I'm so very ready to see my parents... they missed seeing me in all of my pregnant glory when we were expecting Reagan, so I am excited to get to spend almost three weeks with them right smack dab during the middle of this pregnancy. (I also plan for them to be up here in Canada with us a week or so before the baby is due so that they can help out during those first few hectic days after baby is born!)
But it is not just the waterway and my parents that I miss... I miss me some good 'ole Southern food! Here's just a few items that are on my "must have" list for while we are visiting down South...
Cracker Barrel Biscuits... 
I am hoping that this item can be marked off of the list almost immediately after landing in NC. Anna & I have already hatched a plan to somehow hijack the car or re-program the navigation system so that it leads straight to the nearest Cracker Barrel from the airport. We're thinking that convincing our folks to stop for breakfast shouldn't be too hard of a task since we do land bright and early in the morning that day!
Provision Company Chili Cheese Burger...
The Yacht Basin Provision Company, just called Provision by regulars such as my parents, was established in 1993. This restaurant may look like a little hole in the wall, but they have the BEST food around, and it is served in a wonderful beachfront atmosphere while literally sitting over the water. The views of the Southport Yacht Basin, the Intracoastal Waterway and the mouth of the Cape Fear river are incredible, and the sunsets are magnificent. It is rare that I don't order the Chili Cheeseburger with onion rings and a crab cake, but I have also been known to order their blackened tuna with the best potato salad in this world!
Boiled Peanuts...
This is an item that is more on Anna's list than mine, but I can't wait to get my hands on some of this salty goodness as well!
Shrimp 'n Grits...
I love grits. And I love shrimp. So it's only natural that I would love shrimp 'n grits! This recipe is best when the grits are really cheesy, and the shrimp are really spicy. I am hoping that I can convince my parents to babysit Reagan for us (shouldn't be too hard to do) so that Ryan and I can go out for dinner on our anniversary while we are on vacation. Rumor has it that the restaurant that is owned by a former boss of mine has the best shrimp 'n grits in all of North Carolina, so I think I may just need to see if that rumor is really true!Shuler's BBQ...
Located only about 10 minutes from where I grew up, this place has the best BBQ, the best homemade sweet potato casserole, the best liver hash, the best macaroni and cheese, and the best banana pudding that you will ever put in your mouth! The fact that it is owned by a family that is near and dear to my heart, my former Junior Miss coordinators, makes it even more special of a place for me. (Wait, I've never told you that I was South Carolina's Junior Miss in 1994... yep, I was! I'll tell that story another time... promise!)
Chic Fil A Chicken Sandwich and Waffle Fries...
Oh man, this is my fast-food lunch of choice while back at home in the South. I've tried other chicken sandwiches, but nobody can do it quite like Chic Fil A! Add in the side of yummy waffle fries and a tall glass of sweet tea, and you've got one very happy Tiffany!
Sweet Tea...
There is nothing quite like a glass of iced cold sweet tea on a super hot summer day. (Well, maybe an iced cold beer, but I'm pregnant this summer, so there will be none of that!) I will never forget the first time my husband tasted sweet tea... he spit it out instantly all over the dashboard of my car. "It's cold!" he exclaimed. "And it's sweet!" Yes my dear, that is how we drink it in the South... iced cold and super sweet! (For some reason, it tastes even better when you drink it out of a mason jar)
Chicken Bog...
I'm not 100% sure of where I am going to find this item while we are visiting as it is usually prepared for fund raisers and sporting events. I am hoping that there will be a booth somewhere at the NC 4th of July Festival in Southport that will fulfill this craving for me. It's a meal that may not be much to look at, but yummy chicken and sausage mixed with all the right spices and rice makes for a delicious one pot meal for me!
Fried Oysters & Hush Puppies...
C'mon y'all. You know I am from the South, and we love all things deep fried. (You've long known about my love for deep fried turkey!) Fried oysters are another of my favorite things. Don't get me wrong... I'll eat oysters in any form or fashion. But I love ordering a small seafood combination platter of fried oysters, fried shrimp, cold boiled shrimp, and hush puppies. What is a hush puppy you ask? Well it is a delightful little ball of goodness made from cornmeal and buttermilk that is fried up and served with butter. These little babies are so good that I could eat a dozen of them easily!
Daddy's Steak...
My Daddy cooks the best steak of anyone that I know. Well, other than me of course, but his are usually even better than mine! He always chooses ribeyes that are about 1 to 1 1/5 inches thick, and he seasons and grills them to perfection. DELICIOUS!
Daddy's Shrimp Boil...
Much like his steaks, Daddy can never go wrong when he serves up a Shrimp Boil. I posted the recipe for this super fun dinner last summer. For our family, the spicier the better!
So, who's hungry?
From the looks of things, I am going to be doing a LOT of eating while we are down South this visit. It's a good thing that I have managed to only gain about 15 pounds so far this pregnancy, because I may just be putting on another 15 pounds during our trip!
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12 comments:
all those things being easily available to me are WHY I NEED TO BE ON A DIET!!! :)
have fun on your trip can't wait to see pics!
Awesome! We lived in Virginia for 7 years so I know how awesome all that is!! :) Have a fantastic trip!
Have a great time! Vacations are for eating so don't worry about those extra lb's! :)
I'm in NC. Love my southern food.
Btw, Chick-fil-a now has a spicy chicken sandwich- YUM!!!!
Well, you just convinced me to move down South!
Oh my goodness girl, I am so hungry now!!
I was getting a little nervous, for a minute there I thought that maybe you did not like sweet tea. The only thing I can say for people who have never had sweet tea is. . .bless their hearts!! They are really missing out, aren't they?
Also, I had a conversation with someone on the phone at work this week about boiled peanuts. We were talking about the humidity in Alabama, and I think he was in Washington or somewhere, like that. He went on to tell me that he was shocked when he drove through the south because "they sell boiled peanuts on the side of the road down there"!! It just doesn't get any better than buying snacks on the side of some random road. :)
When we lived in Texas for a couple of years, every time we came back home to Cali to visit we had a list of restaurants we had to visit. So I feel your pain! :)
And, yes. Chick-fil-A = best chicken EVER.
~Keri
Chicken Bog...I didn't realize anyone else knew about that. It's served at all our family gatherings. We JUST got back home today from a trip to the same general area. Yes, I got my fix of a few of those items myself. (But I have to disagree on the boiled peanuts. You can have mine.)
Have a great trip!
Wow, looks like some wonderful food. I say eat up and then go for a walk, you will be fine. Enjoy your time with the family.
I live on he coast of NC. Where are you going to?
I wouldn't know how to live without all the foods you have posted....YUMMY!!!!!
Hooray for coming back to the South! All those things you listed look AMAZING and now I want a shrimp burger from the Ocean Isle Provision Co. in the worst way. Have a fantastic trip!! I wish I was going to be out that way so we could meet up. Ah well, perhaps another summer...
I hope you have a great trip! Enjoy all that food!
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