Monthly Archives: June 2015
Amazing Grace
During his Southern Style tour stop in Cedar Park, Texas, country singer and native Charlestonian Darius Rucker sang a heartfelt tribute to the nine lives lost in the tragic shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcoal Church (in Charleston, South Carolina).
The “Wagon Wheel” singer’s version of “Amazing Grace” left not a dry eye in the audience.
Going to Carolina In My Mind
North Carolina-one of my favorite places in the world. Trust me, I could make you fall in love with all things about the Tarheel state and here’s why:
1. We have the best of both worlds-beautiful mountains and beaches.
2. UNC v. Duke basketball rivalry is a can’t miss.
3. The Wright Brothers and the gift of aviation.
4. We have all four seasons.
5. BBQ–need I say more?
6. There is a city for all types of people.
7. There are TONS of places to have fun for a day-trip, such as Carowinds, The Biltmore Estate, and the Outer Banks.
8. We all know the wonderful taste of Cheerwine.
9. North Carolina is known as “The Hollywood of the East Coast.”
10. You can’t beat the music and musicians from the state. James Taylor, Scotty McCreery, Ben Folds….(the list goes on and on 🙂 )
Happy Wednesday!
Since Sunday was the first “official” day of summer, we are celebrating the season with a little bit of Kenny Chesney!
Happy Wednesday!
Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits
Biscuits and gravy. Biscuits and jelly. Biscuits and butter. Biscuits and country ham. Biscuits and honey.
Southerners love their biscuits, especially if they are homemade. Trust me, there is nothing better than a recipe made from scratch!
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon shortening
1 cup buttermilk
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 F degrees.
2. Stir dry ingredients together. Cut in the shortening and add in the buttermilk. Knead dough together until soft.
3. Pinch off about 2” pieces of dough and roll into balls. Place in greased pan.
4. Bake 10-15 minutes.
Enjoy!
Country Belle Chic Cooking Tip: Don’t have buttermilk? Mix together milk and lemon juice. Let stand for about 5 minutes. For 1 cup buttermilk, use about a cup of milk and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
Picture Credit: Country Belle Chic
A Country Belle’s Southern Beauty Tips
I’m Southern. I like big hair, mascara, and eyeliner. However, maintaining that look takes time and effort. To help ease some of the stress, I follow these five old school Southern beauty tips:
1: Use Vaseline on your eyelids and eyelashes at night, to keep your lids smooth and help your lashes grow.
2: Brush your teeth with a combination of baking soda, toothpaste, and hydrogen peroxide for a pearly white smile.
3: In the South, it gets hot, no matter what time of the year. To keep your makeup from melting, spray your face with hairspray before leaving the house.
4: Before applying mascara, brush baby powder onto your lashes.
5: Petroleum jelly is a fabulous moisturizer.
Shrimp and Grits
Keeping up with our Charleston theme for the week, I had to share a classic Southern, low country recipe-shrimp and grits!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups milk
- 1/3 cup butter, cubed
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3/4 cup uncooked old-fashioned grits
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 thick-sliced bacon strips, chopped
- 1 lb uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
Directions:
- In a large saucepan, bring the broth, milk, butter, salt and pepper to a boil. Slowly stir in grits. Cook covered for 12-14 minutes or until thickened.
- Stir in the cheese until melted. Set aside and keep warm.
- In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels and drain, saving 4 teaspoons of the drippings.
- Saute the shrimp, garlic and seasoning in drippings.
- Serve with the grits.
Enjoy!
A Southern State of Mind
Charleston, South Carolina
Time to eat! Here are my must-try restaurants in Charleston!
Fleet Landing
One of the best places in town to get a seafood meal! The restaurant is also set in a historic Naval shipyard. Trust me, you have to try the grits!
Source: http://www.fleetlanding.net/
Brown Dog Deli
The perfect spot to grab some lunch before hitting the town.
Source: http://www.browndogdeli.com/
Charleston Crabhouse
Another favorite for a seafood meal with a fun setting. Across from the City Market, the Charleston Crabhouse is great for lunch or dinner.
Source: https://www.charlestoncrabhouse.com
The Rooftop
Talk about dining with a view! Get a bird’s eye view of Charleston with this upscale restaurant.
Source: http://thevendue.com/restaurants/the-rooftop/
Poogan’s Porch
Named after the original owner’s dog, Poogan’s Porch is a staple in the city.
Source: http://www.poogansporch.com
A Southern State of Mind
Charleston, South Carolina
Whether you have one day or several to spend in Charleston, there are TONS of activities for all ages. Besides, visiting the Battery and Waterfront Park, add the places below to your list.
Rainbow Row
See the colorful houses of Charleston along the historic Rainbow Row!
Source: http://www.sciway.net/sc-photos/charleston-county/rainbow-row.html
Boone Hall
Originally founded in 1681 by Major John Boone, Boone Hall is one of America’s oldest working and living plantations. Plus, we will see where movies, such as The Notebook and North and South were filmed.
Source: http://boonehallplantation.com/
Carriage Rides
What better way to get a complete tour and history of the city than with a carriage ride? There are different rides to fit different tourists’ personalities and tastes for adventure.
Source: http://palmettocarriage.com/?source=GooglePPC&gclid=COeMgdW9lMYCFcEkgQodh4wA5Q
Charleston City Market
It’s time for shopping at the historic City Market, dating back to 1804.
Source: http://www.thecharlestoncitymarket.com/
Fort Sumter
Take a step back in time and see where the Civil War began. In addition, enjoy a harbor boat cruise to and from the fort.
Source: http://fortsumtertours.com/
A Southern State of Mind
Charleston, South Carolina
Ah, Charleston- a city, known for it’s Palmetto trees and history, but did you know the town was originally named Charles Town, after King Charles II of England? Test your knowledge of this beautiful city below!
1: It was founded and settled by English colonists in 1670.
2: St. Michael’s Episcopal is the oldest church in Charleston and was built in 1752.
3: The town lies between the Cooper and Ashley Rivers.
4: In April 1861, Confederate troops fired upon Fort Sumter, officially starting the Civil War.
5: Charleston is often referred to as “The Holy City” for all of it’s churches.
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