2010

I sat down last night to write down a list of things I'd like to accomplish in 2010. My list was far from ambitious. As I tried to put a little more thought into it, my mind began reminiscing. In 2009 I moved to Savannah, started a new job, got married, and bought a house. So here's what I came up with for 2010:

                                              

Frost Bite!

Savannah weather forecast: Tonight 24, Tomorrow 44, Tomorrow night 24... and I know it's snowing in Mississippi! Don't forget to bring your plants inside. Did I mention I don't have a green thumb???

Sunday Brunch

Michael's specialty, eggs benedict. It was the first thing he cooked for me, and yes, he scored lots of points! He's made it with steak, crab cakes, and this morning the more traditional canadian bacon. Delicious every time!

Remembering 2009

I copied this template from my good friend, Lisa’s, blog (check it out here). She writes about gardening and I swear she should write a book! Unlike my mom and granny, I don’t have a green thumb, but Lisa has inspired me to at least start thinking about getting my hands dirty. So, for 2010, here’s a list of the top 9… plus one. 

#1 Most Memorable Moment: Had to have been from our wedding... to narrow it down to one moment, it was probably our first dance. That's when the ceremony was over, Michael and I had stayed behind to take photos after the guests had left for the reception. When we finally arrived at the BB Club everyone was already there, the band was playing, and the drinks were flowing. The singer welcomed us and we walked through the crowd to the front of the room and started dancing. It was a huge rush! Looking back at pictures I had a death grip on his arm... I was glad to have Michael to hold onto!

#2 Biggest Discovery: Savannah. I moved here in February and am continuously discovering my new home. My favorite parts are the trees that are old as the dinosaurs and just as big, the residential areas of downtown that make you feel like you're walking around in France, and the water. I'm learning you can't separate Savannah from the water that surrounds her and truly adds to her identity.

#3 Biggest Mistake: Letting my emotions get the best of me. I'm going to assume that my female friends know what I'm talking about :)

#4 Biggest Accomplishment: Obtaining and transitioning from my sales job in Birmingham to my new territory and business unit in Savannah. I've really enjoyed getting to know my new customers and love the new products I sell! I feel very lucky to have the job that I have. Although it may not be my "dream job", it's the best I can imagine as an alternative.

#5 Best Movie: I don't recall seeing anything profound this year. A couple of favorites that stick out are the Hangover (I'm with you Lisa), and more recently It's Complicated. The Hangover wasn't that funny the first time but it just gets funnier and funnier every time I watch it. And It's Complicated was surprisingly very funny!

#6 Best Song: I haven't had a music update since I lived in Oxford, MS. I'm drawing a blank here, although it dawned on me a few months back that one of my top 5 albums of all time is Counting Crows, August and Everything After. 

#7 Best Meal: I have eaten well this year, but I think I'll go with the short ribs and grits from Anchuca Historic Mansion and Inn in Vicksburg, MS, the night of our rehearsal supper. I have ordered short ribs since and can't find any that compare, including at the Beaver Creek Hyatt, and Rathbun's in Atlanta. The combination of great company, great food, and the last night I was a Franco make this meal the best of 2009.

#8 Best Book: Non - fiction: Captivating, by Stasi Eldredge. Fiction: Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer. I have only read 3 or 4 books this year, but really enjoyed both of those. Both are listed on my bookshelf to the right.

#9 What Made Me Laugh: Michael makes me laugh on a regular basis. That's one of the reasons I love him so much. He sees the comedy in the most ordinary of situations, which makes life more fun.

+1... My Biggest Wish for 2010: I want to get involved with hands on charity work. Still need some direction here but it's something that has been on my to-do list for a while. Let me know if you have any ideas or organizations I should check out.

Happy New Year! Hope this year is the best one for you yet!

Holiday Cooking!

Season's greetings my family and friends!

Michael and I enjoyed a non-traditional Christmas this year as I guess any two newly weds would. After all the organized chaos of 2009, we took a break and stayed put in Savannah. Michael had to work Christmas Eve but when he got off we went to midnight mass at the Cathedral. The bishop led the service and it was truly one of the most beautifully decorated churches I have ever seen.

Photo inside the cathedral (sans Christmas decor)

I had my own ideas about cooking this year, but after watching Julie and Julia I was definitely motivated. I got somewhat ambitious, as was evident from a recipe that actually read "(yes, you can)" after detailed instructions on how to cut a cornish hen, after it was cooked and all cavities stuffed with dressing, from its breast bone through its backbone with a chef's knife right before serving. The menus included, in no particular order:

• white chocolate covered pretzels with red sugar sprinkles - no recipe needed
• hot sausage and cheese balls (granny franco's recipe)
• sauteed chicken breast with capers and lemon - Frank Stitt recipe
• stuffed game hens - Roy Finamore recipe
• beef wellington - Tyler Florence recipe
• Michael's peanut butter BBQ ribs... top secret!

