At HHI 12/14 to 12/18

[Stitch]

So glad you're having a great time. 92 more days for us (yes, I'm counting).

Thanks for posting the pictures. I needed an HHI fix today.

I like the marsh walk, but if Gwyneth offers the beach walk, take that one as well, or the trip to Pinkney Island.

[MatterhornMiss]

Sorry no updates yesterday--we were on the road all day. I'm back in KY now, so I hope after I pick up my dogs, I'll be able to post some more.

[jiggerj]

I really enjoyed your report and pics MM. Having never been to HHI YET, I am just WOWed by the beauty and serenity of it.

[FFPMME]

WOW, It looks very nice over there. Thanks for the great info and pix MM!! The cookies sound great!! We need to get that recipe up!!!

[HHIChef]

Hello! It was a pleasure meeting you and your sister! Sorry that I didn't get a chance to say goodbye...this is my crazy-busy time of the year, with TONS of food to prepare for so many holiday parties. My time at Disney is actually my relaxing time of the day, LOL!

Unfortunately, I am not able to share the Cranberry Walnut Cookie recipe that is served at the resort. Fortunately, I have a recipe that is really, really similar that I will share! Here it is...enjoy!

1 C. butter (no substitutions) slightly softened
1 1/2 C. brown sugar (I prefer dark)
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 1/4 C. all purpose flour
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
1 C. chopped walnuts
1 1/2 C. coarsely chopped sweetened dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla together in a large mixing bowl. Add the flour, soda and salt and mix thoroughly. Fold in the walnuts and the cranberries. Drop by spoonfuls on a cookie sheet and bake for 9 to 11 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before eating, if you can.

For a change of pace, try using a different type of nut or adding a cup of chocolate chips to the recipe (white chocolate chips would be awesome). A teaspoon of orange zest tastes very good in this recipe, too!

Have a terrific day!
Gordon

[jiggerj]

Gordon!

Ohhh.....the cookies sound sooooooooo good! and they must just make the kitchen smell delicious and "holiday-ish"!

Thank you!

[idratherbeinwdw]

Thanks for the great report MM--your reports are always so detailed and so much fun to read!

And thanks again for the great pics you sent us for the site, they'll be up soon!

[Lovetheboardwalk]

We took my parents with us to HH in '99 and had a wonderful time.
My son was 5, and had so much fun crabbing. I would love to go back.
We played Goofy Goofy Bingo, swam in the pool and the ocean,
had a Clam Bake at the resort. And of course heard stories in our pj's at the Lodge... ahhh those were the days.

[MatterhornMiss]

Sorry it has been a week and a half since I last logged on. I made most of my Christmas gifts and needed to get them finished--then I went home (well, back to my hometown) for Christmas and just kicked back. I figure I need to complete the trip report before I forget everything!

[MatterhornMiss]

Okay, I think I'm supposed to be up to Tuesday morning. My sister got up and went to work out in the fitness room. Then we met at the campfire for what I think was called "Naturalist Morning." It was an activity with Gwyneth, the naturalist, where we made little cornbread cakes in irons over the campfire, while shaking our own homemade butter! (I hadn't done that since elementary school--shake butter that is.) There were actually 2 other people there besides me and my sister. The breakfast was super yummy, and lots of fun. Afterwards, my sister and I chatted a bit with Gwyneth.

Then we went back to the room so my sister could get ready for us to head to Savannah. We ran into Cast Member Mike (who is originally from Savannah) coming back from the campfire. He had maps to give us, which he wrote all over, making sure we hit up the important spots. He told us to find out about the Waving Girl, as he would quiz us the next day. He also made recommendations for the trolley tour and places to get candy and food. Mike even had MapQuest-ed directions to Savannah (which was just one step different than those provided by the front desk).

Oh, while my sister was getting ready, I decided to do a little shopping at Broad Creek Mercantile. All T-shirts and coffee mugs were 40% off, so I bought DVC logo merchandise in both. They did have the elusive DVC member grey hooded sweatshirt (which was not on sale, so I'm so glad for the tip for the outlet) as well as a new navy sweatshirt with the logo embroidered on it. I was a bit surprised (though I don't know why) at the amount of Disney theme park merchandise available. I didn't expect to be able to buy things with "Walt Disney World" on them outside of Florida.

The day was mostly overcast throughout--at least in Savannah (I'm not sure about Hilton Head), but it was still fairly warm. We decided to take the orange and green trolley tour (I think it was Old Savannah Tours???--one of the two Mike recommended). We got on and off three times, and all of our tour guides were excellent. We ate (well, I got food--my sister was stuffed with pralines and bear claws she had bought at the candy stores) at Spanky's on River Street as Mike had recommended. He said the spuds and chicken fingers were excellent. I definitely agree about the chicken fingers, but I love potatoes so much, that I felt the fact they breaded the spuds before frying them detracted from the natural 'tater goodness.

Oh, just a note, the two candy stores on River Street both offered samples of their pralines, as well as of some of their other wares. Also, we stopped at the Lady and Sons restaurant, but didn't eat. There was immediate seating available (which, apparently many times of the year is not true) but my sister wanted to save up for pralines and fudge. We did stop in the gift shop to buy some things for our mom. Many of the items were on sale (which seemed to be rule in many shops both in Savannah as well as Hilton Head) and all of the books were autographed by Paula Deen.

After we finished with the tour, we headed back to Hilton Head, stopping at Target and Starbucks first. My sister had a cold coming to Hilton Head, and I was starting to have symptoms myself. I needed a nice decongestant . My sister went running that evening after we went back (I think she stopped at the lobby to get more cookies ). She's a big exercise buff. She has her masters in exercise physiology and teaches health/fitness classes at a university, as well as at the YMCA.