afraid I was going to hyperventilate.  Eventually I said to myself, You know, I’m just gonna quit going.  I’m not gonna put myself through that.  That seems like a lifetime ago.

These days I manage to relax and rest some while I’m waiting on set.  They put you in these little waiting rooms called “green rooms” that are furnished and set up with all kinds of snacks, coffee and sodas—anything you could want—and I’ll sit there and play “Words with Friends” or “Freecell” on my iPad.  Not everybody has their own green room.  It’s kind of funny, because when you’re first starting out and you haven’t paid your dues, so to speak, they have a big green room where everybody’s huddled together like cattle.  But as you get a little more well-known, they’ll move you to a private green room.

Sometimes, they even give you gifts.  I always love getting Oprah’s gift.  Who wouldn’t?  One time she gave me a big ol’ “O” bag, and I adore that bag.  I have toted it everywhere I’ve ever been.  So I always look forward to a gift from her because it’s something that she loves so you know it’s something that you’re going to love too.

But I have the most fun on the Tonight Show ‘cause Jay Leno is such a bird.  This one time I was in my little green room and I was tired so I laid down on the sofa and shut my eyes.  And all of sudden there was a big ol’ man on top of me!  And it was Jay!  It was like he was trying to kiss me or something like that!  He really caught me by surprise that afternoon.

So in spite of all that waiting around, it can be a lot of fun too.  And when it’s calm and quiet, I like to take a moment to myself to appreciate how a scared young lady from a little town in Georgia has come so far.