Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Teaching runs in my family. My great-aunt ran and owned a Kindergarten/preschool for 30+ years on Park Circle in North Charleston back when my dad and all of his cousins were growing up. My great-grandmother was a high school English, Latin, and Algebra teacher, and later wa an assistant principal. My aunt taught school as her first job, my mom is a Pre-K teacher and has been my whole life (she even created part of the Pre-K curriculum at her private school!), and my brother is a high school teacher. 

I guess you could say it's in my blood!

I remember the DAY I decided I wanted to be a teacher. It was after the first day of school my second grade year. Why second grade? I loved my teacher, Mrs. Cole, from day one. She epitomized what an elementary school teacher should be: she was strict, but also let you know how much she loved you. She was funny. She was a great story-teller. She gave the best hugs. She let you know when you were wrong, but also encouraged you when you were right. 

She made learning fun. 

So, ever since Mrs. Cole, I've not only wanted to be a teacher, but I have always wanted to teach second grade. I've done the Kindergarten thing, and quickly realized I didn't have the patience for the little ones, although I do miss their precious little faces sometimes. More power to you Kindergarten teachers! I've taught third grade for the past 4 years now, and I've loved it, but it still didn't feel like my best fit. Well, this year one of our fabulous second grade teachers was hired to teach a reading recovery program at the high school level, leaving an opening. As soon as I heard this, I was on the phone with my principal expressing my interest in the position. And....2 weeks later...I got the job! I could not be more excited for this new adventure and experience in my teaching career! 

Of course, with the grade level change, more changes are coming my way. Common core standards, new reading program, and a new (well kinda new) classroom! That's right...I'm moving from my shiny, white, lovely, and quite large room inside the building into a "learning cottage" (a nice way of saying trailer). Actually, I am not upset with this. It is the exact trailer I taught in my first year at my school, so it almost feels like coming home. 

However, I am going from this...

to this.

Quite the change. I am having to be really creative in the set-up in order to incorporate all of my favorite displays in the smaller space. There are some things that I am just NOT willing to give up! I know it will come along just fine, even if I'm still putting on the finishing touches 10 minutes before "Meet the Teacher" night! 

Wish me luck, and stay tuned for the finished product!

Tasty Tues--Sauteed Okra {& Bachelorette Recovery}

I am very lucky to have some wonderful cooks in my family, and my Aunt Nita is definitely one of them. 

Aunt Nita and me at my rehearsal dinner

She made this okra for dinner last week when we were visiting Tybee Island, and I loved it so much I called her up for the recipe/method to make it for dinner last night. 

Andy had 3 servings. 

What I love so much about this recipe is you still get the crispiness like you do in fried okra, but you actually taste the okra instead of fried batter. Plus, it's so much healthier. Have any of you tried oven-fried okra? Well, I have and did NOT like it. I love fried okra, and I might even go so far as saying that I like this version even better. You must try it! These measurements are more like "guess-daments"so just play it by ear when you make it.

1 lb. okra, rinsed and cut in pieces 

(not that I am accusing any of you of not washing your veggies, but you canNOT skip this step because the wetness from the rinsing is what will make your "batter" stick)

*Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup cornmeal

2-3 tablespoons olive oil

1.  After rinsing your okra, cut it into about 1/4 inch pieces, discarding stems, and place in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

2. Combine the flour and cornmeal in a small bowl. Add to okra and stir to coat. I only used about half of the mixture. You only need enough to lightly coat the okra...you don't want it to be too battered.

3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat until it smokes. Add the okra and cook until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.

*I used about 1 teaspoon or 1 1/2 teaspoons of Paula Deen's "House Seasoning", which is good on everything! 

Here is the recipe for it: 1 cup salt, 1/4 cup black pepper, 1/4 cup garlic powder.

 I keep it in an airtight container in the spice drawer and use it on just about everything...especially good on roasted potatoes!

On a side note, I am still recovering from a fun weekend in Wrightsville Beach, NC celebrating this girl's bachelorette. We had waaaay too much fun!

A few of us decked out in our neon to celebrate with Megan!

