Simple and Fresh Summer Dinner- Pear, Pecan and Gorgonzola Salad

Hello, happy Tuesday! I do not know if you are like me, but I feel like this summer is FLYING by!  We will be in football season again before you know it! During the summer, I always struggle with what to prepare for dinner that does not require the oven.  Since our home doesn't have air conditioning, it makes dinner time especially steamy if I am cooking a big meal in the oven.  So, as a result, I have had to come up with delicious and easy meals that are quick and oven free.  One of my newest favorites is a simple Pear, Pecan and Gorgonzola salad, with a balsamic vinaigrette.  This recipe is SO easy it will take you less than 10 minutes start to finish. If you want protein, you could add some prosciutto or grilled chicken.  

Pear, Pecan and Gorgonzola Salad

• Spring salad mix (or whatever is your favorite)
• 1 medium anjou pear, sliced thin
• 2-3 Tbsp gorgonzola cheese (per serving)
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped pecans (could used walnuts as well!)
• Balsamic vinegar dressing ( I use Brianna's New American Balsamic..its my FAVORITE!)

Place a good sized portion of the salad mix on each plate.  Evenly divide the pear slices between each plate. Sprinkle over cheese and pecans to each plate and drizzle with your favorite balsamic vinegar dressing. ENJOY!

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Southern Summers: Top 5 List

Now that summer has officially begun, I thought it would be fun to reflect back on the things that I miss about the summers of the South. I know you are thinking...how could you miss the hot and humid weather...well I don't really miss that...but summers in the south do have their own sense of charm.  Don't get me wrong the summers in the PNW are fantastic, and sunny and humidity free, but the south is my home, and there will always be things that I love...enjoy!

The Beach

AHHH the BEACH...that feeling of the sand between your toes, warm salty breeze in your hair, and an ice cold beverage in your hand.  To say I miss the beach is an understatement!   Here in the the PNW, there is not a "beach" per say , they have what they call the "coast", which is BEAUTIFUL and majestic  in its own way. The coast is rocky and the water is so cold that you need to wear a wetsuit to swim (seriously!).  My husband and I like to head over to the coast and sit on the beach and watch the waves of the Pacific come crashing to shore, or spend the day exploring tidal pools of Cannon Beach, OR .  Growing up, I spent my summer vacations in one of two places,  the Florida panhandle or Tybee Island, GA . I have some of the most amazing memories of both of these places, and I look forward to one day being able to vacation there again. In the meantime, I will live vicariously through all of my southern friends as they post the "toes in the sand" pics on Facebook and Instagram.

Lighting Bugs

Lighting bugs or fireflies...if you were a child that grew up in the south..you knew what these majestic little bugs were..they were the unofficial mascot of the summer!  Whenever lighting bugs began appearing  you knew that summer was on its way.   These little critters bring up so many good memories of my childhood.  We often would spend time in southern Alabama with my family during the summer. My grandparents had a huge backyard, that my cousins and I would run around in all day long, and at dusk, we would grab jars with holes punched in the top and spend hours catching lighting bugs.   It never really dawned on me that other places in the US do not have them, until we moved west.  It makes me sad to think that the children of the PNW have to grow up without this unofficial summer time mascot... I know I sure do miss seeing them at dusk!

Southern Summer Cuisine

As you probably can guess by now..I love food! During the summer, there are certain foods that I automatically begin to crave.  My top things that I begin to crave that tap into my southern roots are peaches, watermelon, and shaved ice.  

Peaches:  Growing up there was a constant debate about which state had the best peaches; Georgia, Alabama or South Carolina.  I for one have never met a southern peach I didn't like, but I will say that peaches grown outside of that rich southern soil ARE NOT the same. 

Watermelon:  The same goes for watermelon, my all time favorite watermelon comes from Grand Bay, Alabama...every summer when I would go to visit my grandparents in south Alabama, we would drive over to Grand Bay to pick out the perfect watermelon out of someone's pickup truck off the side of the road.  These watermelons are plump and sweet.  

Shaved Ice:  Hawaiian shaved ice stands dot the southern landscape. I grew up down the street from one that sat in the Winn Dixie parking lot. We frequented that stand during those hot and humid summer nights.  One would think, that Oregon would have such stands since we are WAY closer to Hawaii than Georgia...but they do not!  I have seen ONE since I have been out here and it was a food truck at a festival.  There are "rumors" that there is a stand at a pool in South Eugene, but my eyes have not seen this place yet.  What I wouldn't give for one of those delicious frozen treats! Maybe I should open a stand in Oregon! 

 Southern BBQ

In the south, BBQ is one of the quintessential parts of summer. Now, as with the great peach debate, there is much debate surrounding which southern state has the "best" bbq. But I can tell you from first hand experience, there is not one kind of southern BBQ that I didn't like.   Now residents of Oregon claim to make BBQ at several restaurants, I have tried said restaurants and they are NOT BBQ. I am not sure what they are..some sort of smoked pork product, but not BBQ!   

Afternoon Thunderstorms and "Heat Lighting"

Thunderstorms used to be part of my daily vernacular.  People in the PNW FREAK out about thunderstorms (totally not kidding on this). They get "excited" when its thunders or lightings. I for one miss those afternoon thunderstorms, that would barrel through, and leave behind a cool breeze and lower humidity.  Heat lightening, is another southern summer phenomenon that I miss. For those of you that do not know, heat lightening is what can occur on a hot summer evening. It typically is not accompanied by rain or thunder. I am sure there is a scientific reason for this type of summer phenomenon, but, either way..I love it and miss it dearly.

