Showing posts with label Green Bay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Green Bay. Show all posts

Happy Christmas! 

Thursday, December 29, 2011 -
Holidays with the family are amazing. We are fortunate that we are able to spend it with members of both of our families as many of them live in Green Bay. We make the trek (usually with books on CD) and enjoy the limited days with those we love.

Traditionally, we spend Christmas Eve with my family. Christmas Eve is special - an evening with my parents, brothers, sister-in-law, niece and nephew. We had a special guest, my sister-in-law's sister, join as well this year rounding out a quiet party of ten. Drinks followed by a delicious dinner of prime rib and cheesy potatoes is always a highlight. With more drinks in hand, we finish up the evening with cherry cheesecake and opening of gifts. Just a few photos from the holiday celebration at my parents house:


On Christmas Day, hubs and I wake up to the smell of coffee brewing at my parents home. I help my mother create our traditional breakfast of eggs benedict - sorry I overcooked your egg hubs. But the rest was delish as always! We clean up and head to his mother's house to spend time with his siblings, their families (including our nieces and nephews), and his aunts, uncles and cousins. It is always a full house and great to see everyone come together. Over a buffet lunch that his mother spends so much time preparing, we gorge our bellies with the Disney holiday parade in the background. Then, all the kids rip open their gifts as we smile and laugh as they ooo and ahhh over their new toys.



And of course, Christmas Day means Packers vs. Bears. We were fortunate to head to the game and enjoy the evening together with a Packers victory! We had so much fun dancing with other fans, eating brats and kraut with some fried cheese curds and sipping on beer and/or hot chocolate with every touchdown. It was fantastic - congrats Packers on another great game!

And no, we don't know the man in Roger's jersey - talk about timing!

Hope you enjoyed your holiday (if celebrating) - I know we did!

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Super Bowl Champs - The Green Bay Packers!! 

Monday, February 7, 2011 -
Photo Credit
I wore green and gold all weekend in anticipation.  We decorated the house with balloons, green and yellow crepe paper and all of our beads, cowbells and pom poms from our previous celebrations.  Our friends arrived with food in hand (think wings, meatball sliders, guac, Big Boy burger bites, dips, cheese, sausage, etc.!) to compliment our build your own nacho bar, cheddar and sausage chowder, brats, beer dip and pretzels. 

We drank High Life.  And now, we are living it.

Last night was one of those nights where I wish I could have been in my home city...what an amazing atmosphere.  In 1996, when this previous happened (yes, we beat the New England Patriots. My dear Mass friends, I remember this well...I was 14) the excitement in the city was overwhelming. Pride was what everyone felt when the Lombardi trophy returned to Title Town.  I'm sure it is the same today, and will be for quite sometime.

A BIG congratulations to my boys, the Green Bay Packers, for being this year's Super Bowl Champions!  Here are some photos from Green Bay - wish I could have been there!

Photo Credit
 And yes, I'm still wearing green today...

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Respectfully on Cloud 9 

Monday, January 24, 2011 -
The Green Bay Packers are going to the Super Bowl!  Whether you are a fan or not, hear me out.

Born and raised in Green Bay, I have always loved my Pack.  I don't fully remember my first game because I am fortunate to have season tickets in my family name.  Yes, the classic "they were my grandfather's and now my dad and uncle each have a set" type of situation.  Would I love to have those tickets someday?  Why yes, yes I would (hint mom and dad - I know you read this!)  I am passionate about my team.

When I was in college at UMass-Amherst, I wore my cheesehead proudly.  And now here in Indy, I still have it on display with my signed helmet from Donald Driver.  Love. The. Packers.  It is tough not being in Titletown when it comes to the love, but I do my best to support the team.

But why was this game a big deal?  Not only because it was on Championship Sunday, but because it was the Bears. 

