Points South

The Road to Nowhere

pointssouth — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:51:49 +0000

My husband and I recently watched 127 Hours, the movie about a hiker stuck in a canyon for the aforementioned amount of time. After learning about the movie’s gruesome conclusion from James Franco’s Today Show interview, I braced myself for the inevitable arm removal scene from the opening credits. Before resorting to dismemberment, the hiker documents his trials on a video journal, has trippy childhood flashbacks and relies on his base instincts to survive. I sipped wine as we viewed the film but apparently not enough to appreciate the artistry behind the nausea factor.

Last week after a trip to Chapel Hill, I recalled images from the movie while in total gridlock on I-85 South in between Greensboro and Charlotte. The traffic jam lasted long enough to inspire fear that I would live out the rest of my life stuck on the highway. After calling my husband, mom and sister, I resisted sharing my predicament with friends to preserve my final two bars of cell phone battery life. My sister called highway patrol to find out the traffic prognosis, but they were likely dealing with more pressing issues and did not answer. Just as I considered finding an escape route via the breakdown lane, we slowly began to inch forward. I got off the highway at the next exit to relieve my claustrophobia, and found a police officer to confirm the road ahead was free of obstructions.

I was only stuck on the highway for about an hour and a half, so will never know if I could conjure up the survival skills learned at my 7th grade wilderness camp. I had only just finished my supersize fountain Diet Dr. Pepper when the traffic started moving again, and snacked on some tasty chicken salad from A Southern Season. I wasn’t exactly roughing it, but learned a valuable lesson that even a route I’ve driven hundreds of times can turn into an adventure.

Living it up in the Low Country

pointssouth — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 04:12:08 +0000

Isle of Palms, SC

I confess to being on a two month delay for writing about travel so far this summer but am vowing to catch up to real-time. In May, we headed to Isle of Palms, South Carolina to celebrate the wedding of one of my best friends from college. Our group of girls (i.e. The G’s) stayed together with our significant others in a beach house at Wild Dunes – a throwback to dorm living albeit in a much more luxurious setting. As we arrived at the Citadel beach house for final wedding preparations, ominous clouds and strong winds threatened to rain out the outdoor ceremony. Thankfully just a few raindrops fell as the bride and groom exchanged their vows with the crashing waves as a backdrop. During the reception, a perfect rainbow appeared to provide the ultimate ocean front photo opp. We couldn’t have asked for a more fortuitous omen for the newlyweds, or for a more memorable weekend in the low country.

I-74: The Scenic Route to the NC Coast

pointssouth — Wed, 04 May 2011 18:17:29 +0000

NC Intracoastal waterway

My favorite place in the South (and the world) is our family beach house on the Intracoastal Waterway near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. We reach this coastal oasis from Charlotte via I-74, a highway that keeps you on your toes with countless stop lights and attractions such as The Jesse Helms Center in Wingate, NC.

If you like touring through tiny towns and hour and half stretches in between public bathrooms – this is definitely the route for you. I do often enjoy the highway’s “road trip” feel – reminiscent of my trek across the country a decade ago. However, the leisurely pace of the I-74 drive has always been a bit long for a weekend visit.

We were thrilled to discover on our trip to the coast for Easter that some of I-74′s much delayed updates had been completed. The drive took about 4 hours from door-to-door (saving about 20 minutes) thanks to a new multi-lane stretch of interstate. It felt even faster as the new highway replaced a primitive portion of one lane road that seemed to go on forever. So we arrived at our destination in less time, while still enjoying the rustic charm of locales such as Polkton, NC (Home of the Field of Dreams) along the way.

I would happily drive any distance to reach the beach – but will be happy to spend less time in the car and more time enjoying the view.

Queen City’s Famous BBQ: Not So Much

pointssouth — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:05:14 +0000

The North Carolina BBQ experts are apparently not as enamored of Charlotte’s pulled pork offerings as Michelle Obama, according to AP article “Charlotte Barbeque? Experts say look elsewhere“. In her letter announcing Charlotte’s selection as the site for the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the First Lady stated, “Vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunity, the Queen City is home to innovative, hardworking folks with big hearts and open minds. And of course, great barbecue.”

The AP article recognizes Lexington, NC (60 miles north of Charlotte) as the most noteworthy BBQ mecca in the state with popular spots such as Lexington Barbeque.

