June 14, 2009

mmmmm, shrimp



the shots that were published in the brochure last week for those that asked. i've tired taking shots of the brochure, but the paper is so slick (good for advertising) that it doesn't read well so i will wait for the pdf to show you the final product. since the brochure is for a living and shopping development, these shots were to promote individual stores and the restaurant. i learned a lot from this experience and would love to do this again as there are so many additional things i would do.

peekaboo

saturday, i went back to sit with both girls to help get them packed for the beach (i didn't get to go to the beach as planned but will go later this week). they were adorable and funny and so very excited. the afternoon was lazy and slow and all that a rainy saturday should be. although i will say, we have a small pug herd at home as we're babysitting petunia (my other brother's pug) in addition to our two, moses (mo) and lizzie. so cute to watch the little herd gallop to the food dishes and out the front door.



of course, mo and lizzie are always camera ready but petunia hasn't mastered posing yet. give her a couple more days. she's also not really into commands but with her little head resting on my foot or looking up at me begging, i'm willing to overlook a lot. can you imagine how difficult it is to get all three pugs looking at you at the exact same time? yeah...that hard times three. (here is some mosaic monday linky love for my friend, mary.)

and finally, in honor of the true blood season premiere tonight - i made shrimp and grits. it is a recipe from a charleston restaurant but i think it needs a few tweaks before it's camera ready...plus, i'm a really messy cook. hahahahaha and..i so did not have the timing down. but, overall, the recipe was voted a keeper. here are the tweaks i'm planning. the amount of cheese for the grits was rather vague - in my case, i used eight ounces - too much. the grits were too rich and too thick. also, i think next time i will use skim milk instead of whole milk (i didn't say the dish was figure friendly did i?). now, the changes i made, sort of involuntarily: i used dried garlic as i couldn't find the jarred minced garlic at teh market where i buy my wild shrimp. also, i made the mistake of not checking bacon before i went to the market and only had two slices left. so i added some olive oil to the recipe.

hominy grill's shrimp and grits (copied from southern living may 2009)
2 lbs raw, unpeeled shrimp - medium
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
5 bacon slices
1 package sliced fresh mushrooms
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cups thinly sliced green onions
2 tsp hot sauce
cooked grits (recipe follows)

peel and devein shrimp. toss shrimp with flour until lightly coated, shaking to remove excess. cook bacon in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. remove bacon and drain on paper towel, reserving drippings in skillet. saute mushrooms in hot dripings four minutes (until mushrooms begin to release their liquid). add shrimp and saute three minutes (until they turn pink). add garlic and saute one minute (do not brown garlic). add lemon juice, onions and hot sauce. serve immediately over grits. sprinkle with crumbled bacon.

creamy cheddar cheese grits
4 tbsp butter
5 cups milk
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp hot sauce
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 1/2 cups uncooked stone-ground white grits (i used the old fashioned kind instead)
1 block sharp white cheddar, grated

bring two tablespoons butter, milk, salt, hot sauce, garlic and five cups water to a boil in a medium size dutch over over medium-high heat. gradually whisk in grits and bring to a boil again. reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, one and one-half hours or until thickened. stir in cheese and remaining two tablespoons butter until melted. serve immediately.

for dessert: i took the blueberries and blackberries (well, the remaining blackberries) and put them in a boiler, added some water and a lot of sugar and made homemake blueberry compote. too much water, so it was really more like a syrup. bought a pound cake and served the blueberries over the cake and topped with a whipped topping. very yummy.

i'm such a domestic diva. hahaha...or not. as i say, my timing is still off but who cares. the food was good, the company enjoyed the dish and we had a warm and cozy evening with the vampires.

42 comments:

  1. char you are more courageous than I in attempting new recipes....3 pugs would be interesting....they are beautiful dogs....take care, cinner

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  2. is there anything that could be substituted for grits?

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  3. Shrimp and grits was probably the one thing I didn't sample when I lived in Louisiana, simply because I'm not a fan of grits. But you make this sound really delish, so I may have to try it. And hubby loves grits, so I might do it for him. Especially after making him eat vegetarian pad thai with tofu last week. He hated it. I thought it was really good.

    The brochure pictures make ME want to live and shop there and I don't care for communities like that. I'm a country girl, what can I say!

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  4. ahhh...those pugs made me miss mine, wish I could take them in my suitcase! Love the comfort food- Le grits... ~XO*

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  5. your weekends always seem to be filled with love and fun....oop....and some great food, too !

    and now you get to go to the beach for a few days, too...I can't wait to see those photos !

    thanks for showing us the photos from your shoot...they look great...but I know how you feel in regards to new ideas....I think that's the life of a photographer !

