The Charleston Porch

porch: for some friday afternoon relaxin’

Charleston Blogger — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:29:48 +0000

I love everything about this porch. It is warm. It is rustic. It is manageable. And it can be a true extension to the indoor living space – something all porches should boast. Lucky for you all, this is a sneak peek. This porch will be for sale on Monday. I’ll add a few more photos of the home when it hits the market, its a wonderful little cottage in charming Wagener Terrace – for those not familiar with Charleston, Wagener Terrace is a cool community located on the peninsula…read more about here.

For now, I’ll leave you with a dining room shot. More to come! And a happy Friday to you!

the pups of bulow plantation

Charleston Blogger — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:00:44 +0000

Tucked away in the land of the Stono River, there lives a pack of guard puppies.

There’s Jack

And Lenny

And Fritz

And the pack leader, Ole Molly

They rule and govern almost 3 acres of waterfront, low country land. What a blessed life these pups lead.

They guard.

They play.

They lounge.

three65 – week 5

Charleston Blogger — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:14:18 +0000

I need to replace the tripod I broke 2 years ago. I don’t know how I have gone this long without one…I am tiring of balancing my camera on my car, or my knee, or a gate post to get a successful night shot, and I am becoming more and more interested in night photography as this project continues. I think I will buy myself a tripod for my birthday!

6 super easy super bowl snacks that really are easy. really.

Charleston Blogger — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:50:47 +0000

I don't care what anyone says. Football shaped brownies are NOT easy.

Pinterest makes me feel like I am uncreative with my cooking. Blogs about food make me feel like I am lazy. And articles about “super easy super bowl snacks” make me question whether or not I actually know the definition of “easy.”

i. am. not. a. foodie.

I don’t like following recipes and I don’t like watching a clock.

My scale of “easy” is dependent upon:

the time it takes
the mess it creates
the number of ingredients
the math it requires

I am the girl who doesn’t care about the Super Bowl. Not because I am a Stepford wife, but because I’d rather be throwing an actual football in the front yard than watch it being done on TV. No one will do that with me on Super Bowl Sunday though, so I become the chef. And since those dining (or inhaling) at super bowl parties do not appreciate a chef’s hard work, I’m not going to work hard.

Without further adieu, I have compiled a list of

6 super easy super bowl snacks that really are easy

and present well too! With little to no recipe to follow.

They are my go-to recipes when I need something easy that the crowd will enjoy (all can be easily made vegetarian!), so I have first hand experience at the true ease of preparation. And on MY scale…they are EASY.

Make one, make all. Just remember to share.

1. Sausage Balls

Time (30ish) ~ Mess (kinda) ~ Ingredients (3) ~ Math (none)

Scale of Ease: SUPER EASY

Ingredients:

1 lb sausage (which is 1 package)
3 cups Bisquick
Half a bag or so of extra sharp, shredded cheddar cheese
A little bit of tabasco or bbq sauce if you are feeling saucy.

Heat the oven to 350. Grease or parchment paper (I’m using it as a verb because it should be, like paper mache) a cookie sheet. Put all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mash everything together with your hands. Gross. But easy. When its all mixed together, separate and roll them into balls. Place balls on cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown. And done. Vegetarian Option: Replace the sausage with delicious Gimme Lean Sausage. Recipe shared with me years ago by the beautiful Abby Lipshie

2. Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods

Time (15ish) ~ Mess (kinda) ~ Ingredients (3) ~ Math (none)

Scale of Ease – SUPER EASY

Ingredients

Snyder’s Pretzel Rods
Any kind of chocolate
Sprinkles if you are feeling sprinkly

Put your chocolate in a double-boiler or just a glass bowl over a pot of heated water. When it melts, dip as much or as little of the pretzel rod (this step will make the mess scale go up or down) into the chocolate and lay them down on a plate that will fit in your fridge. Sprinkle sprinkles all over and then refrigerate. And done. Recipe stolen from the renaissance woman Ashley Colclasure.

3. Pimento Cheese

Time (10-15ish) ~ Mess (hardly) ~ Ingredients (4) ~ Math (none)

Scale of Ease – SUPER EASY

Ingredients:

Extra sharp shredded cheddar
A large jar of pimentos (because I like them A LOT)
Crushed pecans
Mayo
Salt and pepper to taste (or whatever you feel like trying)

Cheese and pimentos go in bowl first. Then slowly add small amounts of mayonnaise until you achieve the consistency you want. Then add as many pecans as you’d like. Salt and pepper to add more flavor…or try some tabasco or worcestershire sauce. Chill. And done. Recipe discovered on a beach trip with Samantha Bradshaw (this was the first time I had ever enjoyed Pimento Cheese)

4. Ritz Cracker Pizza Bites

Time (10ish) ~ Mess (only if you’re a toddler) ~ Ingredients (3) ~ Math (none)

Scale of Ease – SUPER EASY

Ingredients:

Ritz Crackers
Any cheese
Pepperoni Slices
Optional tomato sauce
1 baby

Heat oven to 350. Place lots of Ritz crackers on a cookie sheet. No grease of parchment paper needed. Place a pepperoni on each cracker. Sprinkle cheese (or place it if you have squares) on top. Cook in oven until cheese begins melts (not burns). You can use a microwave for this but the taste doesn’t compare to good, old fashioned baking. And done. Vegetarian Option: In lieu of pepperoni, spoon a dollop of tomato sauce on each cracker, and prepare the same. Recipe conjured up from the genius within my brain when kids I babysat for wanted pizza.

