Translation Tuesday: Sip and See
Time for another Translation Tuesday! Last week my group of college friends got some very exciting news! Gail, who is pregnant with her first child and due in May, just found out she is having a baby GIRL! She is the first from the college crew to have children, so we are all aflutter with the fact that there will be baby in the group to love. Being the event planner that I am, I have been planning her baby shower in my head for years… if it was a boy it was going to be Irish themed, if a girl beach themed. So, since we now know the gender, I am up to my ears in planning a New England/ Cape Cod beach themed baby shower to happen in April. But it will have a Southern spin J Don’t worry, there will be pictures!
As I have been planning this shower, a conversation I had with a friend several years ago came to my mind. A group of friends had been planning a camping trip to the beach, and my friend Katie wasn’t going to be able to join us…. She had to drive over to Georgia to go to a Sip and See. Since I had never heard of this concept before, I started asking all sorts of questions. Apparently, in the South, a Sip and See is a gathering AFTER the baby is born, where friends gather to sip tea (house wine of the South) and see the new baby. Thus, the sip and see. The fact that they even have a name for this boggles my mind. But we do. What I don’t know is if a friend plans the sip and see or do people just descend upon the new parents’ home? If anyone knows the proper etiquette answer, let me know so I can start planning J
And there you have it, the sip and see. Sip tea and see the baby!
Books, Books and More Books
So, I LOVE to read. Seriously, give me a book in just about any situation and I am a happy camper. My Grandma used to always read to me when I was really little, I would always pick longer story books so bedtime could be put off a little longer. It was in 3rd grade or so that she bought me my first Baby Sitters Club book. My Aunt Heidi sent me a set of Nancy Drew books a year after that, and couple of years after that I delved into the Sweet Valley series (well, there were multiple series there). I am pretty sure that I read every book in all of those of series… I read at the table (horrible habit). I read waiting for dance lessons to start, I read by the pool (I still read by the pool).
Reading started out as a favorite hobby early on in life and is continuing into my 30s. My reading tastes have changed over the years though… the BabySitters Club is no longer in my rotation, but I am so happy they are making a comeback so I can get them for MG in a few years (I currently keep dropping off Boxcar Children books to her, she is slowly getting into them. Loved those too!) Anyway, I still love to read… Fiction, Biographies, chick lit, mysteries, historical recaps… really the only types of books I do not like are self-help books, westerns or science fiction.
I have a large pile of books waiting to be read…. It is literally covering the desk in my guest bedroom. It is a mix of so many different genres… Tom Brokaw’s Boom and Thomas Freidman’s The World is Flat are next to an Elizabeth Peter’s mystery and some random chick lit novel set in London. I have a weakness for the Barnes and Noble After Holiday sale (but I didn’t buy anything this year, yay) and I exchange books with the Bestie ALL THE TIME. I swing by the used bookstore every so often, and then I go to an amazing conference each year where I get TONS of free books. Seriously, I take an extra suitcase each year so I can bring them all back with me!
The reason for this random post about books, is because it is January and that generally means I am reading a lot. I think it has something to do with it being winter and I’d rather be curled up inside with a good book than outside. But every January, I seem to go through a lot of books. I have read three in the last week alone. A historical fiction set in Shakespearean England (it wasn’t that great), a Sophie Kinsella chick lit novel (light and frothy, just like chick lit should be) and then a mystery set in Egypt in 1910. Up next is some non-fiction… Ted Kennedy’s autobiography and then a Jen Lancaster memoir (love her sarcasm)! What other good books are out there that I need to add to my list, once I get done with this massive pile?!
books to read!
Wednesday Wedding Tips: A Good Article
I was doing a little research this evening about wedding anniversaries for this evening’s blog topic, when I came across this gem of an article from last week’s Boston Globe. It brings to light a topic I blogged about HERE.
So to all of you out there planning a wedding, OR if you are asked to be in a wedding, think about this lovely article. Two thumbs up from this writer who spent way too much in the wedding craze of 2010.
