Easy To Make Frogmore Stew

When spending time in South Carolina restaurants, it is common to find the local favorite low country boil otherwise known as Beaufort Boil or Frogmore Stew. The stew is pretty simple as it consists of a kettle full of hot water and bay seasonings cooking away a delicious combination of shrimp, smoked sausage, corn (on the cob), onions, and new potatoes. There are some variations out there that include adding other vegetables, seafood, hot sauces. The debate with Frogmore stew to some is whether the cooking liquid should be part of the serving. Those that serve it straight up on a platter would discard the liquid and serve as any other seafood boil. I usually serve this item in large bowls with a little liquid which is awesome for dipping biscuits or bread. I recommend plenty of paper towels (for the shrimp peeling) and icy cold beverages to calm the heat of the andouille.
Frogmore Stew Recipe
5 quarts of water
2 bottles or cans of beer
1 lemon cut in half
¼ cup bay seasoning
4 pounds of red (new) potatoes
1 Vidalia onion, chopped
5 ears of fresh husked corn (cut in thirds)
3 pounds of andouille sausage (cut into smaller stew size pieces)*
3 pounds of fresh shrimp, (shells still on).
Method
1.In a large kettle or dutch oven bring water, beer and bay seasoning to a boil; add lemons.
2.Add potatoes and continue cooking fifteen minutes.
3.Add corn, onions, and andouille sausage and cook additional five minutes, covered.
4.Add shrimp and cook another five minutes or until pink.
5.Serve in bowls with a little broth.
*Note: For those that do not want it too spicy, consider using Kielbasa instead of Andouille.

Horseback Riding in Charleston Area – Seabrook Equestrian Center

Some of the immediate activities that come to mind when spending time in the low country involve golfing, playing in the Carolina coastal surf, and sneaking in some fishing. One of the hidden gems that can be found in the Kiawah/Seabrook inter-coastal paradise is horseback riding. Fortunately, a fun trail ride is only as far as a quick stop to Seabrook Island’s Seabrook Equestrian Center.

The Seabrook Equestrian Center is located at 3772 Seabrook Island Road. The stable and riding facilityr features riding tours and lessons for all skill sets whether beginner or advanced level. The riding tours can be taken through wooded trail or on the beach. The beach ride is only available to experienced riders that can manage the horse at walk, trot, or canter.

For some of us greenhorns that are not experience riders, the Seabrook Equestrian Center offers scenic beginner trail rides Monday through Saturday at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. The trail ride lasts an hour and will cost $65 per rider. The minimum age requirement for a trail ride is eight years old. The younger tots can opt for an adult led pony ride for $40 which will last about a half hour.
For more information or reservations, please call (843) 768 – 7541, Don’t wait until the week of your vacation to make reservations as they may fill up fast. The ride times may also vary by season, so phone first!

Places to Golf in Charleston Area

Whether you are a low country resident or just coming in for the week or long weekend, Charleston provides great entertainment for the entire crew. If you do spend a week vacationing in Charleston, plan to take at least two trips to the golf courses. (One trip simply is not enough if you go through the hassle of lugging the big bag of clubs on an airplane or in the trunk). There are several ideal courses worthy of mention that can be found at my Charleston golf course directory. I have also inserted this link on the side of this blog for future reference.

This website created by me is still pretty raw. Please be kind. It is a work in progress . The courses shown on the pages serve the Charleston, North Charleston and areas south west such as the Kiawah, Seabrook and other outlying areas. For those that are staying on the Kiawah, Seabrook Islands, and Isle of Palms, you are fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful courses at your doorstep, though be aware these convenient close courses carry excessive greens fees. If price is no option, I would recommend a day at the Ocean course or Cougar Point on Kiawah. I have scanned the internet high and low looking for discounts or clubs offering any kind of reduction in the Kiawah course rates. I have not found any! The only “discount” potential with these Kiawah courses is when a person rents accommodations through the golf resort. I have not explored this option as I rent my villa every year from a private owner. It remains to be seen whether this is a good deal or not. There are several courses located in the West Ashley, Hollywood, and Mt. Pleasant that are good quality courses at the fraction of the price of Kiawah.

