Recipe: Redneck Caviar

This is one of Johnnie Bud's absolute favorite things for us to have in the refrigerator so he can snack on it anytime, add it as a relish to burgers, or enjoy as a side item.

The best part about this dish is that it's really easy to modify based on what you've got in the freezer/cabinet and based on your personal taste.



Redneck Caviar
I large can of black beans, drained
1 small can of Rotel diced tomatoes and diced green chilies
I bag of farmer's market fresh sweet corn
1 bag of farmer's market fresh black eyed peas or pink eyed peas
2 green peppers peppers, chopped
2 red bell peppers, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeds removed, chopped
1/2 purple onion, chopped
Fresh cilantro, to taste
Red wine vinaigrette, to taste

Mix everything and refrigerate overnight to let it marinate well - although you can start eating anytime, the onions are raw though and have a lot of bite until they've marinated. Since the corn and pink eyed peas were fresh from the farmer's market, I boiled them until soft and then cold-rinsed them before mixing everything together. If you buy canned, just drain and mix in.
Keep an extra bag of tortilla chips handy, this stuff is popular! (And perfect for fall tailgates.)

PS: We had green peas with dinner tonight and had some leftover, so I threw them into the big bowl of Redneck Caviar for extra color and another tasty flavor.

Manfriend Meals: Texas Caviar

Texas Caviar. Redneck Caviar. Southern Caviar. Redneck Salsa.



I've seen recipes of this variety called a lot of different names. No matter what you call it, or what combination of flavors you include, it's probably going to be ridiculously addicting.

While not a "meal", my manfriend would gladly make a meal of this recipe: Texas Caviar

A few cans of beans, several cut peppers, herbs, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil and boom. Delicious mixed up in a bowl and no cooking required. Put it in the 'fridge for an hour and it's ready to go or leave it overnight to really marinate. We snack on it for days and while it doesn't last more than two days due to constant enjoyment, I'm not sure it would really even go bad for a few days long as long as you keep it chilled.

This is a tailgate must and a quick mix for anytime in between football seasons. It's delicious with tortilla chips, as a salsa/relish, as a side dish... practically any way.

Cheers, y'all!

Recipe: Loaded Baked Potato & Chicken Casserole

Two of my favorite people welcomed their first child almost a month ago, so many of our friends have taken turns bringing over dinner to the new parents to help ease them into craziness of what I can only imagine parenthood to be.

It was my turn on Tuesday, so I cruised their Pinterest accounts a few weeks before to plan and found this gem: Loaded Baked Potato & Chicken Casserole



I'm pleased to say it was a hit. The feedback was, and I quote, "It was freaking wonderful, even good for breakfast."

Now, this is obviously not vegetarian approved, but I'm regularly surrounded by carnivores, so I made this one in hopes it could become a staple go to recipe. Winner, winner - literally a chicken dinner!

A few things to note:

• At its highest temp, my oven didn't get to 500 degrees - so the potatoes cooked between 400 and 450 and still turned out just fine.
• This took almost an hour and a half to prep and bake, so it's not a quick evening dinner. Plan ahead.
• The grocery bill for all ingredients (sans salt, pepper, EVOO, paprika, garlic powder, and hot sauce -- had all those on hand) was just over $20.

The recipe linked above made a full baking dish and a small side baking dish worth of food, so Johnnie Bud gets to try it as well tonight when he returns from business as usual in Charlotte. (He's pretty excited to come home to bacon... it's not often that happens in our house!)

If you have the ability to serve it hot, this will make a great fall tailgate dish that's sure to please. Enjoy!

What's in your perfect Bloody Mary?

Last week my family and I took an impromptu vacation (our first in 8 years according to Little Sister) to Topsail Island and I ordered a few Bloody Mary cocktails to take full advantage of the beachy state of mind.

An extra spicy Bloody Mary at Beach Shop was a tasty start:

We found ourselves at Beach Shop in search of breakfast until 11am and a wifi (I mistakenly booked the one house on the island without internet access... which is the reason I got a real vacation in for four days!), but stayed for finding the bottom of the glass. Two thumbs up. (Note: If it had been a bottomless cocktail special, it would have taken us MUCH longer to find the bottom of the glass. We found the bottom of bottomless Mimosas at Carter's Kitchen in Charleston a few months ago. More on that at another time...)

