NC Vacation Home In Lake Norman Named as a Top U.S Weekly Vacation Rental by VRBO

Lake Norman, North Carolina, USA

More and more families are choosing vacation home rentals to have the comforts of home when they are traveling. You can bring the dog, your kid's best friend, or even grandma and grandpa. Or you can leave the kids with your spouse and enjoy a vacation with your best friends. I would love to be the fly on the wall when you tell your spouse those plans. Regardless of how you vacation, you have choices, and if you have no budget, then the world is your playground from Mexico to North Carolina. If my wallet was thicker, I would love to stay in this Lake Norman, NC vacation home. The rate is around $5k a night for this time of year. 

Lake Front Home with Beautiful Waterfront Views


VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner) released its top ten U.S. vacation homes for the year and added Mexico as a vacationer bonus. They chose these homes based on reviews, amenities, and premier management. VRBO is owned by Expedia Corp, and you may be surprised that the global travel corp owns most of the travel sites you visit online," from Expedia, Travelocity, Hotwire, Trivago, and many more booking sites.   


"There are more than two million private vacation rentals on Vrbo, so there are many amazing choices. This year's Vacation Homes of the Year range from an urban oasis and a cozy ranch home under $400 a night to a beachfront estate that can sleep the whole family and more," said Jon Gieselman, president of Expedia Brands. "Every single Vacation Home of the Year has a beautiful view, and combined boast seven private pools and fire pits, eight hot tubs, and even five putting greens."


But let's swoon over the North Carolina rental on beautiful Lake Norman, NC, named "Chasestone."  I know N.C. is gorgeous and has much to offer the traveler, but everyone must experience it themselves. 

The Chasestone rental would be a great base to explore the Charlotte, NC, area and parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains on a day trip. 


This 5,000-square-foot home with four bedrooms and a seven-bath home is situated on a private peninsula with over 600 feet of lakefront views, less than an hour's drive from the heart of Charlotte. The Nantucket-inspired home has a theater room, a gourmet open-concept kitchen, and a living area with direct access to the deck for al fresco dining.

Outdoor pool with lakefront view at Lake Norman Vacation Rental



Scroll through all VRBO 2023 Vacation Homes of the Year and discuss your favorite properties on the list with me on social media. 

If $5,000 a night is out of your league like mine, don't think properties are just for the rich and famous. Lake Norman area has all price points for every budget. Learn more about the area by visiting the Lake Norman tourism office  https://www.visitlakenorman.org/

Visit NC's official tourism site to see where else you can explore North Carolina. 





Score Super Bowl Points with this BBQ Chicken Sliders and Peach Salsa Recipe

Whether you are a Philadephia Eagles fan or a Kansas City Chiefs fan, this recipe is a winner. I like easy recipes. I want an ingredient list so short that I can remember what goes in it without a grocery list. You will love this BBQ chicken slider recipe with peach salsa because it's easy and delicious. I made this in a crockpot, but an instant pot would also work. 



Easy BBQ chicken sandwich recipes




Fresh peaches were abundant when I first made this dish, but you can substitute frozen peaches or even canned ones when peachers are not in season.  

fresh  north carolina peaches, perfect for a BBQ pulled chicken slider salsa






Here in North Carolina, that farm-fresh peach window is about six weeks in late summer. Luckily, for super bowl season, we have canned or frozen peaches that can easily be used to make this peach salsa to pair with BBQ Chicken Sliders. If you use canned peaches, definitely rinse them in syrup. 

peach salsa recipe


This easy and quick recipe for pulled chicken and peach salsa recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight or hosting a party for a crowd like the Super Bowl or a college tailgate. My kids eat BBQ chicken and hamburger buns, so even if they don't eat peach salsa, they have something to eat.

Peach Salsa with chips makes a great dish for a tailgate or  SuperBowl Party


The peach salsa is also great to serve with chips if you want to skip the BBQ-pulled chicken sliders altogether and just serve chips. I like blue chips with them. Or you can skip the peach salsa and do BBQ-pulled chicken sliders for dinner, a tailgate, or a party for a crowd. Leftover BBQ pulled chicken is significant for another night in the week if you are serving a small group. The sliders also taste great without the salsa but combined, it's a culinary touchdown.