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Em's Chicken Salad with Pecans, Grapes and Vidalia Onions

Hello all..it has been a LONG time since my last post.  I have been quite ill, and am recovering from spinal surgery over the past month. Now that I am finally on the mend, I am ready to jump back into my life again..and for me this includes cooking.  Cooking for me is relaxing, I enjoy making dinner for my husband each night.  I learned to cook at a very young age, this stems from the fact that in the South,  the kitchen is the heart of the home. I have so many fond memories of cooking timeless recipes with my mom and grandmother. Memories that I hope to be able to pass on to my children   one day!

As I prepared to dive back into cooking again after my surgery, I had my husband take me to a local farm to pick up some yummy fresh fruits and veggies.  I stocked up my basket with plenty of squash, zucchini, and tomatoes.  But then, I noticed that they had onions...not any onions, but the onions I grew up eating, Vidalia Onions, from Vidalia, Georgia.  These onions are sweet and delicious. They bring back SO many memories of summer time growing up in Georgia.  My dad would smother a Vidalia onion in butter, then wrap it in tin foil and place it on the grill.  It was DELICIOUS!  So when I spotted these onions 2700 miles from their home, I had to get some! 

When we arrived home, I began thinking about all the wonderful dishes I could make with these onions.  Since I am a lover of chicken salad, I decided to whip up a yummy batch with these onions. The result was too good not to share!  So for all you PNW'ers, if you see these onions in the local grocery store, scoop them up...you will NOT be disappointed!

Em's Chicken Salad with Pecans, Grapes and Vidalia Onions

• 1 rotisserie chicken shredded (could use 2-3 cooked chicken breast)
• 3 cups of grapes, sliced (I used green..but any type grape would work!)
• 1/2 cups of chopped pecans
• 1/3 cup of mayonnaise (I prefer Blue Plate, which I order in bulk on Amazon)
• 1/2 Vidalia onion, diced 
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.  Add more mayo as needed. Enjoy with your favorite crackers, or eat straight out of the bowl (thats what I did!).

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Greek Gyro: An Easy Saturday Night Dinner!

Oregon...the land of lamb...before moving to the PNW I had NEVER had lamb. The only thing I knew of lamb was that it was precious baby animal.  Then we moved here and lamb EVERYWHERE. I don't just mean at restaurants, or at the grocery stores...no I mean that there are flocks of sheep/lamb everywhere!  It is quite a sight during the when you drive along the interstate 5 and see lamb far as the eye can see.  

Like I said, I had never even thought of eating it until I moved to the PNW (in the south we eat a lot of chicken, pork and beef!).  Then one day I tried it...it was DELICIOUS. Our good friends had us over to dinner one night and the wife prepared "greek gyros" with ground lamb meat. It was seriously one the best dishes I have ever had. From that one experience...my recipe for Lamb Gyro was born. I took my friends recipe (thanks again Alyssa!) and added my own twist to it.  Im telling you right now, this is one of the easiest and most delicious things to add to your dinner rotation.  

Greek Gyro (Serves 4)

• 3/4 lb ground lamb ( I get it from the meat counter in my local Market of Choice, Whole foods or another type market would most likely carry good quality lamb)
• 2 cloves of garlic- diced
• 1 tsp fresh lemon zest
• 1 tsp fresh parsley
• 1tsp fresh dill
• 1tsp fresh mint
• salt and peper to taste

To dress the gyro:

• diced tomatoes 
• sliced and peeled cucumber
• tzatziki sauce ( I use a local company that is sold in the stores..Im lazy!)
• crumbled feta cheese
• diced red onion
• sliced black or kalamata olives
• sliced banana peppers
• Spinach leaves
• Greek flat bread 

1.  Combine lamb and next 7 ingredients in a bowl.  Heat a large skillet with olive oil (you can also put on grill if the weather is nice!).  Form the meat mixture into long hot dog like logs (see picture below).  Place in hot pan.  Cook over medium heat, rotating ever so often to evenly cook the meat.

2.  While the meat is cooking, slice up all your veggies to dress the gyro, and heat up the flat bread on a stove top skillet (a few minutes each side). Do not leave on too long or will burn.

3.  Once meat is browned on all sides, take off heat and place on paper towel to rest. Slice the meat logs in half long ways, so that it will fit nicely on the flat bread.

4.  Take flat bread and place a layer of spinach down, then place the meat on top. Add as many toppings as you like and finish with tzatziki sauce and a sprinkle of feta. 

5.  Wrap the  entire flat bread in foil (makes it MUCH easier to eat!), and serve with your favorite side. I usually pick up something from the deli case at the grocery store, but would also pair nicely with a salad!

Enjoy!

ENJOY!

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Laissez les bon temps roulez!

Laissez les bon temps roulez...Let the good times roll...this phrase symbolizes the season of Mardi Gras.  Whether you are in New Orleans or Mobile (THE original birthplace) during the months of January, February and sometimes even March (depending on when Easter falls), this is a phrase you hear often.  

