Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

This is my last post for the week… gonna take a few days off. And by “off”, I mean I’ll be slaving away in the kitchen and eating my way into a turkey coma. Gotta love stretchy maternity pants. So, as a final farewell before the holidays, I thought I’d pass on a few links for helpful ways to use leftovers and then a few things to do with your visitors during their stay in Charlotte.

Click through for innovative recipes using common Thanksgiving Day leftover items:

• http://www.foodnetwork.com/thanksgiving-leftovers/package/index.html
• http://www.delish.com/entertaining-ideas/holidays/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-leftover-recipes
• http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/slideshows/2008/11/thanksgiving_leftovers_slideshow#slide=1

And for a few tips on food storage and how long those leftovers will really last:

• http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-recipes-leftovers-00000000023746/index.html

Now, if you’ve got company and you aren’t eating, you’ll probably want to get out of the house. But, I ain’t going anywhere near a mall or shopping center if I can help it. No “deal” is worth that kind of drama. Here are a few things you may enjoy:

• The Light Before Christmas, playing at the IMAX in Discovery Place starts on Friday. Check www.discoveryplace.org for show times.
• If imbibing is a necessity when hanging out with the fam’, check out Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. Open this Friday from 4-10pm and Saturday from 12-7, everyone will enjoy the brew and pretzels. If you drop in on Saturday, be sure to check out the brewery tours offered at 2, 3, and 4 pm. Oh, and it’s family friendly, so bring the kiddos.
• Toy Story 3 is at the $1 Theater in Matthews! Check out the website for days and show times.
• The Ratcliffe on the Green turns into an outdoor ice rink through the holiday season, starting today. Grab a hot cocoa and watch your family members collide on the ice with other tourists. Should be good times. Click here for more info. (Pictured above.)
• If you’re looking for a little culture, check out the Mint at the new downtown location. Be sure to print the “Power Hour” tour from the website if you are short on time or concerned about losing a grandma in the museum’s halls.

Happy Thanksgiving and maybe I’ll see some of y’all at some stroller walks next week? 🙂