Standing Up For Bridesmaids from the Boston Globe
Look for an entry on wedding anniversaries in the near future!
Translation Tuesday: The SEC
In light of the sixth consecutive win of a national championship in football by my favorite athletic conference, today’s Translation Tuesday was a no brainer to pick- the Southeastern Conference, or the SEC.
Anyone who lives down here in the South lives and breathes college football. Seriously, everyone. Since the SEC is the dominating conference in football (okay and most other sports), everyone is up on what the SEC is, what is going on with it, and what it is all about. And it is many things, but one of them is breeding powerhouse football teams. It is just assumed down here that if you attend school at an SEC school, will see some amazing athletic games. You will also be attending football and basketball games in giant stadiums or arenas that hold thousands of screaming fans. Tailgating is a staple for anyone attending a football game. Student athletes making amazing plays, many of whom will go on to have professional careers. The SEC is a powerhouse… they do it big, they do it with flair, and power.
So, if you say SEC… many people may start to think the Securities and Exchange Commission. Or, the Scottish Episcopal Church (according to my Google search). But if you have any interest in college athletics or live in the South… you think of the best athletic conference on the planet. Seriously, six national football championships in a row! Not to mention the last three college world series wins! A big congrats to both ‘Bama and LSU on making it to the championship game and way to go ‘Bama on that win!
The Cook Out Experience
Oh, my. I just had my very first Cook Out experience. Cook Out is a fast food restaurant chain that is located throughout the Southeast. I have driven past them here and there over the years, but never actually eaten at one. But tonight I really wanted a milkshake, they had recently opened one near my work, so I tried one and all I can say is YUM!
Their logo via: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CookOutRestaurant.png
Okay, so I had a cheeseburger, that was cooked on an actual grill…. Like the type you eat at a cook out (hence the name). It was moist, tasty and actually cooked perfectly. It came with two sides, I got french fries and hush puppies. The fried were rather mediocre, but the hush puppies were yummy. As anyone who knows me can attest, I have a slight obsession with hush puppies. They are one of my favorite Southern dishes, so I am super pumped that I can get them in a drive-through. Let’s just ignore the fact they are odd shaped and horribly unhealthy. Okay, so the highlight was the milkshake…. it was so thick and creamy and great tasting. I opted for a peanut butter fudge shake (continuing my ongoing obsession with the peanut butter and chocolate combination). They had about 30 different flavors though… peach cobbler, chocolate cherry, toffee, blueberry cheesecake, pineapple… the list goes on! I am so having the toffee one! They are also the only fast food joint I know of that serves Cheerwine, but that is a topic for another day.
I guess the thing that was rather surprising was the line. Really, really, REALLY long line, even in the drive through. I am guessing because it is because classes start tomorrow so a ridiculous amount of college students just returned to the city and wanted food fast. The other odd thing is the strong religious tones… the cups and bags all make reference to different religious sayings. Such as listing specific bible passages and God Bless America. Not saying that is a good or bad thing… just something that you don’t see very often. But heck, this is the South and is the bible belt (also a topic for another day) and it is a Southern company, so I guess it is not that surprising.
The shake cup got dropped walking up to my apartment and cracked, so had to go into a glass at my place.... hence the mess.
So, yes…. I enjoyed my first Cook Out experience and willing be going back again. It is going to have to be a few months though, I am not sure my body can take that much grease that often!
Easy Veggie and Spaghetti
I got this GREAT recipe for a filling pasta dish from Southern Living several years ago. It is easy to make, I eat it that night and for a couple of lunches and then freeze the rest. I am specific about freezing it in a freezer bag and laying it out flat to freeze, then I can slide it upright into random corners of the freezer later. Is freezer space at a premium for anyone else?