Historically Mardi Gras is tied to a religious celebration.  It is the last BIG party before Lent, or the 40 days leading up to Easter each year.  The idea being that you get all your partying out, and then for 40 days you repent prior to Easter.  For me Mardi Gras is a tradition that is deeply rooted in my southern upbringing. I have attended Mardi Gras parades for as long as I can remember.

Each year, everyone always is sad after the Christmas and New Year's holidays are over.  In our family, we are EXCITED because that means that Mardi Gras is only a few weeks away.  My husband and father are both members of a parading organization, and it is a  BIG deal to prep for this each year. So each year when my holiday decorations come down my Mardi Gras decorations go up! I guarantee you that I am the ONLY person in Eugene OR to have a purple, green and gold Mardi Gras wreath on my front door (see pics below)!

When we first moved to the PNW, we were telling some of our new friends about Mardi Gras, and they kinda looked at us like we had three eyes. They were like, uh you go to New Orleans each year and lift your shirt for beads.  We laughed, and then explained to them, that New Orleans Mardi Gras and the partying you see on Bourbon Street IS NOT what our Mobile, AL Mardi Gras is all about.  Mobile is the original birthplace of Mardi Gras, it is MUCH tamer and family friendly.  Ours is about getting together with all of our extended family for one weekend a year, where we go to parades, and get dressed up and go to a ball.  Our non-southern friends are so intrigued by the customs of Mardi Gras and we often have long conversations about all the traditions that go along with it.  I have to admit it was a bit strange at first being amongst a population of people who had no idea about this tradition. And Lord, it took me forever to find ANY decorations for my house...Thank GOD for Amazon Prime! :)  My husband and I have LOVED being able to share this tradition with our PNW friends. In fact, it has become our annual tradition to host a Mardi Gras party, complete with all the traditional foods, I even had crawfish flown in from the south last year!  Mardi Gras is southern tradition that I have really enjoyed bringing to the PNW, and maybe along the way I may even convince some of our PNW friends to come down and join us one year!

Laissez les bon temps roulez!  

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens Soup: A new way to use New Year's Day Leftovers

Like all good Southerns, each year on New Year's Day a feast is prepared with all the traditional  dishes. The typical New Year's Day meal is comprised of some sort of pork product (chops, loin, etc), black eyed peas, collard greens and cornbread. Here is a good link with all the explanation and history behind this traditional meal: Southern New Year's Day Feast.  As I have gotten older I have come to look forward to this meal and typically spend atleast a day prior prepping the peas and collard greens (WHICH are hard to find in Oregon!).  The one thing that is hard is cooking this meal for two people without having SO many leftovers that you do not know what to do with them.  

Instead of eating plan old leftovers for several days... this year I put together a new recipe to "reuse" the peas and collards.  I created a large pot of soup, which I was able to munch on for a few days AND put half of it away in the freezer for a chilly winter night! I created this soup from scratch, which may sound scary, but, it really was simple!  My husband loved it so much he had two BIG helpings!

Black Eyed Peas and Collard Soup (AKA Scarlett O's Stone Soup--as coined by my husband!)

• 3 cloves of garlic- peeled and diced
• 2 stalks of celery-diced
• 2 carrots-diced
• 1/2 medium white onion- diced
• 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
• Salt/ Pepper 
• 2 cups of chicken stock (could use vegetable)
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp parsley
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (could omit)
• 3-4 Cups of Pot Likker (reserved juice from cooked collard greens)
• 1-2 small potatoes-peeled and diced
• Can of Kidney beans- 14.5 oz- do not rinse- add juice
• Can of diced tomatoes-14.5 oz
• Can of fire roasted, diced tomatoes- 14.5 oz
• 3 Cups Black Eyed Peas
• 3  Cups of Collard Greens
• Medium package of Link Sausage/ Kabasa sliced into small bite sized pieces ( I used a spicy pork sausage--I like spicy food!

Instructions: 

1. In large pot, sauté' garlic, carrots, onion and celery in 3 Tbsp of olive oil, until tender>
2. Add Salt/Pepper (to taste--I did two pinches of salt, and a few grinds of pepper from the pepper mill).
3. Add 2 Cups of chicken stock, oregano, parsley and red pepper flakes, let simmer a minute or two.
4. Add Pot Likker (juice from cooked collard greens) and potatoes and let simmer for another few minutes or so.
5. Add kidney beans, diced tomatoes, fire roasted tomatoes, black eyed peas, collard greens and sausage to the pot.
6. Let simmer on low for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Serve piping hot with a parmesan cheese and crusty bread

Simmering!

ENJOY!

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Happy New Year

Hello all,

Now that the holiday season is over, it is time to dive into the new year! And I don't know about you but I was READY for 2014 to be over! Nothing makes me happier at the beginning of a new year than to get a new planner. Call me old fashion, but despite all the technology in the world, I like the good old fashion paper planner.  It could be my type A personality, but there is nothing more satisfying than making a "to do" list and being able to check things off.

