Sunday, May 1, 2011

Savannah sweets and recipe review




Happy Spring! I have to apologize for not posting in so long...with a couple of weekends of out town including a weekend in Savannah for a wedding (see fancy outfits, right) and a ton going on, I'm sure you can relate. I wanted to compile a list of things I have made lately in the hopes that you will be urged to try one of them. Here they are:
  •  Chicken pitas with homemade tzatziki (really brought me back to Devine Greek, my favorite Greek spot in Columbia. Tzatziki is incredibly easy to make and I eyeballed the whole thing. It really turned out delicious!
  • Shrimp tacos with homemade guacamole (thanks for the inspiration Kate!)
  • Carrot Cake muffins with homemade cream cheese frosting (via May's issue of Southern Living)
  • Homemade pizza with salami, goat cheese, roasted grape tomatoes, and sage (I have found the ultimate trick to making homemade pizza is putting a healthy drenching of olive oil mixed with salt, pepper, lots of fresh garlic, and red pepper flakes on all of the dough before you add anything)

  • Smashed cauliflower with blue cheese- this is one of my new favorite veggies to make and you can really get creative with what to add to it. I usually add lots of pepper, a little salt, Parmesan, and whatever else I have. Try cooking the cauliflower in chicken stock first to give it tons of flavor.
 I am honestly having a hard time remembering what else I have cooked in the last 2 weeks which is so pitiful but unfortunately true. While in Savannah, we decided to get Sunday brunch which is one of my all time favorite things to do and picked a place close to our hotel called Soho South Cafe where they claim "food is art". I loved this place the moment we walked in--it was part art gallery featuring local artists, part cookbook collection, and part quirky southern restaurant serving up huge biscuits, sandwiches, and brunch offerings. I have to say, the best part of my meal was the raspberry spritzer I ordered. It was raspberry puree, soda, sprite, and fresh mint and was amazing and so refreshing. I will definitely be recreating it soon (and perhaps adding a little liquor to it!).

I have to mention a little place near our hotel that I stumbled upon the night before our brunch, Parker's Market. I was so intrigued by this place that I left the bar across the street to check it out and take some photos. It was simply amazing. This "market" has everything you could imagine from funny magnets to fresh flowers and gourmet candy to late night sandwiches and lotto tickets. Sounds like heaven right? I thought so.



 
I was good and only left with a small bag of jelly belly's. I have to mention that this market even had 3 gas pumps which had 3 ATM's on the other side. Very cool and definitely the kind of place I would love to own one day.