Ingredients
- About a half pack of spaghetti (I suggest whole wheat and organic)
- 1 (1-lb.) package mild Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 medium onion, cut into eighths
- 1 medium-size green bell pepper, cut into strips
- 1 medium-size red bell pepper, cut into strips
- About 2 TBSP minced garlic
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- 1 (28-oz.) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- Shredded Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese
Steps
1) Cook pasta and set aside
2) Cook sausage in a large skillet oven over medium-high heat 8 to 10 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, breaking sausage into pieces while cooking. Remove sausage and drain well
Cooking the yummy italian sausage
3) Sauté onion and peppers and garlic in olive oil in Dutch oven over medium heat 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, salt, and pepper; cook 4-5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in sausage and pasta.
The veggies make it the best dish!
4) Sprinkle with cheese!
Food, food and more food
It is well over an eight hour drive from my home in the South, to my hometown in the North. In 2011, I made that trip four times…. January to be in a wedding, February for the birth of little LiLi, July for a visit over the 4th Holiday, and December for my annual visit between Christmas and New Years. That is nearly 5,000 miles of highway between here and there. It is always great to see my friends and family while I am there, but I also make a point to hit up some of my favorite eateries. A few to highlight:
- Graeter’s Ice Cream. Oprah loves it and highlighted it on her show a few years ago, clearly it was a winner. I have been eating this stuff since I was a kid and it is AMAZING. They make it using the French-pot method, which I don’t entirely understand, but I get the impression it means smaller batches. Whatever it is, it is amazing. My favorite is a chocolate milkshake, or chocolate ice cream, or mint chocolate chip ice cream, or buckeye blitz ice cream. Okay, I like it all, who am I kidding. I had it at least three times while I was home, and when I went up in July I returned with a cooler full of the stuff. Check it out and order some today, or see if they have it in your local stores, they are starting to carry it in some Southern stores! http://www.graeters.com/
- Aglamsesis Brothers is also another favorite ice cream shop that I hit up. They are a much smaller operation than Graeter’s, but they are so good. They have a lot of great flavors, but I love their sundaes and their stores. They make their own whip cream and make them in various flavors- my fave being the swiss chocolate! They also have an original and old school ice cream parlor… lovely black and white tile floors, a beautiful marble bar with these lovely stained glass lamps. It is like stepping back in time! http://www.aglamesis.com/
- Montgomery Inn Barbeque. Okay, I fully realize that I am writing about a BBQ joint in the NORTH, when we all know the best BBQ comes from the South. Montgomery Inn is an exception. I won’t say that their meat is the best, but I love their sauce. It has a bit of a sweet taste to it and is perfect with their homemade chips. I didn’t get to eat there while I was in town, but I did pick up some sauce to bring back! http://www.montgomeryinn.com/
- Izzy’s. Oh, my most favorite local sandwich place! I get the pastrami on wheat with cheese and a gigantic portion of creamy horseradish sauce. Served with the largest and most perfectly fried and seasoned potato pancake and perfect dill pickles made by the company. The whole meal is wrapped up with rice pudding. Really, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I can remember my Mom taking me there when I was little, we would eat in or get it to go and picnic outside the conservatory. Love their food. http://izzys.com/
Okay, there are about 10 to 15 more places that I adore. Pizza places, local hideaways, chili parlors, bakeries…. All so yummy! I will just have to do a few more editions of this post. Check them out if you are up there sometime.
Wednesday Wedding Tips: RSVP!
A wedding tip for the guest…. A tip I know better than to not follow, but here I am being an awful person and doing it. Folks, if you are invited to a wedding, please RSVP by the requested date.
Really, for the number of weddings I have been in and the number of stressed brides I have helped calm, I can’t believe I have done this myself, but I am late in sending in an RSVP for a wedding. It was requested on January 1st, I should have mailed it before Christmas, but here it is January 4th and I haven’t sent it yet. I am actually declining the invite because I can’t travel that weekend, but I am sending a gift. I hate to miss the wedding of two of my former staff members (I think I am up to like 10 couples now or something off staffs from my previous job, sheesh) but the drive is just not going to happen, I am sending a gift though.
So even though I am violation of my own rule, here is why you should do this by the requested date:
- First off, it is just plain bad manners not to do so.
- Most couples have an RSVP date so they can place their final order for catering… food to be ordered and chairs to be placed. For every person that attends the wedding, someone if footing the bill for that guest to attend. So they want those numbers to be accurate.