As a Massachusetts native, I used “barbeque” only as a verb (i.e. barbeque the hot dogs) until moving to NC for college and am likely not qualified to weigh in on the debate. I am a fan of the tasty BBQ at Charlotte favorite Mac’s Speed Shop, and love the annual “Blues, Brews and BBQ” festival in uptown Charlotte.

What do you think, does Charlotte have a claim as a BBQ hot spot?

Photo from www.southernliving.com

Ode to Cheese Straws

pointssouth — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:58:37 +0000

My obsession with cheese in any form is well-known to family and friends – the cheese section of Dean & Deluca is one of my favorite places in the world. For Christmas, I rediscovered a classic Southern cheese specialty as we gave tins of Mississippi Cheese Straws to friends. We saved a tin of straws with the intention of serving to our guests; but after tasting one I ended up polishing off most of them myself. Had I shown more restraint, they would have been the perfect snack to serve with impromptu cocktails.

When my mother used to make cheese straws from scratch growing up, I remember loving the fun of squeezing dough through the pastry press. Maybe I will attempt homemade cheese straws some day, but there are plenty of tempting choices created by the experts such as Charlotte-based company DD Gourmet, Hillsborough’s Carolina Cupboard (these are sold at A Southern Season) and Mississippi Cheese Straw Factory. Next time, I will order enough to share with our guests.

Mississippi Cheese Straws - photo from http://www.mscheesestraws.com/

White Christmas in North Carolina

pointssouth — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 16:26:58 +0000

Like many of our winter weather predictions, I expected more hype than actual snow from the possible White Christmas forecast. When we headed north on I-85 on Christmas Eve to spend the holiday in Greensboro, the weather was cool and clear without a flurry in sight. But chunky snow flakes started to fall late Christmas morning, bringing the first White Christmas to Greensboro since 1969.

Growing up in Massachusetts, we were used to a constant layer of snow that blanketed the landscape from November to March or April. But in North Carolina, a snow storm is a major event rather than just another inevitable round of frozen precipitation. The snow fell steadily throughout the day and night – the perfect setting for a day of relaxing with family to unwrap presents, sip egg nog and watch the Christmas Story movie marathon.

I love the many Christmases when the weather is warm enough for a long walk around the neighborhood in between gigantic holiday meals. But I will always remember this beautiful day, when the surprise snowfall reminded me that you are never too old to feel like a kid at Christmas.

White Christmas in Greensboro

My Holiday Dessert Obsession: Pumpkin Crisp from Southern Living

pointssouth — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:03:06 +0000

I first tasted Pumpkin Crisp at a Southern Living party about five years ago, and was instantly enamored by the dessert’s combination of pumpkin, pecans and yellow cake mix. At the party, a Southern Living rep showed us creative ways to decorate our homes with accessories from their product line. Though my talent for interior design is minimal at best, I purchased two “hurricanes” (large glass vases) to make displays with items like seashells, flowers and Christmas balls. I have yet to construct a truly memorable conversation piece with my hurricanes, but also left the party with the recipe for a new favorite dessert for holiday festivities.

Check out the easy Pumpkin Crisp recipe and enjoy hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

North Carolina gourmet gifts for the holidays

pointssouth — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:23:32 +0000

Thinking outside the Williams-Sonoma box for the foodie on your holiday list?

Check out ”Gifts for food lovers“, an article featuring ideas for tasty North Carolina gifts by the Charlotte Observer and News & Observer food editors. Among their suggestions are the famous Moravian Cookies from Salem Baking Company in Winston-Salem. The delicious and relatively guilt-free cookies are always on my shopping list and are available at the Dewey’s Bakery kiosk in South Park Mall in Charlotte.

For a smorgasbord of tempting NC specialty foods and gift baskets, also check out A Southern Season online or in Chapel Hill: http://www.southernseason.com/

Salem Baking Company Moravian Cookies - photo from http://www.salembaking.com

Celebrating Summer Tomatoes on the NC Coast

pointssouth — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:14:19 +0000

We have many amazing hostesses in our family who can simultaneously cook, entertain and look fabulous for dinner parties, cocktail parties, and kids’ birthday parties. I still have yet to break out the formal china for our first official dinner party, though I always feel inspired to throw one when reading Southern Living. For some reason, I am thrilled to make countless appetizers (usually with lots of cheese) for cocktail gatherings, but am intimidated by the prospect of coordinating a menu with multiple courses.

