Chocolate-Covered Strawberries will satisfy any chocolate craving, these sweet treats are super easy to make with only three ingredients.
Read moreStove-Top Potpourri
What a perfect weekend for Stove-Top Potpourri to fill your home with smells of the season. I love candles don’t get me wrong, but I am trying something a little new this weekend as we get ready for Christmas. This aroma is going to make the house smell fragrant and full of life. My husband may even ask what I am cooking :)
Read moreBlood Orange
Finished product - Absolutely love!
This weekend was full of family time - catching up with loved ones, sharing stories and laughs. When it comes to Sunday, we use the day as a recharge allowing time to unwind from the weekend, preparing for the week ahead. I’ve walked past these Blood Oranges in our kitchen’s fruit bowl for some time now. No time like the present to break out the beaters and mixing bowl.
Prep in the Kitchen
This seasonal fruit is very beautiful when you cut into them. Allows you to bring something different into your dishes. I’ve packed slices in our lunches and now, adding a twist to a simple lemon cake. My sweet tooth will enjoy this throughout the week.
What do you like to do on Sundays?
We can all live in denial that Monday is tomorrow! :)
Gift Giving This Holiday Season
"It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, soon the bells will start, and the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing right within your heart."
I love playing holiday music in the background whenever possible.“It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas”is an all-time favorite. Gift giving doesn’t have to be complicated. I had a great time spicing up these candy bars with decorative yarn tied in a bow to seal this sweet deal. How are you gift wrapping your gifts this holiday?
Sweet Treats in North Beach
How do you even decide? Everything looks so good.
Our Saturday was spent in San Francisco beginning at the Ferry Building and drifting through the farmers market. We continued our adventure down the Embarcadero and b-lined for north beach.
Box break down: Éclair, dulce de leche cake, limoncello and a cannoli.
As we weaved through the avenues with Saints Peter and Paul Church in the distance we knew we were close. There are two things you must get while in North Beach. First, a slice of pizza. Second, Italian pastries and desserts. We found Mara's Italian Pastries on Colombus and of course I ordered a box full of yummy desserts to take home with me.
Cookies & Biscotti
If you find yourself in San Francisco swing by North Beach, also known as, Little Italy - as it's popular for locals and tourists alike.
What is your favorite part of the city to explore?
Eats & Drinks in Charleston
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The building dates back to the 1800s each dish is styled and displayed beautifully. The cocktails are something to try. Live music into the evening hour.
The locals informed us we should make our way down King Street just passed Calhoun where the shops end and great eats & drinks begin.
The rooftop offered covered bar seating and a lounge area. The breeze on the roof was heavenly amongst the southern heat. Stop by for a quick drink or watch the sunset at this hidden rooftop bar in Charleston.
Savannah Bee Company
King Street is the place to shop in Charleston, during our afternoon stroll we found a lovely honey store. Anything honey we are usually all over it and to my surprise they had a mead tasting room. Mead is an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water sometimes added fruits, grains and hops. We purchased the local honey and whipped honey.
270 King St
Charleston, SC 29401
Husk
"The kitchen reinterprets the bounty of the surrounding area, exploring an ingredient-driven cuisine that begins in the rediscovery of heirloom products and redefines what it means to cook and eat in Charleston." - Husk
We added our name on the 2 hour waitlist for the evening. It sounds crazy but we didn't waste anytime as we continued to explore Charleston along Bay Street. The wait flew by and to our surprise we got a table on the second story balcony overlooking the magnolia tree.
Magnolias Uptown Down South
“Magnolias remains a forerunner in upscale Southern cuisine, blending traditional ingredients and cooking techniques with modern flair for artful presentations.” - Magnolias
Starter: Down South Egg Roll Collard greens, chicken, tasso ham, red pepper purée, spicy mustard, peach chutney
Fried Mac & Cheese Bacon jam, hot pepper relish
Entrees: Parmesan Crusted Market Catch creek shrimp & jasmine rice pirloo, warm asparagus, sweet corn & tomato salad, citrus beurre blanc
Spicy Shrimp & Sausage tasso gravy, creamy white grits
Poogan's Porch
“TUCKED AWAY on charming Queen Street, Poogan’s Porch is one of Charleston’s oldest independent culinary establishments, with a fresh approach to Low country cuisine.” - Poogan’s Porch
Starter: Ribs & Pickles Poogan’s Signature BBQ, Garlic Pickles
Mac & Cheese Country Ham, Aged Smoked Gouda, Ham Dust, Green Onions
Entrees: Shrimp & Grits Andouille Sausage, Sweet Onions, Bell Peppers, Tasso Ham Gravy
Crispy Snapper Pimiento Cheese & Tasso Ham Grit Cake, Pulled Pork, Local Radish, Wilted Watercress, NC BBQ Reduction
The Macintosh
The restaurants menu is inspired by the low country and southern flare. Ingredients are sourced locally with a menu that changes daily.
