Old Salt!

We had a great dining experiance at the new Beaufort spot, Old Salt!  What a charming place this is!  Old Salt is in the building long accupied by the Net House.  What a welcoming group this is!  I cannot wait to return to visit our new friends!  I am addicted to their strawberry vinaigrette too!  It is divine!

The atmosphere is great!  I love the renovation with all the tin and old wood!  The port holes and rustic light fixtures add to the feel of a salty sailboat!  Barbara, one of the owners was behind the bar during my visit but I understand she is often in the kitchen as she is known for her homemade desserts! 

The menu is wonderful! 

 The Old Salt Gathering Place

"Where sailors of yesteryear recount their adventures and tell tall tales!!"

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen



Fresh Fish!

You cannot beat a dinner party with friends who bring fresh fish they just reeled in off the coast of North Carolina!  We decided to marinate the Mahi in ginger dressing topped with a little fresh parm and broil until golden bubbly!  It really was delicious served over mixed greens with roasted broccoli and fresh corn! 
I also prepared lemon asparagus pasta!  The original Pinterest recipe called for orzo but they were out at the Food Lion on the Island!  I substituted bow tie and increased the dressing amount especially the lemon zest!

Lemon Orzo Salad on Pinterest

One of my favorite past times is offshore fishing!  I am so happy on a clear smooth NC day fishing with no land in site!  The water is a deep beautiful blue!  When the dolphin are biting that is the most fun!  They are such colorful fish!  This is an old pic of me reeling in a dolphin!  My hair was growing back after Chemo.  This was during The Kelly Wagner Lady Angler Tournament before the start of the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. 

 So fun!  See my big smile!

In memory of the General by DJ Ray Melton!

 

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Summer Solstice!

The official start of Summer begins today at 7:09pm to be exact!  The Summer Solstice is when the sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator.  Today it is hot hot hot in North Carolina!  It is a perfect day at the beach with a nice breeze!  What are you doing on the longest day of the year?  We are grilling out, enjoying fresh North Carolina seafood and veggies with friends!  Our dinner guest and dear friend and I love fresh tuna!  I prepared a favorite salad inspired by my Realtor/Chef friend Laurie Daniel!   As you know by now we love her divine dishes!  The Ahi tuna cubed then tossed in a mixture of honey, lime juice, orange juice, fresh chopped ginger and a dash of soy is one of her best creations!  I LOVE it!

We serve the tuna over mixed greens or my personal fave is arugula!  It is truly one of the most refreshing summer sides!  You should head to your local seafood market ASAP!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Martini Time!

Today is National Martini Day!  I personally love to sip a traditional martini just a little bit dirty but I also love trying different drinks, especially refreshing cocktails during this North Carolina heat!  I also say for a party to be complete a signature cocktail must be served!  According to The Ultimate Holiday Site, when you order yourself a martini you're telling everyone around you that you are a person of class and style!  
In honor of the summer season I thought I would share the Bikini Martini!  Since I can no longer wear a bikini, please pass the shaker!  

"Bikini Martini" via AllRecipes.com

Combine rum, vodka and pineapple juice in a drink shaker. Shake firmly until frothy. Pour in a martini glass, add a touch of grenadine in the middle. Garnish with an orange wheel.

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Summer Soft Crabs!

Everyone in my family, especially my Mother and my local husband love soft shell crabs!  We like to purchase from AB Seafood Market!  If you do not mind listening to my husband describe the proper way to clean soft crabs, then you too would enjoy the crab fry at our house!  We also love the soft crabs at Chefs 105 if you are headed out to dinner!  They know how to clean the crabs very well!  Believe me,  my husband asked!

I love serving on my favorite crab plates from Mears Etc Etc!  I only wish there was a Texas Pete bottle on them instead of Tabasco!

 Served with Broccoli slaw and fresh green beans!  It does not get much better than this!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Big Rock Week!

The past week has been so busy with the start of summer in full swing!  There is no slowing down now with Big Rock week well on its way!  Hope you have a trip to the Carolina Coast planned!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Italian Stew!

My new favorite comfort food is Italian Chicken Stew!  Another great dinner at the Daniel's house makes leaving Raleigh that much harder!  Laurie made this recipe her own with numerous changes! She would not share her secrets but said the base is from Giada De Laurentiis.  This stew is super healthy as well!  Flavor building in a dutch oven at its finest, starting with fresh thyme, bayleaves and NC Farmers Market veggies sauteed in EVOO! 

Herbs from Laurie and Gary's back yard oasis!

I also must confess I am addicted to the North Carolina honey based salad dressing that Laurie calls "just a vinaigrette"!  It is so divine!   W.G. White and Co. is known for their country ham but their honey is the highlight this time!   W.G. White and Co. has been in Mocksville North Carolina since 1924!  The ingredients Laurie mixes in the measuring cup with the honey are lemon, extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar for acidity and a little fresh OJ!  Salt and peppar to taste!  Summer love!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Fresh Mex!

