Shingler's List

ritz chicken

2012-02-14T19:31:00.000-05:00

This has always been my favorite way to prepare chicken. It is very easy and so amazingly tender and flavorful. I love it because you can freeze the crumb mixture and continue to use it for months or more.

3/4 c canned parmesan cheese

2 c crushed Ritz crackers

1/4 c parsley

1 clove pressed/minced garlic

2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together in a large ziploc bag. Line loaf pan (for 2-3 breasts) or casserole dish (for more) with foil, enough to lap back over chicken. Make sure the breasts are fairly tight in the dish. Brush thawed chicken breasts with a little melted butter and cover with crumb mixture. Cover chicken with remaining foil and bake at 350 until done through.

Freeze remaining crumb mixture and use straight from freezer for future dinners.

*Jami's notes: I guess you could try real shredded parm but not sure how that would work. I use a little garlic powder instead of fresh garlic due to freezing it. You could put the crumb mixture on the top and bottom of the chicken but I have found the bottom layer gets soggy with juices.*

Enjoy!

recent dinners

2012-01-30T18:15:00.000-05:00

Brad got his first quail a few weeks (!) so we cooked some up for dinner last weekend. I marinated them in some olive oil, garlic and other herbs. We then lightly breaded them and wrapped in bacon before sauteeing in oil. It was great but I think next time we will harvest some nuggets of meat and cook that way. I served this with my corn casserole, whole wheat yeast rolls and a frozen veggie mix. Bad, I know, but it was Saturday and I wasn't going to the store.

For New Year's, we had the traditional pork, greens and peas. This pork wasn't as good as the last tenderloin recipe I posted. But, cooking it in foil made it super-tender.

sweet banj

2012-01-30T18:03:00.000-05:00

Anytime I pick up my new camera, I can't help but snap some photos of my favorite dog. I'm not sure she enjoys this though. Ha.

Love my Banjo!!

italian chicken

2012-01-30T17:54:00.000-05:00

Last week, I made this chicken dish that I have had on my 'to make' list for a long time. A friend periodically asks her facebook audience for their favorite ______ recipe. I copy and paste the answers into an email to myself and save for a later date. This was on the chicken list, obvs!

Italian Chicken

Place thawed chicken breasts in a baking dish. Sprinkle with oregano, 2 bay leaves and onion soup mix. Cover with Italian dressing. Bake at 350 until done through.

Jami's notes: Veggie lovers can add mushrooms and tomatoes prior to the seasonings. I used my handy-dandy meat tenderizer ahead of time and let this marinate for about an hour before cooking. I only cooked three breasts and 1/2 of a packet of soup mix would have been fine. I covered this with foil to help keep in juices.

I have to say, the foil was not needed. This was the most tender, flavorful chicken next to Ritz Chicken (recipe to come later) I have ever had. It could not have been easier either. Busy moms, do this now!

I roasted some asparagus quickly with olive oil, salt, pepper and a little parm. Whole wheat yeast rolls from Fresh Market rounded out the meal. Oh, and strawberries with fat-free whipped cream for dessert!

birthday celebrations

2012-01-30T17:18:00.002-05:00

Since we were supposed to be in Charleston for my birthday weekend, my night out was the next week. We went to Roosters Beak for dinner with the Scotts and Scoggins'. Such a great place in downtown Augusta.

With Martha and Natalie

Preston, Brad and Win

Martha and I both got the shrimp cakes with grits and a poblano corn cream sauce. Good!

Brad's trio of tacos - pork, rooster and catfish

We finally went to Charleston this last weekend. It was great, as always! We went over Saturday morning and started with lunch at Jim 'n Nick's BBQ. It was started in Birmingham and their pig in a potato patch and cheese biscuits are the bomb.

Then we walked around downtown and tried not to spend any money. We had to stop by an old favorite for an afternoon margarita.

Brad got the jumbo. I'll say!!

Now he is growing a beard for our upcoming ski trip. He was inspired by Levi and Win - scary!

We went to 82 Queen for dinner. This place has the coolest atmosphere. I was actually not too pleased with my meal. Their 'world-famous' she crab soup was horribly thick, although flavorful.

Brad really enjoyed his jambalaya though.

See how cool this is?? An outdoor, lit courtyard for dining among the trees.

And Brad tried a new beer - Sugar Hill from Harlem. It was quite good!

After dinner, we went next door to the Bar at Husk. We have had brunch here in the past and just saw the (newly-opened) bar rated in the top 50 by Garden & Gun. It was pretty cool, I must say. Try it out next time you're in Charleston.

We ran into a guy selling Boykins downtown. Aren't they the cutest?!? We used to raise them when Levi and I were little. Brad has been bitten by the bird hunting bug (thanks to Daddy and Levi) so we have been talking serioulsy about getting more dogs soon.

On Sunday, we hit the outlets. I spent all that money I was trying to save on Saturday. :)

We also celebrated Mom's birthday on Friday. She was really sick too but we enjoyed some shrimp and grits and 4-layer chocolate delight. (Have I shared that recipe? If not, I will soon - it's delish.) Dad's birthday is tomorrow so he is coming over Wednesday because Mom is out of town.

Happy birthdays to us!

2012

2012-01-15T20:30:00.000-05:00

For New Year's, we spent the weekend at Champions Retreat. I got an SLR camera from Brad for Christmas so I took some time while the guys were golfing to take some photos. I love this camera! I still need to take a class and do some more reading but hope I can master this thing soon.

With Melanie and Natalie

Brad with Preston and Eric

We took it easy for New Year's. I made some dips and chili, we watched football and watched the fireworks. The Dunstans, Rigsbys and Trotters were there too for the Club party so we got to see them as well. Welcome 2012!

Just messing around with my camera. I caught Banjo mid-sneeze. That sucker is fast!

Love this magazine. I have been getting it since the first issue. The camera takes such sharp pictures.

Trying to figure out depth, etc on my camera. Hopefully, this gift will upgrade the blog!!

Last weekend, we went to go see Steve and Michelle's new addition - Ann Ferguson. She is adorable!!

Saturday was my birthday! We were supposed to go to Charleston but I got a gnarly cold on Friday. So, we cancelled our trip and Brad helped me heal up. Maybe we can go next weekend.

I hope to get back into a groove with cooking and updating soon. Happy 2012!!

holiday festivities

2011-12-27T20:22:00.002-05:00

We were burning up the road Christmas weekend! Lots of good times, good company and good food!

On Friday, Uncle Jeff and Mema came to Thomson to visit. It was great to have them there! The boys were about to go hunting. Neither Brad nor Levi had any luck all weekend. :(

Dad has been doing conservation easement appraisal work since retiring and he decided that this would make his job so much easier. Plus, he can use it on the land in Thomson for hunting, hauling firewood, etc. Brad was drooling for sure! This is on our list once we get our land. (Fingers still crossed!)

We had some drinks and got to visit with the Heaths Friday night. They are new parents to precious Henry!

On Saturday, I hosted brunch for the Shinglers. This is Cooking Light's ciabatta french toast stuffed with gruyere and topped with a warm apple maple syrup. Every bit as good as it sounds!

The ever-popular ham and swiss sandwiches with a poppy seed and mustard dressing. Mmmmm. I do mine a little bit differently than most. I do not use any mayo or miracle whip - ick. So, I just layer ham and swiss on King's Hawaiian rolls. Then I mix only the butter, poppy seeds, mustard and worchestershire together (no onions). I slather this on the inside of the rolls, not on top. These are Brad's favorite!

My favorite baked grits recipe. A ton of flavor. Fat too but, hey, it's Christmas! Thank you, Paula Deen!

To lighten things up a little, I put together some fruit parfaits. I mixed some plain yogurt with vanilla extract (you could use vanilla yogurt but I didn't have any on-hand). I layered the yogurt with fresh, cut strawberries and kiwi for a festive look. I also added granola and drizzled it with honey. Yummy!

I don't have a picture but, to start, I made portobello pizzas. I just cleaned out the caps, drizzled the insides with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and sprinkled with oregano and thyme. I baked these, covered with foil, until tender. I added a sliced tomato and mozzeralla cheese to each and returned to the oven to melt. They were a hit too!

As per tradition, we decorated sugar cookies together. Brad got gruesome and painted red on the neck of a gingerbread lady that 'lost' her head. Don't you love his football player?

We headed back to Thomson on Friday for more fun. We exchanged gag gifts on Christmas Eve. Brad got a mini UTV like Dad's. Mom bought this before they even thought about Dad getting one. Levi got Brad a UF koozie. That thing is going in the fire soon!

Warning: whole animal being cooked ahead...

Instead of doing the traditional Christmas dinner (Brad and I were going to have two in one day), we smoked a whole hog! Levi borrowed Walker's smoker and they got started at 4:30 am on the coals. They did a great job!

We only ate a portion of his shoulder. This guy was only 65 lbs but he produced a lot of meat.

Levi pulling the meat off. It was so tender and juicy. They brined it in salt and brown sugar the night before.

Ok, this is gnarly but reminds me of one of my favorite movies - the Princess Bride. Remember the ROUS - rodents of unusual size? Those teeth!

At the Shingler house for our second Christmas celebration. Debbie did a great job getting dinner ready despite the ovens going on the fritz!

After our Shingler dinner, we went to the Revell house to hang out with Hunt and John and Lauren.

I was going to take a nice photo of John and Lauren by the fire and then Hunt and Adi jumped in the picture with random objects. Good times!

Brad and I had a great time visiting with friends and family during this most-special season. So much to be thankful for in 2011!

80s christmas

2011-12-27T20:13:00.000-05:00

The Trotters, Dunstans and Rigsbys hosted an 80s Christmas party a few weeks ago. It was rad! :) Some folks came over beforehand to preparty.

Brad went for the GNR look and I went for the Footloose look. His mullet cracked me up all night! My dress was $15 at Goodwill - a steal.

Eric was a British rocker and Mel a groupie.

Gail and Allen

Liza and William

The girls. Don't you love my Keds?

Allen drinking out of the moose cups made famous by Christmas Vacation. They were a huge hit! Jennifer bought the whole set - love it!

With Blake. Isn't her jumpsuit classic?