As I was preparing to purchase a new planner, I decided this year I would make the leap to get a nicer, more customized planner than the typical Target brand I have gotten in years past. I begin doing some research and there are quite a few "trendy" planners out there.  I really loved Erin Condrine's planners, but I couldn't bite the bullet on the price.  So I looked around a bit  more, and decided to look on Etsy, for a customized planner.  And let me tell you I was BLOWN away by some of the choices on Etsy, there are truly some very talented people in the world!  After comparing for hours, I finally decided on a customized, monogram (you know I HAD too..I'm southern) planner from Lotus Paper Co.   I selected a design, and contacted the owner...low and behold the owner is from Bend, OR...small world indeed!  She worked with me to design a planner that would fit my needs and meet my budget.  I am in LOVE with my new planner, if you are looking for one, I highly suggest contacting Christina at Lotus Paper Co..you will NOT be disappointed!

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Things no one tells you about leaving the South

Hello all,

I have been on a bit of a hiatus from blogging due to the holidays and traveling. I came upon this article on Buzzfeed, and it pretty much sums up all the things that one one told me when I moved away from the south...here is the article: Things no on tells you about leaving the south.....

Here are a few comments I have on the items listed.....

1) Referring to all carbonated beverages as "coke"- Having grown up in the South, I assumed that everyone drank coke products... WRONG WRONG WRONG...What i have found is that for the most part the west coast (or atleast Oregon ) is predominately a Pepsi culture...which I tell is NOT the same as Coke!  I learned rather quickly that when someone offers a soda, to make sure that it is a coke product before accepting.  Diet Pepsi=dirty dishwater in my books!

2) Manners....well, manners on the West coast are different. That is not to say that people are not nice, and hold the door open for you, etc.  BUT, having grown up in a culture of "yes ma'am and no sir", I have had to QUICKLY break that habit. I have found that individuals out here DO NOT like being called ma'am or sir, and they often even find it insulting, like I am trying to say they are old.  I slip up every now and again, but I have to reserve those manners for when I am at home in the south.

3) Sweet Tea---NOT the same outside of the south...NOT the same AT ALL! Except for the rare find of the Milo's sweet tea at the local Walmart...that was just a God send!

4) Yep, most everyone assumes that all southerns are a bunch of dumb, hick rednecks.  And are surprised that I can read and wear shoes!

5)Using the word y'all in Oregon, usually illicit a response such as, "are you southern", or "you are not from around here are you"!

6)BBQ outside of the south is NOT GOOD...I REPEAT...NOT GOOD! Unless you know someone with a smoker and makes it at home...it is not WORTH wasting your calories on the stuff they call "BBQ" in the PNW...Its

7) Mosquitos...the people out here complain about them..but they are NOTHING like they are in the deep south...NOTHING.  Growing up visiting my family in South Alabama, there were times I saw mosquitos so big I could have but a saddle on them and ridden them....

11) I would like to add to this list CHICKFIL A and Cracker Barrel, I have been so surprised how many people in the PNW do not know anything about either of these FANTASTIC dining establishments!

12) Air Conditioning...as I discussed in a previous post, it still blows my Southern mind that we live in a place where AC is not common place...its weird...so VERY weird! Here is my previous post on the topic: What do mean we don't have AC in our house??? 

15) Football, yet again something I have discussed in great detail in other posts..IS NOT THE SAME in the PNW.  See previous post: Football Attire PNW Style .

17) Southern Sayings- I have found myself having to explain the true meaning of "bless her heart" far too often. As all southerns know, the saying has a double meaning it a)is a phrase of pure passive aggressiveness about said person in question...example..."Awww look what she is wearing ...bless her heart", and b) it serves as a term of empathy for someone..example.." The poor guy lost his job and his dog died, bless his heart".  People out in the PNW are actually floored when I explain the double meaning to the phrase!

20) Summer- Summer in the south means one thing: HOT HUMID and MISERABLE.  I find it comical when there is a "heat advisory" in Oregon...and the temperature is pushing 90 degrees with 70% humidity.  These PNW natives would NEVER make it in the South during the summer if they think its a hot day at 90 degrees.



Here are is one additional one I would add to the list:


*Happy Holidays NOT Merry Christmas, is the preferred holiday greeting outside of the south- One thing I have learned is that in the PNW, religion is NOT the center of everyone's universe, as it often is in the south. This does not mean that I am not still religious, it is just that everyone is EXTREMELY sensitive to ALL religions/creeds/beliefs when it comes to the holiday seasons.


I hope you all are having a Happy Holiday!

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Pimento Cheese...I FOUND Pimento Cheese in OREGON

So anyone who is from the south knows about pimento cheese.  This delicious cheese spread is the cornerstone of every baby shower and warm summer's day menu.  Moving to Oregon, I assumed I could find it out here...UH WRONG...in fact most people out here have not even heard of it! I have introduced most of our friends out here to this delicious cheese spread, and they LOVE IT!  I have resorted to making the deliciousness from scratch since I can't find it at any store, UNTIL this last week. I ventured into the local Safeway and found the Price's Pimento Cheese that I grew up on in the deli case. Y'all I was SO excited I let out  a little squeak, the other shoppers around me turning to stare. I quickly scooped up a container and headed home to dig in.  I know that Price's is not THE best pimento cheese, but it was nice to find a little piece of the south in the supermarket.  I thought I would share with y'all my favorite go to pimento cheese recipe for when I have a hankering for some homemade pimento cheese sandwiches...here ya go...enjoy!

