The South
Carolina Lowcountry
is an area that is geographically debatable and is difficult to
map. It begins in the Beaufort, South Carolina, area, extends
way beyond the Charleston area and ends somewhere before Myrtle
Beach. It extends inland as far as the land is low and wet.
The people are tightly knit and fiercely guard their wealthy heritage
of place and past. It is no wonder that this area and its people
find themselves food for writers, even when they do not wish to be.
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Places to Visit:
* You must see the gardens: Magnolia Gardens, Middleton Place and Drayton Hall (Just off Highway 61)
*The beaches are unique (Folly, Isles of Palms, Pawley's Island);
however, I find Kiawah the most secluded and pristine of them all.
*Please visit the old churches and their graveyards (St. Phillips, St.
Michaels, The Circular Church, the Huguenot Church). They tell
much about the city and provide abundant material for local writers.
*The Charleston Battery is a must to see. Walking the old Battery
in the evening is mandatory in the spring. The breezes and
sailboats combine to create a memorable experience in the old South.
*Brookgreen Gardens are almost out of the Lowcountry; however, they are
very much worth the visit up Highway 17. The sculpture and
native flora are exquisite.
*The Spoleto Festival is held in May. It is a cultural favorite amongst locals and tourists.
*All tourists must stop at the old slave market to look at the
sweetgrass baskets that are handcrafted by the locals. Many
excellent examples can also be found along Highway 17 North out of
Charleston.
*If you really want to get away from the crowds to see some of our less
populated areas, visit Biedler Forest in Ridgeville, South
Carolina, Edisto Beach on Edisto Island and Cypress Swamp in
Moncks Corner. If you're in the Moncks Corner Area, don't forget
to stop by and see the monks at Mepkin Abbey.
Eating Well in the Lowcountry:
*Magnolias has traditional local fare.
*Carolinas boast a combination of nouveau and traditional Southern cuisine.
*If you love five-star dining, take a short drive into Summerville and visit the Woodlands (my favorite).
*Casual Lowcountry fare can be enjoyed amongst the picturesque grounds
of Middleton Place Restaurant (this is my go-to restaurant when I want
to entertain out of town quests).
*The Peninsula Grill is a popular spot and a favorite for its nouveau cuisine.
*If you're looking to dine with ghosts, make plans to eat at Poogan's Porch.
*Old Edisto Post Office in Edisto, South Carolina, is charming and rural. If you're there, try their shrimp and grits.
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The following recipes are prerequisites for living in the Lowcountry. I learned these from the hands of my beloved grandmother, Ethel Elizabeth Droze. I honor her by placing a little of her cooking in every manuscript I write.
Sweet Iced Tea:
Boil two quarts of water. Place seven tea bags in the water and turn off the heat. Let steep for twenty minutes. Place one and one-half cups sugar in a gallon-sized pitcher. Pour in the warm tea and stir. Fill to capacity with cool water.
Macaroni and cheese:
Cook a box of elbow macaroni according to package directions. Drain and combine with one can of evaporated milk, one stick of sweet butter, nine eggs and four cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook at 350 until set and cheese melts.
Chicken Soup with Dumplings:
Cook one whole chicken in four quarts of water with salt and pepper to taste. Allow chicken to cool and separate meat from bones (discard skin and bones). Place shredded meat back into chicken stock. Cook until very tender. Cut one to two bunches of green onions in small pieces and save. Mix dumplings with all purpose flour and water, roll with rolling pin on heavily floured cutting board and cut into one inch squares on heavily floured cutting board. Drop dumplings into chicken stock, cook for three minutes then drop spring onion pieces into stock and cook for one minute.
Serve over cooked rice.
Additional Recipes: I am dedicating this portion of my "food section" to sharing recipes that have been shared with me and requested from me.
Southern Fruit Cake Balls (for Chick Levesque)
1 lb chopped dates (not coated)
1 lb chopped pecans
1 lb shredded coconut
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
Mix dates, pecans and coconut. Add enough of the milk to make mixture moist and moldable. Roll into small balls and place on a Silpat in a baking dish/pan. Cook at 250 until dried and lightly brown (approximately 45 min. to 1 & 1/2 hrs.--the cooking time depends upon the size of the balls and can vary greatly)
Layered Chicken Salad: (for Kieran Kramer)
Layer ingredients in a 13x9x2 (or slightly larger) pan in the following order:
1. 1 10oz bag fresh spinach (washed, blotted, torn)
2. sprinkle salt & pepper to taste over spinach
3. sprinkle 1 tsp sugar
4. boil chicken, cool, cut into small pieces, layer
5. 1/2 - 1 iceberg lettuce (washed & torn) layer
6. salt & pepper to taste
7. 1 tsp sugar
8. 1/2 - 1 lb. bacon (fried crisply and blotted) layer
9. 6-8 hard boiled eggs (sliced)
10. 1 med. red onion (thinly sliced)
11. 1 8oz box frozen green peas (lightly cooked)
12. Swiss cheese (shredded) 6-10 oz
13. 2 cups mayo & 1 cup sour cream (mix together thoroughly--spread, covering entire surface)
14. garnish with chopped pimento
Cover & refrigerate. Cut into squares to serve.
Special Banana Pudding: (for Julie Miler)
(shared by Naomi New, one of the nicest women I know--and she definitely has the sweetest granddaughter in the world!)
3 large boxes instant vanilla pudding
5 cups milk
1 8oz sour cream
1 12oz Cool Whip
box vanilla wafers
5 bananas (we use more)
(I also use "sugar-free, fat-free, low-fat and skim" everything that goes into this recipe.)
Mix pudding & milk, add sour cream & Cool Whip (about 3/4, leaving remainder for topping). Fold all together. Put small amount of mixture on bottom of dish. Add wafers & bananas in layers with mixture (2-3 layers). Top with remaining Cool Whip. Refrigerate & serve. Thanks, Naomi!
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Lowcountry Idioms, Words and Sayings:
I learned many of these by listening to the old ladies at
the small church I attended as a child. The ladies were precious
and dear, and the list is amusing and unforgettable.
Churen: the offspring of two parents
"I got five churen."
Rat: (not a rodent) an indication of place or time
"You better stand rat here before I get my belt."
Heifer: a positive term for a potential female partner--BTW, it has nothing to do with farm animals
"Man, she's a good-lookin' heifer."
If you want your baby to have curly hair, have someone walk it around the house three times just after it is born.
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