Jersey Shore

This past weekend B and I took a trip up to Jersey to visit with my family. Before we knew it we were at the Shore since there was no traffic at all.  For all those not from Jersey, we call all of our beach towns "the Shore". Once you at the Shore you might take a walk to the beach like B and I did with my father.

I have to be honest and say that I could not believe all the damage still left from Sandy this past October.  My uncle sent us all updates and photos. My Gram had to abandon her home until right before Christmas.  My mother told me that it was unlike anything she had ever seen at the Shore. With all that info I was still not prepared for what I saw.  

There was none of the old boardwalk left in Avon. None at all! I have walked the boards in Avon for my whole life and it was truly heartbreaking to see that there was nothing left. But in true Jersey Spirit, the beach was louder than normal. All of the cranes were working and the beach had a bunch of construction workers.  

I could have been sad that I didn't get to walk the boards or feel the sand but I was not. The Avon beach front might not be at its best and many small business have a very long road ahead but so many people are working to make the Shore even better than it was before Sandy. We call that being "Jersey Strong". We might get knocked down but we always come back stronger than ever!!!! 

Gifts from the Homeland

I am a giddy gal!  My parents are coming for a long over due visit and they are bringing gifts!!!  My father graciously went and got a dozen bagels for Hubby, M and myself.  Hubby will simply cut his bagel and put cream cheese on it.  M and I believe in toasting our bagel before we coat it in cream cheese.  And if it was not for Lent we would all be enjoying Taylor Ham and cheese on our bagels. 

As if bagels from Jersey were not gifts enough, my mother is gifting me with my Great Aunt Peggy's Hope Chest.  Can't wait to show you how we style it in its new home!

The Great Mayo Debate

I have been a believer in mayonnaise for as long as I can remember. And by mayonnaise I mean Hellmann's. That was the only mayo I knew growing up. It was not until my sweet MIL gifted me with a subscription to Southern Living my first Christmas living south of the Mason Dixon line that I even knew there was "another" mayo.  It was the SL's Test Kitchen notes that clued me into this other mayonnaise brand, Duke's.  It seems to me that the South is just head over heals in love with Duke's.  For them there will be no other mayo!

I have seen Duke's next to Hellmann's at the store but old habits die hard so I just kept on buying the Hellmann's.  It was not until last week when I "pinned" a recipe for Come Back Sauce  that I saw that there was a great mayo debate.  People are really fired up on the interwebs over which mayo is the best!

I love a good debate so I felt I needed to try Duke's so I could join the discussion. This week I made my favorite sandwich with mayo: toasted whole wheat, turkey and lettuce.  (Yes I know a tomato would have been nice but we all know winter tomatoes are just not right!)  I spread Duke's on both slices of toast like I normally do and then took a bite.....

I have to be honest I could not tell that much of a difference. Although it does have more spices than Hellmann's does I did not feel like the the spices took away from or added to Duke's. That being said, Duke's was definitely "real" mayo not like that super gross Miracle Whip stuff. And in all fairness I think that I would have to make my pimento cheese with Hellman's and Duke's side by side and see if there was a clear winner.

I am looking forward to switching out my Hellman's for Duke's and seeing if I notice a difference over time. Once I have a firm feeling one way or the other I will be ready to join the great mayo debate!

Do I Have To Pick A Team

My father and brothers have always been Giants fans, like so many Jersey-ites, but I can't say I was a true fan like them.  I only really got excited when the Giants made it to the Super Bowl because that meant my mother would let us eat chips, dip and subs in front of the TV.  To a ten year old that was a divine dinner!

Then in college I met a die-hard Redskins fan, Hubby.  Even his grandmother and mother are big fans!  A love for the Redskins seems to run in their veins, so it should not have come as a surprise to me that our children are true Skins fans too.  All three kiddos could sing "Hail To The Redskins" before they were even three. This has led to some epic wagers between the kiddos and my dad over Redskins-Giants games with the loser having to pay up at Dairy Queen. As far as the kids are concerned they win either way!  

I have a feeling my family might think that I am a traitor but it is really too hard not to share in their excitement on game day! (Hubby's note- Huge game tonight as the winner takes the NFC East and a playoff spot! #HTTR!)

   "Fight on, fight on! Til you have won, sons of Washington!"

The Night Before The Night Before

Every year I say that the 23rd of December will not be a crazy day with too much to do in too little time.  And every year it is!  For one reason or another my "to do" list on the 23rd just always gets away from me.  

I never felt like the day got away from my mother but I do remember running all over Essex County trying to get it all done before Christmas Eve.  When I look back and remember that time, I just adored it!  We shopped, baked and made my mother drive around the block so she could hear "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" on the radio.

Maybe my mom was stressed out by her "to do" list.  Maybe she didn't really have the time to drive around our neighborhood just so we could listen to a silly song.  But she did so with a smile!

I pray that my children will look back on the 23rd of December as a busy yet fun day.  Baking, shopping, wrapping but most of all laughter!