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  6. awww, that's pitbull is sooo cute. I never knew being wrinkly is beautiful :-)

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  7. i taped true blood and will watch it tonight. my first ever viewing. big buzz around here about it. the grits i can live without. thanks anyway.

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  8. sounds absolutely delish and I love shrimp & grits. the shot of the baby is adorable, love the little fingers and the shots you took for the brochure are great

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  9. your images today are full of fun, emotion and humor ~have a very special day Char...

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  10. Enjoyed your post! Three pugs, too cute!

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  11. I like the array of photos in the brochure, they give a great feel for the scope of things going on there. A nice vision of the development, definitely!

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  12. Wondeful mosaics!!! The pugs are precious!!!

    I am so glad that we get recipes along with our mosaics on Mosaic MOnday;)!!!

    Enjoy the day!!!
    XOXO
    Cathy

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  13. Wow, Char, the photos for the brochure are great. I especially love the portrait of the chef, and that wall of tiles -- beautiful! And your parade of pugs -- priceless! Thanks so much for joining the fun at Mosaic Monday. :)

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  14. for those that do not like grits, you could probably make the shrimp and serve it over pasta maybe - like a wider noodle?

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  15. i make the SL grits every Christmas for my small group...they love them...love your pics :)

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  16. i bet that was a really fun assignment. you did a fantastic job!
    what an absolutely adorable photo of your little niece. the pugs are cute as well.
    yum - talk of cheese grits really make me hungry.
    sounds like a busy but pleasant weekend.

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  17. char, they're wonderful! truly. i am very impressed. and happy for you, too. i truly believe you are on your way to doing great things as a photographer . . . you ARE a great photographer.

    never had shrimp and grits, but it sure sounds delicious.!

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  18. The recipe should specify "Gulf" shrimp. Other shrimp just don't compare! :)

    Congrats on the brochure and spending time with the girls and the pugs!

    ...Celine

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  19. love the picture!!!

    and this recipe sounds amazing!!! i must admit i have never had grits (you must be aghast!). maybe it is time to give them a whirl!!!

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  20. celine - you are soooooo right. LOL I guess I thought I was saying that by saying "wild" because that is wild caught around here.

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  21. Ohhhhh....shrimp and grits! Yum! Nothing beats cheese grits! Love that mosaic! The pugs are cuties!...Debbie

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  22. Your mosaics and photography are stunning and your recipes delicious, happy MM, Kathy.

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  23. love the little girl shot.

    oh and True Blood was AWESOME! Except that I love Sam and I hate that he's all alone and hurts.

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  24. mmmm...your cheesy grits recipe sounds mouth watering good! can't wait to see how the brochure turned out. nice work!

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  25. Thanks for your kind words and support firstly...I appreciate it very much...AND congrats!!!!that's awesome that you're work is being featured!I love the sound of the grits...never tried them,but I love new food!it sounds like you have berries galor there where you are at the moment...our strawberries are not even close to being ready.I'm sorry I haven't visited recently...I think my computer has a bug on it...every time I go to your blog...I receive an error...something for my hubbie to fix.Your dogs are adorable...have a wonderful evening!
    Char.

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  26. Love the puggies, and the shrimp & grits - oh my!

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  27. What a lovely trip I took, reading through your entry. Beautiful photographs which told a story, recipes, delightful company (your adorable pugs) - color and light and adventure:). Thank you!

    I love the mosaics, as well. The variety of things you can do with them is amazing. I will have to keep working with that format.

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  28. Cute pug mosaic. And a real cutie in the peek-a-boo!

    Happy Day.
    Candy

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  29. Love your photos...and congrats...I've lived in the South all my life and have never had shrimp and grits together...I'll have to fix that...I'll use your recipe...

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  30. I love grits, and I want to try the recipe! Beautiful collage and love those pugs!

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  31. Beautiful pics and love those recipes. How can you beat shrimp and grits in the south?! Yum! Linda

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  32. That brochure is awesome! And, after looking at that recipe, I'm just too hungry. :) Yum!

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  33. wait, did you say shrimp and grits?! ; )

    it's so lovely over here.
    ; )

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  34. I'm a cat person, but I have to admit those are cute little doggies!

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  35. Beautiful photos... Congrats...Have a great week!
    ~Really Rainey~

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  36. Oh my all I can say to a parcel of pugs is ... hahahahaha! They are such little clowns, I love them!
    Thanks for the big smiles...
    Cass

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  37. Oh gosh...sounds do good...

    Great photos by the way! Really well done! Congrats.

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  38. mmmmm....any seafood with grits....perfect meal by me! yum!

    and...omg...those pugs! so adorable!

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  39. Shrimp and grits!
    Yum and YUM! :o9

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i feel as if each comment was between us as we sat and sipped something warm....i love to hear what you're thinking.