Author: Claire

The Other White Chili

/ Claire / 3 Comments

Sunday evening was a cold, wet, chilly time that called for one thing and one thing only: chili.

The best thing about our smoker (aside from its delicious smokiness) is that it stocks us with a week’s worth of meat. This could be because we never can seem to pick anything less than a eight pound cut (hey, when it’s on sale how can you pass up a deal? I bought a six pound corned beef for $3 after St. Patrick’s Day…but hey again! That’s a heckuva deal! And you know we will eat it.)

The pork butt we cooked over a week ago is still good and fat in our fridge, needing to be used. We have been adding it here and there to our meals (I might have overdosed on pork while Jamey was gone last week), but  I suggested a white bean chili as our next leftover pork venture in lieu of chicken.

Based on a recipe by the Pioneer Woman, I bring you Jamey and Claire ‘s Other White Chili.

Ready to dig in?

Continue reading →

Another round of garden sours and fun

/ Claire / 4 Comments

Before this post can even begin, the big question is: does anyone know of a good photo collage-making website? Because seriously, this has plagued me all day and I can’t seem to find the website that once changed my life with this ability. (Suggestions, please. I am really, really really really in need of finding the answer to this question. Back to the original post.)

How was everyone’s weekend? Ours was eventful and relaxing, which always is the perfect combination. It also put in to motion several blog posts for this week that I think you will find quite entertaining, if you find us so. (And I assume you do – otherwise, why are you here?)

Friday, we scooted up to Pawleys Island for an overnight trip with Jamey’s parents and their friends from Williamsburg. It was great to hear more stories about little Jamey, reminisce of Georgia, and have a delicious meal with a great group of people. (I am craving some of those clams and sauce right now…this flashback to winter weather is draining.)

Crazy-eyed group pic at Frank’s

We also took the gear to make garden sours for the group, which didn’t turn out as well as they usually do. Continue reading →

It’s Friiiiiiday

/ Claire / 1 Comment

Many things are happening today that make me very happy:

1) Jamey is going to be back from Pennsylvania;

2) We’re going to scoot up to Pawleys for the evening to have fun with his parents and their friends;

and 3) we are taking the necessary ingredients to make some garden sours.

Other than that, who knows what this weekend has in store. We probably are going to take care of some household-y things tomorrow (like re-potting our poor lavender plant and ferns…more on that later), and catch up on other miscellaneous Charleston things that probably won’t involve leaving the three-block radius of our house. (I’m thinking a grocery store run might be in store, and when I say run I mean walk. That’s a little more than three blocks…but you get the gist.)

This weekend is also one of the last before we get really busy, since April is a slammed month of traveling (mostly Jamey) and travelers (can’t wait for a few select visitors to make their way down to my humble abode!) In the meantime, we’re going to savor this weekend and make the most of our time together.

Hope y’all have a great weekend!

P.S. – How do you like our new banner and tagline? We figured “Blabbin’, Cookin’, and Lovin'” better represented our current conversations – which doesn’t mean I’ll finally simmer down on wedding talk. Oh, no. We are just getting started.

You’re hot ‘n you’re cold

/ Claire / 5 Comments

Let me paint a picture for you.

Your name is James, and you’re on a business trip in Somewhere, Pennsylvania on a Wednesday near the end of March. You’re cold, but you’re not one to complain because you’re tough. And when you’re tough, you mean business, which is why you’re there so it all works out.

However, one early Wednesday morning in Somewhere, Pennsylvania, you pull back your hotel room curtain with the hopes of a bright, sunshine-filled morning. Instead, you see this:

A hotel view in Somewhere, Pennsylvania

A cold, dark scene awaits. Perhaps some derogatory thoughts enter your head, and you wish for home.

Miles away, your sweet financee is driving around Charleston, South Carolina to find a wedding dress for the day of your marriage. She drives with nervous anticipation, heading to a store in an unfamiliar area to search for what she hopes will lead to The One. She sweats in her car, and suddenly realizes it is not a sweat from nerves or anxiety. No, to her chagrin, the temperature outside reads this: Continue reading →