On a recent ten-day trip to our family beach house, my mother and aunt Anne decided to host an impromptu dinner party honoring one of summer’s most delicious fruits: the tomato. While our cousin (and beach neighbor) and family were away on vacation, he invited us to pick from their impressive crop of tomatoes including heirloom and orange varieties. Growing up, we learned that tomatoes belong not only in salads and recipes, but are even more delectable enjoyed sliced or munched like an apple with just a sprinkle of salt.

All of the guests arrived at the dinner party with their own unique “tomato inspired” dish. The simple theme yielded some very impressive culinary creations from my uncle Steve’s round cut tomato sandwiches with bacon, to cousin Eric’s shrimp cocktail with sauce presented in a seashell. Our cousin Mary cooked up two different tomato pies to contrast a traditional recipe with a healthier, lighter version of the dish. For the entrée, my mother and Anne made a delicious greek-style pasta dish with fresh shrimp, chopped tomatoes and feta cheese. My contribution was the only one without tomatoes – a key lime pie with garnished with raspberries & blueberries.

We dined on the fantastic spread of tomato dishes with a beautiful view of the Intracoastal Waterway from my aunt and uncle’s house. Just like the best Southern parties, the most important ingredients were a beautiful setting and a table filled with family and friends.

Below are a few pics of the menu spread from our coastal Tomato Fest:

Fresh shrimp cocktail with sauce

Tomato sandwiches with mayo & bacon

Tomato pies (2 different recipes)

Entree: Fresh shrimp w/ tomato, scallions, capers & feta cheese

Southern Flavors to Spice Up Your Summer Barbeque

pointssouth — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:15:09 +0000

Preparing a grilled feast is the ultimate way to embrace the heat and humidity of summer in the South. There are so many ways to get creative when cooking al fresco – from creative twists on cookout classics like hot dogs and hamburgers to gourmet fare such as filet mignon and grilled veggies. Check out the seasonings and sauces below to spice up your summer barbeque with unique flavors created right here in the South.

Lantana of Texas All Purpose Seasoning

Most everyone in my family has a stash of Lantana all purpose seasoning in their spice cabinet, a savory blend of salt, chili pepper, garlic powder and spices. The seasoning has been a staple at our family dinner parties and BBQ’s since my uncle Steve discovered the Texas spice blend in the 1980’s. After stealing from my mother’s supply for years, I finally called for my own 6 bottle order (which will probably last several years) for less than $30 including shipping. We use Lantana for just about everything – especially for seasoning fish and steaks and spicing up Mexican food.

Order Lantana by Phone: 1-888-839-3010

Website: http://www.lantanaoftexas.com/index.html/

Samson’s Sauce

Samson's Sauce - photo courtesy www.sampsonsauce.com

We were recently introduced to “Samson’s Sauce” through friends from Greensboro, where the sauce was first concocted in the 1940’s. This tangy and addictive sauce complements just about any food such as steak, seafood, pork, Bloody Marys and eggs. The sauce’s comic label was penned in the 1940’s and promises “20 drops will either cure insanity or drive you crazy” and the sauce “Makes Everything Taste Better”. I am currently out of Sampson’s Sauce and have been in serious withdrawal - so it has apparently reached “staple” status in our house.

To order Sampson’s Sauce online via CarolinaHarvest.com

Website: http://www.samsonsauce.com/

Texas Pete

Texas Pete Original Hot Sauce - photo from www.texaspete.com

This famous hot sauce actually hails from North Carolina despite the product’s homage to the Lone Star State. Texas Pete products are made by the still family owned TW Garner Food Company in Winston-Salem – the company started their line of condiments and sauces in the 1920′s. Texas Pete’s selection includes their Original Hot Sauce (a blend of 3 different peppers) “Hotter” Hot Sauce and Buffalo Wing Sauce. As aficionados will attest, the hot sauce can be enjoyed on just about any food - steaks, veggies, popcorn (seriously it’s good) and pasta.

Find Texas Pete products in grocery stores and online at: www.texaspete.com