Friday Five. {Playing Catch Up}

Good morning! I noticed that I haven't posted about what's been going on in my life lately, so this Friday Five will be about focused on just that. 

Let's go.

{one}

We changed up Thanksgiving a little bit this year. Usually we drive out to the country to hang with Cameron's extended family, scarf down some food, then high tail it to Summerville to eat another meal with my family. This year, we drove to Summerville about 2 hours before we actually ate so we could spend some quality time with my family, rather than being rushed. 

{two}

The weekend after Thanksgiving, Brady turned 9! I posted this picture to Instagram and I'd be lying if I said I didn't cry right after. I just don't want my baby to get any older!! 

{three}

The same day that Brady turned 9, the Gamecocks ended their five game winning streak against the Tigers. I decided to watch the game with all Gamecock fans, so I made Cameron snap this selfie with me before we parted ways. Oh well, there's always next year, right?!?

{four}

This year we hit up Michael's the day after Thanksgiving because all of their trees were 50% off. We've mentioned the past year or two that we need a tree for all of our miscellaneous ornaments. Our big Christmas tree is filled with gold and white ornaments so the misfits always got hidden in the back. Now they have their own tree to shine one and I love it! Those are the ornaments with the most meaning to them. 

{five}

Tonight is our 2nd Annual Tacky Sweater Christmas Party and it just so happens that today is National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day! Last year's party was hilariously awesome and I can't wait for tonight! 

Have a great weekend!

Thanksgiving 2012.

Round One - Bamberg, SC

Cotton / booze truck / me & Cameron.

 

Round Two - Summerville, SC

Family at my parents house / mom, me, sister sitting by fire

 



Tasty Tuesday: Favorite Thanksgiving Sides.

As I fast until Thanksgiving on Thursday (yeah, right) all I can think about are the yummy dishes that I'm going to be eating that day...twice. One meal with his family, one meal with mine. Back in the gym (for real this time, Emily!) on Monday.

 

Here are some of my favorite sides that will be served along with the fried turkey. :)

 

Sweet potato casserole

Green bean casserole

Twice baked potato casserole 

(My Aunt Cindy's specialty - she makes an extra dish of it just to give my parents...and I take some)

Mac & cheese

Collards with pepper vinegar

Rice & giblet gravy

(I'm not posting a recipe for giblet gravy..the ingredients are gross and I just have to not think about them when I'm eating it.)

 

What are your favorite sides on Thanksgiving Day?

Tasty Tuesday: Mustard Fried Venison

When I think of mustard fried venison, I think of Thanksgiving in Olar, South Carolina (basically Bamberg) with Cameron's family. When we arrive around 11 or so, we immediately make our way to the pick-up truck in which the bed of the truck is filled with the makings for bloody marys. We greet everyone (which can take a while because this is not a small family), chat about what's been going on since the last time we saw them, and then some of the men start walking around with plate fulls of fried goodness as a snack before the big meal. The fried goodness is called mustard fried venison.

I asked Cameron for his recipe...but he wasn't a very big help, so I looked online. None of the recipes seem as simple as they way Cameron makes them (and they are still just as tasty, I'm sure) so I found one that sounded similar and almost as simple. So simple that it's just a few sentences and you just eyeball the ingredients. 

"Lay out your steaks on a cutting board, sprinkle on a little garlic powder, and use the edge of a saucer (like cubed steak) on both sides. Pour a jar (again, just eyeball it) of mustard in a stainless bowl and add about the same amount of water. Soak the steaks in this overnight. (We don't leave them soaking overnight.)
Now......the important part! Take the dripping steaks out of the mustard/water and flour quick. Lay the steaks on a cutting board and let the mustard/water soak all the way through the flour. Deep fry quick so they don't get too dry inside."

 Recipe found here.

Would love to know if you try this and what you think!

What to do with that leftover turkey..

If you still have leftover turkey from Thanksgiving, here is what you need to cook. I made it for dinner last night and it was so tasty!

Pioneer Woman's Turkey Tetrazzini

Recipe and pic found here.

Serves 12 (I cut the recipe in half)

1-½ pound Thin Spaghetti, Broken In Half

4 Tablespoons Butter

4 cloves Garlic, Minced

1 pound White Mushrooms, Quartered

½ teaspoons Salt

1 cup White Wine

⅓ cups Flour

4 cups Turkey (or Chicken) Broth

1 block 8 Ounce Cream Cheese

3 cups Cooked (leftover) Turkey, Shredded Or Diced

1 cup Finely Chopped Black Olives

1-½ cup Frozen Green Peas

4 slices Bacon, Fried And Cut Into Bits

1 cup Grated Monterey Jack Cheese

1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

Salt And Pepper, to taste

Extra Broth For Thinning

1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs

Cook pasta until not quite done – al dente according to package instructions (it will finish cooking in the oven.) Drain, rinse, and set aside.

In a large pot, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute for a couple of minutes. Add mushrooms and salt, then saute for a couple more minutes. Pour in the wine and allow it to cook with the mushrooms for several minutes, or until the liquid reduces by half.

Sprinkle in flour, then stir the mushrooms around for another minute. Pour in the broth and stir, cooking for another few minutes until the roux thickens.

Reduce heat to medium low. Cut cream cheese into pieces and add it to the pot. Stir it to melt (don’t be concerned if the cream cheese remains in little bits for awhile; it’ll melt eventually!) Add the leftover turkey, the olives, the peas, the bacon, and the cheeses. Stir to combine, adding salt and pepper as needed.

Add the cooked spaghetti and stir it to combine. Splash in more broth as needed; you want the mixture to have a little extra moisture since it will cook off in the oven. If it’s a little soupy, that’s fine! Add up to 2 more cups of liquid if you think it needs it.

Pour the mixture into a large baking dish and sprinkle the top with Panko crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the crumbs are golden brown.

-----

PS - Everytime I hear the word "tetrazzini" I can't help but think of this clip from Maury.

Tryptophanning Turkey & Tearful Tigers.

Oh, what a great holiday weekend it was.

During the holidays, Cameron and I are always driving around the state of SC. On Thanksgiving, we drive about an hour and a half to spend the first half of the day near Bamberg, SC with his (huge) family. Around 2pm, we drive about an hour to Summerville to spend the second half of the day with my family. Lots of food. Lots of family.

His parents, us, his brother and new(!) sister-in-law

On to Summerville..

My sister and Cameron.

Me with my cousin, Sam.



We went home around 6pm, which felt like 10pm, layed on couch and watched Life as We Know It. I thought it was really cute and I'm pretty sure Cameron even liked it.

Friday I didn't hit up any crazy Black Friday sales. Nope. This girl had to work..but only until 1pm so it wasn't that bad.  Oh, I did get some sweet Black Friday deals at the grocery store. That's how I roll. Get it? Roll..grocery store... Moving on..

Saturday was the BIG GAME DAY! We packed up the car around noon, made a pit stop at Publix for beer, chicken and ice (typical tailgate necessities) and were finally on our way! It was a great day - the weather was just right, I was with some of my favorite people and oh yeah, WE WON!

The Gamecocks.

Uncle Jay, me, Cameron, Aunt Cindy, Cousin Amanda

Our bike ride to tailgate stop #3!

 

A rare sighting - Spurrier smiling.

Great job, Gamecocks!!

PS - I got an early Christmas present from my parents last night - an Iphone! Tell me all of your favorite apps please!



Thankful.