Thanks to our friend Chef Clayton, my family is two degrees separated from Paula Deen!

It’s hard to believe that just one week ago it was snowing here. It soared into the mid to upper 70s this weekend – a perfect setting for the Exceptional Foundation’s annual chili cook-off. We had never been for some reason but had heard thousands of people turn out to our small Homewood Park for the event. And this year they came in droves. We must have sampled more than a dozen chilies and probably had at least that many more left to try.

Truman was in rare form when we arrived – so cranky that we almost gave up and headed home. But we were determined to go and Truman finally found his happy-center after gnawing on a hot dog, getting a baseball painted on his cheek, and bouncing in the bouncy.

Our friend Clayton Sherrod was testing out his chili at one tent. He’s the chef at Alagasco and I swear he is at every charity event. He also is one of the regular chefs on Rick’s show. His chili was probably the best I tried today. I hope he wins. It won’t be his first time.

A couple weeks ago Truman and I were watching Food Network. We’ve gotten into this jag of watching the channel for about two hours most afternoons. We start with that lovely Giada and then Ina and then Paula and finish with Rachel Ray. Rachel is Truman’s favorite. I prefer Giada and Ina. We both think Paula Deen’s accent is painful but Truman tends to like the way her dishes look. Just once, though, I’d like to see one of these food people take a bite of their completed dish and spit it out instead of ummm’ing like they’re lovesick. Not all recipes can turn out that good!

So we were watching the Food Network the other day and Paula’s show comes on and all of a sudden I hear Paula welcome her special guest – Chef Clayton. Actually, it sounded more like “CHA-eff KAH-lay-tunh.” And I look up and see our friend Clayton there in Paula’s kitchen whipping up Braised Turkey Shanks that combined Southern charm and African flavors. That makes me, what, two degrees separated from Paula? I wonder if she’s met Giada or Ina. That would make me just three degrees from them!

I may not be a huge Paula Deen fan, but I certainly wouldn’t turn down an invitation to cook in her kitchen. Ok, maybe not cook, but stand in her kitchen while she cooks and sample what she makes. And I’m always game to eat Clayton’s food. So, way to go Clayton! Check out his Braised Turkey Shanks recipe here. Way cool.