giving thanks

 So, we were in Hilton Head for Thanksgiving with the Shinglers.  It was a great trip!  The weather, company and food were fabulous!  We got there Thursday after dinner at Calvert's with my family for my brother's 30th and the VanSant Thanksgiving on Wednesday. 

View from our porch.  We were right on the beach (obviously) and got to enjoy all the sights and sounds.  We had a bocce tourney on Saturday that was so much fun.  We also played a lot of games - Battle of the Sexes and Wits and Wagers were two favorites.  I have to say, Brad and I held our own.  :)

But, of course, the food was central to the weekend.  Everyone did an amazing job with their meals.  Here are my recipes for treats and brunch:

HASH BROWN CASSEROLE

2 lb frozen hash browns (thawed until loose and not one big chunk.  thanks Ali!)

1/2 c diced onions

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 c sour cream

1 stick melted butter

8 oz grated cheddar

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together and bake at 375 for one hour. 

*Elizabeth, I didn't use the stick of butter and used onion flake instead of diced onions. 

RUSSIAN TEA MIX (for you non-coffee drinkers)

1 c lemonade mix

2 c Tang

1 c instant tea

1 c sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

Mix a couple spoonfuls in hot water.  Yum!

OYSTER CRACKERS

24 oz oyster crackers

1.5 c oil

2 tsp dill weed

1 tsp lemon pepper

1 package ranch dressing powder mix

garlic powder to taste

Stir all together until oil is absorbed. 

TACO DIP

8 oz bag of shredded 4-cheese Mexican (I use about half and half cheddar)

8 oz cream cheese, softened

8 ox sour cream

1 can of Rotel (I use the lime and cilantro)

1/2 packet if taco seasoning

Mix all and chill.  Serve with Tostitos Scoops - needs a hearty chip to cut down on breakage.

SUGAR-CRUSTED MELTAWAYS

1/4 c sugar

3/4 c margarine

1 tbs water

1 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp salt

1 3/4 c plain flour

1 c semisweet chocolate chips

1 c chopped pecans

Mix together first 5 ingredients.  Slowly add flour.  Once mixed thoroughly, add chips and nuts.  Form 1" balls and cook at 325 for 15-20 until firm.  Let cool.  Dip cookie in mixture of OJ with a splash of orange extract or zest.  Then dip in white granulated sugar.  This are so good after a quick hit in the microwave to melt the chocolate.  *I double this recipe as it doesn't make many!

STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE COFFEE CAKE

This one is a pain to retype so...

click here

FRUIT SALAD

Your choice of fruit mixed in plain yogurt, with a touch of vanilla extract, coconut and pecans.

I use bananas, kiwis, apples and strawberries. 

CURRIED CHICKEN SALAD

4.5-5 lbs of cooked, cut bite-size chicken breast

2 lbs seedless grapes, cut in half

10 oz almonds (salted and toasted)

2 c mayonnaise (add 2 tbs lemon juice if not hamemade)

1 tbs curry powder

2 tbs soy sauce

1 c sliced celery

10 oz sliced water chestnuts, drained

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all together and serve with Wheat Thins or pita pockets.  A fork works nicely too! :)

I hate celery so that gets left out.  We usually serve with alfafa sprouts as well. 

 

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEX MIX

Melt 9 oz of white chocolate chips.  Mix quickly with 6 cups of Rice Chex, 2 cups of pretzel sticks and one large bag of peanut M&Ms.  Spread out on wax paper to let it dry and break apart large clusters. 

On Sunday, I came back to enjoy the Nutcracker with Mom.  I haven't been to see it since I was in it!  I was an angel in middle school (I think).  You can see the new angels on the left.  On the right is the famous pas de deux of the Sugar Plum Fairy.  My teacher played this role when I was in it.  Such fun!

locally grown

So, I have finally started taking advantage of this Locally Grown Market I am a member of.  See if there is one near you!  I prefer this to a CSA because you get what you order, not what is available.  I know we are at the mercy of the farmers, weather, etc but I am pretty picky and don't know how much I would eat out of the weekly CSA bucket.  So, I ordered eggplant and spaghetti squash and cooked up some marvelous dishes with them. 

Eggplant Parm

Spaghetti Squash Salad with tarragon and pine nuts

Up next is this Butternut Squash Bisque from Hugh Acheson...

Have a great Thanksgiving!!

thanksgiving list

So, we are heading to Hilton Head with the Shinglers for Thanksgiving weekend.  Brad and I are preparing brunch on Saturday for the whole crew.  Here are the dishes I am taking/making:

1. cheesy potato casserole
2. strawberry cream cheese coffee cake
3. fruit salad
4. curried chicken salad 

Also, fun snacks and desserts:

1. taco dip
2. ranch oyster crackers
3. sugar-crusted meltaways
4. white chocolate chex mix (AKA crack due to its addictiveness)

We are also taking:

1. bocce (we are right on the beach and though we might not be sunbathing, we will bocce!)
2. swimsuit (we do have a hot tub!)