For a Sunday afternoon early dinner, we made it to Rick's, where sorority sister and beach joiner DG joined in on the Bloody Mary action. We ordered them "extra spicy" (notice a pattern here?) but at Rick's, that meant extra horseradish, rather than extra Tabasco sauce and/or black pepper. While they were good, DG and I agreed we'd be more specific about our next "extra spicy" request.

Fast forward to tonight - Wednesday. I'm back from the beach and busting my hiney at work (per the usual) and decided I deserved a cocktail with dinner. I had Ketel One in the freezer (is there any other kind of vodka?), V8 in the fridge, pickled okra, pickles, and giant olives stuffed with pimientos. Oh, and cracked black pepper. It all went right in the glass with ice. #nom

So that brings me to the question of the day... how do you make for or ask for what you consider to be the perfect Bloody Mary? I like 'em spicy and the more pickled vegetables you can fit in the glass, the better. #vegetarianlife

My WRAL.com cohort Jodi recently published her Five Faves: Best Bloody Mary article about places to get a good version in the Triangle. You know, just throwing that out there for your reading pleasure while we're discussing the reddest of vegetable cocktails.

It's Game Week

...and no matter the outcome of the game, I know it's going to be a great tailgate when it starts with an email like this:

To be a State fan takes real character, it just makes you stronger. So when you all have kids and Uncle Evan is teaching them this, you'll appreciate that I'm doing it to help make them a better person.

Who's ready for a little Wolfpack vs. Tar Heel football, y'all?!


image via PACK NIPS HEELS at SportsPosterWarehouse.com

By the way, that picture was taken during my (super) senior year at State. What a great win that was to see in person! Let's go for another W, Wolfpack!

I'm Still Here...

...just doing a lot of working (and I do mean A LOT), social events and weddings, tailgating, and the like. It is that time of year, again. I've also been DVRing a lot of 5 Ingredient Fix with Claire Robinson on Food Network. (I promise I'll explain next why that's related.)

Back to the tailgating!
I served up these two recipes, courtesy of Claire, for the NCSU vs. S. Alabama tailgate last weekend:
Brie and Onion Puff
Memphis Banana Bites

They went so quickly, I didn't even get pics. One suggestion? On the Memphis Banana Bites, I cut down on time in a big way by spreading the banana chips out on wax paper in the bottom of a 9x13 glass pan and poured the chocolate and peanut butter melt all over the top. I let it cool and then let my fellow tailgaters break off pieces (like a bark) to enjoy at their own pace. Perfection!

I think I'm going to take these next week fr the NCSU vs. GT tailgate (before I leave early for Brandon and Tiffany's wedding!): Spicy Baked Chickpeas.

What are your meatless tailgate favorites?

Put the Boys to Work... at Hardly Working

I realize Thanksgiving has just come and gone, but Christmas dinner is right around the corner. I love Andrea Weigl's suggestion of putting the boys to work!

Thursday when I serve Thanksgiving dinner to a small group of friends, everyone will contribute. I will bake a pecan pie and a pumpkin cheesecake. My husband will cook leg of lamb on the smoker. (One tip for holiday sanity is cooking the meat outside on the grill, in the smoker or in the deep-fryer. Luckily, many men who like to cook don't mind spending the day outside, drinking a beer and minding the meat.) A friend will make stuffed acorn squash and the homemade noodles that are his family's tradition. A third will clear the table.

She's right - it's not at all an up-hill battle to suggest that the man (and his buddies) hang around outside with beer, a fried turkey, and perhaps even a fire pit.

Local Country Music Events to benefit Nashville Relief Efforts

Two posts in one day? Looks like somebody (this girl right here) is back on the bloggin' wagon!



Just a quickie for country music fans who'd like to do something to help our country neighbors in Nashville, courtesy of local country radio station 94.7 WQDR:

Stop by tonight (Thursday) 8p-10p at the Longbranch for Throwdown Thursday. $5 gets you in to see JMC perform an intimate acoustic set and the LCI truck will be there to accept item donations. Also 100% of the door goes straight to Nashville! Also have a chance to win tickets to the Country Throwdown on May 28th and we will auction off a JMC autographed Cowboy hat from the Country Connection.

Friday night JMC will be helping Marty co-host Party Radio at City Limits! The guys with LCI will be on hand with the truck for item donations and City Limits is donating $1 for everybody through the door, so let's pack the place! Also, you have a chance to win a signed hat by JMC donated by Country Connection and qualify to win a trip to the CMT Awards!!

