{"id":228,"date":"2013-08-29T12:59:16","date_gmt":"2013-08-29T17:59:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/?p=228"},"modified":"2013-08-29T12:59:16","modified_gmt":"2013-08-29T17:59:16","slug":"nothing-says-holiday-weekend-like-moonshine-and-a-titanic-replica","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/2013\/08\/29\/nothing-says-holiday-weekend-like-moonshine-and-a-titanic-replica\/","title":{"rendered":"Nothing says holiday weekend like moonshine and a Titanic replica"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ah, Labor Day weekend. It\u2019s either the last hurrah of summer or, as we\u2019ve determined earlier, a mid-semester break.<\/a><\/p>\n

However you refer to it, I hope it means fun, food, friends and family. For us, it means all of those things in a cabin in Galtinburg, Tennessee.<\/p>\n

This is a favorite destination of ours for long holiday weekends. If you\u2019ve never been to this eastern Tennessee tourist mecca, it\u2019s a must see attraction if Branson or the TLC network ever close.<\/p>\n

I am by no means a historian, but after many trips to this particular fun spot, I\u2019ve pieced together what I think can only be a logical history and a list of things not to miss during your visit.<\/p>\n

Robert Ripley–of Ripley\u2019s Believe it or Not Fame–was probably an original settler of the Smoky Mountains. He discovered wax relics of pop culture celebrities as he navigated the foothills in a Go-Kart and airbrushed t-shirt. He also discovered an enormous saltwater aquarium which can still be seen today. (For $38 per adult admission.)<\/p>\n

Adding to the unique period architecture of the region which includes a staggering amount of Elvis, King Kong and Marilyn Monroe sculpture, there is an upside down museum next to the curiously beached, landlocked Titanic wreckage complete with a fiberglass iceberg and show tunes. Lest you think that is the extent of the arts in Pigeon Forge, please don\u2019t miss dueling lumberjacks or Hatfield and McCoy dinner theatre.<\/p>\n

The original cuisine for East Tennessee natives is pancakes, fudge and chain restaurant food. I assume. You\u2019ll have no trouble finding any. Make sure to wash down your (again, curiously landlocked) Bubba Gump shrimp with some local moonshine, or as I like to call it, \u201cDisqualification from the liver or esophagus transplant donor list.\u201d See if your palate can distinguish the subtle differences between a corn mash and a corn cob pipe accidentally dropped into the still.<\/p>\n

And just when you think you can\u2019t stand to see another miniature golf course or a pan for your own gold and gem mine trough, you find the real treasure. Tubing down a crystal clear river with your good friends.\u00a0 Watching a bear (from a safe distance of course) walk through your backyard for a marshmallow leftover from a roast the night before. Playing \u201cGuess What Left That Scat,\u201d on your cabin balcony. Wine and a sunset on freshly swept said balcony. Stars, lots of them. A place to celebrate something. Or nothing at all.<\/p>\n

So I hope this weekend finds you in a spot you can rewrite history. Even if it\u2019s standing alongside of the General Lee at Cooter\u2019s Museum and Fun Park.<\/p>\n

\"Even<\/a>
Even bears love Party Pasta Salad<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This pasta salad recipe speaks to both my midwestern and fake Italian roots. Perfect for a party.<\/p>\n

Party Pasta Salad<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Vinaigrette:<\/em><\/p>\n

3 Tablespoons capers (use the rest of the jar for the salad)
\n3 garlic cloves
\n1 T. tomato paste
\n1\/4 c. kalamata olives, pitted and sliced (use the rest of the jar for the salad)
\n1 T. Worcestershire sauce
\nPepper to taste
\n1\/3 c. red wine vinegar
\n3\/4 c. olive oil<\/p>\n