So, it should be a great time!  We are having dinner with my family for Thanksgiving and Levi's birthday on Wednesday and heading down on Thursday morning.  On Sunday, we will leave pretty early to get back here in time for Mom and I to go to the Nutcracker.  I haven't seen it at the Imperial since I played an angel one year.  Ha!

chicago

 Ok, finally getting to the Chicago recap!!  These pictures are way out of order but it's the best I can do.

On Friday night, we went to the John Hancock Signature Lounge on the 96th floor for some drinks before dinner.  It was really cool!

 Saturday night we enjoyed some blues at Kingston Mines.  I have been to Chicago's House of Blues before but this was the real deal.

 Friday night we had dinner at Carnivale.  This place was amazing - really great atmosphere, fun menu and amaxing food.  I could eat there every weekend but my checking account couldn't handle that.  :)

This is Brad's braised short ribs with grits/polenta.  It was like butter...

 Byther Smith at the Blues bar.  He was really good I thought!

 The Chick-fil-A cow walked up while we were taking pictures and we couldn't resist.  They are finally getting some in Chicago and they are so popular!!!  As you can imagine...

 Megan's exam room!  Her chair has massage.  I might have to go up there every six months for my exams.  :)

 Drinks at the Signature Lounge.  I had a Godiva martini.  And Adi's scotch was infused with peanuts.  Weird...

Brad getting ready for his exam.  Ha.  I don't think he trusts Megan to work on his teeth.  Only because she has a lot of revenge she can exact on him.  :)

Megan's vegetable empanadas at Carnivale. 

 My flank steak.  It was fantabulous!!!  I got a cheese platter too - of course!

 Another view from the John Hancock Building.

 

 

View of the Navy Pier from John Hancock. See the ferris wheel? I have 'been there, done that' so this is as close as we got.

  Megan and Adi at the Lounge.

 Adi's pork chop at Carnivale. 

 Friday walking to dinner, on the Chicago River at the DuSable Bridge.  I stayed at the Sheraton in the background a few years ago. 

 Eric 'the guitar' Smith at Kingston Mines.  He played a lot of cover songs which was actually kind of cool. 

 On Saturday, we visited the free (!) Lincoln Park Zoo in their neighborhood and then headed to Wrigleyville.  We got to see the stadium and went barhopping to catch all the football games.  We went to Goose Island (local beer that is fab), Vines on Clark, John Barleycorn's, and others.

We were right at the famous io theatre as well.  We thought about going to see an improv show but hit the Blues bar instead. 

Pizza at Pizano's was delish!  I do have to say it was more deep cheese than deep dish (crust) though.  Wow...

Thursday we went straight to this little pizza place.  I have been to Gino's before but this place was very quaint and authentic.  Yummy!

The outside of Carnivale.  It reminded me of a Brazilian steakhouse without the overabundance of food.

blog title

For all of you that read the blog regularly (ha), you will notice I have updated the title.  'Jami' was very boring so we are mixing things up.  I guess 'Shinglers' List' would have made more sense but this is my blog and Brad doesn't have many lists.  So, I will start listing items here periodically.  Whether it is good books, recipes, things I am looking forward to or errands to run, they will be posted for all to see.  Exciting huh?  J/K.  I am a huge list person so I thought this was appropriate!

Chicago teaser

Brad had to get a blue drink to start the trip off.

weekend projects

So, this weekend, Brad and I finished several projects we have been working on around the house.  The most exciting is our firepot patio!!  That is a solid cast-iron firepot and, boy, it is heavy.  Brad built this 12x12 frame and filled it with gravel and sand.  Then we laid the stack stone out and cemented in it place.  We are so excited to start using it once it gets chilly.  We still have to do a little more landscaping.  We are going to lay out the remaining stone as a walkway, build a step from the porch, lay more pinestraw and tear out those bushes and replace with (??).  Any suggestions? 

The house is really coming together.  In the last few weekends, we have (finally) moved Brad's bedroom from Westlake over to the spare bedroom.  The office furniture has been upgraded and compacted.  The dining room furniture has been in place for a while and I love it!  Of course, the new floors, grass and fence were all upgrades as well.  The last big project is to get floor in the attic so we have all that space too.  Yippee!!

Well, I am hoping for new master bedroom furniture soon as well.  We'll see...

I made this cinnamon wreath this weekend.  I was thinking for Christmas but it can be fall'y' as well.  The smell is divine!!  I will get better pictures of this up once the house is decorated.  

We will probably host an impromptu UGA/UF party this weekend and hopefully a girls Christmas party.  I want to start hosting an annual New Year's Day Brunch so we will continue working on the house!  I love to entertain and all these things will make it easier and more fun!!