Mike and Blake. His uncle actually wore this to a prom in the 80s!

Brock, doing his best Cousin Eddie.

The 6-pack of Busch is pretty awesome too. I am loving those shoes though.

Eric and Brad rocking out. They had a great soundtrack for the party.

The guys.

With Jennifer and Michele. This was actually Jennifer's middle school formal dress.

Jennifer and Michelle with Eric.

Jennifer tried on Brad's wig and sunglasses. This is awesome!

Brad with John. Although they don't look too much alike dressed like that!

With Kathi.

Michele found a wig and some glasses too. Ha.

Eric jamming.

We had a great time!! Still enjoy dressing up. :)

christmas decor

2011-12-27T19:11:00.000-05:00

Got a lot of catching up to do! Here are some pictures I took of the house all decorated. I really got the decorating bug this year. I always love it but I was tasked with decorating Champions also. You would think that would make me sick of it but not so much. :) We hired our superintendent's wife to help and she goes ALL out. That wore off on me for sure...

dining room table. i just layered greenery, gold ball ornaments and pinecones in my tall vases. i had them filled to the top but it did settle some. the lantern is filled with walnuts and cranberries. love the burlap ribbon i tied on top! i added the gold pinecone ornaments in the greenery later but am not sure i like them.

i added a small tree in the front window of the dining room. champions' decor is all very natural and woodsy so i wanted the same thing in my house. i love the leaf ornaments on this tree - and the ribbon!

the nativity granny made.

tree!! look at all the presents.

with sweet banjo!

i bought this lenox table runner at tuesday morning but it was too short to use on the table. so, i repurposed it for the table to tv sits on. i think it's perfect!

i bought these matte white balls at hobby lobby and couldn't decide what to do with them. this candy garland used to go on my tree but i don't have enough anymore and bought some red and gold garland last year. so, the matte white balls and garland found themselves in this glass dish with some silver. we'll see if it stays that way next year...

i have already purchased a lot of decor on sale for next year. yay!!

crawfish au gratin

2011-12-10T13:33:00.001-05:00

I have not been cooking much lately due to trips, Thanksgiving and parties. So, for the latest home-cooked meal, I went all out! This is a recipe from a past coworker in Birmingham. Beware: NOT on the diet.

Crawfish Au Gratin

1/2 c butter

3-5 tbsp AP flour

2 c heavy cream (2 c half & half)

1.5 lbs clean crawfish meat

2 c sharp cheddar

1/2 tsp cayenne

1/2 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp Tony Chachere's

1/2 c green onions

1 box of pasta

Melt butter in saucepan and add flour to make a roux. Adjust the amount of flour as you see fit. Slowly add the cream, stirring constantly. (My recipe doesn't mention adding the half & half. I only had 1 lb of crawfish so I just added 1 1/4 c of cream. That wasn't quite soupy enough so I added the same amount of the half & half. Why not, right? It was fat-free after all.)

Once that is nice and thick, add the crawfish (I got mine in the seafood freezer section - near the fresh seafood - in Publix.), onions, garlic and Tony's. My scallions were old so I used my trusty onion flake and minced 4 gloves of garlic. Add the cheddar to the sauce. I added a little asiago too! With my smaller batch, I used one c of cheddar and 1/4 c of asiago.

Cook and drain the box of pasta. (I used penne but any will work.) Mix the pasta with the sauce and place in casserole dish. Sprinkle a little cheese on top and bake at 350 until bubbly. Enjoy!

I didn't actually make any side dishes but have had this photo for a while and wanted to post it. :)

Just saute some asparagus in olive oil and add salt and pepper. Isn't it pretty??

holiday party

2011-12-10T12:54:00.001-05:00

Monday night, we had our management-level Christmas dinner at Bonefish. Afterwards, everyone came over to our house for dessert and drinks. I figured this was the best opportunity to have them over since they were already in Richmond County. Not many of them venture out of Columbia County much. :)

Of course, no one was hungry for dessert. That was eaten at work over the next couple of days. The drinks were popular though. These are all pinterest recipes. Notice a trend?

Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies

These are so good and pretty easy to make. Do heed her advice and roll them twice in the powdered sugar.

Smores Pie

A maz ing. For some reason, my crust mixture was very wet. It worked okay for the bottom layer but would not have rolled out for the top. So, I just spooned it on top and spread it with a greased spatula as best I could. However, this did not impact the taste at all. A few people partook that night and it was gone by lunch the next day!

Cran Apple Vodka

This was great! I couldn't find cloudy apple juice and my regular worked just fine. It is just one cup of apple juice, one cup of cranberry juice, 50 ml vodka (all mixed in blender) and then topped with one cup of ginger ale and ice. I am not sure the blender action made much difference so if you are pushed for time, I would eliminate it. This is a teeny bit of vodka so you could always increase that too. Ha. I ended up tripling the recipe and it was all gone.

White Wine Sangria

This was really yummy too. Just a bottle of white wine, 3 cans of Sprite and a few ounces of orange-flavored liqueur. I used triple sec because it's what we had but grand marnier would work too. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and lime wheels. I cut the limes over the sangria (and let the juice fall in) in order to infuse a little more flavor.

This was all pretty easy and very good! I did most of this the night before since we would be at dinner right before folks came over. I just reheated the pie and added the carbonated beverages to the drinks.

I also had to have the house fully decorated by then! I made it and will post those pictures later. :)

win's christening

2011-12-10T12:17:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, Natalie and I traveled to Louisville for Little Win's baptism. We had such a great time visiting with this precious family!

Martha with Becca and Big Win holding Little Win. Martha's Dad is an elder in the Thomson Presbyterian Church so he assisted.

Little Win getting sprinkled.

Congrats guys!

thanksgiving

2011-12-10T12:07:00.001-05:00

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend but, man, was it busy!

Wednesday night we went to Thomson so Brad could hunt before the feast. Mom cooked up a ton of food, we got in some nice visiting and were able to celebrate Levi's birthday too. I made Granny's dressing for Brad and that turned out well. I will post that recipe later...

Megan and Adi came over on Thursday evening and came out to Champions Friday morning to golf. On Friday afternoon, we visited with the Thompson's at Nathan's parent's house.

Mel holding Emerson and Allison holding Tensley. These little girls were not happy to see another baby in their mother's arms!

Emerson was enamored with Brad's visor!

Friday night we had a get-together at the Trotters. Saturday, we watched the Dawgs kick some Yellow Jacket butt and enjoyed some leftovers that Jay brought over. Sunday, we visited with Megan and Adi again at Adi's parent's house.

Good times!

mac & cheese soup

2011-11-22T15:13:00.002-05:00

Mac & Cheese Soup

Total Time: 35 min Prep 15 min Cook 20 min Yield: 4 servings Level: Easy

Ingredients

Kosher salt
4 ounces elbow macaroni (1 cup of any high-surface area pasta)
Cooking spray
2 plum tomatoes, sliced 1/2 inch thick
4 1/2-inch-thick slices baguette
Freshly ground pepper
3 shallots
1 carrot, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 stalk celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 3/4 cups fat-free low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/4 cups 2% milk
6 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook as the label directs; drain.

Mist a baking sheet with cooking spray and arrange the tomato and baguette slices on it in a single layer; season with salt and pepper. Bake until the bread is golden brown, about 7 minutes.

Mince the shallots, carrot and celery in a food processor. Mist a saucepan with cooking spray. Add the vegetables and cook over medium-high heat until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Gradually stir in the broth and bring to a boil; cook, stirring, until thickened, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Add the milk, cheeses and macaroni and stir until the cheeses melt. Season with pepper. Top the toasts with tomatoes; serve on the soup.

Per serving: Calories 476; Fat 20 g (Saturated 12 g); Cholesterol 84 mg; Sodium 636 mg; Carbohydrate 46 g; Fiber 2 g; Protein 27 g

* Jami's notes: I skipped the whole bread and tomatoes portion. I figured we were having enough starch with the noodles and Brad and I aren't whole tomato fans. I used onion flake and scallions due to no shallots in the pantry. I used finely chopped broccoli in lieu of the celery. I also shredded the carrot for a softer texture.

parmesan pea risotto

2011-11-22T15:03:00.000-05:00

Parmesan Pea Risotto

PointsPlus® Value: 10
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 18 min
Cooking Time: 25 min
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

For a perfect springtime dinner, pair our rich, creamy risotto with a tender green salad. Alternatively, a half portion makes a great side dish for lamb or chicken.

Ingredients
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium uncooked onion(s), chopped
2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced
1 1/2 cup(s) uncooked arborio rice
5 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 leaf/leaves bay leaf
1 cup(s) frozen green peas, thawed
1/4 cup(s) parsley, fresh, chopped
4 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp light butter
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Add rice and cook until translucent, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes.

Add 1/2 cup of broth and bay leaves and simmer until liquid is absorbed, stirring constantly. Add remaining chicken broth, 1/2 cup at a time, waiting until liquid is absorbed before adding the next 1/2 cup (our risotto takes about 20 minutes to cook from the time the first liquid is added).

Remove bay leaves, fold in peas and cook until hot, about 1 minute. Remove from heat; fold in parsley, Parmesan cheese and margarine. Season to taste with salt and pepper and spoon risotto into shallow bowls; serve hot. Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.

* Jami's notes: I actually made this one pretty much according to the recipe. I did use my onion flake as usual and parsley flake is fine. I will have to disagree that it only takes 20 minutes. But, I love risotto and totally think the wait is worth it. I did top with some pancetta I had left over from something else for a salty crunch. *

kiawah weekend

2011-11-22T13:50:00.002-05:00

What a great weekend! Megan, Adi and friends had a wedding in Kiawah last weekend so Brad and I tagged along. Since Brad passed all of his real estate appraiser tests, I treated him to a room in the Sanctuary and a round at the Ocean Course before the rest of the crew arrived.

View of the sunset along the Intercoastal Waterway.

Panoramic view from our first floor ocean front room at the Sanctuary

Thursday we had dinner at The Atlantic Room at the Ocean Course Clubhouse. Brad had the swordfish.

I had the salmon.

And we shared some truffle mac & cheese. Divine!