Comfort And Joy

I love to cook and bake.  Both bring me such joy!  It might be because at this stage of my life I love a simple project with a beginning and an end.  I have baked "take home" treats for my kiddos' teachers numerous times but this week I really wanted to bake for everyone.  I know that last Friday has weighted heavily on all teachers so I turned to my Gram's tried and true coffee cake.

Coffee Cake - My Gram's recipe

1 yellow cake mix (I always use Pillsbury but I am biased)

3 sticks of unsalted butter

3 1/2 cups flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 

3 teaspoons cinnamon

Cake: Mix cake mix according to the package directions.  Line jelly-roll sheet pan with tinfoil.  (Forgive me Gram but I use parchment paper.)  Under-cook approximately 5 minutes.

Topping: Melt 3 sticks of butter.  After removing from the heat add the vanilla.  Combine flour, brown and white sugar, and cinnamon.  Combine with the melted butter to create crumb topping.  Carefully place topping on cake by hand.  Bake for 15 minutes at 350 or util lightly brown.  Cool and enjoy!!!

Might be a Jersey thing but Gram always called this coffee cake since you eat with your morning coffee.  Totally makes sense to me but then again I am a Jersey girl!

She Shopped Until She Dropped

I love Black Friday!  For as long as I can remember I have just adored it.  While there are many great malls in NoVa, there is a mall in Jersey that I just love.  The Mall at Short Hills will always have my shopping heart!!!  I can not tell you how overjoyed I am that my daughter has joined me and my mother the last couple of years.  

Being expert shoppers Mom and I knew not to try and park at the mall.  On Black Friday we always park off of Canoe Brook Road in the office parking.  Trust us!!!  

B was a little lady on a mission!  We have been looking for colored denim jeans for B since August and today we finally found a pair at J. Crew that looked too cute to pass up.  And a cute top with some "bling".  I tried on the J. Crew Cafe Capri in red tartan which has been all over the blog-world.  I loved them but B told me that they looked like pj bottoms.  So I walked out empty handed:(

While the shopping trip might have worn B out, my mom and I were over the moon that B inherited our "shopping for a deal" gene!  Happy Holiday Shopping Y'all!!!

Different But The Same

Is your Thanksgiving like mine?  Filled with traditions that have been followed more years than I have been alive.  Every year Gram cooks the turkey, stuffing and makes the soup for Thanksgiving dinner at her Shore house.  All of her children and grandchildren fill out the meal with sides and dessert.  For at least the last four years I have made the same dishes: pimento cheese as an appetizer,  sweet potato casserole for a side and pumpkin pie for the dessert table.

Some might find it boring that we don't really mess around with the menu or venue, but that is the way my Pop liked it. And if it was good enough for Pop it was more than good enough for the rest of us since he was so loved and adored by my family. So even though Pop said his last Thanksgiving grace in 2009 we keep the traditions going as a way to remember him.

Due to Sandy we had to break with some of the traditions this year.  Gram and Pop's house was damaged during the storm and still is without power.  So my Uncle C gather as many Thanksgiving supplies as he could from Gram's home and brought them to my Aunt E's house.  The show must go on!

So just like every year I tried to take a family photo worthy of our Christmas card.  And per usual my kiddos did not work with me!

My Aunt's wedding china and silver looked beautiful laid out on Gram's Thanksgiving table cloths.  In fact this year there was more room so the "head table" and "weenie table" could even chat!

Being the competitive group that we are we still played "Hang By Your Nose".  Not sure at all how to explain this game in a blog post. Simply put it is a game that my Pop came up with using an old vacuum head and green tarp.  Sounds weird but trust me it is a good time!

So even though things did not go according to plan we had a great time.  I was surrounded by my family and felt my Pop's presence.  He would have been so proud that we did not have tears for things lost by the storm but rather we rejoiced in the fact that we were still all together on Thanksgiving!

Worlds Collide

All the years I watched the Oprah Winfrey Show I remembered hearing Oprah's little plug for "Chicago's Magnificent Mile".  So of course I made Hubby go shopping on Michigan Ave this past Saturday afternoon.  As we were enjoying our shopping and people watching, I could not help but notice the beautiful way the city's trees where dressed up for the holidays.  I was pleasantly surprised to see magnolia leaves in Chicago.  So pretty!  I can't wait to mix my magnolia leaves with evergreen branches next week.

Saturday night at my cousin's wedding there continued to be Southern touches.  There were many candle lit lanterns used as wedding decor.  To me they had a Charleston feel to them, but then again I have not been back to Charleston in six years.  Regardless, they gave off such a pretty glow!

And the menu also had some Southern dishes.  I might have indulged in more than one deviled eggs.  And Hubby enjoyed the "Georgia Pork" that was accompanied with "cheesy polenta".  You say polenta, I say grits!

    

While there were many "Southern Living" touches to my cousin's wedding, the best part for me was being with my Jersey cousins.  You should have seen us on the dance floor!

No matter where you live, having cousins that you truly love hanging out with is an awesome blessing!!!