26 things...

I was thinking the other day about starting a long term series for my blog. You know, something I can do each week, yet it will always be new. I came up with the idea for 26 things... I will choose one for each letter of the alphabet. The topics will be broad so they can accommodate many different subjects.

For the first cycle I am going to do... 26 Things I am thankful for...

I invite you to join me by commenting on my posts with things you are thankful for. I think it will be a great way to reflect on just how blessed we all are!

On a side note... How bout them Dawgs?!?!?! I guess they just wanted to make it exciting for all the fans! Great game last night! Feels good to have a "W" against Spurrier. It's going to be an interesting season. It's GREAT to be a Georgia Bulldog!

Makeover Time!- Update

Well, I think I am finally finished... for now... with the blog makeover. It took a lot longer than I planned, but I learned a whole lot! I saw this background a few weeks ago and really liked it. I love the ruffles and bright flowers!! What do you think??

Well, I better get to sleep... because you know what today is... GAMEDAY!!! Go Dawgs! Beat the Gamecocks!

Foodie Friday Ranch Chicken

I love this recipe because it is so easy... and the chicken comes out really moist and delicious!! It is however, one of those recipes that I don't really have exact measurements for, you just add a little of this and a little of that... so I am giving it my best guess...

Ranch Chicken

Ingredients:

-1 Pkg Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts
-1 Container Bread Crumbs (I usually use Italian style)
-1 Pkg Ranch dressing mix
-1/2 stick Butter or Margarine, melted
-2 shallow dishes (for dipping the chicken), I like to use Gladware or Tupperware
-1 rectangular cake pan or other baking dish
-Aluminum Foil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease the baking pan.

Place the melted butter or margarine in one of the dishes. Then in the other dish mix about half of the ranch dressing and 2 cups of breadcrumbs. This is just an estimate... I never measure... :-)

This is what my bread crumb mixture looks like.

Dip each chicken breast in the melted butter (I often cut the chicken in half so the pieces are not so big). Then coat it in the bread crumb mixture. Place chicken into the lightly greased baking pan. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the center.

This recipe goes with just about anything. I usually serve with some sort of potatoes and another vegetable or salad. Yummy!

Tasty Travels!

This weekend I made my, somewhat routine, journey to the great state of North Carolina. I left bright and early Sunday morning, my IPod loaded with sermons and some new music, and started up I-85. My Camry has a great gas tank... I can make it all the way there without stopping! It is so wonderful to just drive straight through, you never have to lose momentum.

I planned to arrive in Wake Forest about 2p.m., on my way in to town I figured I would pick up some lunch for both of us. However, when I called Patrick, he suggested I go ahead and come over, then we could decide what we wanted to eat. Well, much to my surprise my sweet and thoughtful boyfriend had made us lunch... FROM SCRATCH!! It was amazing! We had tilapia, mashed potatoes, peas, and Texas toast. It was such a fantastic surprise! I am so blessed!!!

Our yummy lunch! I was so hungry I took a bite before the picture... ooops!

Monday we planned to run some errands and just hang out... it was supposed to be cloudy and rainy most of the day so we did not want to do too much. For lunch we ate at CookOut... a North Carolina speciality.

CookOut! No place to sit and eat, just a drive through and walk up window... it was packed!

Patrick has been telling me about this place for a while... we would always talk about going, but there is not one close to his apartment so we hadn't been. Well, it was worth the wait!!

We got a hamburger combo... I don't think I have ever been anywhere where corndogs and chicken nuggets are side orders... YUM!

Awesome selection of handmade milkshakes!! 36 flavors!! Way too many to choose from!

Our lunch... burger, fries & onion rings... and we splurged and got a shake (I got Peanut Butter Banana... Patrick got chocolate) so YUMMY!! And all for $5.25... my first reaction... I'm never going to eat regular fast food again!

Monday night it was my turn to cook... I made ranch chicken, mashed potatoes, and broccoli. Stayed tuned for recipes in an upcoming Foodie Friday!

The dinner I made...

I'm excited that we took pictures of the food this time... the problem is... we forgot to take any pictures of ourselves... maybe next time we can find a happy medium!

We had a great visit, but if we keep eating like this... I think we are going to have to join one of our favorite shows... The Biggest Loser!