Sunset over the pool and ocean from our room.

Cold and WINDY on the Ocean Course putting course.

The trees grow inland due to the relentless wind. The pros are gonna have a tough time during the PGA Championship next August. We have our passes for that already!

Coming up the back nine along the ocean.

Brad had a great drive on 17. You can see his ball between the hole and caddy.

Gator hiding from the cold wind.

Great Blue Heron soaking up the sun.

Brad in trouble. He had a hard time getting it out of there.

Ocean. Just beautiful.

After that tough, cold round, we met my old co-worker Spencer in the Turtle Point Clubhouse for drinks. Then, we had a yummy dinner at Virginia's on King downtown. Shrimp and grits for Brad and fried catfish for me.

Saturday we went to King Street Grille in Freshfields for lunch and then watched the game with the crew at our villa. Then, they all headed out to Ingrid & Jonathan's wedding at Mingo Point.

Adi & Megan

Hunt & John. Lauren was a bridesmaid so she had already left.

Trying to get a good Christmas card picture. Not quite...

Still not right...

We had reservations at Al Di La for dinner but there was a horrible wreck on Bohicket and we couldn't get off the island. So, we went to Rosebank Farms instead. Fine by me. I got to enjoy their Triple Chocolate Oatmeal Brownie so I was ok with that.

John, Adi & Brad at the Sanctuary post-wedding.

Me, Lauren & Megan post-wedding at Sanctuary bar.

Lauren & John

Then, the real party got started at our villa. 'Icing' abounded. It was all Brad's fault.

Probably the best one of the night. Adi reached for a Tostito bag that Hunt had and found a Smirnoff Ice instead. Ha. He's a trooper!

Then, Megan and Hunt got iced.

Adi decided to finish Megan's for her.

Brad's was in a utensil drawer.

We found a German drinking songs CD in the villa and cranked that up. The dancing was hysterical.

Late night, the guys decided to dance on the counters. Children...

Group photo. Love that Brad is 'chugging' the Pringles. :)

Adi 'tebowing' after finishing his ice. Good times.

On Sunday, we went to Fat Hen for brunch and hit the outlet malls before taking the Filipovic's to the airport. Sadly, we didn't buy any Chistmas presents, only things for ourselves. Oh well!

We had a great time!! Can't wait to hang out more this weekend!

Larry, you will be missed...

2011-11-21T16:43:00.001-05:00

Lawrence Harry Munson, the voice of the Dawgs for 42 years, passed away yesterday. For all Georgia fans, Larry's voice was that something special and so added to our football experiences. Everyone has their favorite Larry moment - from 'Run Lindsay Run' to 'My God a Freshman' to 'Look at the Sugar Falling from the Sky' to 'There Goes Herschel' to 'We Stepped on Their Face with a Hob-Nailed Boot and Broke Their Nose.' Here's a video of some of the best.

I am not eloquent enough to pay tribute adequately but I think the following says it all...

From T Kyle King at DawgsSports:

"We are saddened by the loss, but we are thankful, this special week, for having had the privilege of hearing his words, and we look up to the shining canopy of Heaven as he leaps into the waiting arms of God, and we say: "There goes Munson . . . there goes Munson . . . there goes Munson . . .""

Two personal examples of his influence:

* My family owns a VHS copy of the 1980 National Championship season review. It was narrated by Lewis Grizzard and includes many Larry calls - two DGD (damn good dawgs). A few years ago, I had the AV team at the Sheraton Birmingham make ten copies on DVDs for my family. I can promise they have all been watched numerous times. That might not be the case if it weren't for Larry.

* My uncle lived in Las Vegas for the majority of the 80s and 90s. Being a dyed-in-the-wool UGA fan, he couldn't do without Larry. Somehow, there was this 'hotline' that he called and had Larry virtually piped into his house every Saturday. I'd say that was worth every penny.

Now I am going to wipe my tears and go enjoy the "Best of Larry's Calls" I received for Christmas a few years ago.

And then, on Saturday, I am going to enjoy the tributes to this great man as our beloved Dawgs seek their 10th straight win and get ready for their 4th trip to the SEC Championship in Richt's 10 years.

I know Larry will be there for every play. RIP Mr. Munson.

uga/uf

2011-11-07T18:54:00.000-05:00

Some photos from our UGA/UF viewing. Good times!

Trevor and Tensley Bowen - adorable

Trey and Michele

Steve and Michelle - soon-to-be parents of Ann

Eric (and his mini-me) and Brad

Me with Mel

The Rigsbys went and got the kiddos after halftime. Cuties!

Allen and Gail

What a great day to visit and watch the Dawgs beat the Gators!

uga/uf party

2011-11-04T13:20:00.002-04:00

Last Saturday, we had some folks over to watch the Dawgs beat the Gators. Ha, I love typing that. Beat the Gators. :)

It wasn't the prettiest but to come from behind and hold them to -19 rushing yards for the game - amazing.

We enjoyed some yummy grub. Check it out...

Brad says this lemon, pepper and pecorino dip was girly. Maybe so because I loved it! Light and different.

These pretzel bites were a little intimidating at first but were definitely worth the work. Auntie Anne's, watch out!

I used the link above as a guide. We don't have Rhodes Roll dough here so I just found some dough (Bridgford Parkerhouse Style Rolls from Publix) that had to rise before you cooked it.

Once it thaws, cut into bite-size pieces and lay on a greased pan, covered with greased plastic wrap, to rise. Mine didn't rise very much and were very sticky so keep your hands wet/greasy. Boil small batches for about 45 seconds each. Bake at 375 on a greased pan until gbd (golden brown, delicious). This took longer than she lists and I did turn them over once. After you remove them from the oven, toss in melted butter (!) and sprinkle with kosher salt and canned parm. Or cinnamon sugar for those looking for something sweet. I provided marinara, honey mustard and melted cheese for dipping. Heavenly, really. Don't be intimidated like me. Even though they didn't act perfectly during the making, they turned out perfectly.

This cheddar bacon ranch dip was one of the hits - yummy. AKA crack.

Had to go with something sweet. These chocolate peanut butter bars are so rich but delish!

Believe it or not, my favorite dip was probably the healthiest - Texas Caviar.

1 can black eyed peas, rinsed and drained

1 can shoepeg corn

8 oz Italian dressing

herbs, S&P

I used the corn with peppers in it. Added more flavor and cut out a step. I added cilantro, onion flake and hot sauce for a little kick. I made mine fairly soupy and love it that way. Allow this to marinate in the fridge overnight so the beans get plenty soft and flavors meld. Mmmm.

I didn't make these but Chinaberry Cheese Straws are always a must!

Oh, we also finished off this yummy peanut butter cheese ball from the Swank party. Had to get that out of the house!!

I didn't get a picture of my spread before it was all gone. Hoping to post some fun pictures of us tomorrow while watching the Dawgs beat NMSU with no running backs. They decided to celebrate after beating the Gators too. Or before - whatever. :)

catching up

2011-10-27T20:15:00.000-04:00

Things have been busy lately! October and November are crazy-busy months for me at work so I have not had much free time. Brad has been working on his appraiser's license and has been staying up until 1 or 2 in the morning to take his online classes for about two months now. He only has one test left and he will be licensed!!!

We are tagging along with Megan/Adi and some friends for a wedding on Kiawah in a few weeks and I am treating him to a stay in the Sanctuary on Thursday if he passes. This is as much for me as for him - love that place! :)

I did attend a baby shower for Michelle Collins last week. She and Steve are expecting little Ann in December. So exciting!

Also, Natalie and I hosted a party at Swank here in Augusta. Swank is a cute little store with kitchen items, clothing, well - just tons of great stuff! If you host a party with ten or more girls, they put everything in the store on sale. It was so much fun.

Of course, I have no pictures of these fun times. On Saturday, we are having a party for UGA/UF so I will take some pictures then. GO DAWGS!!

Oh, also, we are hard at work at finding some land to buy for our future dream home. Things are looking good but I am keeping that on the DL until it is done. Don't want to jinx anything. :)

onion chicken and rice

2011-10-27T20:02:00.002-04:00

This is a great one-dish dinner. Stick it in the oven and, an hour later, you have dinner. I did roast some asparagus in olive oil and sprinkle it with S&P and shaved parmesan.

Btw, I have gotten lazy and started using my phone to take pictures. Not attractive. Mom, I know, I want an SLR for Christmas. :)

1 1/4 c rice

2 tbsp margarine

1 can cream of onion soup

1 can soup water

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 tsp salt

In frying pan, brown the rice in the margarine. Cover bottom of baking pan with rice. Place the chicken on top of the rice. Mix the soup, water and salt together and pour over the rice. Cover pan with foil and cut a 3/4" slit in it. Bake at 400 for an hour.

*Jami's notes: I browned the rice right in my dutch oven and added all the ingredients on top of that. I only used two breasts and it was still wasn't over-flavored.*

white bean-pancetta pizza

2011-10-27T19:45:00.000-04:00

This is a yummy alternative to fattening Pizza Hut. :)

4 ounces pancetta, cut into 1-inch-by-1/4-inch strips
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon chopped rosemary
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Two 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Salt
4 pocketless pita or naan
6 ounces thinly sliced Fontina cheese

Preheat the oven with a pizza stone to 450°. In a skillet, cook the pancetta in 2 tablespoons of oil over moderate heat, until crisp; transfer to a plate. Add the garlic, rosemary and crushed pepper to the skillet and cook for 20 seconds. Mash in the beans. Stir in the pancetta; season with salt. Brush the flatbreads with oil and spread with the bean mixture. Top with the cheese. Bake the flatbreads until the cheese is bubbling, 7 minutes; transfer to plates and serve.

*Jami's notes: I actually didn't change this one too much. I did halve it for just Brad and me.*

penne alla vodka

2011-10-27T19:13:00.002-04:00

This was a quick and yummy dinner for a Monday night. I added some sauteed turkey sausage for Brad. :)

And, it's Weight Watchers!

