Prepping for Company

November 16, 2011 By 6 Comments

I am an emotional cleaner. Which is similar to an emotional shopper (which I also am to the detriment of my bank account and Alex’s sanity) but different in that I achieve something productive when emotional.

Lately however, things have been pretty dang keen.

I mean, sure we’ve had our ER visits and our job loss, but all in all I’ve been pretty dang ok with life. The meds help! What all this means though is my house is um…less than stellar. In fact it’s downright frumpy.

The laundry while done, piles on the couch for days. I don’t care so I don’t say anything and Alex sees no point in putting clothes away when you just yank them back out. (I’m beginning to get this logic.)

The vacuum has sat in the hallway now for almost a week because I got it out to clean, but then I took a nap instead.

(I was very productive that day…beauty needs rest after all.)

Alas, all this is coming to bite me in the bum if we have company next week. Luckily that company is my little taller than me baby brother so I’m not overly worried. I figure we have snacks, drinks, a t.v. in the guest room and we live 10 minutes from my parents. Plus I grew up with him…I know what his room looked (and likely still looks) like so he can just shove the extra pillows on the bedroom floor for a few days.

He will then get roped into helping me back the casserole, potatoes, and pie for Thanksgiving since I know he can cook.

What plans do you have for Turkey Day?

Filed Under: Fall, Marriage Adventures Tagged With: , , ,

We’re Making a Left Turn!

November 3, 2011 By 8 Comments

Don’t forget to enter the Shutterfly giveaway for your chance at some free holiday cards!

“Whatcha been doing Bubba J?”

“Watching NASCAR and drinking Beer….its a sport easy to follow when you’re drunk. They’re making a left turn, oh look another left turn!” – Jeff Dunham and Bubba J

click for source

Y’all have heard of NASCAR right? Did you know it started out as boot-legging moonshine and has its history begin in Dawsonville, GA?

Nope? – Well look at all the neat things I can teach you!

Every year Dawsonville has a Moonshine Festival where the rednecks gather to show off their fancy schmancy boot-legging cars, crafters gather to peddle their products, and fried food. As you might have guessed Alex and I joined the crowds by piling into the church parking lots on Sunday (there is no service on the moonshine days y’all!) and wandering our way through the festival.

We saw the cars.

We ate the fried food. We thought about Fried Candy but elected to go with Fried apple dough….soooooo good when its warm and covered in cinnamon and powdered sugar. (Remember we’re southern, everything that can be fried is.)

We shopped.

The only thing we did not see? Anything ‘shine related! Such a travesty to go to a festival about a product famous for being illegal and not be able to find any of said product. Who would have thought?

Oh well at least we got some fried dough out of the deal!

What is the weirdest festival you’ve ever been to and for that matter, what is your favorite festival food?

If you are a new reader from SITS I am just so darn glad y’all are here. I love meeting new interweb friends and I promise to get back to each and every one of your comments. Y’all were just so nice it may take me a day or two!

 

Filed Under: Fall, Marriage Adventures Tagged With: , , , ,

Amaizeing Education

October 25, 2011 By 6 Comments

Saturday Alex and I went to the corn maize. We went to the corn maize after several hours at the local Mexican restaurant and bar wherein we listened to Mariachi versions of Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Buffett, and other such entertainments.

(Key word you will note is we were at the BAR. Drinking for those of you missing the obvious.)

Then we headed to the local dairy farm because they have a pretty awesome corn maize.

At 10 p.m. Because the dark is an optimal time to get lost in a corn maize. Didn’t you know?

So we enter said corn maize only to realize one or two key things.

  1. Flashlights while important, are not quite as important as BATTERIES for your flashlight. Otherwise you won’t get fun photos. And we all know photos are key.  
  2. Pre-teen girls scream really high-pitched, but also will cling desperately to you when older teenage boys are chasing them in the dark. Then they will follow you around just so they can hopefully one day get out.
  3. After you rescue said pre-teens, you will then meet two other strangers where you will bond over attempting to do the second part of the maize. Bonding will occur of questions such as “How many gallons of milk will a cow produce in its lifetime?” or “How many miles of thread can a pound of wool generate?” wherein the answers to get out of the maize depends on you correctly answering the question.
  4. When the temps are in the 50′s you should probably wear a jacket. Not just a long sleeve shirt. Otherwise your rather chivalrous husband will have to give up his coat and then make fun of you until you arrive home. 
  5. Lastly, a map while helpful is utterly useless once you are amidst the corn with the exception of two points. The entrance and the exit.