Emily's Pimento Cheese recipe (adapted from southern living)

2 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese (get a block of cheese and shred yourself) 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup Blue Plate mayonnaise 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper  1/4 teaspoon onion powder 1 (4 ounce) jar diced pimento, drained salt and black pepper to taste Place the Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and pimento into the large bowl, stir together. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Allow to sit in the fridge for a few hours for all the flavors to meld.  Enjoy!

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Scarlett O's Fall Potpourri Recipe

Hello all,

I have been out of town this last week tapping into my southern roots! I ate plenty of delicious southern foods and saw family and friends, it was an amazing trip home!  Upon my arrival back to the PNW, I was greeted by rainy, windy and COLD weather! I was not quite ready for that shock after spending 7 days in cool, crisp, southern sunshine!

A great way to welcome in the fall/rainy season is to engulf your home in the smell of the season.  I thought I would share with you all my fail proof way to make your house smell amazing and get you in the fall spirit!  I developed this recipe after some trial and error, but I have since perfected this lovely stove top potpourri, guaranteed to make your house smell AMAZING...here is my recipe..enjoy!

Fall potpourri

1.  6-8 cloves
2.  3-4 cinnamon sticks
3.  2 star anise
4.  1/2 orange peel
5.  2-3 cups of water
6.  1 spice bag

1.  Place all ingredients 1-3 (cloves, cinnamon, and star anise) in spice bag, close tightly.
2.  Slice 1/2 an orange, discarding the meat of the fruit, you only need the peel!
3. Place spice bag, 1/2 orange peel and 2-3 cups of water in a large pot on your stove.
4. Turn eye of stove on low, and simmer away to fall perfection.

I picked up my spices in the bulk section of my supermarket, as you don't need an entire jar to create this several times.  I also picked up the spice bags at my supermarket, but I am sure you could pick them up at any local craft stores!

The wonderful smell will engulf your house in minutes! Sit back, brew you a cup of apple cider and ENJOY! I know I did!

sliced oranges for potpourri

Star anise, cloves, cinnamon and spice bag

ENJOY!

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Top 5 Things I Love About Oregon in the Fall

It seems everyone these days is doing a list of their favorite things...so in the spirit of the beginning of the fall season, I put together the top 5 things I have discovered I LOVE about Fall in Oregon. So in no particular order, here you go....


1. Coffee, Coffee, Coffee- As I have discussed before, Oregon has some amazing coffee shops. Pretty sure Starbucks got this area of the country on the map!  There is nothing more wonderful about fall in Oregon than all the delicious coffee shops that you can indulge in on rainy cold days!  A few of my favs in the Eugene area are:  Starbucks (DUH), Dutch Bros (see previous posts on this one!), Vero and Allan Bros.

2.  Pumpkin Patches and Orchards- In the south there are some pumpkin patches, but what I have heard from some of southern friends is that they are not TRUE pumpkin patches at all!  They are  merely old watermelon vines that someone goes and puts bought pumpkins in the field to give the illusion of pumpkin patch picking. I have no idea if this is 100% true or not, I always bought my pumpkin at Home Depot when we lived in Alabama...BUT, Oregon has legit pumpkin patches.  There are so many around our area we haven't been able to scout them all out yet. But it is SO FUN. Some of our favorites are (in no particular order): Detering Orchards (they have APPLE picking too!); Lone Pine Farms (they have GOATS and Sheep, which I LOVE!), and Thistledown.  

3.  Beginning of rainy season- I know I have posted on this NUMEROUS times, but there is something so nice about the beginning of rainy season. Colder weather, snuggly socks, and leggings...it also means I get to break out my new rain pants that I just purchased (i am PRETTY stoked!) from Sierra Trading Post (AWESOME website if you have not ever shopped there!)

4.  SNOW begins to fall in the Cascades- Growing up in the south, the only time you saw snow was by some weather fluke.  The great thing about living an hour or so from the Cascade Mtns, is that in the falls when there begins to have some fall and accumulation on the ski/snow parks.  Since moving out here, I have not tried skiing (YET), BUT, my husband and I absolutely LOVE snowshoeing. For a southern girl, this was an easy winter sport to try, that is SO FUN.  I think we may be buying our first pair of snow shoes this snow season!

Our first time snowshoeing: Christmas Eve 2012

5.  Oregon Football and Indoor Tailgating- I have posted before on my experiences thus far with football culture in the PNW.  But one of the coolest things they have during football season is an indoor place to tailgate during football games.  With your ticket to the football game, you can not only watch the Ducks from the stadium, BUT from inside the indoor tailgating area called, the Moshofsky Center (nicknamed the "Mo").  This is the single BEST thing about Duck football games. On any other given day, the "Mo", is the indoor practice facility for the Oregon Ducks Football. BUT on game day its transformed into a giant indoor tailgate; equipped with a beer garden, inflatables for the kiddos and a food court.  Its AWESOME. My general rule has become when its a rainy and cold game that I will stay till halftime in my seat, then my husband and I head over to the "Mo" to meet friends to warm up and grab a beer. If SEC schools did this, this would be a HUGE success....only in Oregon!

Panorama pic of Mo

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Rain jackets: The Official Clothing of the PNW

Hello and HAPPY Fall Y'all!  Since the last time I posted, the rainy season is already rearing its ugly head here in the PNW.  Ironic since the first day of fall was yesterday and today is the first day we have seen rain in close to two months.  I have to say that now that rainy season is starting, there is something oddly comforting about it....maybe its the dark dreary days that make taking naps and drinking endless cups of warm beverages so enjoyable, or that I get to wear skinny jeans and rain boots pretty much every day.... I am not actually dreading it like I have for the past two years (ASK ME AGAIN IN APRIL how i feel!)