I met Roy Finamore when I lived in Oxford. I don't know too much about him other than he wears orange rubber shoes like Mario Batali, he lives in New York, and he's a great cook. His cookbook, Tasty, won a James Beard award in 2007 for Best General Cookbook. So far everything I've made from it rocks. I tried my hand this Christmas at his recipe for stuffed little birds and it was simply delicious and in retrospect, would be hard to screw up. I found the game hens, or cornish hens, in the frozen section at Fresh Market, wrapped 2 per package. They were only $10 for 2, and one bird feeds 2 people. For the great price, elegant presentation, and robust flavor, I will definitely be cooking this one again... both to entertain and just for Michael and I.

Check out the recipe for *Stuffed Little Birds*

The other recipe worth noting is the beef wellington from Tyler Florence, of the Food Network. The first time I had beef wellington was in Oxford, at Yocona, and as you can imagine, it was unbelievable. This recipe makes a duxelle pate (mushrooms, onions, garlic), and you wrap the beef in prosciutto, duxelles, then the pastry. Everyone at the dinner table was speechless. Even my dad, who doesn't like mushrooms, went back for seconds. It was hard to find the 3 lb. tenderloin that we needed, so I ended up paying for more than twice what I needed, and it was not so economical. I would only entertain with this recipe... it could feed about 8 people and might cost you about $10 per person. Part of the cooking process involved a reduction sauce using Brandy and creating a flambe that was active for about 5 or so minutes, a fun part of the cooking process!

Check out the recipe for *Tyler's Ultimate Beef Wellington*

And, if you are in the mood to go to the movies, I highly recommend It's Complicated. It was really funny and not just a chick-flick.

Birthday in Beaver Creek, CO!

Earlier this year, back in January, I planned a surprise trip out West for Michael's 30th birthday, which fell over the Thanksgiving holiday. We went to Beaver Creek, CO, about 10 miles west of Vail...

Neither of us had been to Beaver Creek before, and it was Michael's first time to Colorado. Beaver Creek is a cozy village kept to itself with ski-in ski-out access. From our hotel, a Kessler resort, we could walk everywhere, and we did. I actually found it bizarre that it wasn't easy to go outside of the village unless you had your own transportation (a cab ride to Vail, only 10 minutes away, was at least $50). The weekend we arrived marked opening weekend for the slopes and was considered off-season. The nice part of that is that certain things were offered at a discount, such as ski rentals and lift tickets, and it also wasn't as crowded getting around. On the other hand, several top restaurants were still closed, including those that Beaver Creek are known for, and the limited snow made only a few runs available. Compared to Vail, Beaver Creek is considered family friendly and shuts down early, about 10 PM. That didn't bother us considering we were still functioning on Eastern time.

Beaver Creek Lodge

View from our window

Michael in the blue jacket

Our skiis

Ice skating inside the village

There was a ginger bread house competition.

This house won grand prize!

Each year Beaver Creek hosts a Christmas tree lighting complete with Christmas carols, a visit from Santa, and fireworks! It was very serene and would put anyone in the Christmas spirit. Skiing, of course, was our favorite part of the weekend. There were several green runs open at the top of the mountain, but no beginner access to the bottom. So, the first day we took the lift back to the bottom. Yesterday, however, was another story! It took me a while to warm up to the idea of going down the blue run, which was thought to be black in certain areas. Once we decided to do it, there was no turning back. I was so proud of both of us for zipping down the mountain and having fun doing it! Watching little kiddies, literally two feet tall, ski it like pros might have given us some motivation!

Fireworks after the tree lighting!

The giant tree they lit!

We are finally home and Michael was welcomed by a mailbox full of birthday cards. I hope 30 is a good year for him! Happy Birthday, Michael!

Proud of our University

*I was shocked when Michael told me he heard on sports radio that the KKK would be rallying at Ole Miss this weekend. In utter disbelief I tried to understand what was going on. In all naivety, I truly believed the KKK was a thing of the past, before my time. I am severely disappointed to know they still exist, in a way that words cannot describe.

KKK RALLY AT OLE MISS

click link to see video

This weekend there was a KKK rally held at Ole Miss to protest the University's decision to do away with the age old tradition of the Ole Miss band playing "From Dixie with Love" during football games. The reason the University decided to get rid of it is because at the end of the song, the students always yell, "The South with rise again".

I had mixed emotions on this topic until the KKK decided to protest the University's decision, claiming they were in support of free speech and that the students should be able to say whatever they wanted. Now, of course, I'm wholly in on the decision to rid of all tradition if there is even the slightest relation to anything racist. Away with the rebel flag, Col. Reb, and Dixie!

You can click on the link above to see the entire rally, only 10 mins long. I have always been proud of MS and where I am from, and today I am proud of our Univeristy. All of the protestors banded together and read the University's creed, which is what we actually believe and stand for:

"The University of Mississippi is a community of learning dedicated to nurturing excellence in intellectual inquiry and personal character in an open and diverse environment. As a voluntary member of this community:

I believe in respect for the dignity of each person

I believe in fairness and civility

I believe in personal and professional integrity

I believe in academic honesty

I believe in academic freedom

I believe in good stewardship of our resources

I pledge to uphold these values and encourage others to follow my example."