So remember when going to a corn maize that you should drink first, help the pre-teens in puppy love with the cute yet terrifying teenage boys, bring batteries and wear coats. This has been your helpful PSA for enjoying your fall activities whilst thinking about Children of the Corn. Happy Fall Y’all!

Filed Under: Fall, Marriage Adventures Tagged With: , , , ,

Wordless Wednesday

October 19, 2011 By 2 Comments

  

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Fall, Photography Tagged With: , ,

How to Cook a Bushel of Apples

October 18, 2011 By 4 Comments

A few weeks ago we went to the apple orchard. We came home with a LOT of apples. Which are delicious to eat by themselves, but if you are anything like me eating 25 lbs of apples one apple at a time can get kinda old pretty quick. Plus it’s not like the apples are going to stay good forever so what do you DO?

Well in my case I broke out a few delicious apple recipes I have. Since its Tuesday and I’m still enraptured by Pinterest (You can check out what little I have here) I figured I’d share those recipes. The first up is my apple pie. Now I’m not gonna brag (too much) but everyone my family always requires me to make this every year.  The second is just a fun dinner idea if you have an apple or two leftover and want to spice up your chicken dinner.

Apple Pie

Pre-heat oven to 415 degrees F

Ingredients:

8 cups of apples peeled and thinly sliced

¼ cup of sugar

¼ cup of brown sugar firmly packed

2 tbs of all-purpose flour

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp grated lemon peel

¼ tsp of salt

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tbs of margarine

Directions:

Toss together all of the ingredients in a large bowl (helps to use your hands) being sure to thoroughly mix the margarine and dry ingredients evenly throughout all of the apple slices. Scoop into a 9 inch unbaked pie crust heaping high in the middle. Now take a knife and dot the pie with margarine in 5 places. Place the top crust on your pie and seal. Slice 3 to 5 steam holes in the top crust. Wrap foil over the crust edge to prevent excessive browning and place on a cookie sheet.

Bake at 415 degrees for 30 minutes before removing the foil from the crust edge. Bake another 10 – 20 minutes.

Apple Skillet Chicken

This can feed 2 – 4 people based on how many chicken breasts you cook

Ingredients:

2 apples – core and dice

1 tbs of worchestire  sauce

2 tbs of dried onion flakes –OR- ½ onion finely diced

2 tbs butter / margarine

1 tbs cider vinegar

½ tsp of dried thyme

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat your margarine or butter. Cook the apples, diced onion or onion flakes, and thyme for about 4 minutes or until apples are just slightly tender. Scoop out the mixture into a bowl and add the remaining ingredients to the skillet. Cook the chicken for 4 minutes on each side, turning only once. Add back your bowl of apples, onion and thyme to the skillet, cover and let simmer for 6 to 8 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.

With a slotted spoon dish up the chicken. You can add a tsp of flour to the mixture in the sauce and stir over high heat for two minutes to allow the juice to thicken before serving over chicken or dish up as is. Either way, enjoy!

This post includes a print link at the bottom for ease in printing the recipes for your own enjoyment. 

Filed Under: Fall, Marriage Adventures, Our House Tagged With: , , , ,

Last Year’s Pumpkin

October 12, 2011 By 4 Comments

Its old but that is because we haven’t gotten lost in a corn maze yet. Never fear…that is the plan this weekend. I’ll tell you all about it, provided we come out.

(Please note I am wearing Georgia Dawg’s Gear. Yes I will ride this high until this weekend. When I may need to acknowledge that they aren’t exactly stellar.)

Filed Under: Fall, Marriage Adventures, Photography Tagged With: , , ,

Football Food

October 11, 2011 By 7 Comments

In case you may have missed it the College Football season is upon us. Which means, if you live anywhere in the Southern regional United States (SEC baby) that you’ve likely had a game day meal.

Saturday night after visiting Leslie in Athens, GA where we talked smack about the colors orange and red and then applied make-up to look glamorous in I headed home where I prepared to make some rib-sticking football grub.

Now, normally I’d make the ever appropriate “Football Stew” as presented by my Great-Grandmother (it’s a grandma, it’s a great-grandma so you KNOW its good) but I ran out of time. So instead I tossed together a quick casserole much to the amusement of my guest who has never seen me cook and my husband who is always baffled at how I quick sans recipe.