When we arrived here in 2012, I owned one singular rain jacket.... because, well, it seems like a silly thing to own more than one rain jacket.  Having lived here two full years now, I own....FOUR rain jackets. I know I know, you may ask yourself, WHY ON EARTH do you have so many....well, if you had told me two years ago that I would need that many I would have laughed in your face. Rain is rain..Right?!

The fact is rain is not rain....especially not in the PNW.  I have never lived in a place that has SO many different types of rain. Think about the scene Forrest Gump, that about sums it up!  After only a few months here, I discovered, that my beautiful NorthFace rain/cold jacket, with the fleece zip in , although fantastic for a light rain, or a chilly/snowy day was NOT going to cut it out here. In the PNW, you need the good industrial strength Gortex rain jacket.  One that can handle whatever mother nature can throw at it!  Thank goodness there is an REI near by so that I could check out all the different types of rain gear!

One may ask, WHY I have four rain jackets now...well, I have learned a few things

1.  It is necessary if possible to have multiple rain jackets in the PNW...it is possible to rain on any given day SO MUCH  that you will need to switch out jackets, to allow time for one to dry (NOT KIDDING YOU ON THIS).

2.  You will need a thicker rain jacket that also can serve as a protection against cold...it doesn't ever get REALLY cold in Oregon, but 45 degrees here feels like 25 degrees. Its wet, and damp and chills you to the bone.

3.  You will need a nicer dresser rain coat for work/nice occasions. Prior to moving to the PNW, I just threw on my NorthFace and rolled out, however, in the PNW, it is work etiquette to have a nicer jacket for days when you are having an important meeting and need to wear a suit, and perhaps the bright green Columbia is not going to cut it!  Although not all in the PNW adhere to this rule, this  has been my observations.

So that my friends, is how my wardrobe evolved from one single jacket into four....and I have to say, the evolution is probably not over. I am always looking for a new coat (kinda like getting a brand new pair of Yellow Box flip-flops in the Springtime in the South).  I would have never thought it was possible, but I suppose I this is all part of the process of acclimating to becoming an Oregonian!

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Football game attire 101: PNW style

Awww college football...the time of year that most southerns look forward to all year long.  The focus each week from August to December revolves around what game is on the upcoming Saturday, setting up the tailgate and what time is food/alcohol being served.  Having grown up in the south, I have spent a good part of the fall seasons at football tailgates.  Upon moving to Oregon I assumed/expected football to be similar to tailgating in the SEC.  Well, like much of the theme of my blog, it is not.  Don't get me wrong, tailgating here in Oregon is FUN, just VERY different.

Since my husband is a fundraiser for the University of Oregon, our weekends during the fall revolve around the game. When my husband first accepted the position at UO, one of the first things I did was stock my closet up with as much green and yellow clothing I could find. Including as many cute accessories that I could find at Francesca's . When I arrived to our first football game, I was gleaming from head to toe in the perfect (or so I thought) game day outfit, expecting to find a stream of other woman looking just like me..well was I WRONG.

Football in the south is like church, you dress up in your Sunday best to attend a game.  It is not uncommon on a given Saturday to see hoards of girls in sundresses and boys in blazers and bow ties (cliche I know).  I didn't fully expect to see bow ties and sundresses, but I CERTAINLY did not expect to see the complete opposite.  Now don't get me wrong I am using broad generalizations, and there are SOME people that dress up for football games. BUT, for the most part, they don't.  Let me paint the picture for you, most men AND women wear jersey's to football games. Nothing wrong with it, JUST different than I anticipated.  PNW football supporters DONT wear their colors to support their teams either, but rather ANY thing and EVERYTHING with a team logo.

During our first football season, I refused to wear anything but the school colors to football games. My closet quickly turned into a sea of green and yellow of varying seasonal outfits due to the beginning of rainy season early during football season.  In the south, my closet was full of sundresses of varying shades (mostly crimson- Roll Tide), but I never had to think about having a wide seasonal selection of team attire.

 I will say that I am adapting to the culture a LITTLE bit...I have purchased a few Oregon shirts, and I even have worn shorts (instead of a dress) to football games.  One of the things that I realized about PNWerns and football is that the reasons driving why they don't dress up is not because they don't LOVE the game as much as southerns, but it is simply out of need.  For the most part it RAINS for 90% of all football games, there are typically a handful of days that it would be even weather acceptable to wear a dress and cute sandals to a game (believe me when those days come... I am dressed head to toe in yellow and green). But when that rain starts, it is beyond uncomfortable to sit in a dress for hours on end at a football game (believe me I tried!).  

So I am not hanging up my sundresses and fabulous game day accessories yet...BUT I will need to alter my wardrobe a bit to have a successful football season in the PNW.  So if anyone finds a cute yellow or green rain jacket and rain pants (YES, these are necessary!)...let me know!

Rainy tailgating attire!

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Ahhhh Fall...football, cooler temps and beginning of rainy season...

