A Southern Girls Survival Guide to Living in New England!

Moving across the country three years ago was such an eye opening experience. I have decided to write about some of the things that I have learned since making the transition from Southern Girl to ..... Southern Girl living in New England. I miss living in the South more than you can imagine, but I have learned quite a bit in my time here. There are some things about this part of the country that are wonderful and other things I just don't understand. So I have decided to write a "Survival Guide" of sorts for any southern girl or southern guy that finds themselves suddenly living in New England


1. Life doesn't stop when it SNOWS! Spending the first 27 years of my life in the South I am well trained on how to handle the threat of snow. If it even looks like it might snow, school is canceled and the grocery store is emptied within hours. Not so much the case in CT.
I will never forget the first time it snowed here and I was at work. As I sat and looked out the window at all of the snow falling my entire body set into a shear panic. Everything within me told me to leave the office, get in my car, go to the store for bread and milk and get home as fast as possible. I was even more disturbed to watch everyone around me act like nothing was happening at all. "Don't we need to close the office I asked my boss?!!" he just looked at me and laughed and then explained that we would not be leaving the office until it was time to go at the end of the day. As you can imagine this only added to my panic, and at that point I remember feeling trapped! What should I do!!? Not a good feeling at all! Since this first snow I have come to relax a little especially since it snows like every week from November to April. The state has lots of snow plows and they're pretty good about getting the snow out of here and keeping the roads clear, but that doesn't stop me from going to the store when I think that it might snow just to stock up on food in case we're trapped for days!

2. Sweet Tea is non-existent here...so don't bother asking for it!
For some reason New Englander's have yet to catch onto the goodness of sweet tea! New England and the rest of the country for that matter just need to get a grip and embrace the wonder that is sweet tea. I don't get it! I mean most of them have heard about it and know what it is, but they just don't have it here which is so unfortunate! If you ask for it at a restaurant, they let you know that they would be happy to give you some sugar packets along with your glass of tea. It's not the same and anyone who has lived in the South and knows the goodness of sweet tea knows that sugar packets just won't work! I make it whenever we are going to have company in hopes of converting one more person! I have made it part of my personal mission since living here to expose as many Yankees to the delicacy that is Sweet tea!

This concludes the first of many instalments in the survival guide. Keep your eyes open as I know I will have many more entries over the next few weeks!

Welcome Back Baseball!

"Reporter at Spring Training: Where do the Sox rank in terms of importance in your life?

Ben: I say the Red Sox..Sex..and breathing."
- Fever Pitch

This quote is so funny to me because this one small line from a movie totally sums up my husband's love for the game of baseball (and the Red Sox). He has followed baseball since he was a young boy and has the baseball collection of collectibles and autographs to prove it. Baseball season started this past week which makes for the beginning of a fun season at the Corbett's. We try to take advantage of the local baseball here in CT and always have a wonderful time.

After another cold and miserable New England winter, nothing shines brighter than the first April day that you get to spend at a ballpark. An unexpected invitation from a friend in Honor of Postal Appreciation Day combined with a rare BEAUTIFUL (meaning 70 and Sunny) afternoon made for such a delightful treat! We headed off to the see the New Britian Rock Cats play the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA baseball). Because of postal appreciation day we were given tickets for just 44 cents which isn't just a great deal, its amazing! It was also special to both Joe and I because both of our fathers have worked for the United States Post Office. As we arrived at the ballpark we ran into Rocky the Rock Cat and received an autograph as well as had our picture taken with him. We enjoyed all of the favorites that the park had to offer. Everything from the local elementary school band that preformed the National Anthem. (They were about as good as you would expect, but they tried really hard and received a standing ovation from the crowd. It was really cute and funny all at the same time!) We ate hot dogs, drank beer and watched a great game! We hope this will be the first of many games for us this season. We love the time we get to spend together and love to watch the young talent that comes through. We hope that one day we will be watching these young kids play in the majors! Baseball is such a wonderful game, that is why it is called America's greatest pastime. As for us, we can't think of anything better than spending a day at the ballpark together!

I leave you with this quote " People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."- Rogers Hornsby

Welcome back Spring and welcome back baseball!

The Rockcats with the basses loaded!

Yummy Yummy in My Tummy!

Thought I would share one of the Corbett's favorite family dinners with all of you. This is a recipe that one of my friends found and passed it on to me! It is from the cooking light website which I L-O-V-E! This dinner is called Kung Pao Chicken. Joe likes it super spicy and I don't so we always find a way to meet in the middle! Being that I'm the primary cook it typically isn't very spicy at all! (sorry babe!) It is a healthy dinner and we are always glad that we were able to have a Chinese dinner with out all of the MSG and the other stuff you often get when grabbing Chinese take out on the go! I know that the list of ingredients looks long, but I promise it really isn't that bad and it really doesn't take that long to make! I hope that you enjoy!

Prep Time: 9 Minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients

1 tablespoon canola oil, divided

4 cups broccoli florets

1 tablespoon ground fresh ginger (I just use whatever dried ground ginger from the spice isle)

2 tablespoons water

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 pounds skinless boneless chicken breast, cut into 1/4 inch strips

1/2 cup fat free, less sodium chicken broth

2 tablespoons hoisin sauce

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce

1 teaspoon cornstarch

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped salted peanuts

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add broccoli and 2 teaspoons ginger to pan; saute' 1 minute. Add water. Cover; cook 2 minutes or until broccoli is crisp-tender. Remove broccoli from fan; keep warm.

Heat remaining two teaspoons oil in pan; add remaining 1 teaspoon ginger, crushed red pepper, and chicken. Cook 4 minutes or until chicken is lightly browned, stirring frequently.

Combine broth and next 5 ingredients (through garlic) in a small bowl and stir with a whisk. Add broth mixture to pan and cook 1 minute or until mixture thickens, stirring constantly. Return broccoli mixture to pan, toss to coat. Sprinkle with peanuts.

I always serve over rice but you can also use Asian noodles!

Enjoy!

You're never too old for the Easter Bunny!

For Easter Sunday Joe and I headed to our adopted families home. Yes its true, Joe and I have been adopted! Skip and Lou Ann Brannen are permanent fixtures in our life and we couldn't be happier about it! They are two of the most wonderful people we know and we are so happy to have them in our life. Joe and I and spend just about every Holiday at there house and always have such a fun time! They have two sons Kevin and Jason who are two of Joe's best friends and they also have a daughter Erica who I always enjoy spending time with. She has become like a sister to me in many ways! We always feel like we are at home when we are at their house. Lou Ann is an amazing cook and always pulls out all of the stops and Easter was no exception. Everything from the table setting to the LARGE amount of food that covered the table was perfect. We had a wonderful Easter dinner and dined on Kielbasa, scalloped potatoes, ham, asparagus, porgies, and hot rolls. (So much food we always get a to go box when we leave!) Dessert was more of the same, cake, Easter cup cakes, chocolate coconut cake (made by Erica) and a three layer mouse! And of course there was candy! As many of you know I LOVE candy! Lou Ann always has an Easter bag filled with gifts and candy for us. I love that she clearly believes that you are never too old for the Easter bunny! Joe and I are so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our life to love and care for us! We thank the Lord for each and everyone of them. I have attached some pictures of our adopted family so you can meet them!
Please Meet Skip and Lou Ann Brannon. Our Adoptive Family!

This is Erica and her husband Scott. Joe and I love talking with the two of them!

The Beautiful Easter Table Setting. Complete with little bunny salt and pepper shakers!