- Seating. Many couples have assigned seating at wedding receptions. This is for a number of reasons, but if they do assigned seating, they need to know who is attending so they can make those assignments. And trust me, if they have people attending the wedding that don’t particularly care for one another, they want to know that, so they can do the seating so that those groups are on opposite sides of the room. Please see the mention I made a few weeks back about many people making the wedding about them, instead of the couple. This is a prime example! There have plenty of times where I have chatted seating charts (ie: best possible scenarios to avoid drama) until late in the evening with brides.
- The RSVP also contributes to the final count of programs that need to be made or favors produced.
- They did print and mail those lovely invites and little response cards for a reason, not to just waste money.
- You do not want to be the one the bride, groom, wedding party member is calling to see why you didn’t RSVP and if you are coming or not. Those people are busy enough already and don’t have time to track down whether these five people who haven’t sent in the RSVP are coming or not!
So, please, take the time to do the polite thing and send in the RSVP. I am filling mine out and sending it in tomorrow, which will also be followed with an email apologizing for the delay and missing the day! Even for all my wedding attendance, I can still make mistakes!
Translation Tuesday: The Three Way
I’m back in the South! And it looks like the cold weather followed me back! Boo! Actually, I drove back on New Year’s Day and a cold front was coming in just as I was leaving… bringing snow in the North and nipping at my heels all 500 plus miles back to what was for a brief morning, normal warm weather of a calm Southern winter. Alas, Jack Frost has snuck in for a few days and we are in for some cold temperatures. It is supposed to get down to 18 degrees tonight… that is cold! I need to find my heating pad because I just can’t seem to keep warm!
Today was my first day back at work after being off for nearly two weeks, so it’s been a bit hectic, trying to get caught up on emails and voicemails and trying to revive my little plant that didn’t get watered while we were closed (odds for the plant’s survival aren’t looking too hot). In the middle of the busy day today, I remembered that it is Tuesday, so that means Translation Tuesday for my little blog!
Today’s translation is a Yankee one, and an Ohio one to be exact. It is a delicious little thing. The three way.
No, not THAT kind of three way, get your head out of the gutter folks. The Ohio three way, the perfect food combination that can only be served at your local chili parlor. Yes, we have chili parlors in the North… kind of like an ice cream parlor, expect they serve yummy chili. A three way is a plate of spaghetti, with yummy local chili over it and then it is all covered in a mound of delicious shredded cheddar cheese. Three items on a plate, hence the name. Served with a side of oyster crackers and a soft drink… it is heaven on a plate. I have been slurping the stuff up since I could talk.
I had been in town for less than twenty-four hours when I walked into one of my three favorite chili parlors to get my first serving. I may or may not have had more than one visit during my brief trip to the hometown. There are a number of different chili parlors, but I love Skyline, Goldstar and Dixie equally. As I stated to my cousin on Facebook the other day, I am an equal opportunity chili lover. It is so freaking good! They also have four ways… add black beans or onions. Finally they have the five way which is spaghetti, chili, onions, beans and cheese…. Both of those are a bit too much for me. I am a three way kind of girl when it come to my chili.
So if you are in the Ohio area, and you overhear someone talking about having a three way for lunch… stop and think about where you are first! It is a perfectly normal thing to hear up there! Not to mention delicious, now that I think about it. We need some chili parlors in the South!
Snowville
Greetings from the great white North, well the great white North to my converted southern self anyway… greetings from O-H-I-O! The land of cold and I am pretty sure that there is snow in the forecast for one day this week. I do NOT deal well with snow. I should rephrase that comment, I know what to do with snow, I am just not a huge fan of snow.
Specifically, I am okay with snow as pictured below.