I will either be at Altar Ego at the NC Museum of Art or JMC's benefit concert tonight... so many worthy events going on, so little time!

{Image: examiner article "Historic flooding a true disaster"}

If you've ever had lunch or dinner with me...

... then you've probably observed that everyone who does not eat pickles will give me theirs. (Love my friends!)

I am also a potato chip connoisseur. Not just any potato chips will do. I'm a big fan of the really crunchy ones - generally known as kettle-cooked chips.

I picked up lunch from Durham's Parker & Otis the other day and found something that was made JUST FOR ME (or at least it seems).



You can order them in bulk on their website: http://www.rt11.com/cfmodules/ObjMgr.cfm?Obj=OrderHere.

So much for that eating healthy thing! ;-)

PS - And don't think that I won't take a side trip on my next DC visit to go watch them make these small batch wonders of the potato chip world. That ok with you Adrianne?


FTC blogger disclosure: I was not contacted by Rt. 11 to blog about this post or compensated. But I would SO not object to a box of dill pickle potato chips. Nom, nom, nom! :-)

Weekends of Epic Proportions

I'll just preface this post by saying, "I can sleep when I'm dead". (Thank you JMC!)

Today - E. Riley Dorn (pictured below, on the right) is at the hospital about to welcome little "G Baby" into the world. Pretty wild stuff. I am not nearly as spazzed out about it as the rest of our little mafia, as I've had several friends to take on this responsibility since senior year of high school (shout out to Steph, Amanda)! The rest of the girls in our college gang? Well they're another story. (And really entertaining to observe their reactions right now.)

(Katie Pi Phi, me, E. Riley Dorn at a bar a few years ago)

Congrats Hot Momma E. Riley Dorn and Daddy Dorn!

Tonight - Nick and I are volunteering with Priscilla and her hubby Chase, and lots of other volunteers from the Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors Community Service Committee (you know I also have a real estate license, right?) at Miracle League. Pretty pumped to be volunteering to help some fantastic kids play baseball!

Tomorrow- NC State Spring Football Game, possibly a visit to CueGrass, and definitely attending Redress Raleigh.

Sunday- Bridal show w/ Brezey*B, Am*Bam, etc.

(Me, Brianne, Amber - summer after senior year of high freaking school)

NEXT Weekend

TBMF with Katie Pi Phi, Mr. Katie Pi Phi (who will have a snazzy nickname after next weekend, surely), F'in Jess, Grubey and her brother, NEB, Nate, Big Cam, Renee, and the whole rest of the drinkin' team. Best day of the year!

(Yes, that is also E. Riley Dorn in that picture... less than a year ago... SO not pregnant, obviously ;-))

PS - Going to the TBMF and still need tickets? Buy them from my friends at the Me Fine Foundation - they get a donation from every single ticket sold! Give them a call or send them an email to arrange!

And that will consume the entire weekend - no lie.

Why on Earth would I live anywhere else in the world?
I love this place and the people that make it what it is!

Local Raves: Lemon Poppyseed Scones from SBSTeas.com

At a recent Chix in Business Marketing Committee meeting, Barb, the owner of SBSTeas.com, brought us some of her yummy inventory: loose leaf teas and scones.

Right now, I'm enjoying the Lemon Poppyseed Scones and a lemonade and it's pretty much about the best thing ever.

They were super easy to make - just add buttermilk, lemon juice, and butter to the scone dry ingredients, mix well, spoon, and bake! 15 minutes later, you're enjoying! They really don't even need anything added to them, but anything from apple butter to jelly to honey would be delicious.

Perfect for any breakfast tailgates this year? I think so! (You can tell it's football time when I'm deciding which kinds of foods would be tailgate appropriate.)

Quick Poll: Vinegar Cucumbers

Quick Poll: Vinegar Cucumbers

Is this a southern thing or have those of you to the North and West been served these on a regular basis, too?


{Image: Apples & Butter blog, which is also a great new read!}

The ZBB and Little Big Town Beergarita

I think this is going to be a new classic for me and my tailgating friends!

The Zac Brown Band / Little Big Town Margarita

• 2 frozen concentrate limeades
• 2 empty concentrate cans of tequila ("stuff that makes you take your clothes off")
• 2 bottles of Blue Moon beer
• 2 cans of Fresca

Mix together. Serve (on the rocks or frozen). Enjoy!

