DO invited the grandparents to come with. This has many advantages that go beyond traveling baby sitters.
DON'T let the women do all the packing and then get frustrated when supplies are not as accessible as you like.
DO take a lot of reading, even if you're too busy looking at the ocean to crack the spine.
DON'T forget if you travel on Sunday, in the middle of no where Georgia, you may be hard pressed to find a restaurant open. God bless the blue laws that still exist in po-dunk America.
DO suck up your fear of heights to climb up and down 178 steps of a lighthouse with your kids. Nothing compares to the preschooler shrieking at the sight of expansive ocean. OR, her explanation that the lighthouse tells the ships, ''STOP, go that way, don't hit the beach!''
DON'T get too frustrated with service at dinner, except in extreme situations. You are ON vacation. Relax.
DO take your entire medicine cabinet in case a viral monster takes down half your crew.
DON'T set an alarm.
DO take a trolley tour of the town if possible.
DON'T worry about splitting up to do different things for a while. The stories at dinner are awesome.
DO take video of your kid saying ''Herrrmit Craaaabs!'' at random strangers to record their reaction.
DON'T fold your husbands flip flops inside a beach chair...you will forget them.
DO say a thankful prayer when your children behave like angels despite crazy schedules and late nights.
DON'T forget the coffee. Preschoolers get exceptionally excited about the beach, go to bed ridiculously late and wake up at 7am screaming for their bathing suit.
DO convince your kiddo to curl up for story time with Poppy. I only wish I'd snapped a picture.
DON'T ever forget how it was to travel with small kids, you'll need this learned patience later in life for your own grandkids.
DO bring most food from home. These towns know they have a captive audience, you will be overcharged for every miscellaneous food item.
DON'T go on a diet before the trip, this will only lead to frustration when faced with tasty beach restaurant food.
DO stay up late to take a long walk.
DON'T forget to people watch, that's some good, free entertainment.
DO find an authentic ice cream parlor and treat yourself.
DON'T mind that your infant is eating piles of sand, consider it a good fiber source.
DO have those long conversations you'll remember later.
DON'T do too much in one day, remember quality not quantity of memories.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Back!
Sorry folks, took a little time off to go on vacation to Tybee Island. Be back soon with stories from the trip.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Bring Back Home - Cinnamon Rolls.
This past weekend, I made a patch of my mom's cinnamon rolls for the mens tennis team. I completely got the Betty Crocker bug last Friday as there was pizza dough and cinnomon roll dough made on the same day.
As always I was determined to make it BETTER than my mom. Let me explain. There are certain tastes that I adore, that just hit my cerebral cortex right in the happy spot and bring me back to childhood. There are three ingredients I can never have too much of, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter(the real stuff). Mom's use is just not liberal enough for my soul.
I promised this recipe back in February so I apologize for the procrastiation on the post!
Cinnamon Rolls.
Cover w/ saran wrap - loosely across only one side of the pan. Let rise over night.
While these bake the next morning, prepare the cinnamon glaze. Melt 1/2 stick butter, 1/2 c. brown sugar, 4 T. Light corn syrup. in pot on low. Slowly bring to boil. Turn off and remove from heat. Whisk in 1 tsp baking soda. The glaze will become frothy. Add 1 tsp. vanilla and whisk until glaze starts cooling. Be careful to not do this too ahead of the rolls being done as it will really start to stiffen. When rolls are done drizzle over rolls and serve on platter.
Bake @ 425 for 12 - 15 minutes
These just turned out perfect!
I was touched when a neighbor told me they ''reminded him of home, and his mom used to make similar cinnamon rolls with the yeasty dough.'' There was just pure delight in his voice as he spoke, almost childlike. You see, his mom died on Christmas Day 2010 unexpectedly. I'm so grateful that this recipe could bring back 'home' for someone and make their heart smile one more time.
As always I was determined to make it BETTER than my mom. Let me explain. There are certain tastes that I adore, that just hit my cerebral cortex right in the happy spot and bring me back to childhood. There are three ingredients I can never have too much of, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter(the real stuff). Mom's use is just not liberal enough for my soul.
I promised this recipe back in February so I apologize for the procrastiation on the post!
Cinnamon Rolls.
1 C. shortening, 1 c. boiling water
1 c. sugar, 1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. warm water, dissolve yeast in water
2 cubes compressed yeast or 2 pkgs. dry yeast
6 c. unsifted flour
Pour boiling water over shortening. Add sugar & salt. Add eggs, then water w/ dissolved yeast. Add
Flour until well mixed, cover and let rise in warm place for at least 4 hrs. Note, this makes really sticky dough in case you get concerned.
After 4 hours, punch dough to break rise dome.....
Knead 1/2 c. extra flour into dough ball. (yes, this flour is in addition to the above)
Cover counter with wax paper in 3'x2' area. Sprinkle wax paper with ample flour. Hand roll dough ball into a long cylinder. Use rolling pin to flatten dough into a rectangle about 1/4" thick. Rectangle will normally be about 30"x20"
Melt 1.5 sticks of butter and spread evenly over dough. Sprinkle 1 c. white & 1.5 c. brown sugar across rectangle to absorb butter. Sprinkle generously w/ cinnamon. Let dough set for 10 mins to allow sugars and butters to thicken up.
Begin to roll dough in cyclinder from the longest side. You should end up with a 30" long cylinder of yumminess! The sugar will ooze out at the end of the roll, that's OK.
After 4 hours, punch dough to break rise dome.....
Knead 1/2 c. extra flour into dough ball. (yes, this flour is in addition to the above)
Cover counter with wax paper in 3'x2' area. Sprinkle wax paper with ample flour. Hand roll dough ball into a long cylinder. Use rolling pin to flatten dough into a rectangle about 1/4" thick. Rectangle will normally be about 30"x20"
Melt 1.5 sticks of butter and spread evenly over dough. Sprinkle 1 c. white & 1.5 c. brown sugar across rectangle to absorb butter. Sprinkle generously w/ cinnamon. Let dough set for 10 mins to allow sugars and butters to thicken up.
Begin to roll dough in cyclinder from the longest side. You should end up with a 30" long cylinder of yumminess! The sugar will ooze out at the end of the roll, that's OK.
Slice 1 - 1 1/4" thick rounds and place on greased pan. A standard cookie sheet hold about 12 rolls. The end slices lack some of the sugar goodness. Take a knife and pick up the sugary ooze on the wax paper, put on top of the end rolls
Cover w/ saran wrap - loosely across only one side of the pan. Let rise over night.
While these bake the next morning, prepare the cinnamon glaze. Melt 1/2 stick butter, 1/2 c. brown sugar, 4 T. Light corn syrup. in pot on low. Slowly bring to boil. Turn off and remove from heat. Whisk in 1 tsp baking soda. The glaze will become frothy. Add 1 tsp. vanilla and whisk until glaze starts cooling. Be careful to not do this too ahead of the rolls being done as it will really start to stiffen. When rolls are done drizzle over rolls and serve on platter.
Bake @ 425 for 12 - 15 minutes
These just turned out perfect!
I was touched when a neighbor told me they ''reminded him of home, and his mom used to make similar cinnamon rolls with the yeasty dough.'' There was just pure delight in his voice as he spoke, almost childlike. You see, his mom died on Christmas Day 2010 unexpectedly. I'm so grateful that this recipe could bring back 'home' for someone and make their heart smile one more time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)