What just happened? UGA vs. South Carolina 2002

Well, it was a tough weekend for Bulldog fans. It's definitely hard to lose the season opener, but on the bright side, it was a non-conference loss so we still have a chance in the SEC... fingers crossed!!!

That being said, I decided to post my football memory early this week with the hope that we can put Saturday behind us... and look ahead to playing South Carolina this weekend.

The UGA vs. South Carolina game in 2002 was my first away game. It was a very exciting time as we prepared to head just a couple hours north to visit the Gamecocks. We were coming off that super close win against Clemson and we felt like South Carolina would be a fairly easy SEC road win for us... boy were we surprised!

Rookies at our first away game!

That game was special for a number of reasons... First, it was so HOT! It wasn't the normal hot though, it rained just before we walked in, so it was that post rain heat radiating off of EVERYTHING hot. I won't even mention the humidity! Second, not only did it rain before the game, it rained all during the game. This was the only time in my college career where they had to actually stop the game in the middle because of the heavy rain, lightning and thunder. This was also slightly problematic for us because there is not really an easy place to stash 400 band members. When they finally found us a place, after we stood in the stadium during the lightning, we got there and turned right back around because they were about to start the game back up.

The strangest thing of all however, happened right at the beginning of the 4th quarter. We had not really played well throughout the entire game, and we were starting to get worried. We backed them up to where they were lining up very close to their end zone, then as the quarterback went to throw the pass, this happened (click to watch the video). From the stands, we were so confused.. it looked like Pollack just deflected the pass... but then the refs signaled touchdown... CRAZY!!! We didn't really know what was happening... but we'll take it! Touchdown Bulldogs!

We went on to win that game 13-7, and needless to say it went down in my memory forever. Get 'em this week Dawgs!

Foodie Friday Buffalo Chicken Dip

In honor of the first Saturday of College Football I decided to make an easy dip... perfect for a tailgate or game watching party. It is also perfect timing... "Boomama's DipTacular" happens to be today!

The roomies tailgating before the 2005 opener.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:

-1 block of Cream Cheese (8oz), softened
-1/2 cup Bleu Cheese OR Ranch dressing
-1/2 cup Bleu Cheese OR Mozzarella Cheese

-1/2 cup Hot Sauce (I used Texas Pete)

-1 large can Chicken Breast, in water, drained

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Stir the cream cheese, until smooth, in a pie plate or 8x8 pan. Stir in dressing, cheese, hot sauce, and chicken (drained).

Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is hot and bubbly. Stir before serving... to avoid hot spots.

Serve with chips, crackers, or veggies.

This week, I decided to make it and bring it to work for a "taste test" with my co-workers. They loved it! Hope you and yours will enjoy it too!

It was a very popular snack for the afternoon team!

My first game!

I know I am breaking my word on the very first post... sorry! It's just that I have no real memories or attachments to Oklahoma State or their football team. In fact, I haven't even been to OK since we moved when I was in diapers. SO in honor of the 1st game of the season. I thought I would write about my 1st UGA game... August 31, 2002... UGA vs. Clemson, kickoff 7:45pm.

I did not grow up in a family that made a weekly journey to see their favorite college team play. I suspect this is mostly because I come from a mixed family... see my previous post. Anyhow, this was going to be my big introduction to UGA football... and it was a night game.

I remember waking up that Saturday morning and even before I left for practice the grassy areas around our dorm were covered with tailgaters. I went to practice and when I came back more tailgaters! They were so loud and excited... and the game was HOURS away... I could tell it was going to be a crazy night!

Getting ready for the DawgWalk.

That first DawgWalk was something really special. We were the barrier between the masses and the team. For the first time in my life it was "cool" to be in the band, this was totally different from my experience in high school. We got the up-close view of the action, as we formed the marching block and started the cheers and chant... "Hey lift your head up to the sky... ain't nothin' finer in the land than the Georgia Redcoat Marching Band!"

Walking into the stadium was surreal... looking around at all the empty bleachers... knowing that in a matter of minutes all those seats would be full. When I stepped on the field for pre-game it all came together. Sure, all the seats were filled... and 86,000 people were watching me... but they were 86,000 of my best friends, right?

We cheered... and cheered... and I think I screamed more than I ever have... BUT, we ended up winning that game 31-28... it was the start of a wonderful season for UGA... and as for football Saturdays, I was officially hooked!

*This was pre-digital camera for me... so they pics are not necessarily from the 1st game... but they are from my 1st season*