Poolside! The bride-to-be is the one in the ginormous sombrero! And notice her blow-up groom-to-be chillin' in her lap!

Tasty Tuesday--"Back in the Day Bakery"

Yes, I am indeed alive and well. I have about 2.5 minutes to sit down and blog! I am almost out the door for a few days with my family on Tybee Island! This will be my first trip to Tybee and I am so excited!

To make up for lost time, this Tasty Tuesday post will include 2 recipes from my new favorite cookbook, Back in the Day Bakery.

Oooh, I just had an idea. Maybe I can swing by the actual Back in the day Bakery on my way back from Tybee since its right in Savannah! Yes, yes that will happen. Here are the two recipes I've made from the cookbook so far, and both were so good.

1.  Lovely Lemon Loaf

you will need a crazy amount of lemons for this---like around 15-20. I'm not usually even a fan of lemon cake, but this just looked too good to pass up. And it is amazing--so moist and tart and sweet at the same time.

For the Loaves

3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon fine sea salt

3/4 cup buttermilk, at room temp

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temp

2 cups granulated sugar

5 large eggs

1/3 cup grated lemon juice (from 6-8 lemons)

1 cup fresh lemon juice

For the Lemon Soaking Syrup

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

For the Glaze

2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

lemon zest for sprinkling (optional)

1. Position rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350. Butter and flour 2 9x5 in. loaf pans.

2. Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a large measuring cup, mix together buttermilk and vanilla.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (5-7 minutes). Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the flour mixture alternating the buttermilk mixture in three additions, beginning and ending with flour. Stir in the lemon juice and zest.

4. Divide batter evenly between the prepared loaf pans and smooth the tops with a spatula. Tap the loaf pans firmly on the countertop to remove air bubbles. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour. Cool the loaves in the pans for about 10 minutes before unmolding.

5. Meanwhile, to make the lemon soaking syrup: Combine the sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring often. Once the sugar dissolves, continue cooking the syrup until it turns a deep golden yellow, about 5 minutes.

6. When the loaves are cool enough to handle, transfer them to a cookie sheet lined with parchment. Poke holes in the cakes with a skewer and pour lemon soaking syrup generously over each cake. Let stand for at least 10 minutes.

7.  To make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice until smooth and  creamy. Pour the glaze over the tops of the loaves and allow the glaze to drip down the sides. Sprinkle with lemon zest. 

Cakes will keep at room temp for 4 days wrapped in plastic wrap.

2.  Chocolate Chip Cookies

I made these when my family was visiting a few weeks ago and they lasted half a day--all 24 huge cookies were gone. I've made a lot of chocolate chip cookie recipes, and this one beats them all.

2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temp

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs, at room temp

2 cups semisweet chocolate chunks

Fleur de sel for sprinkling (or just coarse sea salt)

1. Position rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 350. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and sea salt; set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, vanilla, and both sugars on medium sped until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.

4. Add the eggs and mix for no more than 1 minute; the eggs will not be fully incorporated. Turn the speed down to low and add the dry ingredients in thirds, beating until just combined, 1 to 2 minutes. With the mixer running, sprinkle in the chocolate chunks, beating until just combined, abut 1 minute.

5. Use a large ice-cream scoop of a 1/4-cup measuring cup to form the cookies and pace on the prepared cookie sheet, leaving 2 inches between the cookies. Lightly tap each cookie with the palm of your hand and sprinkle with the coarse sea salt. (To me, this is what makes these cookies so good!)

6. Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, for 15 to 18 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time for even doneness. The cookies should be golden brown around the edges but till light in the centers. Let the cookies cool on a wire rack. Store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

I have so much to tell you guys about what's been going on around here over the last few weeks, including a big teaching announcement, but it will have to wait until after my Tybee trip! 

Summer-Style Shrimp & Grits and Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

Here is the recipe I promised for the lightened shrimp and grits. This is the meal we watched at the Charleston Cooks demonstration class. This is actually 3 recipes in one: Shrimp and Grits, Shrimp Stock, and Creamy Stone Ground Grits. You probably want to get started on the shrimp stock and grits first (finish the grits up to step 4, then just before serving complete step 5).