As my twitter status read, "Some people listen to NPR at work... I listen to the boys from @ZacBrownBand".

Listen for yourself: http://www.imeem.com/zacbrownband/music/0N87UnqX/john-hopkins-under-the-influence-wyatt-durrette/

I'm thinking it would've made a hilarious video.

Links: Zac Brown Band, Little Big Town

The Good Stuff

Because my posts about booze, tailgating, and the like always get the most attention, I know you all will enjoy this budget-saving tidbit.

Courtesy of local retail queen - Sue Stock - this is a mail-in rebate that basically hooks you up with... you guessed it... free vodka! And not just any vodka, but good for the earth vodka (billed as "the world's first eco luxury vodka")!

It's distilled by a company called "Earth Friendly Distilling Vodka, Co." out of Missouri (yes, I had to Google it to make sure MO was in fact Missouri - don't laugh).

Read Sue's whole post here and print off your mail-in rebate!

As Sue mentioned, the fine print doesn't include NC in the ineligible states, but the biggest obstacle is whether or not it has been approved by the state and county boards for distribution here... guess we'll find out (or at least I will find out)!


{Image: Vodka360.com}

A Throwdown of Epic Proportions

How crazy is it that it's been almost a year since sweet tea vodka was making its first introductions into the lives of Southerners everywhere? (Albeit, it took quite a bit longer to make it to every county in the closed states.)

Well it just wouldn't be summertime without tailgates, cookouts, and days on the water with sweet tea vodka now and it looks as if it's going to get quite interesting this year. I can't wait to try some of this myself and see if it lives up to the hype!

Anyone else had the opportunity to try Firefly's newest competitor in the sweet tea vodka arena?



Many thanks to my good friend Tyler for the scoop!

PS - Maybe I should've titled this post "The Sweet Tea Smackdown"?

Beach Music at North Hills

The parking situation at North Hills will likely be a disaster, but will definitely be worth the effort for some of these shows.

Midtown Music Beach Music Series

Thursdays from 6-9pm in the Commons

April 16-The Embers
April 23-The Castaways
April 30-The Tams

May 7-Liquid Pleasure
May 14-Black and Blue
May 21-The Embers
May 28-The Attractions

June 4-The Maxx
June 11-The Craig Woolard Band
June 18-The Voltage Brothers
June 25-The Catalinas

July 2-North Tower
July 9-The Kays
July 16-Liquid Pleasure
July 23-The Part Time Party Time Band
July 30-Johnny White and the Elite Band

August 6-The Entertainers
August 13-The Craig Woolard Band
August 20-The Coconut Groove Band
August 27-The Embers

The Midtown Music Beach Music Series is sponsored by Johnson Lexus, WRAL.COM, Bud Light Lime, Widmer, and Park and Market.

*Rain dates will be scheduled for Thursdays in September*The band at Amra's last night played a little beach music and boy were Raleigh people ready for that! The dance floor filled up immediately. Good times had by all!

So Appropriate

UNC is playing right now, actually.

Received this funny little story via email today... and it's SO appropriate.

Two boys in Raleigh were playing basketball when one of them was attacked by a rabid Rottweiler. Thinking quickly, the other boy ripped a board off a nearby fence, wedged it into the dog's collar and twisted it, breaking the dog's neck.

A newspaper reporter from the News & Observer witnessed the incident and rushed over to interview the boy. The reporter began entering data into his laptop, beginning with the headline: "Brave Young Tar Heels Fan Saves Friend From Jaws Of Vicious Animal."

"But I'm not a Heels fan," the little hero interjected..

"Sorry," replied the reporter. "But since we're in North Carolina, I just assumed you were." Hitting the delete key, the reporter begins again, "NC State Fan Rescues Friend From Horrific Dog Attack."

"But I'm not a State fan either," the boy responds.

The reporter says, "I assumed everybody in this state was either for the Heels or the Wolfpack. What team do you root for?"

"I'm a Duke fan," the boy says, grinning widely.

Hitting the delete key, the reporter begins again, "Arrogant Little Yankee Bastard Kills Beloved Family Pet."Bwahaha. Hope you all enjoyed. Sorry Beaufort Belle... I'll try and pass along some Duke funnies for your house divided, too.