Pulled BBQ Chicke slides topped with Peach Salsa: The Perfect Tailgate Meal




Pulled BBQ Chicken Sliders in Crockpot

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts (or combo)
1/2 onion, minced
1 cup plus 1/4 Brown Sugar-Based BBQ sauce ( I used a sauce from Trader Joe's)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

**If you do not have a brown sugar-based sauce, add 2 Tbsp brown sugar to the crockpot.

Add onion, BBQ, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and brown sugar (if needed) to the crockpot. Make sure salt and sugar are dissolved. Add chicken, and mix to coat thoroughly. Cook for 3 to 4 hours at a high temperature until you can tear the chicken apart with a fork. When the chicken is tender enough to take apart with a fork, transfer the chicken to a bowl, and add some cooking juices. Continue to pull the chicken apart, and mix 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce. Stir until the chicken is coated. Add salt or additional seasoning to taste. If you like heat, add a hint of red pepper. Serve on buns or small rolls. Add the following Peach salsa for a Superbowl touchdown.

If you are cooking in this easy pulled bbq chicken in the Instant Pot, you can search many recipes, but most say to pressure cook for 15 minutes, then do a natural release for ten minutes, and then open the valve. I've yet to do this in an Instant Pot, but I will put it on my menu soon.

Peach Salsa

2 peaches, chopped ( I used fresh when in season, but canned peaches work, too)
1 Roma tomato, chopped
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 jalapeno, seeded, minced
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped
1/4 tsp salt.

Combine chopped peaches, Roma tomato, lime juice, jalapeno, red onion, cilantro, and 1/4 tsp of salt in a bowl. Mix well. Add additional salt or lime juice as needed or to your taste.

Serve pulled chicken on hamburger buns with peach salsa.

Easy Recipe for a  Weeknight. Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Peach Salsa. Can be cooked in Slow Cooker or an Instant Pot




Other sides or main dishes that are easy for Tailgating have been featured by me
     Easy No-Mayo Pasta Salad
     Southern Baked Beans with a Twist
     Potatoes for a Crowd
     Deviled  Eggs from Bill Smith 
     Southern cornbread
     Cackalacky Game Day Dip
     Marinated Asparagus
     Shoe-Peg Corn Salad
     Hines Mac and Cheese 
     Caribbean Bean Salad 
     Creamy Pasta Salad 





Updated: January January 2023


Wow Guests withThe Mid-Century Pineapple Cheese Ball (Easy Recipe)

North Carolina, USA

Once I had graduated from college and had my own home in the nineties while working as a TV reporter in the small town of Whiteville, N.C.,  I hosted a Christmas Eve party. This casual but dressy party became a holiday tradition, and many friends would pop in to wish my family Christmas cheer. 

At that stage of my life, it was more about wine than food. To put it simply, I did not cook until I had my first child at 37. One of the first things I learned to make was a Pineapple Cheese Ball from the First Presbyterian Church in Whiteville. I lived two houses directly behind the church, attended the church, and purchased the cookbook in 1994. It was the church's third cookbook to go to press. As I stated, I didn't cook much back then, but I loved to read cookbooks. Consider reading cookbooks like searching for recipes on Pinterest now. This was way before most people had the internet. Believe it or not, we had to rely on cookbooks, newspapers, and magazines to provide us with recipe ideas. 

The pastor's wife submitted a Pineapple Cheese Ball recipe for the book that caught my attention, and I took a big chance and made it for my annual Christmas Eve gathering that year. After that, I began making the cheeseball every year after people said they liked it. Then, in Christmas of 1999, I moved to Raleigh, the end of my holiday parties and famous cheeseball. 

I've not made the Pineapple Cheese Ball since 1998, but I'm bringing it back, baby!!! The cheese ball is being resurrected in 2022. 

Cheeseballs were at the height of their popularity in the forties during wartime for budget-friendly reasons. During my Southern upbringing, cheeseballs were fashionable for parties. But it was a simple ball of cheese covered in nuts. My kids are from the new cheeseball generation, where cheeseballs look like holiday trees, wreaths, and snowmen for holiday parties. 

I'm still that mid-century gal keeping it simple and cheesy. I could make it in the shape of a square for this next generation, toss some red bell peppers into the form of a bow, and call it the gift of Christmas past. Nah, that's too complicated! That's why it is a cheese ball. Simple and easy. 