Salad:<\/em><\/p>\n

2 boxes rotelle or spiral pasta cooked al dente
\n1 12 oz. jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and rough chopped
\n1 6 oz. jar kalamata olives, sliced and drained
\n1 12 oz. jar roasted red peppers, sliced and drained
\n1 8 oz block mozzarella cheese, cubed
\n1 8 oz. block of cheddar, cubed
\n8 oz. salami, cubed
\n1 small red onion
\n1 cucumber, peeled and chopped<\/p>\n

1.) Pulse first 5 ingredients of vinaigrette in food processor. Add pepper and vinegar, pulse again to blend. With processor running, drizzle in olive oil. (It will seem very salty and vinegary at this stage, but it will mellow out.<\/p>\n

2.) Cook pasta al dente, drain and place in large bowl. Add dressing to warm pasta, and add the rest of the ingredients and anything else that sounds good. Lots of different flavors and textures makes this salad different but good.<\/p>\n

3.) Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours but better if overnight.<\/p>\n

\u00a92013 Tracey Henry<\/p>\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ah, Labor Day weekend. It\u2019s either the last hurrah of summer or, as we\u2019ve determined earlier, a mid-semester break. However you refer to it, I hope it means fun, food, friends and family. For us, it means all of those things in a cabin in Galtinburg, Tennessee. This is a favorite destination of ours for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[4],"tags":[12,50,58],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3NIOM-3G","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":983,"url":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/2021\/07\/20\/day-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":228,"position":0},"title":"Day 1","date":"July 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We usually like to leave high speed police chases and broken air conditioning units until day 11 or 12, but hey, Day 1 is fine, too, I suppose. We hadn' teven made it out of Tennessee before we really were witness to a dangerous high speed chase with State Troopers\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Column"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":621,"url":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/2014\/09\/10\/treat-yourself-and-kids-with-custom-confections\/","url_meta":{"origin":228,"position":1},"title":"Treat yourself and kids with Custom Confections","date":"September 10, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Available September 1st from Capstone Young Readers, this book is perfect for budding young pastry chefs or families that just want to have some fun in the kitchen. If you're looking for some sweet treats to make up with your kids this holiday season and beyond, don\u2019t miss Custom Confections,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Recipe"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.suburbandiva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/CustomConfectionsbookcoverhigh-res-240x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":564,"url":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/2014\/05\/25\/patriotic-deviled-eggs\/","url_meta":{"origin":228,"position":2},"title":"Patriotic Deviled Eggs","date":"May 25, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"This is either a desperate cry for professional help or a fun way to celebrate Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day cookouts. Take your favorite Deviled Egg recipe and throw in a little reverse Easter egg dying, and you\u2019ve got the weirdest yet best addition to any potluck.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Recipe"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.suburbandiva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/IMG_2988-300x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":357,"url":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/2014\/01\/31\/2014\/","url_meta":{"origin":228,"position":3},"title":"2014","date":"January 31, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"My one and only post for January, 2014 is a revision of my New Year\u2019s resolutions since the year is off to a shaky start. 1.) Post daily. Post weekly. Turn on the computer. 2.) Be the best Room Mom ever. Try not to piss off the whole class. Try\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Column"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":592,"url":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/2014\/07\/23\/national-hot-dog-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":228,"position":4},"title":"National Hot Dog Day","date":"July 23, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Celebrate this important and historic day. Or the next time you want to watch a game on the couch. Or don't want to do dishes. Pair a good hot dog with some Summer's Not Over Baked Beans in mason jars and cold root beer in bottles and you're good to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Recipe"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.suburbandiva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/IMG_3078-300x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":602,"url":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/2014\/08\/02\/weeknight-chicken-and-cream-sauce\/","url_meta":{"origin":228,"position":5},"title":"Weeknight Chicken and Cream Sauce","date":"August 2, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The August cover of any national food magazine will usually feature some sort grilled meat with a title about throwing the perfect summer party for a crowd. That\u2019s not exactly the way our editorial calendar works here in Tennessee. In our neck of the woods, August is not the start\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Recipe"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.suburbandiva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_3027-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=228"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.suburbandiva.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}