Although, I always learn something new in Continuing Education, it is a long day!  Wine well deserved for us all, then dinner with Realtor and Builder friends makes for the perfect end to eight straight hours in class!  The tuna and shrimp from Saltwater Seafood & Fry Shack and cilantro straight out of Laurie's garden created homemade Mexican that was fresh and yummy!  Laurie is an awesome cook and Realtor!

I am a big fan of fish tacos made with tuna and shrimp anything!  Laurie started with lots of Farmer's Market veggies!  I also love that she added the fire to the fresh with Chipotle peppers!  This fresh NC combo was too tasty to wrap in a tortilla!  I enjoyed this combination over cilantro rice!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Seafood in the Capital City!

One thing I love about being at Atlantic beach is catching and buying local seafood!  When in Raleigh, it is also a pleasure that the Earp family keeps the Capital City supplied with fresh NC seafood from the Saltwater Seafood Market & Fry Shack!  My educational trip to Raleigh for CE class turned into something much like a cooking class at night while visiting my dear friends!  I love the Daniel's attention to detail while working and when using NC ingredients!  Got to be NC!!  Great place to work, live and eat fresh!

 We purchased fresh tuna and shrimp for tacos!

You gotta love a family business!  George is the Dad!  David and Mike (pictured) Earp are all there to help with a smile!  The Earp's have been in the seafood business for over forty years!  There was also a line waiting for Debbie's cooking from Fry Shack!  Smelled so good!

When you leave downtown,  turn left on Fenton Street just off Capital boulevard!  Look for Saltwater Seafood and Fry Shack and the got to be NC AGRICULTURE sign right by the door!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Pimm's Cup!

In honor of the Queen's Jubilee I was reminded this is a great time to share the English summer refresher and the official Wimbledon cocktail, the Pimm's Cup!  We can enjoy this refreshing beverage right here in North Carolina during our sultry summer!  Love the write up from bonappetit and the photograph by Nigel Cox! Does this look refreshing or what?!

The cocktail is made with Pimm's of course!

I also found this recipe from the Places I Have Found blog! So nicely written and easy to share! Being Southern as I have said before has Royal similarities!  I am sure all the Belles out there agree!  The matter of tradition and entertaining are quite important us!

I visited England for the first time the summer after I graduated high school.  It was an amazing trip!  It was the summer of 1995 that I first discovered the Pimm's Cup!  The drinking age is 18 in England by the way!  Going back to England with Wimbledon on the agenda is on our tennis families bucket list!  Cannot wait!  I will have the official Pimm's Cup for sure!

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

National Cancer Survivors Day!

I enjoyed the 25th Annual National Cancer Survivors Day with my wonderful family!  I am so thankful for so many and so much on this day!  My family is at the top of the list!  They took such good care of me!  My Mom was my nurse 24 hours a day and my husband dealt with for sicker sooner than we expected!  We went through something that is still hard to believe.  I pray everyday for those going through the horrible battle against Cancer and for their caretakers.  Surviving ovarian cancer has given me lots of life lessons.  Life happens to everyone everyday and you cannot fight negative with negative!  When it is your time for battle, a positive attitude is your best defense!  That and a great NC hospital!  Thank you, Dr. John Boggess and N.E.D for all you do as well!

I am however sad not everyone celebrated on this day.  The more support we show the better the chance a life will be saved in the future.  Ovarian Cancer is a silent killer, it can steal our lives and loved ones so quickly.  Please download Jeanne Jolly's recording of “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen HERE.  100% of the proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.  Jeanne Jolly released this recording as a tribute to her beautiful Mom and everyone who has been affected by Ovarian Cancer.  Thank you, Jeanne! 

“Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting
some kind of battle.”
~T.H. Thompson and John Watson

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen

Graduation time!

One of favorite family members graduated with honors from Rocky Mount Academy yesterday!  It was quite amazing to sit in the gym of my Alma mater watching Megan receive her diploma!  I am so sure it feels like only a few years ago that I walked across the same stage!  Not the actual number which is seventeen!

As I sat patiently, I also I remembered being in Mrs. Harris's math class when I left school quickly to get to the hospital before Megan was born! Time goes by in a hurry!  The school had a great reception to celebrate the Class of 2012!  My niece loved the cupcakes of course!  I loved the detailed graduation caps!  Such a fun night!

If you follow this North Carolina blog at all you know my family is partial to the Wolfpack!  Megan is off to UNC!  All that Carolina Blue is going to be hard to stomach!  I believe a Mears Etc Etc "House Divided" flag is in order! 

All jokes aside, we could not be more proud of her! 

Enjoy your Day, Carolina Style!

Jen Jen