The two teams haven't played each other in a championship game since 1941.  It is a rivalry that I respect.  I have many friends who are Bears fans, and I adore them all the same.  I respect them because of their history, which is similar to the Packers.  There is not a team who I would have wanted to play more in that championship game, because I love the intense situation it puts us in.  My nerves were all over the place as both teams had more than the Super Bowl to play for (though yes, that is the big one.) 

But, I still love to hate them.  I mean, it is a rivalry after all.  I did raise my glass at the end of the game in a salute because it was a battle.  I am extremely happy that the Packers came out victorious, but I will not be the one who gloats to the Bears fans.  If roles were reversed, I would hope they would do the same for me.  Respectable fans are the best fans.

Here's to February 6 and the great road that we took to get there.  No matter the outcome, I'll wear my cheesehead proudly and raise my glass of cold beer (let us hope it is draft PBR) in freezing temperatures to support my team.  Always.

Who are you rooting for in the Super Bowl, and why?

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Grilled Romaine Salad (yes, in the Winter) 

Wednesday, December 29, 2010 -
I have been wanting to use this for quite sometime...
My mom had an extra tube and insisted that I take it with me when we left Wisconsin after the holiday.  On Monday, I decided to make the most simple item I could think of out of the paste - Caesar dressing.  
 
This all really started with the fact that hubby and I had these fantastic kabobs to eat.  Whenever we are in Green Bay, we always stop at Maplewood Meats - this insane meat market.  The quality and variety of the meat products is abundant and we always end up running around like kids in a candy store, drooling over the counters and waiting patiently as we take a number and wait to be called upon to order.  It is quite an experience, and I love everything about it.  We purchased beef sticks (which we ate for dinner on Sunday after we arrived home), stuffed pork chops, beef teryaki kabobs, pizza burgers (mmm...), breakfast sausage, andouille sausage, and so much more.  I knew when we bought the kabobs that I wasn't about to freeze those, so we kept them in the cooler (yes, we travel with a cooler due to our anticipation of the butcher shop) for our Monday night dinner.  They are large portions, and both the veggies (mushrooms, peppers and onions) and meat are always tender. And might I add that it isn't just beef tenderloin, but they throw hunks of ham on their too.  I love you Maplewood Meats...nom nom...

Thus, on Monday, we fired up the grill and I pondered, "what shall we have on the side?"  Then, I thought about the delicious grilled romaine salad I had at Pizzology a few weeks ago.  And rather than an herb salad, why not make some Caesar from the anchovy paste?  I gathered up some garlic, dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mayo and some herbs along with the anchovy paste and started pulsing while adding olive oil.  And just like that - Caesar dressing.  Delish.
 
As hubs grilled the kabobs, I decided our salad needed croutons as well.  I buttered up some bread that we had and sprinkled Italian herbs and a healthy dose of garlic powder on top before popping them in the oven.  I also prepped some mozzarella and Indiana tomatoes for the salad.  

Once the kabobs were just about ready, hubs added the lightly oiled romaine halves to the grill.  When they were done, we had a meal that was perfect for the summer - or in our case, a Wisconsin-ites winter, because outdoor grilling is year round of course.  The kabobs were tender and delicious, bursting with flavor that had me yearning for an al fresco dining session.  And the salad, crisp and warm, was dressed perfectly and had the subtle char taste we were looking forward to.
It was a great meal, not too heavy, especially since I didn't eat all of the kabob.  Leftovers were saved, and as I sit here writing this, I'm enjoying this:
Yup, I sauteed the remaining peppers, onions and tenderloin, added some tomatoes and made an egg scramble.  And don't judge - I like to cut up my toast and make it mini for easier eating. Plus, mini is just adorable.

We also LOVE to shop at Festival Foods when in Green Bay, but that is for a different post (teaser - let's just say that remember I said my husband was jealous of the amazing King Crab I had in Vegas?  Well, after Thursday, he won't be jealous much longer...  
 
Is there a place that you just HAVE to stock up when visiting?

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I'll Be Home for Christmas... 

Monday, December 27, 2010 -
Hubs and I made our trek to Green Bay, Wisconsin to see family for Christmas.  It was great to go on social media hiatus for a bit (though I did miss all of you) and spend every minute with family.  It was a "long" weekend, but it went by very quickly as the two full days were both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, thus we spent every minute with our families.  But it was fantastic to see everyone, and I loved every minute of it. 

We spent Christmas Eve with my family and ate a lot of great food, including prime rib, roasted Brussels sprouts and corn, creamy bleu potatoes and other delicious sides.  And of course, we drank some merry concoctions of peppermint martini's (peppermint schnapps, whipped vodka and Bailey's) as well as Creamsicle martini's (whipped vodka with orange juice) and of course, Manhattan's, Old Fashion's and wine.
 


Christmas Day was spent with Tim's family.  We were able to spend sometime with our darling nephews, including our two week old nephew who we met for the first time, nieces, and both Tim's immediate family and their significant others and his extended family of aunts and uncles.  Socializing over lunch of prime rib, roasted chicken, baked ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, dumplings and little nibbles of candies and apps, we had a great time (and of course, watched the Disney parade!) watching all the children open their presents.  The smiles are priceless!



We left early on Sunday to dodge holiday traffic in Chicago and ended up making it back to Indy in great time.  We even managed to catch the Packer game over our "we just visited Wisconsin" dinner (it seems as though every evening we get back from Wisconsin, we ended up having a dinner of cheese, beef sticks and beer - I am not complaining, just sayin').  It was a great long weekend, but I'm excited to be back home and have the week off.  Unfortunately, hubs does have to work four days this week, but in that time span, I plan on cooking and organizing to my hearts content.  And of course, watching Netflix.

How was your holiday?

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Wedding & 1st Birthday: Weekend Recap in Wisconsin 

Thursday, August 26, 2010 -
Hubs and I made our way to the home state of Wisconsin this past weekend for two celebrations: a wedding and birthday party.  I just adore celebrations, especially weddings and birthdays. Weddings are the celebration of a new life for two people, while birthdays celebrate an individual and their life.  What is there not to love?

First, Mr. & Mrs. C.Andrews were married at Heritage Hill - a historical museum that showcases the early years of Green Bay.  It reminds me of grade school and churning butter during field trips.  But the church was transformed for their ceremony, and both the building and couple were glowing.
The reception was at Rock Garden, which is now 1951 Conference Center or something similar as it is linked to a Comfort Suites I believe.  We have had a few wedding receptions already this year, but I will always remember my brother's as the first I went to at this establishment.  The service was great, food was good, but honestly, I have to mention their wedding cake.  Confession - I LOVE wedding cake (who doesn't?)  Unfortunately, I didn't take a photo as I probably consumed it way too quickly.  The server informed me that it was a raspberry chocolate and vanilla swirl.  However, when it was set in front of me, it looked more like a layered cake.  And to my surprise, it was cheesecake!  The bottom layer was a chocolate cheesecake, then a layer of of raspberry filling, topped with white cake.  It was oh so good - one of the best I've had yet!
The other event - our nephew's birthday party!  We are honored to be his godparents - any time we get to spend with this cute little mister is well worth any driving distance.  Happy first birthday to my darling nephew, Ahren!  The party was adorable, and I went 'bananas' over the monkey theme!
 
The guests enjoyed a chocolate and white layered cake, while Mr. Ahren got to have his very own banana cake (sans eggs.)  It was so funny, because he was protesting at first, but he got the hang of it eventually.  Too cute (& did I mention hilarious!)
Hubs and I started a college fund for him, but to make it fun right now, we also gave him an adorable stuffed Mickey.  I mean, who doesn't need a little Disney in their life?
He's going to love The Mouse whether he knows it or not...
Short and quick weekend due to the drive, but worth it to see family and friends!

Tim & I with our nieces & nephew!

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