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

NC Tax Free!

What a perfect weekend to get a little shopping done in North Carolina!  Some of my favorite spots are  small local businesses like Mears in Enfield and EJW and Tassels in Morehead City! I also love the Teachers Pet!  What a great educational resource! EJW is perfect for recreational equipment and clothing for the guys in your life!!  Tassels not only carries fabulous shoes and accessories but also new lines of clothing! 

 

 Photos courtesy Tassels

August Sales Tax Holiday provides an exemption for certain items of tangible personal property sold between 12:01 A.M. on the first Friday in August and 11:59 P.M. the following Sunday. Clothing, footwear, and school supplies of $100 or less per item; school instructional materials of $300 or less per item; sports and recreation equipment of $50 or less per item, computers of $3,500 or less per item; and computer supplies of $250 or less per item will be exempt.  
I notice people often reminisce about family owned businesses that once were! If we all "shop local" in NC we can help keep our favorite stores around for years to come instead of being a fond memory! 

Please do not forget to also purchase items for kids in need when you visit The Teachers Pet! Communities in Schools of Carteret County as well as other organizations are helping "Stuff the Bus"! 

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Waterway View!

Recently we had a great time visiting a friend in Swansboro, well Cedar Point actually! Our friend was with his fishing club!  This group is from Carolina Beach and they not only know how to fish but cooking and shagging are two other specialties!  This was their sixth year staying at the Waterway Inn!  The Waterway Inn is on the Intracoastal Waterway! I took these photos on the Waterway Inn docks! 

The photos are quite peaceful but the beach music, fish frying party in the background was lots of fun for all!  This is our friend, John Batson!  He was in charge of the frying!  You can tell he is ready to dance!  John is also a Charter Boat Captain!  If you are in Carolina Beach look up Batson Charter Boats! As they say, Cheerio!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen