Sunday, August 31, 2014

TASTE OF MY LOW COUNTRY

The “low country” is a geographic and cultural term for where I live along the coast of South Carolina. I think it’s the best place in the world to live, but I also think we have some great cuisine. Forget about being a teacher today and do something that you enjoy like cooking or eating! 

Frogmore Stew
(aka Low Country Boil)
This is a great dish for company because you can have everything prepared ahead of time and then just throw it in the pot. Spread it out on a platter, put it in the middle of the table, and let your guests help themselves. The locals like to put newspaper in the middle of a picnic table and serve it that way.
¼ cup Old Bay seasoning
1 green pepper, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
4 pounds small red potatoes
2 pounds kielbasa sausage cut into 2” slices
6 ears of fresh corn, halved
4 pounds unpeeled, large fresh shrimp
cocktail sauce

Fill a large cooker ½ full with water. Add Old Bay seasoning, onion, and pepper and bring to a boil. Add potatoes and boil for 5 minutes; add sausage and cook another 5 minutes; add corn and boil 10 more minutes.
Add shrimp and cook 3 to 5 minutes or until shrimp turns pink.
Remove with a slotted spoon or drain in a colander. Serve with cocktail sauce. 


                            
*You can vary the amount of any of the ingredients. If you’re vegetarian just omit the sausage. It’s ALL good!

Low Country Pimento Cheese
It’s funny that you either LOVE pimento cheese or you don’t care for it. I happen to be in the LOVE category!

2 cups shredded extra sharp Cheddar cheese
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1 small jar diced pimento, drained

You can put everything in a bowl and use an electric mixer, or just mix it by hand like I
do. 

                            
South's Best Chocolate Chip Cookie
2 sticks butter, softened
½ cup oil
1 ½ cups white sugar
1 ¾ cups brown sugar
1 TB. vanilla
2 eggs
1 ½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
4 cups flour
12 oz. chocolate chips
(I added an extra 6 oz.)

Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes. Watch - undercooked is better because they are gooey and chewy!

Bon Appetite!