Just barely covers the grass
See... it just stays in the grass, not on the street
It happens maybe once a year or once every couple of years in the South. It is pretty, it melts after a day or so, and it generally delights all the Southerners because they see it so rarely and school is usually cancelled because people don’t know what to do with the snow. For me, having grown up around snow, it is also entertaining to watch how all the people around me deal with it. FLURRIES are predicted and there is a rush on bread and milk, complete with every news station in the area reporting live from the bread aisle showing empty shelves. Really, it is never a lot of snow and it never last long…. Pretty, day off of work and a few good laughs from silly stories- I can handle that.
Now in the North however, I just can’t deal with the snow. See the pictures…
Snow, snow, snow
I mean, the city has giant warehouses full of salt to ice the roads. The news stories aren’t about grocery stores, they are about the status of the salt supplies and how well the trucks are running to get it out… and what roads to avoid. We don’t even have a salt supply in the South! And it just snows so much and so often. I can’t stand scraping ice off the car in the morning or shoveling snow. Oh, the years I had of shoveling snow as a teenager… ick! It is no wonder that live in the South!
This is icepacked snow... not just snow. It was a rock and this was three days AFTER the storm!
Shiny and Red!
I got the BEST Christmas present this year! I’ve been asking for it for about seven years, and I always stop and slow down to stare at one when I pass one when out. It is big, shiny and red. It has beautiful silver accents that gleam in the light and all of these cool accessories that come with it and I can’t wait to try it out….
My brand new Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer- in RED! Seriously, I squealed when I opened it! There have been several times in the last few years when I have been planning on making something and opted not to because the idea of fighting with my little hand-held mixer annoyed me too much. And anyone who knows me, knows that I love to bake. As soon as I got home on Christmas afternoon from my Dad’s house, I unpacked it in the middle of my kitchen. I am limited on counter space, so I haven’t figured out exactly where it is going to go, but I may use it so much it may just stay in the middle of the counter. I have a feeling my whole office is going to be excited about this gift too! I still keeping going in to stare at it. It came with a lot of accessories, but apparently I can order more. Granted, I am not really sure I need to be able to make pasta or ice cream at home, so I don’t think I will be getting those.
I actually had a lovely Christmas holiday, awesome gift aside, and I enjoyed getting to spend quality time with a bunch of my family members. The craziness that is generally associated with my family was actually minimal, which made for a really fun day. One of the things that dawned on me though is how old my cousins and I are getting. I guess I just don’t really think about it that often, I mean, who does really. But as I was sitting at my Aunt and Uncle’s house last night and we were all exchanging gifts, it really hit me. Gone are the days when we would all be excited about the latest CD, video game, or whatnot. Now we are excited about kitchen mixers, stuff for the home, wine, food and emergency generators for cars. Not that I know what you do with an emergency generator for a car, but my cousins were super excited to get them. I really can remember when we were playing in the pool or running up and down the beach as little kids, I appreciate the fact that we get this time together each year as a family. Even if it occasionally makes me feel old when I realize how much we’ve grown up. J
Oh, and it was in the 60s yesterday here in the South. Little rainy, but otherwise it was lovely. Hope everyone had a great holiday!
Wednesday Wedding Tips: The December Wedding
I went to a wedding last weekend and it was lovely. Two of my former students, who have since become my friends, got married and it really was the sweetest wedding. As I was sitting in the reception at the historic Westin hotel downtown, it dawned on me what a good idea it can be to have a wedding in December.
- Decorations. If you plan a wedding between Thanksgiving and a few days after New Year’s, you may be able to save a lot of money on flowers or decorations. Not always, but often, the churches, halls or other venues that host wedding ceremonies and receptions will decorate for Christmas. Beautiful poinsettias, pretty Christmas trees, lots of twinkling white lights, garlands and big bows. Really, it can be very pretty in corners around the room, at the alter, in hallways and even bathrooms. And if it looks elegant and saves some money, it is just a nice bonus!
- Gifts. For all of the guests attending these events and bringing a gift, a lot of things on registries can usually be found on sale. With the number of sales going on during the holidays, not to mention the plethora of coupons that are put out… it can be easy to find a gift that was requested, but get it out a discount. I have bought a lot of gifts, so appreciate this!