Ahhh, fall, for me it has always signaled the beginning of many things that I love: college football, cooler temperatures, sweaters and boots.  Upon moving to the PNW two years ago, we arrived in August, and the weather was BEAUTIFUL.  I honestly could not believe that this was the same place that everyone was always nicknaming as one of the rainiest places in the US. From around July 4th to September the weather in the PNW is fantastic...think Southern California.  It is nothing but blue skies, little humidity and sunshine until 11PM.  But BOY was I in for a shock around mid/end September, when the weather makes a drastic change, almost over night.

The rain out here is different, you may ask how can rain be different, and I can tell you it is VERY different than a rainstorm in the south.  Rainy season lasts from around Mid/end september until somewhere around March/April/June (depending on the year).  Now, you may say to yourself, HOLY SMOKES, how could anyone live in an environment like that....and I will tell you, it is NOT easy.  Having grown up in the south my entire life, I was used to the wonderful array of weather that mother nature can provide: from tornados to ice storms, most southerns have just about seen it all...and sometimes in the same day!  But I will say that the rain is different here...its a light misting type or rain, that is not quite worthy of an umbrella, but you defiantly need a rain coat (I will do an entire post on this later).  The joke around town is you are not a true Oregonian until you walk about in the rain without an umbrella.  When we first moved here, I couldn't imagine ever walking out in the rain without an umbrella/jacket and rain boots...but I can tell you, I have done it now!  Since the rain out here is different, AND since it rains practically 24/7 for 6 months, you get tired of hauling around an umbrella with you.  You can call me a true oregonian now, for 6 months of the year I wear my rain jacket pretty much every day, accompanied with my Hunter Rainboots (y'all these are amazing, you HAVE to get you a pair).

Now some have asked me, does it rain EVERY day for 6 months, the answer is NO. But it does rain about 95% of the time.  There are some days that it is sunny and beautiful (much like the south), but it typically does not last all that long, maybe a day or two. Then it is right back to the rainy, misty,cloudy and cold.  The temperatures are fairly mild, typically in the 50's most days. But its a VERY different 50 degrees... Its a damp and cold, almost chilling to the bone type of cold.  Now I am sure you are all thinking how on EARTH has this southern girl survived in this weather for two years...simple, even though the weather is crappy in the fall/winter...it does not stop the world as we know it from going on here in Oregon.  Everyone still rides their bikes, goes for runs, goes wine tasting. The weather does not inhibit them from living their lives....which is nice and refreshing.  AND it doesn't hurt either that they have some of the MOST amazing clam chowder and dark beer that I have ever tasted. Those two alone can make any cold/damp/rainy day seem brighter!

I would recommend to anyone visit the PNW during the rainy season, it gives you a WHOLE new appreciation for sunshine and warm weather.....

Our first rainy season in Oregon 2012

Until next time y'all,

Emily

Southern Girls Love Their Chicken Salad

Oh chicken salad, the delicious lunch time treat that I indulged in OFTEN when we lived in Alabama. Some of my favorite came from  an amazing little lunch place called Chicken Salad Chick , I ate there AT least once a week if not more.  It never even occurred to me when I moved to Oregon that chicken salad was not as much of a hit out here as it is in the south.  You can find it some places, but it is not as much of a staple as it was in the south.  So I have had to resort to making my own, which is totally fine EXCEPT, they don't carry the type of mayo that I like.... Moving here it never even occurred to me that there would be different items in the grocery store. Typically I have had to resort to having my family members send me southern staples, until I discovered that I can order ANYTHING I need on Amazon Prime.

In the south everyone has their favorite mayo, depending on where you grew up. My family always used Blue Plate, but I have some friends that swear by Duke's and other local brands. To me when you are  making chicken salad/pimento cheese or anything that calls for mayo, it has to be Blue Plate.  For the last two years I have been making chicken salad with whatever mayo I could find at the Safeway. And the chicken salad turned out fine, but something always seemed off with the flavor.  That was until a few weeks ago, I was surfing around on Amazon and found a reasonable quantity of Blue Plate that I could justify purchasing. That is the one thing about Amazon, sometimes you have to get the Costco size quantity of something.  Since my shipment arrived, I have made chicken salad twice (my husband is SO happy), and have pimento cheese on my list to make as well.  The chicken salad I have been making these last few weeks is the more savory kind...below is a recipe for my chicken salad:

Spicy Jalapeño Chicken Salad:
1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
1/2 cup blue plate mayo
1 tbsp  dijon mustard
1/2 tsp of fresh cracked black pepper
1/2 cup pickled jalapeños, chopped
1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
1/2 a packet of Ranch dressing

Directions
1) Shred chicken
2) Sprinkle 1/2 packet of ranch dressing over chicken
3) mix together the remainder of the ingredients, add more mayo if needed.

ENJOY!

Until next time y'all,

Emily

What do you mean we don't have any AC in our house...

Yes, I know it may be hard to believe that we live in a house that has no central Air Conditioning.  For most if not all Southerners, this is an automatic, something you expect when you purchase a house. Well, as my husband and I learned all too quickly in the PNW, it is NOT an automatic feature.  When we first moved out here we settled into a nice apartment. Nothing fancy, but it would do until we found a more permanent place to settle.  When we first looked at the apartment, they told us it did not have A/C, but we could provide our own window units if we wanted to….well, maybe it was because we were exhausted, or not thinking straight when we signed our lease (we were in Eugene for LITERALLY less than 24 hours to find a place to live), we did not even bat an eye when they told us this. Fastforward a few weeks, and we land in our new place, and its pretty warm outside, NOT Southern Warm , but warm…we open our windows and run a few fans and we are fine. We are told by seasoned "Oregonians", that the heat only lasts a few weeks and there is "no need" to purchase A/C.