2 c uncooked penne
2 Tbsp reduced calorie tub margarine
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 plum tomato, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup reduced fat chicken broth
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 Tbsp vodka
1/4 c diced tomato
2 Tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp minced flat-leaf parsley

Cook the penne according to package directions; drain and keep warm. Meanwhile, melt the margarine in a medium nonstick skillet, then add the shallot and tomato. Saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, tomato paste, and pepper. Reduce the heat to low, then add the cream and vodka. Cook, stirring constantly, until just heated through (do not boil). Pour the sauce over the penne and toss to coat. Sprinkle with the diced tomato, cheese and parsley and serve at once.

*Jami's notes: I used shells instead of penne. I used 1/2 of a large can of crushed tomatoes instead of the tomato and paste. I used my trusty onion flake instead of shallot. And, as mentioned above, I added some turkey sausage for my meat-lovin' husband.If you don't have cream or want to cut more calories/fat, you could try milk instead of cream.*

pork tenderloin

2011-10-23T14:08:00.000-04:00

I usually buy those premarinated tenderloins but decided to season it myself this time. This recipe is so easy and it yielded the most tender tenderloin. Foil is the key!!!

Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Weight Watchers Recipe
Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 30 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

A simple blend of herbs and spices, with a touch of olive oil, transforms an ordinary pork roast into an exceptional main course.

Ingredients

1 spray(s) cooking spray
2 tsp dried thyme, or 2 Tbsp freshly chopped thyme
2 tsp dried oregano, or 2 Tbsp freshly chopped oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp table salt
1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
2 tsp olive oil
2 pound(s) lean pork tenderloin

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Coat a shallow roasting pan with cooking spray. Combine thyme, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl; set aside. Rub oil all over pork. Sprinkle thyme mixture all over pork and transfer to prepared pan. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in center of pork reads 160ºF, about 30 minutes. Let roast stand 10 minutes before slicing crosswise into thin slices. Yields about 3 ounces per serving.

* Jami's notes: I used onion flake instead of onion powder. I roasted this wrapped in foil in a small casserole dish and that helped keep it tender. I cooked a one-pound roast and still used the same amount of spices. *

peanut butter 'cheese' ball

2011-10-14T09:22:00.000-04:00

Ok, go ahead and hate me now because this is not going to help your diet! :)

This is another pinterest recipe and might be my favorite yet.

Peanut Butter 'Cheese' Ball

8 oz softened cream cheese

1 c powdered sugar

3 tbsp brown sugar

3/4 creamy peanut butter (not all-natural)

3/4 c peanut butter chips

3/4 c milk chocolate chips

graham cracker sticks, apple slices or shortbread cookies for serving

Beat the first 4 ingredients together in a mixer. Spoon the mixture into a large piece of saran wrap, wrap tightly and freeze for several hours to harden. Once hard, roll in the chocolate and peanut butter chips. Freeze again until it is ready to serve. It will thaw out in about 30 minutes.

*I recommend using reduced fat peanut butter (at least) as the regular kind makes it very greasy. I had a hard time finding the graham cracker sticks so I used Lorna Doone short bread cookies. They were amazing and I think a better option.*

spoonburgers

2011-10-11T21:05:00.001-04:00

These ain't pretty but they are darn yummy and about as easy as it gets!

They're like sloppy joes but classier. :)

Spoonburgers

1 lb ground beef or venison

1 can chicken gumbo (drained of most of its juice)

ketchup and yellow mustard to taste (1/4 to 1/2 c each)

Brown the meat and drain. Drain most of the liquid off of the gumbo and add to meat. Add the ketchup and mustard. This will take a lot more than you think. Start with 1/4 c each and then go from there. Serve on hamburger buns.

One night I served with my fave spicy sweet potato fries and the next with this great broccoli and white cheddar mac & cheese.

molly hopkins

2011-10-09T10:41:00.000-04:00

Got to meet the precious Molly Hopkins the other day! Her Daddy, Walker, is my brother's oldest friend and like a brother to me. Walker and Melissa welcomed Mary Lyals 'Molly' about 4 months ago. She's the cutest! Congrats guys!

*Why are my pictures doing this???*

balsamic roasted chicken

2011-10-09T10:34:00.000-04:00

Here's another favorite from Gena Knox - balsamic roasted chicken.

It was super easy and very tender! My veggies weren't quite done so make sure you cut them small enough.

One dish and dinner is done. Yes, please!

pinterest dinner

2011-10-09T10:28:00.000-04:00

Last week, I made a dinner entirely of recipes I found on Pinterest. I made Pioneer Woman's country fried steak and gravy, parm asparagus and broiled potatoes.

* Side note: If you are not on Pinterest - do it today! It is a virtual pinboard that lets you 'pin' various items to your board for future reference such as recipes, house ideas, fashion, crafts, etc. I love it!*

Not sure why this picture won't post right-side up. Ugh.

The country fried steak was A-mazing. The cuts I got from Publix were, by far, the most tender I have ever bought. And, the spices and double-dipping were definitely the way to go.

I got a hold of the asparagus so make sure you don't overdo it. Flavor was good but mine was a little dry.

Again, love the flavor of the potatoes but they needed a little more butter. I think I am going to try olive oil next time.

And, today, Brad had the leftover gravy on some biscuits. Yum. Here's a quick, fail-proof biscuit recipe for you.

2 c SR flour

1 c buttermilk

1/2 c shortening

Cut all ingredients together to make a wet, sticky batter. Drop on greased cookie sheet and bake at 450 until slightly browned and done through. They will be crumbly but fantastic. I half the recipe for just me and Brad.

evelyn jane adams

2011-10-03T09:43:00.000-04:00

Katie and Shelby Adams of Birmingham welcomed Evy on September 21. What a doll!

Congrats guys - I hope to meet her soon!!

cajun chicken

2011-10-02T14:04:00.001-04:00

Cajun chicken recipe to go with spicy corn casserole and red beans and rice.

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/4 tsp onion powder (I used dried onion flake)

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tbsp skim milk

1/4 tsp each white, black and red pepper

Place chicken on foil (with enough to cover it afterwards) in small casserole dish. Brush chicken with milk and sprinkle with combined herbs and spices. Cover chicken with foil and bake at 350 for 45 minutes to an hour.

*I felt this dish could be a little juicer. I may try it with an onion soup in the oven or a crockpot next time.*

spicy corn casserole

2011-10-02T13:54:00.001-04:00

I made a cajun-themed dinner last week that was very good. Cajun chicken (recipe to come), spicy corn casserole and red beans and rice.

This recipe is from my 'Uncle' Joe, very good and very easy.

3 pints fresh creamed corn (I use frozen or canned in a pinch)

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/4 lb butter, softened or melted

seeded, chopped jalapenos

S&P

Mix all ingredients together and cook at 350 in casserole dish until hot and bubbly.

*For just Brad and I, I use one can of creamed corn with less than 4 oz of cream cheese, a few tablespoons of butter and 1/2 a jalapeno.*

Enjoy!

tensley

2011-10-02T13:28:00.000-04:00

Last week we had some folks over for the Ole Miss game. Melanie and Eric's daughter Tensley was sucking on her toes. Too cute to not document!! :)

smoked trout hash

2011-10-02T13:07:00.001-04:00

I made this last week and it was delish! I can't imagine what it would taste like stream-side with fresh trout.

Ingredients

3 ounces smoked trout fillet
2 teaspoons canola oil
6 scallions, chopped
4 cups diced cooked potatoes, or frozen hash-brown potatoes
1/2 cup low-fat milk
3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, divided
Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream

Remove skin from trout and flake fish, removing any bones. You should have about 2/3 cup.

Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add scallions and sauté until they start to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add potatoes and cook, stirring, until they brown in spots and become crusty, 7 to 8 minutes more.

Stir in milk and cook, scraping up any browned bits, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in trout and 2 tablespoons dill and cook until heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, topped with sour cream and remaining 1 tablespoon dill.

*I got my smoked trout at Fresh Market.*

mema's birthday at lake burton

2011-10-02T12:47:00.001-04:00

After the game, we picked up Levi and went to Lake Burton to celebrate my grandmother's 84th birthday! My Dad's family had a house there when all the kids were younger and they love going back for this special occasion.

Toasting the lady of the hour! Aunt Kelly (Uncle Stan's wife), Levi, Uncle Scott, Uncle Stan, Mema, Uncle Jeff and me.

Mom and Dad were there earlier but left before dinner. Uncle Scott lives in Alaska (of which the Uncles say, "where men are men and women are too") and always comes home for this week. My cousin Amy and a friend were there as well but they are in high school so did not participate in the toast. :)

The dock had this great little diving area. Brad always jumps off Dozier's dock during the 4th so he was fooling around out there.

View from the dock. It was beautiful but a little chilly!

View of dock from house.

House

Levi and Uncle Stan watching South Carolina/Auburn.

Mema with Uncle Scott and Uncle Jeff.

Daddy is the oldest of 6 kids born in seven years! Uncle Tim and his family (in PA) and Aunt Karen and her family (in LA, KY, OR and Athens) were not able to make it.

The upper deck of the dock has a firepit and the fam made smores after we left. It was so great to see everyone!!

Happy Birthday Mema! We love it!

We left Banjo in Thomson on the way to the game so that she wasn't in the house ALL day. We picked her up at about 11 last night and she slept all the way home. We were in Brad's truck so she had her front feet on the floor in the back and her head on the center console. Sweet pup!!!

uga/miss st

2011-10-02T12:29:00.000-04:00

Brad and I had a busy Saturday! We started our day in Athens. Since it was a noon start, we didn't get to do much tailgating. Walking from downtown to the stadium, we were able to stop and see Court, Mark, Will and Adam for a short while. It is always great to see college friends!

The Chapel Bell was ringing - Go Dawgs!!

veggie garden

2011-09-27T18:10:00.011-04:00

I have decided to try my hand at growing some veggies at the house - with Levi's help for sure.

I planted some carrots, scallions, garlic and peas

in these planters by the back porch. In the spring, I plan to have a permanent bed along our back fence but I wanted to try this first. Wish me luck! I don't have a green thumb at all. Not even a black thumb really, just NO thumb!

And, a week and a half later - we have sprouts!! Carrots and scallions. Sweet!

sigh of relief

2011-09-27T18:03:00.001-04:00

I debated whether to share this or not. Well, I use the term 'share' loosely since only about 5 people read this. :)

But, I thought it would be nice to get off my chest and therapeutic to write about.