Pineapple Cheese Ball with nuts and crackers


Pineapple Cheese Ball

1 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened

1 small can of crushed pineapple, drained

1/4 cup of finely chopped green peppers

2 TBS of finely chopped onion

2 cups pecans

2 tsp seasoned salt (Lawry's)

2 oz grated cheese


Mix all of the ingredients together except 1/2 of the pecans. Form into a ball. Chill the cheese ball before rolling it in the remaining pecans, then roll the ball in the pecans. Chill before serving. It can be served with crackers or gingersnaps. 

To modernize this cheese ball recipe for our post-Covid years, make two dozen small balls for individual servings with crackers. 

Individual size cheese balls




Cupola House Wassail Recipe from Edenton, NC

North Carolina, USA

 Updated: Dec. 2022

I've always been a fan of the holiday drink called Wassail, which is made with a hot mulled cider base, and Russian Tea or Spiced tea with a tea base. They are similar in taste and are great on a cold winter's day.  However, the drink Wassil has rich English history, hence, the Christmas carol, "Here come a-wassailing!! Wassailing is an English yuletide drinking tradition where people go door-to-door to spread holiday cheer and good wishes in the new year. 

Edenton is North Carolina's second oldest town, founded in 1722. It has a fabulous recipe for Wassail. It will be a delight for your holidays, too. 


An Image of wassail in silver punch bowl and historic cupola house in Edenton, NC


Cupola House Wassail Recipe

1-gallon apple cider
2 (12-ounce) cans of frozen lemonade
1 tablespoon ground cloves
1/3 teaspoon ground allspice
4 sticks cinnamon
5 dried apple rings
1/2 orange, thinly sliced
1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
1 quart of white wine

Mix the first five ingredients in a large pot. Heat to boiling and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Place fruit in the bottom of the punch bowl. Add wine. Pour cider mixture over fruit and wine. Serve. 



Historic Cupola House decorated for the holidays


I've had the pleasure of working with Visit Edenton this December, promoting it as a  #CountonMeNC travel-friendly destination in 2021. As North Carolina's first colonial capital, this charming town has been making holiday wassail for over 250 years. The Cupola House, one of the oldest British buildings in the United States, is known for its gardens and wassail. Cupola House Wassail is always served along with delightful cookies when the home is open yearly to the public for the Edenton's Candlelight Tour. 



The Georgian-style home was built-in 1758 for Frances Corbin, an agent for Lord Granville, one of the original eight proprietors given land by the British crown in the Carolinas. By 1918, the home was in disarray, and a group of Edenton volunteers, banned together under The Cupola House Association, purchased the home to preserve it. 



Before becoming the museum it is today, the house was the Chowan County library for forty-five years. In 1971, the house was designated as a Registered Historic National Landmark. 

Lady serving wassail at Cupola House in Edenton, NC


Edenton's Cupola House has seen many ships come and go in the Albemarle Sounds. The house is available for tour on one of the town's historic walking tours. In addition, the gardens are open to the public daily.

 

The Cupola House Wassail Recipe is printed in Recipes From St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Edenton, NC. I found a cookbook published in 1995 in my mother-in-law's storage unit. I brought it back to life in 2002 and have enjoyed many recipes from this collection. It's probably one of my favorite North Carolina cookbooks. 


Two glass-mugs filled with hot wassail


Learn more about this historic North Carolina town to plan your delightful distancing getaway  to Edenton, NC 




hot cider drink with wine and spices






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Holidays in Raleigh, NC: The Iconic Angus Barn is a Southern Tradition for Families

Raleigh, NC, USA
Updated: December 2022

Magical Holidays at the Angus Barn in Raleigh



When you drive down Highway 70 between Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina, you will spot an iconic red barn that has created pure holiday magic in the Triangle for families for over 50 years.

And holiday decorations at the Angus Barn, a premier steakhouse in Raleigh, get better and better every year. It's like N.C.'s mountain's Biltmore Estate for the eastern part of North Carolina, just on a smaller scale.


The famous iconic Angus Barn in Raleigh, NC


The exterior of Angus Barn twinkles as soon as you see it. It's surrounded by car lots and commercial businesses on a bustling highway. However, despite the hustle and bustle, the Angus Barn still projects that same holiday magic of yesteryear. When this restaurant was first established in 1960 in Raleigh, it was located in the country. Seriously, the country! The country where you would see barns in rural North Carolina. I have photos of my parents dressed up and attending business Christmas parties. Even though Raleigh's Angus Barn is spread among urban sprawl on Highway 70,  it is one of Raleigh's most iconic places to visit, especially during the holidays.