Eight months or so go by, and we buy a house, with NO A/C.  By now we are used to the lingo and don't bat an eye, but my parents on the other hand are shocked. How could a house dwelling have now A/C. We explain the best we can about PNW weather , but no one believes us.  Come Mid July, we experience our first really "HOT" night…and I say "HOT" lightly…it is NOTHING like a hot southern day, but for a house with no A/C…its a bit toasty.  We are running all fans in our house like we are living in a wind tunnel.  We get through the few weeks of the summer, and then its rainy season.   Then we do what every other PNW person does…FORGET…how HOT it can be…

Fast forward to summer 2014, I have just had neck surgery at the end of June. Its WARM, but by all means NOT hot…my parents arrive from ATL to spend a week and help me out.  OF course they would arrive on the HOTTEST week we have had in like a century.  Its WARM, but , I feel like I have acclimated to the weather, or maybe I was on a lot of pain pills, but I was ok.  My ATL parents were NOT!  They were DYING.  They tried to play it off like they werent that hot, but when my Daddy offered to head to Home Depot to pick up a few things and arrived with 4 box fans, I knew they were not ok. We got through it all…but at the end of the day…I have to say, I MAY be taking up a collection to install A/C in my home. I am SOUTHERN, and this heat, even if its not as bad as Alabama, is still TOO hot to sleep in …Anyone want to start a donation fund to buy me an A/C???

Until next time y'all,

Emily

PNW LOVE their COFFEE

Oh coffee, the delicious energy treat that I get to have each and every morning…in the south, coffee is just that coffee. A drink that adults always drank after dinner with dessert. I didn't even start drinking coffee until I moved out here…call it peer pressure, or the sheer fact that it is cold, damp and rainy 9 months of the year and you have to do SOMETHING to warm up.  Saying all that, coffee in the PNW is a COMPLETELY different animal.  It is an institution out here, for gosh stakes, Starbucks was invented in Seattle.  There are tons of coffee stands EVERYWHERE, little shack type establishments in the parking lot of your local Home Depot.  Every one seems to have their favorite brand, and frequent there OFTEN.  So as I said before, I finally caved and gave up my diet coke for breakfast, and drink coffee. Iced in the summer (which is only July-September) and piping HOT the rest of the year.  I have found that one of my most favorite coffee shacks is Dutch Brothers .  No you will not find this chain outside of the PNW, but MAN I know my southern friends and family wishes it WAS!  Dutch Brothers, or Dutch Bros as the people out here call it, are little shack like establishments that are found in your local parking lot.  They are employed by young, peppy 20 somethings that play loud music, that varies from rap to heavy metal. They are super friendly, and always have a smile on their face.  Which is very nice when its pouring down rain outside!  They sell an assortment of beverages from the $2.00 large iced americano, to fancy drinks like "the kicker".  It is not uncommon for there to be a line of 20 deep at any of the local Dutch Bros.   The first time my parents came to visit from Atlanta, I took them there…they immediately fell in love. So much in fact that my parents were trying to figure out how to get some of the roasted beans home to Atlanta (they do ship from their website).  Every time they visit, we have to hit up the Dutch Bros by my house at least once a day.  Who can blame them…its delicious.  Perhaps Dutch Bros should franchise in other places outside of the PNW, I think they could make a KILLING! I don't think they will anytime soon, because, well, this chain is strictly PNW.  At the end of the day I was not a coffee lover when I moved here two years ago, but I have become one, and Dutch Bros is my coffee of choice.  So if you are ever in the PNW, and you see the little shack like coffee place with a blue roof, take my word for it…GET YOU ONE…you won't regret it!

Until next time y'all,

Emily

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DONT KNOW WHAT A MONOGRAM IS!!!!

Growing up in the South, I had monogrammed EVERYTHING… shirts, dresses, bows, you name it it had my initials on it. When I moved to Oregon, this was something I just assumed that was a universal fact..WOW was I WRONG!

Now that I have lived in the PNW for 2 years, I have finally accepted that NO ONE knows what a monogram is.  I wore my Moon and Lola monogrammed necklace one of the first days I lived here, and I had someone stop me and ask me why I was wearing letters around my neck. After I picked my jaw up off the floor from pure shock, I politely (in my best southern accent) explained, that I was wearing my initials, or what we call a monogram.  I then had to explicitly explain what a monogram is composed of, as well as WHY I was wearing it.  This instance is not isolated... it has HAPPENED many times since I have moved here. It used to shock me, but now, I just politely explain to  him or her that it is my monogram, that I am from the south and that is how we roll!  Its interesting how fascinated they are about this…I almost feel like a panda bear at the zoo being stared at as I explain what a monogram is.

Moving here has been quite the education, for myself and the local Oregonians. If they were shocked by my monogram necklace what on EARTH are they going to do with I have a monogrammed wreath on my front door…..and just so you know..I am the ONLY person on my block that has a monogrammed wreath.  If you are coming to visit me…my house is EASY to spot…

Until next time y'all,

Emily