Cocktail: Sister Basil Vodka, Yellow Chartreuse, Strawberry, Basil, Balsamic, Black Pepper
Starter: Sautéed Scallops Mixed with watermelon and Jalapeño dressing
Peach Salad grilled peaches, blackberries, granola on a bed of arugula with sweet dressing.
Entree: Confit Pork Shoulder Corn, Spinach, Sorghum, Peppers
Sides: Pecorino Truffle Frites
We shared the entree & side of fries for our meal, it was perfect*
Cocktail: Roots, Rock, Rum Punch Spiced Rum, Silver Rum, Absinthe, Grapefruit, Lime, Basil
Starter: Focaccia Bread
Entrees: Double Cheeseburger* Bacon, Mornay, Aioli, Pickle, Fries
Lamb Shoulder* Creamed Sweet Corn, Nduja, Okra, Basil
Stars Rooftop & Grill Room
We spotted this gem walking home from dinner as we noticed a sign "rooftop open". We're from San Francisco and never pass up a rooftop opportunity. Through the reclaimed Appalachian Walnut wainscoting, passed the leather lined high curved booths and up a flight of stairs lie a rooftop for the stars.
Cocktail: Nectar of The Stars Peach and clementine vodka, fresh orange juice
Cocktail: Dont Call Me Sweetheart Rum, Brandy, Strawberry, House Rhubarb Shrub, Mint, Black Pepper, Lemon
Starter: Kentuckyaki Glazed Crispy Pig’s Ear Lettuce Wraps, Cucumber and Red Onion Salad, Togarashi
Broadbent Country Ham, Buttermilk Biscuits, Dijonnaise, House Made Pickles
Entrees: Atlantic Snapper, Carolina Gold Rice, Summer Squash and Zucchini, Roasted Fennel, Sweet Peas, Vadouvan Broth
Carolina Heritage Pork, White Acre Peas and Sea Island Red Peas, Summer Peppers, Jowl Bacon, Spinach, Smoked Tomato
Dessert: Peach Profiterole Peach Sherbet, Honey Mascarpone, Blueberry
Funnel Cake Summer Berries, Whipped Cream
We hit this spot right around lunch time, perfect place for a good bite & some time to cool down.
Cocktail: Peach Tea Punch
**loved this restaurant, definitely atop destination in Charleston.
Cocktail: Sangria
When on Vacation - One deserves a drink :)
The food in Charleston was a wonderful selection of local, farm-to-table and southern style that we were looking to find. We are inspired to try a new restaurants in San Francisco each month when we get back home.
If you find yourself hungry in Charleston stop by one of these places. You won’t regret it.
Please leave comments or questions below I would love to hear what you think.
Have you been to Charleston before? Tell me about your experience and what places you went to eat? Thank you.
Sweet as a Georgia Peach
Finding healthy snacks always seems 10x easier during the summer months. This season has a lot more fruits to offer my favorite Peaches and Nectarines. I store majority of my fruits in the refrigerator so they do not ripen as quickly. A nice cold peach in the morning of afternoon is a wonderful sweet treat.
Lemonade Refresher
Thinking back on my summers as a child, lemonade was the best time of the day. The juice was best when served ice cold and of course very sweet with probably too much sugar. I have a serious sweet tooth, not much I can do about that. While visiting my grandparents home I had the lovely opportunity to take a batch of Myers lemons home. I figured the best thing to prepare was a nice pitcher of lemonade. Here is a lovely array and styling with how it turned out.
One hint, never enough sugar. :)