The Angus Barn maintains its country roots with a rustic, elegant interior. But, this is no country Cracker Barrel, even though the Angus Barn Country Store sells its famous cheese and crackers. But, of course, Angus Barn elves are modern now and ship everywhere, so non-Southerners can taste what's so great about Raleigh's destination. With most entrees priced above $30 and a children's menu starting at $14, it's where many Southern families splurge during the holiday season.

Diners inside the Angus Barn love the Holiday Season


People flock here because it's an experience like none other. A purely magical, joyous experience for kids. To dine during regular dining times like 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, in December, you may need to make Angus Barn dinner reservations up to a year in advance. The Angus Barn extends its hours during the holiday season, though, and if you can sit down to eat dinner at 10:00 pm, you can snag a reservation during this busy time for the restaurant.

Inside the Angus Barn at the holidays


Dinner at the Angus Barn is steeped with tradition, and unlike most high-end steakhouses in America these days, they do not do that a-la-carte business of sharing a larger side with the table. Instead, your 14-ox "IronChef" Ribeye (Oh, yeah. There's that, too. Angus Barn Executive Chef Walter Royal won T.V.'s Iron Chef Competiton. He beat chef Cat Cora) comes with your choice of soup or salad and a side. Bread, homemade crackers, cheese, and fresh raw veggies are on the table for every Angus Barn diner to enjoy. Even for non-beef eaters, the Angus Barn menu has something for everyone to enjoy.

The Angus Barn is beautifully decorated during the Holiday Season


But, the view of the Angus Barn restaurant through the magic of a child's eye is where this eatery has its edge. Beautiful trees, appearances by Santa, and life-sized elves greet you at the door with homemade gingerbread cookies and hot cocoa. It's like North Carolina's own North Pole.

There is a toy box for kids, and the staff takes them into the kitchen to make their dessert sundae after dinner.

The only downside is for kids who are true steak lovers because the Angus Barn kid's menu has a variety of typical kid-like items, but the only steak choice for kids is a chopped hamburger steak. I've talked to many parents (you know, parents today have more sophisticated little foodies) who frequent this venue year after year, and they all have expressed their desire for a small filet option for kids. So, Angus Barn, are you listening? Unfortunately, one child is aging out of the Angus Barn kid's menu. He'll be 13 this month and has disliked any kid-type menu for years.

My son is one expensive date these days. But more and more elementary-school-aged children are eating fish and filet cuts of beef these days. So things have changed since the 60s.

And I must not forget the lady's parlor for little girls like mine. Liza remembered the bathroom experience more than anything. It's a fancy parlor; they have all these toiletries to powder your nose. It's a little girl's adult version of the blingy store Justice.

It's fancy inside Raleigh's Angus Barn Ladies Room. Kids love it.


Can I wait for a Table at the Angus Barn?

During the week, you may have more luck waiting for a table, but the wait is long. Good thing you have lots of holiday decor and elves to view while you wait for a table. However, the restaurant's Angus Barn Wild Turkey Lounge upstairs is a first-come, first-serve, no, reservation dining with a full-service menu. It is open in the early afternoon during the holidays with a special sandwich-type menu, and it typically has live music at night. This part of the restaurant is charming. 

Upstairs at the Wild Turkey Lounge inside the Angus Barn in Raleigh, NC


It is a sophisticated bar, so if you have older children like me who are used to dining in luxury hotels and do not have to dine off a kid's menu,  I will not hesitate to dine here in the late afternoon with them. Dining in the Wild Turkey Lounge offers elegance without the family bells and whistles downstairs. The Christmas season makes this lounge even more appealing.

Have you dined at the Angus Barn in Raleigh, N.C.?

The Angus Barn also has a Pavillion that hosts private parties. In December, parking is at a premium. It, of course, is free to look around the Angus Barn. The Angus Barn is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

The Angus Barn is decked out beautifully for the holidays in #Raleigh #NorthCarolina. It's great for kids and parents. #Holidays #Decor #Restaurants


The blog's local sponsor, Gladwell Orthodontics, made my time to write this post possible in Raleigh, N.C. 

I last visited the Angus Barn on my birthday after Christmas in 2017. All photos were taken by Leigh Powell Hines and are subject to copyright. 

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