I have been having problems with congestion for years and been working with an ENT for the last year or so to try to figure that out. After reflux medicine and allergy shots, I am still having issues. So, I decided to open my wallet and get a CT of my sinuses two weeks ago. That was clear, of course. However, later that week, an ENT nurse called and informed me that I had a calcification of my pineal gland - in my brain. Yep, scary.

So, I scheduled an MRI for last Friday to rule out anything serious. As you can imagine, all the worst things were running through my (possibly diseased) brain. Now, obviously, I had wonderful support from my family but you talk about feeling alone... They were going through it with me but it was happening TO me, you know? That sounds selfish but I can't describe it any other way.

After fretting and trying to be positive for a week and a half, I got the results today - normal. SO relieved and thankful. I am also feeling empathy for all those that get different results.

I thank God for keeping me calm (if you can call it that) and guiding me through this. And for my health. I tell ya what, congestion doesn't seem like a such big deal anymore. :)

firepot

2011-09-19T11:47:00.000-04:00

On Friday, we built our first fire in the firepot!!! It's been there for a year - 'bout time, huh?

Adi (who played football at Furman) made Brad burn a GA Southern coozie we had at the house. Ha. It burned too fast for me to capture it though. Who knew?

Megan and Adi were in town so we went to Bonefish with Sela, Damir, Bill and Debbie. Bang bang shrimp! I closed my eyes but wasn't about to have the server take another picture.

Enjoying the firepot. Mom and Dad were at a concert earlier but stopped by on the way back to Thomson. We were only missing Levi!

Not sure what is going on here. I think Brad is envious of Adi's conditioner or something.

Then, when I called him out, he said "what?" and everyone laughed. Good times...

I also had my first wipe out from Banjo. Combine these (new, cute) shoes...

with this crazy dog...

and the uneven stone around the firepot and you get Jami on her butt. I didn't spill my drink though. Ha!

Banjo was running around the yard like a crazy person and, trying to get out of her way, I stepped right in her way. Oh well. I still love her. :)

The fire was a huge success and we can't wait to use it again!

uga/boise state

2011-09-19T11:11:00.000-04:00

We went to the Boise State game at the Dome with Melanie and Eric Labor Day weekend. Despite the outcome, we had a blast! Eric's sister, Ashley, was kind enough to plan the tailgate and put us up at her place.

With Mel

Eric with Ashley

After the game, Brad made friends with this lovely young lady. They were walking arm-in-arm commiserating our loss.

April, she is from Baxley and said she knew you! Of course, Brad didn't get her name. :)

cake pops

2011-09-19T11:05:00.000-04:00

I think I am way behind on this trend! But, we had a baby shower for a coworker and his wife and I decided to try my hand at cake pops. They were yummy!!

So, you take a cake mix (I used double chocolate fudge) and cook it according to box. Once baked and cooled, break it up into crumbs and mix it with about 3/4 of a container of frosting (I used cream cheese). You round those out and freeze them for about an hour.

Melt some vanilla or chocolate wafers down in a double-boiler and color as you like. Poke each with a lollipop stick. I actually dipped each stick into the melted vanilla first and then into the cake ball. This is supposed to help everything stay together. Once that dries, dip the cake pop into the melted vanilla/chocolate. Coat evenly and let all excess drip off. Decorate!!

Here are much better instructions from the Pioneer Woman.

I made these stryofoam trees with ribbon to match their pink and green color scheme.

And decorated (if you can call it that) with a g for their last name or dots.

bullpups

2011-09-15T15:44:00.000-04:00

To tide you over until I post more pictures - cute bulldog pups!!

These guys were present at the Boise State and South Carolina games and can be yours for only $1800!!! I think I will stick with Banjo, thanks. :)

I was feeling sickly last weekend so Brad went to Athens without me. We did venture to the Thomson-Lakeside high school game and the UGA-Boise State game the weekend before. Pics will be up soon.

Georgia showed more promise last weekend against SC so hopefully we can build on that for the rest of the year. Gonna be interesting to see how our coaches, players and AD handle the reat of the season. I am still a believer and supporter - GO DAWGS!

corn and zucchini fritters

2011-08-31T13:25:00.001-04:00

These are great and a sneaky way to get in veggies for those that are not partial to them - like me!! Well, I don't mind them but get sick of the same old preparations. Enjoy!

Total Time: 45 min Prep 25 min Cook 20 min Yield: 6 to 8 servings Level: Easy

Zucchini-Corn Fritters

2 medium zucchini, coarsely shredded
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 ears corn, kernels cut off
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Freshly ground pepper
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
Vegetable oil, for frying

Toss the zucchini with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl; let stand 10 minutes. Wrap the zucchini in a kitchen towel and squeeze dry.

Meanwhile, heat the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 4 minutes. Add the corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Set aside.

Whisk the cornmeal, flour, baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk the buttermilk and egg in a large bowl, then stir in the corn-onion mixture and zucchini. Add the cornmeal mixture and stir until just combined.

Heat about 1/8 inch vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, scoop scant 1/4 cupfuls of the batter into the oil and use the back of the measuring cup to flatten the scoops. Cook until the fritters are golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Serve warm or at room temperature. (You can make the fritters up to 2 hours ahead; reheat in a 375 degrees F oven on a rack set on a baking sheet.)

* If you don't mind tossing half of an egg, I would definitely cut this recipe in half. It made a ton and I am not sure how well they will reheat. Do heed their advice on the portion size. Much bigger and the middle doesn't get cooked fully. Just make sure to thin them out thoroughly. To make them healthier, I sauteed the veggies in olive oil instead of butter. You might could even use 1/2 c of fat-free milk instead of the 3/4 c of buttermilk (they were plenty soupy) and try frying in olive oil. I haven't tested these last two yet but they might work. *

megan and adi's big day!!!

2011-08-22T19:20:00.001-04:00

Whoops, can't figure out to add this and move it down. So, here is a preview of the ceremony!!!

Last weekend, we celebrated Megan and Adi! It was an amazing weekend and everyone had a blast! They got married at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, GA on Lake Oconee - beautiful!

I hope to link to the photog's photos because I was not able to get as many as I would have liked. But, here are some until then!

On Thursday night, Adi's parents hosted all the family and friends that were in town for a Bosnian cookout. It was fantastic! Here is Brad with some of his family from FL and PA. Most everyone was outside enjoying the nice weather.

Hunt, one of the groomsmen, with Megan. They were Mr. and Mrs. Lakeside High School. :)

The pool at the Ritz.

View from our suite.

Infiniti pool overlooking the lake.

Bridesmaid luncheon. The Cali girls weren't there yet. :(

Megan with me and Lauren - her co-mohs. :)

The family getting ready for the rehearsal.

View from the top of the hill, about to walk down to the ceremony site.

Megan and Adi at the cocktail reception after the rehearsal dinner. This was out by the pool and there was a full moon shining down and reflecting off the lake. If I had a better camera, I would have a decent photo but oh well...

Lauren, Brad, Aunt Ellie and Dad.

The BEAUTIFUL bride getting ready.

The reveal! Megan went to meet Adi and take pics before the ceremony.

Brad and I at the ceremony.

Dad with Bill and Debbie.

The happy couple!

With Levi. So glad my family could make it!

Levi dancing with Mom!

After the reception, we ran into April and Thomas at the bar!! They were staying there for the weekend with a big group of folks from Athens.

And, late night, we were all serenaded by Hunt. Who knew he played the piano?!? We got some Stones, Smokey Robinson and other fun stuff. April was helping with the lyrics, along with all of us around the piano. So fun!!

showering amber & alex

2011-08-22T18:49:00.001-04:00

Weekend before last, we attended a shower for Amber and Alex Lawrence. They are adding a boy, Law, to their cute little family.

Amber showing off a super-cute shirt for their daughter, Georgia Ann.

Me with Gayle and Melanie. I think my eyes are closed - oops.

Trey, Allen, Brad, Eric and Alex. These guys have been friends for many, many years!

recipes

2011-08-22T17:12:00.000-04:00

For those of you that like to check out the recipes I post, I have added a new link to the right that will make that easier. Please share any tips or alterations that you may have made and enjoyed!

is it fall yet?

2011-08-22T17:07:00.000-04:00

As soon as it gets cool enough, Brad and I will be here every night. Love our little firepot and adirondack chairs!

apple, bacon & cream cheese sandwich

2011-08-22T16:42:00.002-04:00

I am not a sandwich person but this is simply divine and I think you should all try it immediately. :)

While working at Kiawah, we would go up to Freshfields and eat at Ladles (a lot). This ABC sandwich was a special and always meant a field trip was in store.

This was my first attempt to recreate it and it will definitely be a work in progress. But, one that I will enjoy every variation of the way!!

I toasted whole wheat bread and slathered it with a cream cheese spread, thinly sliced Granny Smiths (the only ones to use in my opinion) and crisply cooked bacon strips.

For the cream cheese, I seasoned it with garlic and basil but used a little too much. I would say go light on that but, obviously, do so to your taste.

Good luck and enjoy!! The work will be worth it - promise!

dozier's birthday

2011-07-31T09:52:00.000-04:00

We were able to get together with everyone last week for Dozier's 33rd birthday at Rae's Coastal Cafe.

Man, we're getting old!

chateau elan

2011-07-30T18:10:00.000-04:00

Last weekend, I went to Chateau Elan with my best girls - Natalie and Martha. We have been friends for more years than not!

At dinner at Versailles. Martha and I loved our roast chicken with mac and cheese and bacon-wrapped asparagus. Natalie wasn't as big a fan of her trout.

Entrance

Pool where we soaked up some sun (hot) on Saturday.

A little Irish pub there that had live music.

On Saturday night, we went to a painting class. Here is what we were supposed to paint...

Mine about halfway through...

Our finished products - I think everyone's looked really good!!

The muscadine vineyard.

The winery.

Fun, relaxing weekend!

megan's bachelorette

2011-07-30T17:57:00.001-04:00

Two weekends ago, we went to Charleston for Megan's bachelorette!

