Shrimp or Crab...Which Lowcountry favorite do you prefer?

Also referred to as Frogmore Stew, this one-pot wonder is enjoyed by many throughout the south. The traditional Lowcountry Boil is a simple dish consisting of shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes. It’s easily served up on newspaper, which provides for quick clean up, and usually paired with melted butter and cocktail sauce. Lowcountry Boil is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.  The recipe is pretty basic but feel free to add in onions or blue crabs to make it your own.

Lowcountry Boil

4 pounds small red potatoes
5 quarts water
1 (3-ounce) bag of crab boil seasoning
4 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
2 pounds kielbasa or hot smoked link sausage cut into 1½-inch pieces
6 ears of corn, halved
4 pounds large fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined optional
Cocktail sauce

Add potatoes to large pot, then add 5 quarts water and seasonings. Cover pot and heat to a rolling boil; cook 5 minutes. Add sausage and corn, and return to a boil. Cook 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Add shrimp to stockpot; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Drain. Serve with cocktail sauce. Serves 12.

(Adapted from Southern Living, August 2002 and Real Simple, August 2001)

Found to be plentiful throughout the inland waters of the Lowcountry, blue crabs are another favorite a favorite in the south. Simple to prepare and similar to that of Lowcountry Boil, crabs are best enjoyed around a newspaper topped table with friends. No extras or frills needed here, just melted butter and your cracking skills. Enjoy!

Paula’s Savannah-Style Blue Crabs

3 heaping tablespoons crab seasoning, such as Old Bay                                                                         1 tablespoon white vinegar   
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
2 dry bay leaves
2 lemons, split in half
1 bunch fresh parsley, roughly chopped
6 blue crabs
Melted butter, for serving

Bring a large stockpot of water to a boil. Add the crab seasoning, vinegar, peppercorns, bay leaves, lemons, garlic and parsley to the pot. Add the crabs and boil until they are red, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the crabs using a spider, and then let the crabs cool to the touch. Crack the crabs over newspaper and pick out all their sweet meat. Serve with melted butter.

(Recipe from Paula Deen from the Food Newtork show, Paula’s Best Dishes, episode: Feeling Crabby.)

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Family Fun on Hilton Head Island

Family Fun on Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island is an ideal place to bring the kids for a fun-filled family vacation. Here is the first in a series of blogs that will help you embrace all that the island has to offer:

You are on Hilton Head Island for a week of fun, sun, and family time. You are in luck, there are so many wonderful things to do on Hilton Head Island, you may want to stay for an extra week; or you could just move here. The most obviously place to start your week of fun is the...

...BEACH! We are on an island, so the beach literally surrounds us. The great thing about Hilton Head's beaches is that there are very few waves here. When it's low tide, there are often tidal pools that form along the beach, which are great for the little kids to play in because they are warm and shallow. Another great thing is that the beaches are flat and wide so if the kids run around, you can easily keep an eye on them and you can even ride your bikes on them.

And although you will hear this a lot, people say it for a reason: be sure to bring a lot of sunscreen and apply often because nothing ruins a family vacation like a sunburn on the first day out. A lot of areas of the beach are set up with umbrellas and chairs that you can rent by the week or by the day to give you some respite from the sun. If you prefer to buy your own, almost every grocery store and drug store carries beach chairs, sunscreen, portable cabanas, towels, flip flops, and beach toys. You can get fully equipped in a flash.

Another fun option is the Coligny Water Park. Located on the south end of the island on Coligny Circle, this boardwalk fun stop has a circle with spouting water fountains to keep the kids cool and laughing. There are benches around it for parents to take a load off. You will need it because your kids will not want to leave this area for a while.

There are a lot of fun swimming pools on the island, but we think that the Barony Beach Club is the best. Located mid island next to the Westin Resort, this pool has an awesome water slide that will keep the kids busy all day. Keep in mind, however that children under 42” will not be allowed on the slide so plan accordingly to prevent tears from your little ones.

Water sports are a fun way to spend the day. With 8 marinas on the Island, you are certainly close enough to one. Try jet skiing, kayaking, motor boating, parasailing, or paddleboarding. Or maybe you'd like to charter a fishing boat, sailboat, or go on a dolphin watching cruise. The possibilities are endless.

So go out there and have some F-U-N!! And on Hilton Head Island, that is not too difficult.

March is the Beginning of The Social Season on Hilton Head!

It is March 1st and when you look at the calendar of things to do on Hilton Head Island you often have to take a breath to try and fit it all in. 

On the opening weekend of the month we have a few remaining events that will end the Gullah Celebration nicely. A big annual event takes place 3/4 - 3/9 with the 18th Annual Hilton Head International Young Artist Piano Competition. If you love classical music and talent that belies their young age, then this is something for you!

Do you like food and wine? Of course you do, who doesn't, well then enjoy and take part in the 28th annual Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival. Running from 3/4 - 3/9 it includes Great Chef of the South Dinners at area restaurants, a Grand Tasting & Silent Auction at the Sea Pines Country Club and ends with one of the largest outdoor wine tasting on the east coast at what Islanders call WineFest but is technically called Wine & Food Festival. This takes place on Saturday 3/9 at the Coastal Discovery Museum grounds of Honey Horn.

There are plays to be seen from Bye Bye Birdie presented by Main Street Youth Theatre to the recent Tony Award winning play Venus in Fur at The South Carolina Repertory Company and even High Musical 2 put on by Hilton Head Christian Academy. 

One event that gets the whole community together is the Hilton Head St. Patrick's Day Parade. Going strong for 30 years, this year we actually get to have it on the Day. So wear some green and pull up a chair anywhere on the east side of Pope Avenue between the Coligny Circle to Office Park Road. It takes place rain or shine starting at 3PM but head that way by 1:30 as the crowds are huge!

To close out the month we have the two day event of WingFest held at Shelter Cove Community Park. PreWing festivities take place Friday night 3/22 and then the main event is Saturday from 11- 6PM . 

See we told you there is lots going on and this is just a taste to get the details link here at Hilton Head Islander March Calendar of Events!