Vincent’s Drug Store and Soda Fountain

If you plan on a brief or long visit to the Kiawah or Seabrook destination, always keep an open lunch date planned for Vincent’s Soda Fountain. This little pharmacy and soda shop is located within the Freshfield’s Village shopping district (110 Planted Row, John’s Island). The store is located kitty corner from the Newton Farm’s parking lot and serves as an ideal lunch gathering before going shopping or heading out to the beach for an afternoon of fun in the sun.

The store is a throwback to the old time soda fountains one would see on tv or (perhaps experienced personally depending on your age). While the pharmacy portion of the building also looks like a throwback to the fifties, the service and prescription services are as modern as one could wish for. The prescription service includes online and phone in refill service. Though if you plan on getting your medicine refilled please be advised that the hours will not be akin to those 24/7 services provided back at home.

Aside from prescription and over the counter medical supplies, Vincent’s sells a vast assortment of other fun items for the Kiawah visitor to peruse. The store also stocks sun tanning products, camera supplies, post cards, stationery, and lots of candy. We usually walk up and down the aisles of the retail section of the store as our burgers or sundaes are being prepared in the diner.

The biggest allure to visiting Vincent’s is the diner. The old time counter service and aroma of cheeseburgers are the hook, line, and sinker to stopping in for a fun lunch before purchasing groceries for the week at neighboring Newton Farms. The kids enjoy the fun sundae concoctions as they hop up onto the bar stool and watch the creation be prepared. The root beer floats and old time chocolate soda’s is the perfect chaser to the fantastic butter burgers prepared on the grill top.

Fun Beach Games for Kids

Heading down to the beach is always a good time. The key beach essentials will most likely include sun block, towel, umbrella, and perhaps a good paperback to read prior to taking a siesta. Trying to keep children entertained on the beach is a different story. They will immediately kick, splash, and swim around for about a half hour before becoming bored as they look to you for guidance on how to spend the rest of the time on the sand. Here is a list of fun beach games for kids that will require some participation by Mom or Dad, but will be well worth the effort.

Fun Children’s Beach Games -Treasure Hunt

Bring a small plastic or wooden box along to the beach with either small toys or treats as the treasure kept inside. Bury your treasure while the kids are out of sight and create a map with clues that will help them find the treasure chest. Just make sure your buried treasure box is marked well enough that you remember the location also!

Fun Children’s Beach Games - Volleyball

Volleyball on the beach never gets old. Once the net is up and a few people start hitting the ball back and forth, many beach neighbors may request to participate in the game. The more the merrier. If the team environment is all kids, consider using a softer ball instead of volleyball.

Fun Children’s Beach Games -Tug of War

This game involves at least two members on each team with a long rope and a cloth tied to the middle. Create two lines in the sand with a “neutral” zone in the middle. Add some excitement ahead of time by getting a large shovel and creating a big watery moat or sink hole in this neutral zone. The winner will successfully pull the hanging cloth over their respective line and the loser will eventually land in the wet sandy hole.

Fun Children’s Beach Games – Sand Darts

This game is easy to create. Draw a large circle in the sand with a stick. Then draw several circles within the large circle just like a dart board. Each team will throw several feet away and throw bean bags or shells (pick a team color) at the circles in the sand.

Fun Children’s Beach Games – Relay Races

A good beach game is the water bucket relay race. Position two sand or toy buckets near the edge of the water. The two teams at the start of “go” will each have a cup that they will carry to the ocean, fill and run back to the bucket to fill. The next in line will then carry the cup or little shovel and do the same. The first one to fill the bucket will win. This game may last only one round as the kids get pooped out running back and forth in the hot sun.