Sullivan's Island on Saturday

Casey, me, Emily, Lauren, Megan

We rented this cute, little condo right off King Street downtown - perfect!

Megan and her party boa!

This random mime starting dancing with Megan after we left dinner.

Her purse spilled all over the sidewalk and he helped her pick everything up. :)

We hit the rooftop bar at Market Street Pavillion Hotel after dinner. Great views!

We had dinner on Saturday at Social Wine Bar. It was fantastic!

megan's shower

2011-07-30T17:36:00.000-04:00

On July 9th, we hosted a kitchen shower for Megan. It was great to see everyone and celebrate!

The hostesses with Megan.

The black and tan crew - popular clothing color for the day. ;)

Megan's loot

Megan's aunt and cousin came from PA for the shower.

Megan opening her cake servers!

Girls with Megan

The spread

4th

2011-07-30T17:26:00.000-04:00

We enjoyed our annual trip to the lake for the 4th! Megan and Adi even got to visit on Saturday!

The back half of the boat enjoying the scenery and sun!

Brad decided to pie Allen with whipped cream one night. And, Allen sought revenge on the whole crew. :)

black bean & corn cakes with cilantro sour cream

2011-07-27T10:47:00.001-04:00

This was my first attempt at Weight Watchers food. It's funny - I find myself drawn to the Mexican and pasta dishes most. :)

Black Bean-Corn Cakes with Cilantro Sour Cream

Weight Watchers Recipe

Course: light meals

PointsPlus™ Value: 8

Servings: 2

Preparation Time: 16 min

Cooking Time: 10 min

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Yellow cornmeal gives a crisp, golden coating to these slightly spicy bean patties. Cilantro sour cream is their refreshing foil.

10 oz canned black beans, drained, rinsed and coarsely mashed

1/4 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed

3 Tbsp yellow cornmeal

2 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped

1 large egg white

1 can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced

1 medium scallion, chopped

1 clove medium garlic clove, minced

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp table salt

1 Tbsp Corn Oil

1/4 cup fat-free sour cream

1 tsp lime zest, grated

1 tsp fresh lime juice

Combine the beans, cheese, corn, 1 tablespoon of the cornmeal, 1 tablespoon of the cilantro, the egg white, chipotle pepper, scallion, garlic, cumin and salt in a medium bowl until well mixed. Divide the mixture into 4 balls.

Place the remaining 2 tablespoons cornmeal on a plate. Roll the bean balls in the cornmeal to coat. Press each ball into a 1/2-inch thick patty.

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the cakes and cook until crisp and golden outside and heated through - 4–5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a platter; cover with foil to keep warm.

To make the cilantro sour cream, combine the sour cream, lime zest, lime juice and remaining 1 tablespoon cilantro in a small bowl. Serve the bean cakes with the cilantro sour cream. Yields 2 bean cakes and 2 tablespoons cilantro cream per serving.

Notes

You can substitute plain fat-free yogurt for the sour cream if you like.

These cakes are easy to mix and shape ahead, ready for cooking at the last minute. Simply prepare the recipe through step 2, then wrap and refrigerate for up to three days. Remove the cakes from refrigerator and let stand 5 minutes before proceeding with step 3.

* I didn't have fresh cilantro, scallions, chipotle peppers or corn oil. I used the squeeze cilantro (I know, horror, but I don't go through fresh herbs fast enough to use them all and I hate throwing them away. For a quick weeknight dinner, this worked fine!) I used onion flake, chipotle pepper and vegetable oil in place of the others. They were still fantastic!!! Eating healthy is expensive so you have to learn to substitute when necessary! *

shrimp & grits ravioli with pesto cream sauce

2011-07-26T14:07:00.002-04:00

Ok, I admit it. I didn't really make the ravioli...

I bought the pasta from New York Butcher Shoppe and you should too!

The last time we ate it, I used a red sauce and that was not my favorite. So, I googled shrimp and grits ravioli and found most restaurants serve it with this pesto cream sauce. And now I know why - it is fantastic!

I stole this recipe for the cream but used canned pesto. Maybe next time, I will make this entire dish!

I sauteed two cloves of garlic in one tbs of butter. I (well, my helper Brad) then whisked in one tbs of AP flour followed by 1 c of fat-free milk and 1 c of parm-regg cheese. Let the sauce simmer slightly and then turn it down. Stir constantly to avoid burning while it thickens. Add desired amount of pesto. I think I used about 4 tbs of the Classico but you can customize this to your tastes. Once you have drained the ravioli, add it to the sauce, coat well and serve.

country chicken cobbler

2011-07-26T13:55:00.001-04:00

This dinner was yummy and oh-so-easy. Highly recommended.

Country Chicken Cobbler

Heat 16 oz of frozen veggies, 3/4 cup of milk and one can of cream of potato soup in a saucepan with salt and pepper. Once the vegetables have started thawing, add in about 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken.

Spread this mixture in a casserole dish and top with quartered, refrigerated biscuits. Cook at 350 until the biscuits are browned and it is all bubbly.

* I used frozen peas and carrots, fat-free milk and Publix rotisserie chicken. The recipe called for 10 oz of bicuit dough. I think mine was 6.5 oz and that was plenty! I would not cover the top entirely so if you have too many, cook them up whole and serve them for breakfast the next day. Also, if your biscuits get done before it bubbles, cover with foil so they don't burn or dry out. *

I really love this recipe because it is so easy and contains all food groups - veggies, starches and meat!! And, it was very tasty!

exercise tv

2011-07-26T13:32:00.000-04:00

I have been doing my best to get in shape lately. This involves Weight Watchers and working out. I know, can you believe it??

If you have Comcast, you need to check out Exercise TV immediately. Go to your On Demand menu and choose sports & fitness, then exercise tv. Especially with this weather, working out inside is a must and this programming makes it SO easy.

They have hundreds of options - cardio, walking, yoga, pilates, bellydancing, hip-hop, etc.

I love the variety because you can do something different every time. Check it out today!

wear sunscreen!!

2011-07-26T13:29:00.000-04:00

I need to get this off my chest...

Wear sunscreen! And, go see a dermatologist for a skin cancer scan!

This is important stuff, people.

Ok, now I will get down off my soapbox.

downtime

2011-07-25T11:09:00.000-04:00

This weekend, I am looking forward to some relaxation! I have not had a free weekend in almost two months.

I promise to update the blog from the couch this weekend. :)

I have pictures from the following to post:

4th at the lake

Megan's shower

Megan's bachelorette in Charleston

Girls weekend at Chateau Elan

Plus others I am sure....

Until then, have a great week!!

pennsylvania

2011-06-26T15:16:00.003-04:00

Last weekend, we traveled to Pennsylvania for Granny's memorial service. It was a very sad but touching weekend. We got to visit with a lot of family and friends and share many memories, laughter and tears.

The family gravesite. This area is absolutely beautiful and overlooks the whole valley.

We spent the weekend with Brad's Uncle Ron and Aunt Ellie. (Aunt Ellie was his mother's cousin.) Their backyard is the most comfortable place! Brad and I are hoping to start building our own house in the next year and were taking notes for sure!!

Brad's Dad built this house right next door to Ron and Ellie and this is where Brad grew up. It was really neat to see the house and all the personal touches Bill (and the rest of the family) added as they built it.

There are a lot of trails and fields behind the house so they ride quads (four-wheelers down here) a lot! Of course, Brad has had one on his wish list for a while but I think it just moved up a couple of notches. Maybe that's why he's so eager to buy some land!

Ron and Ellie's granddaughter Johnni. She is a pistol and has her own mini-quad!

Brad's grandparents owned a large development for trailers (not your standard trailer park) and they named one of the roads after Brad. :) He did not know that and we got to go by and see it while in town.

antigua

2011-06-26T15:02:00.001-04:00

Two weekends ago, we got to celebrate our first anniversary in Antigua. It was bittersweet as Granny had just passed but it was nice to be in a happy, peaceful place like her and remember and decompress.

We were at the St James Club and it was fantabulous. One of the restaurants was not the best but we managed. It was HOT so we spent most of our time in the water or in the shade.

I could have stayed here the entire time (4 days) but we did stay at the beach most of the time. I am not scared to go to the pool at the beach though. :)

This adult pool was deserted and had great views and breezes. LOVE...

This is the water on the Atlantic side of the resort. Absolutely beautiful. We were here one day but loved our bay beach best and were there most of the time.

View from our room.

Our bay beach. It was the best because it was close and very calm and quiet. Super clear water and lots or fish.

Before dinner one night. Yes, I did get all my hair cut off (with bangs!) but doing anything with it down there was pointless. The humidity here doesn't compare - seriously...

We stayed near the Atl airport before we left and Beth and Ryan were able to run up and have dinner with us so we could visit and meet Harrison. Poor thing was having a rough night but he is adorable. We had some great burgers at Brake Pad (highly recommended) and enjoyed the Neals' company!

granny

2011-06-15T15:32:00.000-04:00

Brad's Granny passed away last week. She was a wonderful woman that lived a long life and she will be greatly missed. Please keep Brad and Megan in your prayers.

We are headed out to Pennsylvania this weekend for her memorial service and to spend time with family.

anniversary weekend

2011-06-07T14:31:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday was our one-year anniversary!! Can't believe it.

On Friday, we went to Sheehan's for some yummy food. I had the catfish louisianne as usual - fantabulous!

On Sunday, we enjoyed our Big Red One bottle of wine! We had 6 bottles of wine for our guests to sign at the wedding. The Dom was for our return from the honeymoon and each one after that represented an anniversary year. I have to say the wine wasn't the best but it was fun to read the well wishes and think back to that (hot) day!

On Saturday, we went to visit Trey and Michele and enjoyed a low-key pizza dinner. It had been way too long!!! Brad got to hold his second baby and he did a great job....

after Trey and Michele helped him. :)

Sweet Elizabeth. Isn't she beautiful?!? LONG toes!

And this is Hal pal. He is adorable! Please check out how little he used to be...

I love this!! Her blue eyes matched Brad's shirt.

After dinner, we went to Jay and Beth's to visit with them and Alan and Gayle for a bit. We have been out of pocket for a while so it was good to catch up with everyone over the last few weeks!

