Shrimp N Grits

Thursday, June 30, 2011
When you visit Charleston, you'll frequently hear people reference the "Lowcountry." But what exactly does that mean?? After some searching, I found a definition here:

The Lowcountry isn’t a word that is as easily defined as its definition implies - “a low-lying country or region especially in the part of a southern state, namely South Carolina (SC) and Georgia (GA) extending from the seacoast inland to the fall line. Also spelled low country, or Low Country.” Though descriptive, the definition doesn’t come any where near the emotional appeal that the lowcountry has to so many people who live and work and visit the patch work of coastal towns, fishing villages, and historic districts that make up what is widely known – and loved – as the lowcountry. So what does the lowcountry mean to you? To some, it evokes images of Spanish moss draped oaks that line the cobblestone streets of the historic districts of such gems as Savannah and Richmond Hill (in the Georgia lowcountry). To others, it is a stirring seascape of sea oats and tidal creeks, the life blood of such coastal lowcountry towns Is it fine seafood cuisine?

In my humble opinion, Shrimp and Grits, may be Lowcountry's biggest contribution to the culinary world. They just make it different in South Carolina. :)

When I was visiting, Dad secured some fresh shrimp, and we were on our way to make'in ourselves some good 'ole shrimp and grits! I actually cannot take credit for this meal, it was all Dad... I was in charge of the blueberry pie. Did I mention we were cooking a birthday meal for the Mom. Pressure's on!

Here's the shrimp and grits recipe he used. It was great!



0

RenoVation

Tuesday, June 28, 2011
We are in the middle of a kitchen renovation. Now I know how much of a blessing running water really is. Funny how that works. Here's how the kitchen looked at the start of the week, in the middle of the cabinet installation:


All our kitchen "stuff" is currently displaced throughout the rest of the house. We setup a make-shift "kitchen station" with our new microwave. Lovely.

It's been really nice having the brother here to let the myriad of contractors into the house while we were at work during the day. :)

We were also pretty stoked when we got a dinner invite from friend Charles... No more plastic silverware?! No more microwave dinners?! Hallelujah! He made us Parmesan-crusted halibut, steamed broccoli, roasted potatoes, and bacon ice cream? Yep BACON ICE CREAM, and it was delicious. Thanks again C-Rey!!


0

Hike: Harding Ice Field

Monday, June 27, 2011
We spent a night in Seward, so that we could tackle Exit Glacier the following morning. The hike up to the bottom of the glacier is not bad at all, and there were hundreds and hundreds of tourists getting their photo at the base. If you want to see the top of the glacier and the impressive Harding Ice Field (system of multiple glaciers which "feeds" Exit glacier) then you better have comfortable hiking shoes because it's 3.5 miles  to the top (3000')!!


Harding Ice Field. A storm rolled in just as we summited, so we didn't get the pictures I had hoped for. 


Look at all those ice layers!

Here's some stats from our hike!



1

KING!

On Friday, I went on an offshore Halibut fish trip with my co-workers. This was one of the best "team building" trips I've been on. The fishing charter left from the Seward, AK docks at 7:30 AM, making for an early morning (a 2.5 hour drive from Anchorage).  The weather was perfect-- after all fish like those cloudy days. The water was also the calmest I'd seen it. BUT, I was wearing my trusty motion sickness patch, so I wasn't all that worried about the waves.

Did you know it's extremely unlucky to have bananas on board the boat? Yep, I learned this on my first fishing trip a couple weeks ago. I had made a couple bags of dried banana chips for snack and when the captain saw them, he suggested I throw them out. At first, I thought he was joking and then I could tell he was dead serious. The banana chips were subsequently tossed overboard. This time around, they said the same thing-- that bananas had to go. I need someone to give me some context on this whole banana thing. It baffles me, yet I obey.

The bait.

Each person can catch 2 Halibut/day. If they're too small/young we threw them back.

By lunchtime, we had amassed quite the load of Halibut, with a couple multi-colored Yellow-Eyed Rockfish.

You know how there's always THAT person who gets the biggest fish of the day?