Shrimp and Grits

Serves 6

2-3 bacon slices, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 onion, chopped

2 teaspoons blackening seasoning

1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined (reserve shells for shrimp stock recipe)

1 ear corn, shucked and kernels cut off cob

6-8 okra, sliced into rounds

8-12 grape tomatoes, halved

1 recipe shrimp stock (see below)

2 tablespoons butter

1.  Place bacon in a large saute pan and cook over medium heat until light golden brown. Add the garlic and onion to the pan and saute until onion is translucent.

2. Add the blackening seasoning to the pan and saute in the bacon fat until aromatic. Next add the shrimp (in one layer if possible) and allow them to sit in the pan untouched for one minute. Do no stir.

3. Add the corn, okra, and tomatoes to the pan and stir to incorporate. Add enough shrimp stock to cover shrimp about halfway.

4. Bring the stock to a boil, and reduce sauce slightly. Turn off heat and fold in the butter to finish.

*The okra is still crispy in the recipe. If you prefer your okra cooked longer, add it with the blackening seasoning.

Shrimp Stock

Makes about 2 quarts stock

2 tablespoons butter

shells from 1-2 pounds shrimp

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 clove garlic

1 celery stalk, chopped

1-2 carrots, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

2 sprigs of parsley

3 bay leaves

2 sprigs of thyme

1 star anise

3 whole cloves

5 whole coriander seeds

7 black peppercorns

1/2 cup white wine

about 1-2 quarts water (just enough to cover)

1. Place butter in a medium stock pot over medium-high heat. When melted, add shrimp shells, and cook until the shells are pink and just starting to turn golden brown.

2. Add tomato paste through peppercorns to the pot and continue to cook for about 2-3 minutes.

3. Add the white wine to the pot (mixture will boil up vigorously), and cook until wine is reduced to almost a syrupy consistency.

4. Add enough water to the pot to barely cover the shells, and bring water to a simmer.

5. Simmer for 30-45 minutes, and strain through a fine strainer. Throw away shells and vegetables, reserve stock (do this over the sink!)

Creamy Stone Ground Grits

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 cup stone ground grits

4 cups water

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Hot sauce, to taste

1.  Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat.

2. Add the grits and stir until the grits are light brown and toasted.

3. Add the water and bring to a simmer. Simmer, stirring or whisking often, until grits are thick, about 20-25 minutes.

4. Reduce heat to low and add the cream. Cook, stirring or whisking often, until grits are thick again, about 10-15 more minutes.

5. Remove the grits from the heat. Add the cheese and hot sauce. Stir to combine. Season with salt and more hot sauce to taste.

I hope you all have a fun and safe 4th of July today! We decided not to brave the crowds at the beach, and are having a low-key day at the pool instead.

My fingers and toes are ready to celebrate!

Beat the Heat!

Tasty Tuesday is postponed until tomorrow, but I promise the recipe I'm sharing with you will not disappoint: Summer-Style Shrimp and Grits. Go ahead and make sure you have fresh corn, okra, and cherry tomatoes on hand for this yummy recipe!

Instead, here are some of the ways my family beat the staggering Charleston heat this weekend. Andy's parents and brother, Matt, were in town visiting during the HOTTEST weekend in Charleston, yet. Matt has been in Rome, Italy for the last 2 years studying to become a Catholic priest, and we haven't seen him at all in those 2 years. Needless to say, it was a great reunion and was so good to see him!

Here are some of our tips to beat the heat...

Take a cooking class at Charleston Cooks!

Summer-Style Shrimp & Grits

Bourbon Pecan Pie

Go antiquing and purchase a lovely new hutch for your dining room

Pick out paint colors for the house

Dining Room color is the one on the top: Restoration Hardware "Stone"

Sea Salt: Living Room and all "open areas"
Oyster Bay: Kitchen

Drink lots of these

Perfect Margraitas: 1 can frozen limeade, 12 oz. tequila, 24 oz. diet sprite, 1 beer

Eat lots of these

Chocolate Face!

Run through a sprinkler

Drink some Sambuca straight from Italy. 

 Salute!

Take some guitar lessons

Go see a movie

Or just snuggle on the couch with a sweet pup

That's how we beat the heat this weekend. I hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July and, hopefully, an extended holiday weekend!

Remember, come back tomorrow for the recipe for the shrimp and grits!

Tasty Tuesday--Pasta with Baked Cherry Tomatoes

This pasta was so light and tasty. The perfect pasta side dish, or main course, for summer. The recipe is from the Food and Wine, Best of the Best Vol. 13 cookbook. Chef: Lidia Matticchio Bastianich

Ingredients
3 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for the pasta pot
1/4 teaspoon peperoncino flakes, or to taste
1 pound spaghetti, gemelli, or penne
10 plump garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 cup loosely packed basil leaves, shredded
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
4 ounces ricotta or ricotta salata

Arrange a rack in the center of the oven, and heat to 350. Toss the cherry tomato halves in a large bowl with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Sprinkle over tomatoes the bread crumbs, salt, and pepper flakes; toss well to coat evenly. Pour the tomatoes onto the parchment-lined sheet, and spread them apart in a single layer. Bake until the tomatoes are shriveled and lightly caramelized (but not dried out), about 25 minutes in all.
Meanwhile, fill a large pot with salted water, and heat to a rolling boil. When the tomatoes are nearly done, drop the pasta into the pot, stir, and return the water to a boil.
As soon as the pasta is cooking, our the remaining olive oil into a big skillet, set it over medium-high heat, and scatter in the sliced garlic. Cook for a minute or two, until it is sizzling and lightly colored, then ladle in about 2 cups of the pasta cooking water, and bring to a vigorous boil, stirring up the garlic. Let half the water evaporate, then lower the heat, stir in the chopped parsley, and keep the sauce barely simmering.
As soon as the tomatoes are done, remove them from the oven.
When the pasta is al dente, lift if from the water, drain for a moment, and drop it into the skillet, still over low heat. Toss pasta quickly with the garlic and parsley sauce in the pan, then slide the baked tomatoes on top of the pasta. Scatter the basil shreds all over, and toss everything together well, until the pasta is evenly dressed and the tomatoes are distributed throughout. Turn off the heat, sprinkle on the grated cheese, toss once more.
Serve the the shredded ricotta all over the top.

Playing Catch-Up

I've been pretty lazy about posting. I mean, one recipe a week and nothing else? Pretty bad considering it's summer and I'm not working. So, I'm going to do my best to play catch-up and fill you in on what's been going on around here for the last two weeks, or weekends, actually. 

Last weekend we had a wedding in Greenville. It was absolutely beautiful. The bride, Erin, was a friend of mine from college, and we spent our first year teaching together. The groom, Bullet (there's a great story behind this nickname but I won't get into it), has been a friend of Andy's since little league soccer. 

They actually met at our wedding 3 years ago!

Cocky was at the Rehearsal Dinner! 

The Tiger was, too, as Bullet is a Clemson grad, but we won't talk about that.

You may kiss your bride!

Tri Deltas

With Andy's parents

Father's Day was that Sunday after the wedding, so before heading back to Charleston, we had a yummy and relaxing brunch on the river in downtown Greenville to celebrate with Andy's dad.

And then we stopped in Summerville to grill out at my parents' house to celebrate Dad's day a little more with my daddio and brother.

And of course cutie-pie Lucy

So, that was last weekend. Let's move on to this weekend. Friday night we enjoyed dinner at our favorite place, Zia, with our friends Rob and Abby, and then they came over to our house to watch the Gamecocks beat Arkansas to advance to the College World Series finals! 

I love this picture!

And Saturday was the most fun day of all! We spent the day at the Kiawah dog beach with Megan & Cameron, Emily & David, and all the doggies--Birdie, Brady, Gracie, and Bennett. Once we hauled all of our stuff a mile to the beach, we had a great time! 

Bennett

Gracie

Birdie

Brady

Where Bennett spent most of the day...chillin' on a chair.

Megan & Brady, Emily & Gracie, Me & Birdie

Emily, Birdie, and me on the way home after a long day in the sun!

So that's me playing catch-up. 

I hope you all enjoy your week! 

P.S. Go Gamecocks!