5. Saratoga Chips

Time (30ish) ~ Mess (kinda) ~ Ingredients (3) ~ Math (none)

Scale of Ease = SUPER EASY

Ingredients:

Sweet Potatoes
Canola Oil
Mandoline Slicer (I’m saying this is an ingredient because I don’t think this is a super common kitchen utensil. If you don’t have this, a knife will do. The chips will just be thicker.)

Cut the sweet potatoes with your slicer or a knife. Heat the oil in the biggest skillet you have. Place one chip into the oil to check the heat. If the chip begins to fry, continue adding chips. If not, turn the heat up. Remove chips when they have turned a delicious, crispy color. Place on paper towels to dry and cool. Sprinkle some sea salt and pepper if you’d like. Serve warm. And done. If the oil starts to smoke, turn it down or it will catch fire! Recipe first enjoyed in the home of the amazing mom, doctor and friend, Jenn Wheeler.

6. Santa Fe Soup

Time (20ish) ~ Mess (Hardly) ~ Ingredients (5 minimum) ~ Math (none)

Scale of Ease – SUPER EASY (even with a lot of ingredients)

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
4 cans any beans you want (I like kidney, black, great northern, black-eyed peas)
1 can white corn
1 large tomato (or a can if you don’t want to slice)
Packet (or 2) of Ranch Seasoning
Packet (or 2) of Taco Seasoning

Brown the ground beef. Place all ingredients in a crock pot or the largest pot you have. Cover it. Simmer it. Check it. Taste it. When it is delicious, take it off the burner. And done.

You can heat it faster than a slow simmer if you are in a rush and it will be just fine. If not, let the soup relax on the burner and fill your house with delicious smells of winter. Serve with cheese, sour cream, Fritos or whatever else you would like. Vegetarian Option: Simply disregard the ground beef. Recipe shared with me after I ate more than my share of this soup at the wonderful home of Claire Gentry.

So there you have it. 6 super easy super bowl snacks that really are easy. Really.

If you try some of these out, let me know how they go! Or if you have an easy go-to recipe, share it with me! I am always looking for more! I will be taking a few to a Folly beach party I am going to…super bowl party ON THE BEACH. This is why I moved to Charleston. Have a fun Sunday all!

a spiral staircase for you

Charleston Blogger — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:48:41 +0000

this is all I have for today…think of it as a sneak peek for the posts to come next week! I took this shot this morning (before spilling coffee all over my back seat and shattering my cell phone!) during a photo shoot of an AMAZING Sullivans Island property … be on the lookout for a few posts about this home … I was able to shoot some amazing porches AND some amazing puppies this morning HAPPY FRIDAY TO ALL!!!

a january of not so wintry skyscapes

Charleston Blogger — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:52:37 +0000

Today marks the end of the first month of sky photos! Here is what 31 days of sky looks like… I think I am going to create another tab at the top of my blog to organize, sort and reflect on my 365 Sky project by the month. My current tab has daily rambles of what is happening (or not happening) during each photo. I think this 2nd tab I create will be less like a journal entry, and more like a true reflective piece, to gauge what I have learned about my environment, my camera, and myself. Stay tuned.

JANUARY – COMPLETE!

three65 sky – week 4

Charleston Blogger — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:56:20 +0000

I am beginning to see patterns in the sky from one day to another. This week the sky seemed to slowly transition into the next day’s landscape. Can you see? Check out all my progress here. (I am a few weeks behind…should have time to update it today)

baby banana spider weaving in a tree

Charleston Blogger — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:29 +0000

Face your fear of spiders and scroll…

…you may surprise yourself and decide they are beautiful!

Here are 2 cool facts I learned about banana spiders (I would have given 3 facts, but I doubt anyone is reading this, and you certainly won’t get past 2 if you haven’t already clicked out of my blog):

They were formally known as Golden Silk Orb Weavers. Prince ain’t got nothin’ on that formally known as name! I wish I was formally known as an orb weaver of golden silk.
Every banana spider we see is a female. Male banana spiders are tiny, brown, free-loaders. Literally, they live on the female-made golden orb, providing nothing, eating whatever they want, sleeping whenever they want, and…doing…it…whenever they want. Ladies, learn from these 8-legged females. Don’t weave yourself into a banana spider relationship.

lilac twilight over bristol marina

Charleston Blogger — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:25:00 +0000

a rainy weekend in cozy greenville

Charleston Blogger — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:07:37 +0000

Stay at Park House Bed and Breakfast. Private, quiet, luxury rooms. Delicious, gourmet breakfast. Afternoon wine and cheese on the front porch.

Eat brunch, lunch or dinner at The Green Room. The eggs benedict and home fries are delightful.

Sip some coffee at Coffee Underground. It really is underground. And have them spike your drink with something fancy.

Spend at least an hour at the Mast General Store on Main Street.

Stroll Falls Park on South Main Street. Walk the suspension bridge…it shakes a little bit. Invigorating. Face your fears.

Indulge in tapas at The Art Bar on Main. Peruse local art in a casual, laid back setting. And if you are feeling saucy, buy something!

Last but not least, do everything on foot. Greenville has so much to offer their pedestrians. Even in the rain