Visit Charleston, SC

Have you ever visited Charleston, SC?  You should.  You totally should. 

Charleston is one of the oldest colonial towns in North America (established in 1670), second only to Quebec and St. Augustine, FL.  History abounds in this coastal city - some of it more pleasant than others.  Charleston holds the unfortunate statistic for being the port that received West African slaves - one in four slaves were shipped to her shores.  Charleston was also a very prominent battleground in the Civil War - due in part to the close proximity of Fort Sumter. 

Plantation owners in the lowcountry experimented with various crops before specializing in rice and indigo.  The Emancipation Proclamation ended the prosperity of rice growers - mostly because rice was such a labor-intensive crop and with the workforce greatly diminished, the plantation owners were unable to continue. 

The architectural interest alone is reason to visit Charleston.  The antebellum houses, in particular, are stunning.  A large portion of the city was spared pillaging from the Union during the Civil War because of the sheer beauty that existed within the city walls.

 

 

Of course, one of our favorite parts of our tour included eating.  We enjoyed dinner at Hyman's Seafood - a landmark establishment in the center of the city. 

 

scallops - this was supposed to be a sandwich - huge, huh?

famous shrimp and grits - to.die.for.

calamari and crab cake - yum.

We also enjoyed touring the waterfront - it was so nice to be in the sun - and the weather was pleasant, 60 degrees and sunny!

We enjoyed gelato before heading to our car - perfect ending to a perfect day!

All in all, we saw lots of the city, but not everything.  I'm hoping Rob and I can sneak away for a long weekend sometime this spring or next fall! It's a beautiful city - if you have the chance to visit, take it.

What is it about the beach?

I absolutely love the beach - the smells, the warmth, the powdery sand, the constant waves.   The beach is my happy place.  Even if the weather is cold, the beach is cathartic for me - and by the looks of everyone I see on the beach - it's cathartic for them, too. 

The immediate release of all tension and stress....

The unknown presence of creatures great and small that live in the ocean....

The instant mood-lifting properties of the sun, sand, and waves....

The infectious laughter in people young and old....

The glittering beauty of the sand, the patterns created by relentless tides....

I should mention - while Rob also enjoys the beach - the mountains are his happy place.  He feels at peace with the world when he is flying down the slopes on his skis.  He absolutely loves the woods, the quiet, the altitude, and the extreme beauty of the Rocky Mountain climate. 


What's your happy place? 

A Fun New Game

Buy a pint of Ben and Jerry's for each person in your house.  Put each pint into a paper bag.  Allow each person to choose the random paper bag - don't even tell them there's ice cream in the bag!  See who gets what and enjoy.  

We did this last week and it was a big hit!  Josh picked "cake batter", Kate picked "half baked", Emma picked "coffee toffee chip" and Rob picked "cherry garcia".

Terrain at Styer's

Raise your hand if you love Anthropologie.  Raise your hand if you can't wear their clothing.  Well, if you're like me, you can't fit into the skinny jeans and velvet corduroys at Anthropologie and the gauzy bohemian style just doesn't suit your lifestyle.  I have an answer for you - Terrain at Styer's.  The Anthropologie/Urban Outfitters conglomerate has created a home and garden display and shopping experience that thrills the senses.  Located on the former garden site of Jacob Styer in Concordeville, PA.  Terrain contains several greenhouses with many plants, planters of all sizes, home goods, and all-around beautiful things.

various bulbs for sale - amaryllis, tulips, paper whites, etc

vintage hydrangeas - I'm in love with these, but they're $52.00

prints for sale

My mom has been hoping to take me to Terrain for quite some time and today was the day.  As we were perusing the store, I remarked, "this is like Anthropologie for gardening".  I recently discovered [on my internet research] that Terrain is, in fact, the very thing.  I will admit, the prices are very similar to the store.  I happen to love, however, the rustic touches, the clean lines, and the homey feel.  I think if I were to purchase something it would be very intentional.  This is where you purchase special things for your home or garden - or better yet, get ideas to recreate something similar for a fraction of the price.