Nonetheless I’ve decided to attempt to share both meals for you here just in case you are interested in cooking some rib-sticking deliciousness this fall.

(For your ease of printing, there is a Print Friendly button located at the bottom of this post…enjoy!)

First up – The Casserole otherwise known as

Chicken and Rice Green Bean Casserole

(Serves 4)

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees

In a pan toss the following ingredients before stirring all about….

  • 2 cans of French-Cut green beans
  • 2 cans of cream of celery (you can use cream of mushroom but I’m allergic so I don’t. Unless I wanted to visit the ER, then I would)
  • 1 can worth of water
  • 1 packet of 20 minute rice in a bag of your choice

Stir all the ingredients together so that you get a nice blend

  • Lay on top 2 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Pop in the oven for 25 minutes before removing and sprinkling on a layer of fried onions. Put the entire dish back in the oven for approximately 25 more minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Dish up and enjoy!

Football Stew

(Serves 5 to 6)

Pre-heat the oven to 250 degrees

In a casserole dish put the following:

  • 1 to 1 and ½ lbs of stew meat cut into 1 inch cubes or smaller
  • A dash of salt
  • A dash of pepper
  • One potato per person cut into cubes
  • One onion diced
  • 1 bag of mini carrots
  • 2 stalks of celery diced

Do NOT stir but simply pour the following over your vegetables

  • ½ cup of tomato juice or water
  • 1 teaspoon of sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of tapioca

Cover the dish with either a baking lid or tin foil and bake for 4 hours. Do Not Peek!! Remove and allow to cool for 5 or so minutes before serving with warm bread.

There you have it, two super yummy and easy meals for the fall season. One thing to note, if you are the fan like me who entertains everyone else because you yell at the players (like they can hear me) AND jumps up when they score its best to ensure your bowl or plate of food remains on a table surface at all times. Otherwise that meal you want IN you will end up ON you. Just sayin’.

Which leaves me with one thing left to say…GOOOOOO DAWGS!

Filed Under: Fall, Marriage Adventures Tagged With: , , ,

Apples and Moonshine

September 20, 2011 By 6 Comments

Have the leaves turned by you yet? Perhaps the air has gotten a tad crisper? I know it has by Alex and I which is why this past weekend we took the top down on the jeep, the doors and windows off, and I grabbed a good hairbrush so we could head on up to the apple orchards.

Hillcrest Apple Orchard is one of the most popular orchards along “Apple Highway” in Ellijay, GA. It’s also the one with the moonshine museum which automatically makes it Alex’s favorite. Not that they actually SERVE moonshine. Because that would be naughty.

The museum did have some rather interesting stills. From the mud-packed ones, to the half buried ones, y’all gotta give hillbillies credit. When they want a little ‘shine they sure are gonna find a way to make it, hide it, and sell it!

Alex sure studied the set-up’s pretty extensively. (Y’all don’t think he’s got any plans do you?)

I mean, that’s what stock car racing (otherwise known as NASCAR i.e. a Sunday staple along with Football and Church) was all about when it first got started. They had this fun photo spot at the end where you could have your picture taken in a cut-out of a boot-legger and Alex very reluctantly agreed to take a photo.

I bribed him a little more with the offer of cider donuts and he actually stuck is FACE in the photo the second go-around. (The man will do dang near anything for these delicious, melt-in-your-mouth donuts. Which is lucky for me since I sure wasn’t getting into that photo!)

After wandering the festival area and the museum tour we headed off to the actual orchards. We wandered past Rome, Mutsu, Fuji, and Golden Delicious apples so I could get to my haven.

Granny Smith apples. YUM!

Alex went for the Golden Delicious and Rome.

We ended up topping off the bag with a huge mix of everything else which will be perfect for the apple pies I’m planning on making later this week.

Lastly we examined all of the jams and jellies they had inside. I had a few favorites, Tequila Jam being one of them. Alex however insisted on a jam that would (and did) make my boss cringe.

I wouldn’t let him buy it for her because well, I want to keep my job! (Plus I really don’t like wearing jelly and I’m pretty sure the jar would have been tossed in the air since Frogs are her nemesis.)

Now that we are back home with our TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS of apples I have a lot of baking to do. Alex, he’s just ready to head to the next festival.

Course it is the Moonshine Festival so I can’t say I blame him.

Filed Under: Fall, Family, Marriage Adventures Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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