KEVIN!

We’re here!

It was a MADHOUSE leaving Hillsborough this morning!! Just like the scene from Home Alone when everyone is throwing duffle bags around and searching for voltage adaptors. I think we remembered everything…..’cept Kevin! The eight of us squeezed into 3 cars along with about a month’s worth of food (mostly cheese, crackers, and bread), more tote bags and suitcases than you could count and over 3 cases of beer

We started the morning off earlier than our bodies wanted with the alarm going off at 7:00. My first thought was that there was no way I was going to the gym this early, but I gradually woke up and thought about sitting in a car all day and decided I’d better get my exercise in while the opportunity was there. So 30 slow minutes later, the husband, Larbs and I were on the ellipticals at the gym. It was a slow and steady 45 minutes on the ET and I did just a little weight lifting afterwards.

At home there was a long line for the shower, so I cranked up the stove to make a group pot of oatmeal (2 cups of quick oats made with half milk, half water and 1 big banana split between 7 people – dad opted out). I set out a buffet of toppings: coconut, crushed candy cane, toffee + butterscotch chips, banana, scuffin, oatmeal cookie, nuts, and a Barney Butter to-go packet that I brought from home so people could try it.

My oats were topped with a bit more banana, some candied nuts, coconut and a small spoonful of Barney Butter.

Plus some bad Wal-Mart brand coffee

On The Road Again

We hit the road at 11. I rode with Larbs and Matt, and we spent the noon hour singing Mariah Carey’s Daydream CD at the top of our lungs

We all shared a PB LaraBar to help tide us over to our late lunch (2:30pm)

Fishing For Food

We made it to Southport to have lunch on the waterfront at our favorite Bald Head vacation restaurant: Fishy Fishy. (Remember our summertime visit?) – Long Time, No Sea.

We ordered the same Portobello Tempura “fries” as last time and the husband and I shared one. Mmm!

For lunch I ordered a Mixed Greens Salad with Grilled Tilapia, Pine Nuts, Manchego Cheese, Cuc, Tomato and Tangerine Vinegarette.

And I had a few of the husband’s sweet potato fries and a bite of his Shrimp LT wrap.

We had to rush to the grocery store before racing to the ferry terminal to try to make the 4pm ferry. We made it just in the nick of time!

Everyone was wearing new Christmas socks!! The Matt’s had matching ones from my mom 🙂

 

Windblown

Island Fun

Once we were settled in our rooms, we met for a game of Outburst and cocktail hour, which of course must involve cheese and crackers! My grandmother sent this awesome gift basket full of all kinds of goodies –

 

I had 4-5 crackers with topping.

And 2 cheese biscuits

And a small paper cup of red wine

Chefs Matt + Kath

We had the fun of cooking dinner for the family tonight in the Inn’s kitchen!

On the menu:

• Chicken Sausage, Goat Cheese + Mushroom Pasta Bake
• Spinach Salad with Walnuts, Cranberries + Blue Cheese tossed in homemade balsamic dressing
• Assorted Christmas desserts
• 3 different red wines

We’re the only ones here at the Inn, so we set up the breakfast room like a restaurant –

 

The salad

The pasta bake

All we did was cook 2 boxes of whole wheat rotini and toss it with the following mixture of 2 pints of mushrooms, 1 drained can of diced tomatoes, 6 Andouille chicken sausages, 3 cloves garlic, and a spice blend of oregano, red pepper flakes and S+P.

We put it all in 2 baking dishes and stirred in 2 containers of goat cheese. Then we topped with shredded cheese and baked for about 20-30 minutes in an unknown hot oven temperature.

It was a big hit! (And would have been even better with some kalamata olives but they got vetoed at the last minute)

My plate with a glass of red –

Seconds!

   

I went a little heavy on the wine tonight because this wine is AWESOME!!!!!!! From Trader Joe’s and only $5.99, I believe. We first had it at Kate + Nate’s and I told Larbs to bring some. Can’t beat the price and it’s very velvety smooth for a Cab.

I assembled this dessert platter – all Xmas leftovers we brought.

Add one more bourbon ball to this selection!

And a piece of babka

And 3 Inn peppermint candies!

The others went out on a walk in the cold + dark, but I am going to take a bath, lather myself in lotions, and read in bed – and drink some water!!

It looks like we’re going to have warm, sunny weather at least tomorrow – yay!