The Word Of The Year Is …

The folks at Merriam-Webster Dictionary have decided what 2011′s word of the year is … have you used it?

I know *I* haven’t … it’s pragmatic!   What about you … what is YOUR word of the year?

Share with us above!

What Are You Most Looking Forward To This Season?

Six days into December and I feel like the holidays are already racing by …

What are you most looking forward to, in the next few weeks?  Top three answers thus far:

* Relaxing at home
* Enjoying Christmas dinner with the family
* Watching friends & family open their gifts

What about you?  Share with us below!

Am I crazy for feeling this way?

I realize it’s the weekend BEFORE Thanksgiving, but it’s almost my favorite time of the year …

How early is TOO early to put up your tree?  I really want to do it this weekend, but on top of that feat, we actually need to buy a new [artificial] tree this year too.

So many questions … what do you think?  Share with us above!

My gift to you this holiday weekend!

In anticipation of possibly needing one this weekend, before or after visiting with your relatives … here is my Perfect Bloody Mary recipe, with special thanks to sister-in-law Katie for her masterpiece special ingredient!

Ingredients

Ice cubes
1-1/4 shot Absolut Vodka (or your brand of choice)
1 11.5-oz can of Guinness
Bloody Mary mix (the spicier, the better)
Pickle juice
2 pickle slices, or 1 mini dill
3 pepperoni slices
Sliced cheese, in small cubes (pepperjack or swiss the best)
4 squirts Tabasco sauce (chipotle the best)
2 shakes each, salt & pepper

Pour 1/4 glass of ice cubes into a pint glass. Now add the 1 1/4 shots of Absolut, then the Guinness, which should bring the glass to half-full. Guinness is the special ingredient, make sure you have it!  Now add the bloody mary mix to fill the glass, leaving just enough room at the top for the last few ingredients.

Next add a shot glass of pickle juice, the tabasco sauce, and the salt & pepper.  Stir to mix.

Garnish with the pickle slices, pepperonis, and sliced cheese.

You now have the best Bloody Mary ever. Enjoy!

It’s not really Monday, more of a Wednesday

To help cure our Bears blues:

** Darius Rucker will be here in less than two weeks – win more seats, with the Drew Walker Drive @ 5!

** Kellie Pickler LIVE COUNTRY comes to Joe’s Bar Wednesday, 12/16 … grab invitation-only passes, with the STMQ @ 6:10pm!

** It’s a special FNPP this week … join me for Black Wednesday 9-11pm at Saddle-Up Saloon in Aurora (Ogden Ave @ Route 59) … we’ll have TURKEY BOWLING!

Jill’s Chicken Pie Crockpot recipe, as prepared by Grandma Sheena this morning

Ingredients

3 cups diced cooked chicken or turkey
3 cups cubed peeled potatoes
2 cans (14 1/2 oz each) chicken broth
1 package (16 oz) frozen mixed vegetables
1 medium onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, divided
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1 bay leaf
1 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 (9-inch) refrigerated pie crust

In Crockpot Slow Cooker, combine chicken, potatoes, chicken broth, mixed vegetables, onion, celery, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt and bay leaf.  Cover; cook on Low 8 to 10 hours or on High 4 to 6 hours.  Remove bay leaf.

Preheat oven to 400F. In small bowl, mix milk and flour. Gradually stir flour mixture into Crockpot.  Stir in remaining 1 teaspoon pepper, poultry seasoning and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. If using a removable Crockpot, carefully place 9-inch pie crust over vegetable-meat mixture. Place removable crock inside preheated oven; do not cover. Bake 15 minutes or until crust is browned.

For a non-removable Crockpot, spoon vegetable-meat mixture into 13 x 9-inch casserole dish. Roll out pie crust and carefully place on top of vegetable-meat mixture.  Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until pie crust is brown.

Serve immediately.

Makes 8 servings.