Labor Day Fun!

It has been a long week cleaning up Irene's mess.  North Carolina is open for business and is ready to enjoy this long weekend with visitors, family and friends!  The North Carolina Coast is so beautiful and so hard to resist!  There is so much going on in North Carolina this weekend from College football to Dove Hunts to the last big hurrah at the most beautiful beach!!

What to do is always a hard decision for my family which is why we all end up going in different directions for this Holiday!  Some soak in the sun as long as they can, while the guys are pulling out the camo or heading to Carter Finley for the big kick off!!  If you are gearing up for college football we have all you need at Mears to support your team!  The pic below is from my favorite seat in the Wolfpack house! If there is one thing my family does right it is "Tailgating"! We will be in full force after the official end of summer has gone and ACC fall football begins!  GO PACK!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Wear Teal!

As a survivor of Stage III Ovarian Cancer I ask you to please help raise awareness in honor of the women in your life! Tomorrow, Friday, September 2nd, is “Teal Day” and you can wear the official color of ovarian cancer to help raise awareness and show your support for the 22,000 American women who will be diagnosed this year and the 15,500 lost each year to this disease.

 I am a survivor of Cancer and Life...Life is hard, it does not discriminate..it happens to everyone everyday!  Be kind, Thank God, Work Hard and Help others!  Celebrate every birthday and every year cancer free, BIG!

I am giving out the bracelets below to raise awareness for Ovarian Cancer!  Take care of the women you love!

Thank you Dr. John Boggess at UNC! You are the BEST!

Read more about Dr John Boggess in the Triangle Business Journal Article.

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style,

Jen Jen

Goodnight, Irene!

Irene visited the Old North State with a bad attitude! There is a great deal of damage along her path despite putting on breaks crashing into the Carolina Coast at Cat 1 speed!   From the Beaches to the Capital, Irene took down miles of our 100 year old live oaks like a bull in a china shop! We are full of hospitality here in the South but Irene overstayed her welcome! 

 Photo above Paul Davis Atlantic Beach NC

Photo Fen Rascoe Nags Head NC

The house above made the National News during the coverage of the Outer Banks.

The message to Irene was clear!

The photos above were taken just as Irene rolled into town!  I took my favorite photo above which to me looked like an angel watching over the shore, just before Irene let her fury loose! 

Photo Atlantic Beach Seafood

Rural Eastern NC

 At the end of the day we are very grateful!

Peace has returned to Eastern NC!

Good Night, Irene, Good Night!

photo Paul Davis  Rocky Mount NC

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

* My thoughts and prayers are with the entire East Coast and all who have suffered great loss!  I am very proud of all the volunteering I've witnessed over the last few days as neighbors and communities come together to help those in need.

Irene......

We are back on the Carolina Coast preparing for an uninvited guest named, Irene!  Irene does not have a social visit in mind!  We have great respect for mother nature!  We prefer she visit in peace!

I like to think the more time we spend planning and preparing the better our chances Irene will stay away like Earl did last year!  As our Governor said "Plan for the worst and pray for the best "!  Hurricane shutters have been added to our wish list!

WE PLAN, WE PREPARE AND WE PRAY!!!

Locals are praying for nothing more than a mullet blow!  It is hard to imagine what it was like before today's technology!  The calm before the storm is peaceful and scary at the same time as we now know who is coming........and not for dinner or dessert!  

On a lighter note! I love the Coastal Cupcake's hurricane humor!  

I was introduced to Coastal Cupcakes in Wilmington by my friend, James! We have to make a quick trip to the Port City when we leave AB!   I hope we have time to stop at Coastal Cupcake's and Carolina Farmin! 

 I love both!!!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Dinner Downtown!

Last week Beasley's Chicken and Honey opened in downtown Raleigh!  It is amazing as expected!  Named after a 1970's doll, Mrs. Beasley and a family memory! Owner and Chef, Ashley Christensen is also the owner of Poole's Diner, another downtown favorite! Southern treats not to be missed in Downtown Raleigh!  Chistensen is very busy these days!  She did her fans proud while recently competing on the Food Network for Iron Chef America against Bobby Flay. 
She won in my book!!!!