- Weather in the South. Generally, it is pretty nice in the South in December. Not a lot of stress to worry about snow, and no hurricanes. It was in the upper 60s for the high the day of last weekends wedding. Now there is always the chance of bad weather, but we do generally luck out in December… unlike the majority of the other US regions at this time of year.
So, while I know it is busy time of year in general and there can be a lot of travel and other things going on, I think I would recommend the December wedding… but really only in the South, that less likely chance of a snowstorm matters!
Obligatory photo of my super cute shoes!
The Christmas Parade
I have unintentionally developed a tradition with Gail’s hubby, Puff. For the last three or four years or so, he and I have made a point to go to the Christmas parade in G-vegas. This has several purposes… but the main one being trying to get out of their house and give Gail some downtime on the Saturday evening of her busiest week of the year. So, this first Saturday in December, we tossed on our jackets and headed down to Main Street to watch the parade.
Float at the parade
So as we were standing there eating our gelato (I insisted I needed gelato to watch the parade) and watching the marching bands and floats move past in the December evening, it dawned on me that I had never been to a Christmas parade at home. Never. 4th of July parades, Memorial Day parades, even a St.Patrick’s Day parade…. But never a Christmas one. In fact, I can’t think in all the years I lived up above the Mason-Dixon line that I ever even heard about a Christmas parade. Sure, we have them here in the town I live in now as well as G-vegas, and I can think of a few in other Southern states… but none back home. I suppose it make sense… I mean, seriously, I was standing outside at night watching a parade eating gelato. Yes, I had a jacket on, but it was still not miserable enough to not be eating gelato. Now, had I been at home, I probably would be so cold, I wouldn’t be willing to stay outside longer than to get to the car, let alone have a lovely chat, make jokes about floats and eat gelato. So it clearly must be weather related. So we will add another thing to the column that is a Southern thing: the Christmas parade.
It really was a nice parade too! A number of marching bands, dance troupes, city council on golf carts, cute little kids dressed up in Christmas costumes, karate-chopping Santas, some lovely and well-lit floats filled with Christmas carolers. It was a lot fun and a very fun Southern thing to do.
Yes, karate Santas
My Fave: Chili!
There are many different types of chili out there in the world. There are many things that I cook… some not so well and some well. One of the things that I make a great version of is my chili…. It is a thick and hearty chili that is great on a cool night and freezes perfectly! I also keep most of the ingredients on hand, so I usually only have to run out and buy the ground beef!
Yummy chili
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds of lean ground beef
- 1 white or yellow onion
- 1 TBSP minced garlic
- 1 fresh jalapeño, diced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp black pepper
- Little less than 1 TBSP cumin powder
- 1 tsp tabasco sauce
- 1 ¾ to 2 TBSP chili powder
- 2 TBSP sugar
- 1 TBSP oregano
- 5 oz of tomato paste
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- ¾ to almost all 32oz of beef broth
- 16 oz black beans (canned, if you use bagged, add in time to soak beans)
Steps
1) Sauté and onion and garlic in large skillet. Add beef and brown… drain fat juice as needed.
2) In large cooking pot or dutch oven, mix in jalapeño, salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper, cumin powder, tobacco sauce, chili powder, sugar and oregano. Mix together and then toss cooked ground beef in to pot and mix evenly. Cook over medium for seven minutes
3) Stir in tomato paste to mixture. Add in beef broth quickly to prevent paste from burning.
4) Simmer on low for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5) Drain and rinse beans and tomatoes. Add into pot.
6) Bring chili to boil, then reduce to low
7) Simmer until ready to eat!
I recommend serving with shredded cheese and lots of sour cream. Even better with a side of corn bread and a yummy salad!
Browning the Beef
December in the South
It is 11:51 pm on December 15th and it is 55 degrees outisde. I have the heat off and the windows open, with a fan going.
It is windy and 36 degrees in Ohio.
I am reminded once again why I moved here! Love December in the South! Take that cold weather that dries my skin out and snow that makes me cry when I have to dig my car out of it! I will take a high of 76 tomorrow! Yay!
convertedsoutherner 
