I think I have the right to claim myself a “Southerner.” I was actually born in Wisconsin, but I’ve lived here, in SC, the majority of my life. But, to be honest, I don’t think I knew what it meant to be a Southerner until I experienced Lowcountry life while living in Charleston. If you haven’t been, put it on your list. It’s an amazing place that includes history, architecture, beaches and delicious cuisine.
I had the privilege of living in Charleston for eight years after I graduated high school. What lead me to Charleston? I didn’t even have to get out of the car that day {I was there on a “college day” with my dad visiting College of Charleston}. I knew it was the place for me. Can you blame me? That fall of 1997, my parents moved me into my dorm and drove away. I stayed in there, in Charleston, for eight years. I met the love of my life there, in the Lowcountry. What is the Lowcountry? I’ll let these photos tell it all.
It’s the beach, it’s the marsh, it’s the crabbing docks, the salty smell, the humidity and so much more!
Okay, before I tell you my whole life story {Don’t worry, I will. Bit by bit, as it is appropriate. That’s my style}, let me get on with the purpose of this post. So, I had the privilege of experiencing Lowcountry life and one of its most popular seafood dishes, Lowcountry Boil {some call it Frogmore Stew}.
YUM-YUM! This is Lowcountry Boil! It’s an easy, one-pot dish that is so delish on a hot summer day. Especially when you are on the Southeastern coast and can get your hands on fresh, local shrimp! I make it every summer at the beach.
{The recipe below will feed 6 adults but this recipe can be easily adjusted to feed a large group.}
Start with 3 cloves of garlic, smashed; 1/2 an onion, cut in chunks; 1 large lemon, sliced; 1 pkg. crab boil seasoning bag or 4 Tbsp Old Bay Seasoning; 1 tsp sea salt.
Heat a large pot of water on the stove {I fill my pot half full}.
Add garlic, onion, lemon, seasoning and salt to pot, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, bringing water to a boil towards the end of this time.
In the meantime, chop 2 packages kielbasa or smoked sausage, 1 pound new potatoes and 6-8 ears of corn.
Remove lid and add sausage and potatoes to pot. Cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
Add corn and cook for 10 more minutes.
Clean and devein 2 pounds of fresh shrimp. Do not peel.
Add shrimp to the pot and cook five minutes or until pink.
Do not overcook shrimp!
Drain water from pot and dump seafood mixture onto a countertop or tabletop protected with newspaper.
Disgard lemons and seasoning packet.
Serve with fresh lemon slices, cocktail sauce and butter.
This is such a great meal for large gatherings. It is simple and informal, yet a great feast for an outdoor summer party. Serve with some crusty bread, a simple salad, sweet tea, cold beer and some good music and your Southern party is bound to be a success! And if you don’t live in the South? Introduce your friends to something new!
Glad to be back, but really missing vacation! I can’t wait to share with you our amazing experience on Fripp Island! Stay tuned. . .
looks great Jen! Hope you had a great vacation.
YUM! That looks really good. We do the same thing down in Texas except with crawfish (which I REFUSE to eat). I never thought of using shrimp or sausage. Genius! SC is beautiful (from pics). It's a place I'm definitely going to visit soon especially since my bestie lives there!!
That looks aamazing and is a great way to bring a taste of the south out here to Cali! We love Charleston too. A year ago when we husband thought he was going to get out of the military, that was our number one spot to try and move! (Now we will have to revisit that in about 10 years when his military career is over :p) Hope yall had a great vacation, I enjoyed all the guest posts.
we love the low country. we get away to charleston about once a year. and love the smell of everything. my hubby eats shrimp and grits and low country boil….but i just can't bring my northern tongue to eat it! never been to fripp, but got married on IOP, and love folly and hilton head.
We call it Beaufort Stew and introduced it to friends when we lived in Houston, TX. Instead of the seasoning packet, we use Old Bay and some beer. Whatever you call it, it's always a good time!
Very cool! I've always wanted to do that ourselves. We went the a place called the Boiling Pot in TX, but we had crawdad's instead of shrimp. Looks Yummy!
Go to my blog to see what my family craves.
http://tuttiaposto.blogspot.com/
Take Care!
Looks great!
that looks awesome! looks like you guys had a great vacation!
Lived in the Lowcountry almost my entire life! (moved here and there a few times haha).. my entire family is from around Savannah & my mama lives right on the marsh. I get so upset whenever people think that it stinks at low tide.. it smells like HOME to me. Great post. I'm so hungry now! haha
Looks yum!! You made me realize that I have missed the low country boil! Need to make it but it is not the same without the beach
Looks de-lish! We've lived here on the South Eastern NC coast for six years and have never made this, even when we get fresh shrimp by our dock. Sounds like a great thing to do this weekend!
We do this shrimp boil in California! It is SO good! Except we use ALOT of garlic. I cut each clove in half and we just eat the things whole they are SO good. Sometimes we'll add clams in the shell or oysters too. It's so fun to go to the pier and buy fresh seafood. Also we go to the butcher counter at the grocery store and ask for their butcher paper. It's sanitary and is plastic lined so none of the juice soaks in and we just dump everything out on the table! When I lived in Texas we'd go to crawfish boils, those were fun too. Took me about 18 yrs to get up the courage to try one but they're pretty good!
This looks fantastic! Your pictures are wonderful. I so need a new camera. I made some corn bread muffins and my poor pictures look SO bad ~ LOL!!! Maybe is I am really good this year, Santa might bring me a new camera!!
My husband would love to visit Charleston. Since I am from Alabama, I feel like every Southern should visit that great city at least once.
XoXo,
Kristal
Never had this but it sounds delish!
Stop by and link up at What’s Cooking Wednesday!
http://www.extremepersonalmeasures.com/2011/08/whats-your-favorite-cookbook.html