Everyone is now anxiously awaiting Beasley's new neighbor, Chucks Burger Joint!  Chistensen is also opening Fox Liquor Bar, named after her Dad, Robert whose kickname is "Fox"!   I am keeping up through my Raleigh Foodie Friends who always make sure I am in the know, The Indepentdent Weekly and Downtown Raleigh on FB!  Such a great way to keep up with all the fun coming to the Capital!

 Chucks photos by Downtown Raleigh

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!
Jen Jen

Country Grill!

Sometimes there is nothing better on a Saturday morning than breakfast or Lunch at a whole in the wall that is nothing fancy but serves the community with great southern food! The Country Grill on 561, formally known as Vody's is just that! A place close to my hometown where someone at the table always orders the fried pork chops!  I personally love their grits!  Of Course, I love a place with a bottle of Texas Pete already on the table!  They will really be hopping once hunting season begins! I love this little spot!

Another favorite is their hamburger steak!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Sunday Comfort!

After a fun weekend of parties, comfort food was in order which meant my homemade spaghetti was requested!  I am not going to share my entire recipe but will tell you a few of the special ingredients that make the sauce which are Cinnamon, Texas Pete, fresh roasted tomatoes with good red wine for the sauce and the cook of course!

My friends and I were also trying to learn how to perfect Meringue so my Mother was asked to bake!   We decided we would try a couple of new recipes!  We love the In Style Magazine Lemon Meringue Pie with Poppy Seed Crust in the August issue!  I do not do well with recipes or anything I have to measure!  My husband loves dessert so I am trying to improve despite not being much on sweets my self! Lemon Meringue is his favorite!  He was very happy!

Now that my pie baking skills have improved my husband has requested the Southern Living Lemon Meringue Ice Cream Pie!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Buck's Corner for a Bogue Sound Watermelon!

During National Farmers Market week, I also had the pleasure meeting Jerry Meadows, owner of Buck's Corner Farms in Cedar Point!  Meeting Jerry was a real treat!  Jerry is a member of the Bogue Sound Watermelon Growers Association. To be a member of the Association one must qualify to join the co-op.  Growers must use land to grow the melons that drains directly or indirectly into the Bogue Sound, from Swansboro to Morehead City. Right now, there are 20 growers in the co-op. There is something special about the Bogue Sound soil, not the seeds!

To learn more read the Southeast Farm Press article; Bogue Sound Watermelon Success!  I hope you are able to enjoy a North Carolina local market near you!



Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Collard Shack!

While Down East, I made my first visit to the Collard Shack in Otway!  The Collard Shack has been around for three years and this little shack has a little bit of everything from produce, preserves, seafood, fresh goods straight from their bakery in the back and of course, collards!

Down East light rolls baked fresh daily!  Be on the lookout for the signs below as you head east!

Do not miss the Moonshine Jelly!!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Little Skiff Boatworks!

Back in February, my husband and I won a "little skiff" by Phoebe Briley of Little Skiff Boatworks in Marshallberg!  I was so excited to visit Pheobe in her workshop with a family friend!  Phoebe is helping my friends grandson build an awesome 12 foot skiff in her boatbuilding class!  It is now my turn to return with my little skiff for painting!  I have not decided how I am going to use our little skiff!  I had the best time learning more during my "Down East" tour!

You can also find Little Skiff Boatworks on Facebook!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

National Farmers Market Week!

This week is National Farmers Market Week, August 7-13!  I thought I would share another coastal favorite, Willis Farm Produce in Newport as well as others!  A friend told me about the Willis Farm a few years ago.  She said "They have the BEST tomatoes"! She was right and I was most appreciative to have another spot to purchase the same farm fresh produce I grew with! The Willis Farm is also home to Daddy's Favorite Cakes and more Goodies! The pictures do not tell the whole store!  I want you to enjoy a few surprises when you get there! This is a special place with wonderful people greeting you in their rocking chairs as they tell stories after a long days work on the farm!

This post is in honor of all the local markets in North Carolina benefiting our health, communities and the economy! To learn more visit North Carolina Farm Fresh!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen