Northern Thanksgiving vs. Southern Thanksgiving

I've spent the last two Thanksgivings in Georgia, granted they were with other Northern transplants and their Southern-born children, but I've still noticed some distinct differences between Thanksgiving up North and down South.

The first thing I noticed is that Southerners pronounce the word "Thanksgiving" differently and I don't just mean they say it in a Southern twang or drawl. Southerners make Thanksgiving into a verb and distinctly separate it into two words, "I'm spending thanks giving in Athens with my parents." In contrast Northerners pronounce Thanksgiving as a one-word noun, "My parents are hosting Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania." It is a subtle difference, but it's there.

Food can help ease homesickness: The Philly cheesesteak edition

I made this bad boy at home from scratch 

When you're outside of the Philadelphia-metro area it can be difficult to find a decent cheesesteak. So what's a Pennsylvania girl living in Atlanta to do when she is craving a home state favorite? Luckily my mama taught me how to cook. 

You can learn about the history of the cheesesteak and how to make your own here. I made the the delicious sandwich to the right a couple weeks ago using rib-eye steak, sautéed onions and melted Provolone cheese. I personally like to top it with plain old ketchup.

My first trip to Atlanta

I was driving in Downtown Atlanta today and it brought back memories of my first ever trip to Atlanta.

Two of my girlfriends and former co-workers and I at the
rooftop bar at the Hilton in Downtown Atlanta

I came here for work in January 2011. We stayed at the Hilton and Marriott, which are connected by an overpass in Downtown, and our convention was at the Congress Center. 

The first night we were there we went to Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles. Since it was the first night our work schedule wasn't too hectic yet, so we were all sort of in party mode. Well, little did we know, no alcohol is served at Gladys Knight's, because she's Mormon. Who knew? Not me. Needlesstosay, we (me, ok, it was me) were very disappointed.