{Double Post} Tervis Giveaway on Swagger's Facebook "Public Profile"

Swagger Gifts is giving away one of the most coveted accessories in blogland... and no, it has nothing to do with Lilly Pulitzer.

It's the Big-T (24 oz.) Tervis Tumbler (MadMariner.com calls them "Terrific")!!!

These bad boys keep your cold drinks cold, hot drinks hot, don't sweat, you can't break 'em, AND they are dishwasher safe. I'm drinking lemonade out of my "Pi Beta Phi" Big-T as I write this... and getting pumped about investing a whole set of these for the days on the beach, lake, tailgates, and boooooat.

Click on the picture above and go directly to Swagger's post on facebook to comment to win - it ends this Friday (so do it by Thursday night, just to be safe).

When you "Become a Fan" of Swagger on facebook, you'll receive weekly updates on each new giveaway. You should also subscribe to the blog, too - that's where the winner is announced!

The Return of the MegaTicket

It's back!

(Source: WQDR)But ya know, I wish these kids would release the info more than a week before the pre-sale renewal date. Can we give a girl on a budget a chance to decide if she want to save up money for the ticket? /rant

Via today's Monday morning email from WQDR:The QDR Country Megaticket is back powered by Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q!
Go here for all the dates, acts and prices.

Also, listen to win your season pass for summer fun free at Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion by correctly guessing in order all 6 of the Megaticket songs played backwards on QDR!!! And just for you--late this week check your e-mail for a chance to buy your season pass for summer fun before anyone else with a special QDR Country Megaticket E-Card!And here's the info from LiveNation:2009 QDR COUNTRY MEGATICKET POWERED BY SMITHFIELD’S CHICKEN ‘N BAR-B-Q

Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion proudly announces the 2009 QDR Country Megaticket Powered by Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q, a six-show “package” featuring some of the summer’s hottest country shows at Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion. Available only online through megaticket.com, the 2009 QDR Country Megaticket Powered by Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q gives you the opportunity to buy your tickets first for the 2009 stellar lineup of country shows at Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion.

Several different packages are available for a limited time only, and orders will be accepted online beginning Monday, March 2 at 9am, several weeks before individual show tickets are available. The 2009 QDR Country Megaticket Powered by Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q includes the same seats to all six shows.

For more detailed information click on the FAQ button towards the bottom of the page. You can also call us at 919-831-6400 for additional questions.

Renewal Presale begins Wednesday, February 25 at 9am.

General Public On Sale Monday, March 2 at 9am.If I can find the specific info on shows, dates and pricing, I'll be sure to update with those details since there was no FAQ button at the bottom of the page I looked at in Firefox.

Update: Here are the details from WQDR's webpage...WQDR counts down to the hottest summer ever—with the 2009 QDR Country Megaticket powered by Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q!

Here's a peek at who is heating up your summer:
* George Strait with Blake Shelton & Julianne Hough - 5/16/09
* Brad Paisley with Dierks Bentley & Jimmy Wayne - 6/6/09
* Toby Keith with Trace Adkins - 7/11/09
* Rascal Flatts with Darius Rucker - 8/2/09
* Alan Jackson - 8/22/09
* Kenny Chesney w/ Miranda Lambert & Lady Antebellum - 8/30/09

Renew yours or be a first time QDR Country Megaticket buyer click here now for info and make sure you join the QDR Posse while online for special on-sale dates just for you! The QDR Country Megatickets are your season pass for summer fun! Win them before you can buy them—The QDR Country Megaticket back for your partying pleasure! Exclusively on 94.7 QDR!Ok, NOW, who's in?

PUMPED

While everyone is celebrating last night's UNC victory over Duke, let's be honest... both are tops... one was going to win. More importantly, let it be known that NCSU beat Wake!

And in even MORE fantastic news, look what came out today:

(Click to enlarge.)
Heck to the yes.

I have been agonizing over whether or not to renew my tickets. I know what most of you are thinking "umm, there's nothing to consider - get them already", but it's just that it's SO much money. Totally worth it, but still, so much money.

Scout.com and GoPack.com are reporting four weeks of opening at home (ie: half of the season will be warm weather tailgating!), 3 of those being evening games (tentatively), and NCSU vs. UNC on home turf on a holiday weekend.

I think the decision has already been made. Goodbye $900.00 - Hello season two in the end zone seats!

(Image: GoPack.com)