a trough serving as a display - love, love, love

they sell terrariums of all shape and size

Terrain at Styer's is located close to Chadd's Ford, PA - near to the Simon Pearce glassblowing location, Longwood Gardens, Winterthur, and the apparent mushroom capital of the world.   Jacob Styer established his horticulture business in 1890, at one point serving a standing order for peonies for the White House.  He operated a roadside stand selling produce, baked goods, and cut flowers along route 1.   The Anthropologie/Urban Outfitters (URBN) company acquired the ten acres in 2008.

a hanging terrarium - retails for $82.00

planters of all shapes, sizes, and materials

We also ate in the restaurant which utilizes local farms to provide the freshest ingredients possible.  It was phenomenal.  The cafe is located in a greenhouse and the choices on the menu were ridiculous.  I could have ordered anything.  Fingerling french fries, macaroni with local cheese, leek and goat cheese tart, and fresh apple/pumpkin pie are but a few choices. 

fresh bread baked in a planter, served with whipped butter and Hawaiian salt

smoked salmon tea cakes

braised short ribs with root veggies and polenta

duck confit with micro greens, sliced apples, and brie

chocolate and chestnut mousse

carrot cake cupcakes

My intention is to return to the Brandywine Valley to tour the Simon Pearce glass-blowing restaurant and retail store.  I'll keep you posted!  If you ever have the chance to spend time [30 minutes outside Philadelphia] in the Brandywine Valley - there is plenty to keep you busy.  Winterthur is a DuPont estate with gardens, antiques, and period homes.  Longwood Gardens is a beautiful 10,000 acre complex which includes greenhouses, gardens, woodlands and meadows.  You can view 11,000 types of plants and the Christmas spectacular includes 500,000 lights for the Christmas display.  There are vineyards, restaurants, and local businesses.  If you're looking for a destination for a long weekend, check it out!

One of my new favorite things

Is there anything better than an heirloom?

I opened a very heavy package on Christmas Day, from my Nanny.  In it, I found this

See how the handle is discolored from use?  That is courtesy of my great-grandmother and grandmother.  My nanny said she remembers her mom making fried potatoes and country ham in this very skillet.  I plan to carry the tradition on, making lots of fried potatoes, eggs, and various other foods.

My great-grandmother's name was Lillian Grace.  She was born on June 2, 1897.  She had eight children and a husband with tuberculosis.  My grandmother was raised during the Great Depression.  She was continually hungry.  To hear her tell stories from her childhood you realize that there was also fun to be had - she was, apparently, the marbles champion in her neighborhood.  She recently told me that she used to walk to her aunt's home (across the city) where she knew she'd get a full meal. As a young girl, she would clean the houses of wealthy neighbors. 

Out of this childhood my grandparents saved and thrived.  My grandmother has been extremely generous with us - if not for her, we wouldn't be living in this house.  I love having a little piece of family history - especially one I can use to serve my family.

Back on the Wagon

I realize that I've been a little sporadic in posting actual recipes. I plan to remedy that with this post - sort of. This dinner is a favorite in our home and I've posted the recipes before, but I thought I would include some pictures.

I also decided to make sun-dried tomato "toasts" as an accompaniment to our meal. I simply placed a slice of cheddar cheese on a slice of baguette and topped with sun-dried tomato pesto. I baked at 375 degrees for about ten minutes.

Chicken with Creamed Spinach
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded thinly
bread crumbs
parmesan cheese
freshly ground black pepper
4 Tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1 bag frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1/2 cup greek yogurt or sour cream
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup shredded cheddar

1. Mix bread crumbs and parmesan cheese (I would start with 1/2 cup of each). Dredge chicken breasts in crumb/parm mixture.
2. In a large saute pan, brown chicken breasts in olive oil. Remove breasts from pan once both sides are nicely browned and place into a baking dish.

3. In the same saute pan, add more oil if necessary and lightly brown garlic. Add spinach, yogurt, and remaining ingredients and cook over medium heat until cheese is melted and the rest of the ingredients are combined well.

4. Pour "cream" mixture over chicken breasts, sprinkle with additional crumbs and parmesan and bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until chicken breasts are cooked through and bread crumbs are golden.


Roasted Cauliflower with smoked paprika
cauliflower
salt, pepper
smoked paprika
olive oil

Toss cauliflower with all ingredients and roast in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until slightly browned.