Well it was THIS person...



Believe it. It was the first salmon I had ever caught---  a 40+ lb KING salmom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Isn't she a beauty?

Heavy fish!

What a great trip! Catching my first salmon was special on it's own, but the fact it was a giant KING salmon, made it all the more special.
0

Kitchen Renovation

Wednesday, June 22, 2011
If you're wondering why I haven't posted any mouth-watering, delicious, good-looking-good-tasting recipes lately, here's why...


Yep, that's our kitchen. Believe it.

So needless to say, it's going to be awhile before we're cooking/baking again.

Our cabinets should be installed this week. We can't wait. Really. Can't wait.

Oh, and my brother arrives tomorrow. Yeeeee!
1

Summer Solstice

Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Happy 24 hours of Alaska sunlight!

Yep it's our longest day of the year... time to celebrate... outside!!!




0

Charleston Sunshine

Monday, June 20, 2011
I spent a week with my family in Charleston. A couple highlights from the trip:

*Brother and I conquered the Arthur Ravenel bridge. Morning run, 300 ft of elevation gain, 1 mile to the top. It had to be followed up with a trip to Whole Foods.

*Shrimp and grits, made by... Dad? Yep, for Mom's belated birthday, we each pitched in to cook her a meal. Jeffrey forgot half the ingredients for the side salad, but it still passed the taste test. Rounded out with Dorie's blueberry pie!



*Celebrated Father's day at a swanky restaurant in downtown Charleston. Dad learned what "Amuse-Bouche" means. Do you know already?-- find out here. We had a nice time walking around downtown before our meal. Mom found some goodies at Pottery Barn and I snapped this picture at a little park during a shopping "breather". How freak'in cute is this?!!



and the brother. Doesn't he look like the "Thinker" statue?

*Got to ride in my old car, which I sold to my Mom before the move to Alaska. I miss it :( There's just something special about your first car purchase and that "new car smell"...
*Went on a sunset stroll along the beach. Warm sun on the skin, sand under your toes, breeze in the hair... Magnifico!


Family, good food, no alarm clock, a slight sun tan (I said slight and I mean it) makes for one happy girl!



0

Miss Hailey

Sunday, June 19, 2011
My friend, Katrina, had a baby last August... Crazy to think that Miss Hailey is almost a year old now! I got to visit with Mom and daughter while in Houston. Miss Hailey is such a pretty girl! She's got a couple teeth now and I think it's just the cutest thing.

Here's some pictures...


Mom and Baby.

Pretty blue eyes.

Pretty in Pink.

How about a color effect?

Auntie Liz loves Miss Hailey!
0

Aldrich Downtime

Friday, June 17, 2011
I've had a great time visiting the family! Here's some pictures from our time together...

 Brother Love.



Let's zoom in a bit, and play with the colors...


Too cool. What a cutie stud. Aviator glasses are always a good choice...

At the abbey, in front of the Cooper River.

Sunset stroll along the beach...

Love the parents!


0

M is for MASON

Thursday, June 16, 2011
I finally got to meet Mason McDaniel for the first time last week. What a sweet baby! His little baby bum is just the cutest...

Here's some pictures of the baby lov'in I was privy to... So special.

Games with Mom.

Pooping?


This is a special picture, it needs a frame :)
Giggles.

Seriously, look at those eyes!!

I need my beauty rest, can you stop taking my picture?

I need me a little Mason... one day!! :)
1

Girl Date

Wednesday, June 15, 2011
It was so fun to catch up with the girls over some delicious food during my trip to Houston. We ate at Gravitas, a really neat restaurant near Washington Street and the downtown area. I would definitely eat there again...



Katrina and Natalie had Crab Cakes.

Brit and I had Filet Mignon with AMAZING onion rings.


I also met up with Sarah for a mid-week happy hour at Flora & Muse...


So much fun!
0

Search This Blog

Powered by Blogger.

HBD to Claire and Ross!

Such a fun birthday weekend for two of my favorites! Claire turned 8 and Ross turned… more than 8 :)  Date night picture--