Ok, isn't this the funniest thing?!? I have been wanting to recreate this picture from college for a long time now. Man, I have put on some lbs since then huh? Ugh...

Brad was my date for our spring dance in our freshman year. It only took him ten years to ask me out!!!! We've come a long way baby!!!

fishing

2011-06-07T14:01:00.000-04:00

The Tuesday after Memorial Day, we were closed so Daddy came out and did some fishing. He uses fly rods so I didn't really have any luck like he did.

This was probably the thickest bluegill I have ever seen. Fatty!

This is a pretty good-sized bass. I bet he caught about 7 fish. He is meeting Levi in Montana next week to do some real fly fishing so he got in some good practice!

memorial day weekend

2011-06-07T13:57:00.001-04:00

Memorial Day, we tried to take it easy. This is going to be a busy summer!!

On Friday, we used our second-to-last Vallarta daily deal - thank goodness. I am about over this place. :)

We ran into some of Brad's high school friends and it was great catching up and visiting with them!

Jason and Carly Capito

Neal and Jen Carter - newlyweds!!

On Saturday, we played with the boat to get her ready for the lake. She is a little temperamental in her old age and needs some encouragement to run smoothly. That night, we enjoyed pizza and went to see Hangover 2. I didn't think it was as good as the first but Brad loved it. :)

On Sunday, we took the pontoon to the lake - she ran like a charm!! We just piddled around with Mom and Dad and went fishing. I was the only one to catch a fish, a little shellcracker. Ha.

After the lake, we went over to Blake and Mike's to enjoy some pulled pork that Mike had been smoking all day. Steve and Michelle were there as well and it was great to visit with them on the back patio.

Brad and I both worked a little on Monday. I even went shorts shopping with him on my afternoon off. Am I a good wife or what? Brad is super picky and slow when it comes to shopping. Are all guys that way??

dinner update

2011-05-27T16:04:00.000-04:00

So, as promised, a review of the meals for this week:

The meat loaf was fantastic!!!! We (I) will make that again very soon.

The casserole was very good as well. It wasn't quite as swoon-worthy but it is pretty good for you. :)

I would recommend trying either and soon!

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

We are taking it easy around here and spending time on the boat. The rest of the summer is all planned out so we hope to enjoy a low-key weekend!!

on the menu

2011-05-22T15:22:00.000-04:00

Here's what I am dishing up this week at the Shingler household. I will let you know how they turn out!

Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

This is Katie Lee Joel's recipe but I couldn't find it online for some reason...

3 tbs unsalted butter
3 tbs AP flour
2 c chicken broth
1 shallot, minced
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tbs fresh lemon juice
1/2 c sour cream
2 c grated Parmesan
3 c frozen broccoli florets, thawed (I am using fresh, chopped broccoli and boiling it in the broth briefly)
1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 c cracker crumbs

Preheat oven to 325. In a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat and add the flour. Add the broth and shallot, increase heat to boil (I will add the broccoli at this point) and then reduce to simmer. After about 10 minutes, the mixture will thicken. Add the salt, pepper and lemon juice. Remove from heat, add the sour cream and 1/4 c Parmesan.

Arrange the broccoli in a 2-qt gratin dish and pour half the sauce over it. Arrange the chicken over that and pour on the remaining sauce. Top with cracker crumbs and remaining cheese. Bake for 20 minutes and then broil until the crumbs are gbd (golden brown delicious).

Bacon Gruyere Meat Loaf

I just made this up to cook for tomorrow and I think it is going to be delicious!! I don't know that I have ever eaten meat loaf but Brad loves it so I wanted to give it a try. I am betting this may be a new fave. The carrots look yummy too!

tv

2011-05-22T11:35:00.001-04:00

Of course, we all look forward to summer and the fun and sun it brings. With the arrival of summer, we also get season finales of our TV shows. As usual, some were good, others not so much. Here's my recap...

Brothers and Sisters - I thought it was good and was surprised there were not many cliff-hangers. Well, turns out that is a good thing as it got cancelled. Oh well, it was good while it lasted!

Desperate Housewives - Ugh, this season was pretty rough to watch. The sudden appearance and murder of Gabriel's stepfather felt forced. I can't stand Bree's new boyfriend and the Paul storyline is getting old. Hopefully, next year is better...

Hawaii Five-0 - I love this show. It is super predictable but the characters and scenery are marvelous. They definitely left us hanging so I am really looking forward to their fall return.

The Event - This one's probably on its way out but the last couple of episodes have actually been pretty good. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.

American Idol - I like the new judges, although they can be a little too easy on the kids. I think the talent was better in the top 10 than it has been in a while. However, I don't like the way America votes. I think Casey, James and Haley should have been the top 3. They are all good and, I hope, will all succeed but the last two left are definitely not the best. They are good and plenty marketable though.

The Voice - I especially loved the blind auditions of this show. Now, I am thinking that these contestants are not really that good. Or, maybe it's just the battle rounds. It is very hard for me to hear them and their voice over the other singer and the music. I think they are going after people that are more coachable than those that are already polished. At this point, I think Javier Colon is far and away the best. Well, he was the lead singer for The Derek Trucks Band for a few years!!

DWTS - Ok, I have to admit I don't watch this show. But, I have been keeping up with it because of Hines Ward and it looks like he has a legitimate shot to win it. I will watch the finale though - Team Hines!!

Grey's Anatomy - Christina's breakdown kinda got on my nerves, as does anything Callie-related. I thought the season finale was good and the Meredith situtation might be the best-ever storyline for her. I also like the Teddy storyline because I really like Scott Foley - her husband. :) Next season should be good!

CSI - I can't say this is my favorite show anymore. They have changed the cast a lot and I feel like something is missing. Laurence Fishburne (Augusta native) was the main character this season and his is an interesting storyline. We'll see where they go next year, more cast shakeups are expected.

Blue Bloods - Gotta love Magnum PI, um, I mean Tom Selleck. This is a great show but they came to a quick resolution in the finale. With one year under thir belt, we will see what they do with it next year...

So, for the summer, I will watch the remainder of The Voice, So You Think You Can Dance and Big Brother. Plus, a lot of Braves baseball. They have not been consistent yet this season. They will beat the Phillies and then lose to the Nationals. Hopefully, they can even that out on the winning side soon.

Although I will miss my shows, it's a good thing the DVR won't be full. Brad and I have our anniversary trip to Antigua, bachelor and bachelorette weekends, a girls beach weekend, golf trips, showers, weddings and the usual lake trips. Should be a busy and fun summer!!!

hydrangea

2011-05-22T10:58:00.001-04:00

I have never been a fan of traditional hydrangeas. I just think they are common and overused, especially in the South.

However, we have Hydrangea Macrophylla Beaute Vendomeise in our backyard and I love it!

I need to figure out where to get some more or how to split this one.

greenjackets

2011-05-22T10:47:00.000-04:00

Thursday, we went to the Augusta Greenjackets game. Gotta love the $1 beers huh?

Liza brought her adorable son, Aiden, and 'Uncle' Jay bought him a hat and foam finger. They were a big hit.

Mike and Blake brought their nephew Rivers - Jonathan and Kasie's son. He got a hat and foam finger too but he might have to grow into those. : )

It was Mandy's last day of school with students so she had reason to celebrate!

They tied it up near the end of the game but we couldn't last for the extra innings. They ended up losing in the 11th. It was a fun night though!

corn and mushroom risotto

2011-05-14T11:17:00.000-04:00

Corn and Mushroom Risotto

shrimp scampi

2011-05-14T11:15:00.000-04:00

Last week, I made some great dinners courtesy of Food Network magazine. Enjoy!

Shrimp Scampi

friends

2011-05-14T10:52:00.000-04:00

Last week, we celebrated Natalie's birthday with Carrie, Martha, Kelly and Ashley. It was a great evening out!

On Friday, we celebrated a belated Cinco de Mayo at Vallartas.

We ran into Katrina and Jason! It was really nice to visit with them. They live in Greenville and were in town for Mother's Day and graduation celebrations.

Mel and Eric joined us and brought precious Tensley with them!

mother's day

2011-05-14T10:13:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday, we went to Atlanta with Mom and Dad to see Mana. Her birthday was on Mother's Day so we got to celebrate both with her.

On the way back home, we stopped off at Big City Bread to enjoy dinner with Levi. The weather was perfect and dinner was fantastic under the trees.

ellie's visit

2011-05-14T10:09:00.000-04:00

Last night, we went to dinner at Bill and Debbie's. Brad's 'Aunt' Ellie was in town to visit with Granny. Ellie is Granny's neice and lives in PA. It was so nice to visit and enjoy a yummy dinner!!

empire state south

2011-04-30T11:53:00.002-04:00

For Easter brunch we went to Empire State South with Megan and Adi. Hugh Acheson of Five and Ten in Athens started this place as well. I have been wanting to go for a while but we hardly ever get there. So, when this chance came up, we made reservations immediately!

Love the bocce court!!! We had a lively game after brunch. Brad and I took the early lead but Megan and Adi made a comeback. Rematch!

Adi's yummy smoked trout with dill biscuit. The food, service and ambience were marvelous!!

The weather was perfect for dining al fresco. What a lovely Easter!!

stock the bar

2011-04-30T11:32:00.001-04:00

Last Saturday we celebrated Megan and Adi with a Stock the Bar shower in Atlanta. It was a blast!

Corey and Liz have the best backyard!! Perfect for parties.

We even had a cornhole tournament with UGA and Furman boards.

Adi's parents - Sela and Damir.

They had bride and groom rubber duckies floating in their backyward pond. So cute!

All the food was from the different towns in which Megan and Adi have lived - Augusta, Athens, Greenville, Atlanta, San Francisco, Chicago - and Bosnia, Adi's native country. Liz made these cute markers for the food.

Part of our gift to the happy couple. Brad passed down his secret recipe for Shingleritas and we gave them the ingredients in this cute beverage dispenser.

Adi with his guys - one half of the hosts for this lovely shower.

Have you ever heard of 'bros icing bros?' This is something that Adi and his friends ran across in South Africa while there for the World Cup. The basic premise is that you present someone slyly with a Smirnoff Ice and they must get on one knee and chug it immediately. So, we decided to hide one in their present!

