Whirlwind {vacation}

Be back next week ~ Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for visiting!

A walk through Island Heights...

Thanks for visiting!

Creamy Fried Confetti Corn {recipe swap} Thanksgiving Sides

This will be the last of my Thanksgiving side-dish recipes, as we are hitting the road! Here are some of the others..

Carmelized Onion and Gorgonzola Mashed Potatoes

Lighter Broccoli ~ Cauliflower Gratin

Cheesy Olive Potatoes

Last, but certainly not least...

Creamy Fried Confetti Corn

8 Bacon slices, chopped

4 Cups fresh sweet corn kernels

1 Med white onion, chopped

1/3 Cup green bell pepper, chopped

1/3 Cup red bell pepper, chopped

8 Ounces cream cheese, cubed

1/2 Cup of half and half

1 Teaspoon sugar

1 Teaspoon salt

1 Teaspoon pepper

Cook Bacon in a large skillet until crisp; remove and drain.  Reserve 2 tablespoons of drippings in skillet. Chop bacon and set aside.

Sauté corn, onion and bell peppers in hot drippings over med-high heat for 6 minutes or until tender.  Add cream cheese and half and half, stirring until cream cheese melts.  Stir in sugar, salt and pepper.  Place mixture in serving dish and top with bacon.  Serve immediately.

Have a wonderful holiday ~ thanks for visiting!

Road Trip {Thanksgiving 2013}

Cumberland Island, GA

We'll be heading southbound on Friday!

Before we leave Jersey, we'll be dropping by the Renault Winery to get bottles of the Garden States own Blueberry Champagne for our Thanksgiving hostesses.

Blueberry Champagne

Renault Winery, Egg Harbor City, NJ

My posting may be erratic, but I'll pop in from time to time, to document this:

Disney! Can't wait to see it decorated, we've never been during the holiday season.

We'll be staying at the Nickelodeon resort.  Boys picked it...

...and the autograph books are ready and camera is charged.  It's going to be crazy, hectic, exhausting!

Perfectly timed for the rest of the week to be spent with my family {relaxing} in St. Mary's, GA. 

A down home Thanksgiving holiday.  We will be squeezing a ton of stuff into just a few days.

Including Black Friday spent on Cumberland Island.

We will be visiting the First African Baptist Church. Maintained by the National Park Service, this simple one-room frame structure, with 11 handmade pews and three windows on each side, was built in 1937 to replace an earlier 1893 structure.  Also the site of JFK, Jrs. marriage to Carolyn Bessette.  I am sucker for Camelot-related anything...as any good Irish girl should be!

May they rest in peace...

Onto the family holiday!  Spending the holiday with my aunts, uncles and cousins.  

My mother will not be traveling with us, as she will be undergoing surgery shortly after the holiday and unable to travel until.  Please say a prayer for her; we will miss her immensely.  Thank goodness for Facetime!

Traditionally we have Brandy Alexanders during food prep, using my Great Grandmothers china, glassware and silverware.

Brandy Alexanders

1 1/2 oz. Brandy

1 oz. Dark Creme de Cacao

1 oz. Half and Half

1/4 tsp. Grated Nutmeg

Blend or shake with ice ~ delish!

These pieces are so beautiful and well preserved for being so old. I'd pick out the patterns today.

A typical menu from our Thanksgivings...

~Thanksgiving Day Menu~

First Course ~ 11am

Hot Crab Dip

Cold Spinach Dip

Cold Seafood Salad

Assorted Cheeses and Meats

Crackers, Breads and Dippers

Brandy Alexanders (adults only)

Main Course ~ 6:30pm

Roasted Turkey with Traditional Dressing

Mashed White and Sweet Potatoes

Turnips

Scalloped Oysters

Pearl Onions

Green Bean Casserole

Hot Rolls

Gelatin Salad with Carrots (throwback to our foremothers)

Black Olives

Cranberry Sauce

Dessert ~ Assorted pies and fancies.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday and safe travel wherever you may be!

Thanks for visiting!

{Some photos courtesy of Pinterest}

Carmelized Onion and Gorgonzola Mash Potatoes {recipe swap} Thanksgiving Sides

A month of Thanksgiving sides!

This one is a bit richer than the Lighter Broccoli~Cauliflower Gratin I posted last week.  It's so delicious, even if you don't make it for the holiday, try it for a Sunday dinner with steaks or a roast!

Caramelized Onion and Gorgonzola Mashed Potatoes       

3 pounds yukon gold potatoes, peeled and quartered

1-3/4 teaspoons salt, divided

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 medium onions, diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons of chopped, fresh rosemary

1/2 cup of butter or margarine

3/4 cup of half-and-half

3/4 cup of crumbled gorgonzola or blue cheese

3/4 teaspoon pepper

Fresh rosemary sprigs, to garnish

Bring potato, 1 teaspoon salt, and water to a boil in a dutch oven; cook 20-25 minutes or until tender.  Drain and keep warm.

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter with oil in a skillet over medium heat; add onion and cook, stirring often, about 15 minutes or until tender.  Add garlic and cook 3 minutes.  Stir in rosemary; remove from heat.

Mash potato with a potato masher; stir in ½ cup of butter, half-and half, and cheese until blended.  Stir in onion mixture, remaining salt, and pepper.  Spoon, pipe or dollop  mixture into a decorative, ovenproof dish. 

Broil, 3-inches from heat, 5 minutes or until top is lightly browned.  Garnish, if desired.

Thanks for visiting!