Gobble, Gobble

The Holiday season is upon us once again. (We can't believe it ourselves and it's our job to get you ready for it!) It seems to us that one special holiday is getting lost in this face-paced, material-driven culture. That holiday is of course, Thanksgiving. 

We love Thanksgiving for the obvious reasons, the food. But more than that we love the idea of giving thanks to our family and friends - officially - and coming together for a holiday and time of year that isn't about giving gifts, but giving thanks. So we want to take the time to say thanks the old fashion way. (A blog is totally old fashion, right?) 

So, to all of you, who read these silly posts of ours, THANK YOU. Thank you, for taking time out of your day to read what we have to say. Thank you to everyone who comes in, not just during this time of year but all year long. Thank you to those of you who know us by name, you make us feel a part of your life. Thank you to all of those who come to see us every time they are in town, those who tell us how cute the store is, those who notice when we've changed it up. 

We are thankful of each other because it's just the two of us everyday trying to make this a place where you want to come and spend your time (and hard earned money). Thank you to Kristi, who makes it possible for us to have a day off and who is so special to us. Thank you to Cheryl, for all her help and positive energy and support, thank you for trusting us! 

So think about what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving. Remember to say your thanks, think of how special that handwritten thank you note is when you open your mail and don't forget those things that make life with family and friends a little more meaningful. 



Now that we have those Thank You's out of the way. The other important part of Thanksgiving: The Food. 

Oh the food. Dressing (not stuffing), Casseroles, Turkey, Ham, Rolls, Pies, Cakes and the list goes on.  So let's get down the the real stuff here: Dressing. What's the difference you may ask? Well, stuffing is similar to a bread pudding (but without the custard) and dressing, the wonderful Southern tradition, is essentially cornbread casserole. Made with eggs, dried cornbread, stock and wonderful add-ins that vary with the cook. Turkey: to fry or not to fry. Traditional, you don't fry, you brine and slowly cook it. But I believe once you've had fried turkey, it's hard to go back. 


Betsy Carol loves the dressing. Yum. On Thanksgiving, she's in charge of making sure the pickiest of eaters has something they love. Cory loves the dressing too. She's in charge of casseroles, it varies from year to year but it's always certain she'll be in charge of the green bean casserole. It's made with fresh, not canned green beans, homemade cream sauce, bacon and cheese. It's as good as it sounds. 

We both love the time with our families and are thankful we are lucky enough to have each other and our families to have during this wonderful time of year. Please comment and let us know what is your favorite part of the Holidays! We would love to hear from you and remember to subscribe so you can always know when we have a new post! 

Fall, Fashion, Football: Part 2

Part two of our Fall, Fashion, Football will be devoted to the art of Fall Fashion. 


Whether you're tailgating, spending the day with family and friends, shopping or having date night, fashion in the Fall is what it's all about around. (Don't hold us to that though, after the Winter, Spring will most definitely be a can't wait season). Outside or in, Fall has all our favorite things. 

 

When we think Fall we think: Soup, Early nights, Cool breezes, Boots, Jackets, Sweaters.

All of those things are some of the reasons we love Fall so much at the PZ! Just think for a minute, cozy sweaters and leggings on a cool night, by a fire with loved ones and a delicious glass of red wine. (Mmmm) Grabbing your favorite jacket to pair with your knee length leather boots for a day of shopping. Pea coats on a cold date night to a favorite restaurant with a thick tight and the booties you think about all year around. Yeah, you're getting excited too! ;)

This year we have really stepped it up a notch! 

Last year, we were met with an exceptionally cold winter. It was colder, it lasted longer and took us by surprise! This Winter and Fall we are stocked on jackets, coats, and sweaters to keep you warm and comfy this season! As usual, we will pepper them in the store when available and let you know via Facebook and Instagram when they are here and for sale! And keep a piece of your wardrobe open for a fabulous shoe or two we will have in store for you before too long! 


What is your favorite time of the year? What do you love most about Fall and Winter? Let us know and don't forget to subscribe so you can stay up to date on all the new posts! Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Instagram! 








See you there, 

Fall, Fashion, Football: Part 1

Fall is almost here. That wonderful time of year wear the trees change colors and lose their leaves. The air is crisp, soup is on and we gather on the weekends for our favorite pastime: Football. 

Football in the South means tailgating, food (and lots of it) and for some, fashion (Cardi-Party here we come!). 

EAT

First: Tailgating. It's a giant pre (and post) game party. We see family and old friends, enjoy the outdoors, eat, drink, eat and watch the day's games. Finger foods, BBQ (the real deal barbecue, this is not a reference to grilling. In the South, when we say barbecue, we mean it), burgers and hot dogs, dips, desserts and drinks. Pinterest has made this past time of ours much more enjoyable if you ask us. We love a fun new recipe to try out. 

One of our favorite dips is the Captain Rodney's Cheese Bake. If you have not tried this, come in, get a bottle of Captain Rodney's Pepper Glaze ($14). The recipe should be attached to the bottle but in case you need more proof you need to pick this up, here it is (with our tips). 

½ cup mayonnaise (yeah, yum.)

8 oz. cream cheese

2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated

2 green onions, chopped

Ritz crackers, crushed (however many you want)

8 bacon slices, cooked crisp & crumbled 

½ cup Captain Rodney’s Pepper Glaze** 

Mix mayonnaise, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and onions together with mixer and spread into greased quiche pan or pie plate. Top with crackers and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Once baked, top with bacon and drizzle Captain Rodney’s Glaze. 

*Our main tip for this dip is just to add a little bit of the Captain Rodney's to the body of the dip, not the full 1/2 cup. Sometimes, it can make it slightly soupy. You could also cook down sweet onions to mix in and add the green onions on top after it's baked along with the rest of the bacon and a drizzle of the glaze.*

Serve with tortilla chips, crackers or veggies. 


Captain Rodney's also makes Pepper Jelly (which is beyond amazing on top of cream cheese with Wheat Thins or veggies), and Jezebel Sauce (try it on a biscuit, glaze your oven baked ham, or your ham biscuit - you know, just try it however!) Both $12.



DRINK

With tailgating also comes drinks. Beers of all colors and thickness, hot toddys, and wine.

With a Corkcicle  ($20), Chillsner (2 for $30) or Vinnebago ($30) you can enjoy your wine and beer (and hot toddy) at the temperature you 
want. The Corkcicle has changed our life. Keep it in the freezer and don't worry about putting your bottle back in the cooler (or Fridge) - it keeps it at the perfect temp. A Chillsner, stick it down in your bottle and drink through an icy slide making your beer cool and refreshing each sip. The Vinnebago: This invention will change how you tailgate (or camp). Nicknamed "The Modern Canteen" it keeps the cold, cold for 25 hours and the hot, hot for 12. If you get one new toy for this year, make it the Vinnebago. (All pictured below)

BE MERRY



What is your favorite tailgating recipe? Leave us a comment and let us know if there is something we need to try. And don't worry, more recipes to come. We have only dusted the surface of our favorite noms, and there are lots more to come. 


Check back later this week when we discuss SEC Rivalries and what Football and Fashion mean to one another! You won't want to miss it! 




Love, The PZ