Adi was a trooper and chugged a hot green apple bite Smirnoff Ice on the deck. :)

Cute invite!

toasts!

We went to dinner at Eclipse di Luna with the crew. It was such a fun evening. They didn't bring Adi a margarita glass so he just drank out of the pitcher. Ha. Doesn't he look like Scotty on Idol holding his microphone?

Fun band!

Megan and Corey hit the dance floor hard core. LOVE it!

i'm back

2011-04-30T10:49:00.000-04:00

Wow, things have been wild around the Shingler household! I worked 19 straight days around Masters. It is a fun week but takes lots of prep and long hours. Of course, nothing else clowed down then either. :)

Granny is back at Brandon Wilde but one of us still tries to get by to see her every day. She seems to getting better and even went to church last Sunday!

My grandmother (Mema) had a small event last week and was in the hospital for two days. They still aren't exactly sure what happened but she is back home. We stopped by to see her on the way back from Atlanta last weekend.

My car had to go in the shop. of course, it is almost paid off and it starts acting up. It was a minor thing but being without a car is never fun!

Brad has a new job!!! He will start Monday with Vann Appraisals here in Augusta. They are a private commercial appraisal firm. He has wanted to get to that side for a while now and is really excited. It will be tough for the first few months but I know this will be a great career for him. Goodbye county job!

Brad's Dad's birthday was Thursday so we had him and Debbie over for dinner. We had Swiss chicken, honeyed cashew green beans, cheddar cheese rolls and cheesecake. Yum!

My friend Spencer from Kiawah is in town today playing the National (jealous) and we are going to meet up for drinks before he heads back this afternoon.

We went to Atlanta last weekend for Megan and Adi's stock the bar shower. We spent the night and had a wonderful Easter brunch at Empire State South. Pictures to follow!!

I have been doing a lot of reading and cooking in my small windows of free time. Book and recipe suggestions are coming soon!!

mia

2011-03-31T15:29:00.000-04:00

It is that time of year!!! Masters Week is next week so I won't be around for the next few weeks. Last Sunday was my last day off until April 16. Most of the running around is done so now it is down to long hours at work. It is fun though - tons of fun corporate clients in town.

Hope to get to the tournament on Sunday!

See ya after my hiatus!

chicken spaghetti/mac n cheese carbonara

2011-03-30T20:23:00.000-04:00

It is about time I shared these recipes. They are both fantastic!

I have to warn you - this is a special occasion dish. The cheese alone was probably $50 and it CAN NOT be good for you. Unless you need comfort food, which we do now and everyone does at some point right? So, mac n cheese carbonara was not something I could pass up. And, it was well worth it!!

I did add some diced ham for a larger protein presence. The pancetta was amazing all by itself though. I served it with an arugula salad - one of my favorites. Just toss some arugula in olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, feta cheese and pine nuts. So simple and tasty!

This is another yummy one that is much more economical and better for you!! Chicken spaghetti from The Pioneer Woman. The Bowens got some of this when we went to see little Tensley. Yum!!

ENJOY!

avett brothers

2011-03-30T19:50:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite bands was in town on Sunday - The Avett Brothers!!! They have been here many times in the past (and in much smaller venues) but it was all before I moved here.

If you don't know the Avett Brothers, you may recognize them from the Grammys. They performed with Mumford and Sons (another fave of mine, from across the pond) and Bob Dylan.

They did not disappoint! Very energetic and commanding. The long-haired Asian cellist was hysterical.

Even when the two brothers did a duet, the entire audience was entranced. They were so humble and you can tell they love what they do!

The opener was Langhorne Slim. He was pretty cool too. Brad LOVED him!

Here is a video of my favorite newish song of theirs - Head Full of Doubt. They performed this at the Grammys. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!

If they are in a town near you, GO!

happy birthday martha!

2011-03-30T19:30:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned earlier, we went to Frog Hollow Tavern for Martha's bday before heading to Thomson to visit Levi and Walker.

The girls! Such a fun dinner!

brad's cars

2011-03-30T19:29:00.000-04:00

We parked at Brad's building for the Avett Brothers concert on Sunday. He choose the spot directly across from his work car! When he goes out to appraise property, this is what he drives - a navy Crown Vic. When he goes in the 'hood, everyone scatters like roaches thinking he is a cop. Ha!

brad holds tensley

2011-03-30T19:18:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, we went to meet Tensley Grace!! This is the first baby Brad has ever held. Doesn't he look so calm and comfortable? Ha.

Tensley is beautiful and has a wonderful family!! Am looking forward to watching her grow up!

lately

2011-03-25T10:48:00.000-04:00

Things are still crazy in the Shingler household. Here's what we've been up to...

Last Friday, we celebrated Martha's birthday with Natalie and two other couples from Louisville at Frog Hollow Tavern. I do have pictures and will get them up soon.

After dinner, we headed to Thomson to watch UGA lose (barely) with my brother and his great friend, Walker. Walker's wife, Melissa, is due this summer with baby #1 so she was sleeping. :(

Sunday, we had a Mexican date with Mike and Blake. These two were just back from their honeymoon and missing it still. I hear ya!

Granny is home! We spent a lot of time with her in the hospital and she went home Monday. We saw her Tuesday and she looked great. We will both take some time with her this weekend. She still needs your thoughts and prayers!

This weekend we will also go visit Tensley Bowen. Sunday night, we are heading to see the Avett Brothers!!!!! I am SO excited. These guys put on a great live show and I can't believe they are going to be in lil ol' Augusta!! Dinner planned with friends beforehand too.

welcome tensley grace

2011-03-25T10:41:00.000-04:00

Our dear friends Melanie and Eric welcomed number 2 on Wednesday night.

Trevor is now a big brother to sweet Tensley Grace.

Congrats guys! Can't wait to meet her!!

megan & adi

2011-03-13T16:01:00.001-04:00

And, here are pictures from Megan and Adi's party after the wedding. :)

The guests of honor.

The Shingler clan.

Brother and sister.

Adi with a teammate of his from Furman - Corey.

Megan with Corey and Brad.

Me with Megan.

Listening to the sweet toasts.

Megan and Adi with his mom - Sela. Not sure where Damir was...

Megan ans Sela.

My parents made the trip from Thomson.

Dad and kids.

Again, we were missing Damir!

mike & blake

2011-03-13T15:45:00.001-04:00

Here are pictures from Mike & Blake's rehearsal dinner and wedding. Such fun!

Matt giving his toast. Rivers, Travis and Matt were all well-behaved. :)

Jay and Beth at the rehearsal dinner.

Brad and me at the reception.

The country club puts out hot chicken in the grill at 2:30 so Trey went and got some for the guys. Ha.

With Liza, Michele, Beth and Michelle after the newlyweds left in their 1968 Camaro Super Sport.

Mike and Blake!

Brad and me at the rehearsal dinner.

Jay and Beth at wedding reception.

With Jennifer at the reception. She was my date to the wedding since Brad was a reader. :)

Matt and Mandy at the rehearsal dinner.

And with a server at the reception.

With Michele - Mom of Hal and Elizabeth, frequent blog kiddos.

With Michelle and Liza.

Cutting the cake. I love Blake's reflection in the mirror but hate it is so dark.

Mike and Blake at the rehearsal dinner.

Trey and Michele.

Trey, Eric and Brad

weekend

2011-03-08T21:31:00.000-05:00

We had a busy weekend. We enjoyed Mike and Blake's wedding and an engagement party for Adi and Megan. I will post pictures later...

Also, Brad's grandmother was admitted to the hospital on Friday. She is still there and the doctors are doing all they can to make her better so she can go home. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I will continue to provide updates.

a few of my favorite things (today)

2011-03-08T21:17:00.000-05:00

A couple of things I thought I would share...

These fries are amazing!! I tried to make some myself one time and they would not crisp up. These were perfect and very flavorful. I served them Monday with spoonburgers (brown one pound ground beef and add one can drained chicken gumbo soup, ketchup and mustard to taste). They are like sloppy joe's but so much better!!

I stole this website from Callie @ Calliespondence. I love their jewelry. It is super-sad they are going out of business but their remaining inventory is 70% off. Enjoy!

I stole this website from Jennifer Allen. I laughed so hard I cried - seriously!!

thompson shower

2011-03-01T19:49:00.001-05:00

Saturday night we had a couples shower for Nathan and Allison and their soon-to-be addition, Emerson. It was so much fun - good food, good friends, good party!

The couple with Nathan's high school friends and their significant others. These guys have been really good friends for a loooong time. I think it's pretty cool. Or, maybe they can't find anybody else that wants to hang out with them. Ha!

Allen and Jay

Bradley

Brad cheating off Mel for the game. Shame...

Trying to win some Butt Paste.

Cute doggie.

Enjoying some chicken fingers, green beans, salad and mac and cheese. Yum...

The food. Can't leave that out. :)

The game - guess that price. Even though Brad was cheating, we didn't do very well. Although Mel has a son and another on the way, she is on bedrest and doesn't get out much. Oh well, we missed out on the butt paste...

Pretty brunettes - Gayle, Beth and Amber.

The haul...

The Moms. Mel and Amber are working on number two and Allison on number one.

The happy parents-to-be. Congrats guys - so happy for y'all!! Baby girl Emerson will be here in late April!

This weekend will be a busy one. Friday, we have Mike and Blake's rehearsal dinner and their wedding on Saturday at noon. And then an engagement party for Megan and Adi later that night. Good times!

anniversary trip

2011-03-01T19:33:00.001-05:00

We have booked our one-year anniversary trip!! We figured - do it while we can!

We have booked a royal suite at the St. James Club in Antigua for June. We are so pumped! Gotta love the all-inclusive deals. :)

random

2011-02-26T11:59:00.001-05:00

We went to see the Scotts when little Win was born. He is so sweet and adorable!

After Daddy's retirement we went to Stillwater Tap Room to see Packway Handle Band! I have been a fan since these guys formed in Athens back in 2002. It has been two years since we have seen them but they are just as good as ever. Hopefully, it won't be that long next time!