Barbecue from The Weather Channel?

Seems like everyone is craving ‘Q during these dog days of summer. Upon checking the local weather this morning on weather.com, I came across this article. Of course, most of you Southerners KNOW the differnce — and probably have strong preferrences, as I do – when it comes to your style of BBQ, for anyone who is unfamiliar with the differences (and they are VAST), this is a great primer on the Southern Styles of Barbecue.

Leave it to the SIT girls to keep you updated on Southern happenings anywhere they might be happening!

Anyone else out there discovering any good Southern articles in odd places on the web today?

A Room Somewhere

A lovely post about the Deep South yesterday from “a room somewhere.” Leslie lives in Texas, and while we’ve never met, I’m a big fan of her beautiful blog. I need this book too, Leslie!

http://www.aroomsomewhere.net/2009/07/deep-south.html

Go Shopping!

No, that’s not advice from my dear husband (I wish). It’s one of our Thirty Things Every Southerner should do! While Southerners are the least materialist folks we know, everyone just needs some pretties sometimes in life. Something to look at on your wall, or on yourself.

I guess what they say is true, because if practice makes perfect, then that makes me an expert shopper. Especially during the Southern months, I get that urge to spruce up my home, host dinner parties out on the lawn, and of course, accessorize when there’s nothing to do but wear a tank and shorts, and there’s just nothing I can do about it.

New York City might have Fifth Avenue. But we’ve got plenty of resources at our disposal to shop until we drop. And with all our bellyaching (some of it warranted, mind you) about the economy, for those of us that do just need a little reprieve from all the cautiousness around, there are plenty of deals to take advantage of.

So search out some of those great little boutiques your area, or better yet, head to one of the big cities such as Atlanta or Birmingham (The Summit is tops!), Nashville (OpryMills mall is an amusement park for us marathon spenders), Richmond, or wherever is near you.

And if it’s just too hot to leave the house, that’s why God blessed us with the internet!

Check out these adorable hostess gifts at Uncommon Goods. Or sip your drink of choice (sweet iced tea, anyone?) out of these reusable glass straws. Wear a pendant that expresses the Southern creed: Bless your Heart! Or enjoy magnolias year around with this Etsy original Alabama canvas. Better yet, grab one of these adorable umbrellas and sit out in the shade!

Where do you find your treasures?

Tuesday Tip: Make it Fresh

 

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When the seasons change, I always find myself excited about the available produce and this year is no exception.  Berries (blackberries, blueberries, cherries, and raspberries), plums, corn (I love corn), green beans, and tomatoes are all available in the summer months, but my tip for today includes peaches.  A fresh, ripe peach could be one of the world’s greatest gifts. 

The only way to eat a whole peach is to go outside, and take a huge bite. When the juices begin to run down your chin and hand, bend over a bit to avoid a stain, but let the juices run and enjoy each and every delicious bite.

Peaches are also the perfect complement to your salsa, fish dishes, poached or simply served with ice cream.   Over the weekend, at MawMaw’s birthday, we served homemade angel food cake, with vanilla ice cream, paired with a blueberry and peach topping.  The berries and peaches were simply cut and mixed with a bit of our honey and poured over the cake and ice cream.  Are you salivating yet? 

No matter what you serve, make it fresh this summer and enjoy the bounty!

Tuesday Tip: Iron Out the Details

My husband is in the Navy. So we iron. A lot.

When I came across this tip, I jumped up right away and promptly obeyed. I’m looking forward to all those precious minutes in the morning this will save me. And isn’t that what Tuesday Tips are all about? Saving minutes, so I can languish over my breakfast and coffee a few minutes longer.

The Tip

Place a layer of aluminum foil on the ironing board under your cloth cover. This essentially doubles your heat, therefore halving your ironing work. This will also work great if you have delicates that can’t come in direct contact with the iron. Simply hold the iron a couple inches above your garment and let the foil get warm underneath. Since it doesn’t come in direct contact with the garment, voila!

Banish wrinkles (from our clothes anyway)!

Find Your Summer Theme Song

It is high time we posted something about music. 

Music, among other things, is the core of my existence.  I live and breathe for good music.  Don’t you just love hearing your favorite song on the radio? Or perhaps even better is when your iPod is on shuffle mode, the first few notes of “the song” begin to play and you pretty much could jump out of your seat, or excitedly roll down the windows and hope to share in the glory with fellow drivers.  Today, I had one such experience while driving to work. 

Ok, my Summer Theme song is not really Southern, but I simply love Coldplay’s “Strawberry Swing.”  The tantalizing intro forces me to smile and shrug my shoulders to the beat.  The song “brings me round, now my feet won’t touch the ground,” and I find myself happy, and loving every little note and second of this song. 

To list all possible summer theme songs, would be nearly impossible, but I can come up with a few southern tunes.  At least, I can come up with a few classics, and ones that tickle my fancy. Here they are in no particular order: 

1)      “Oh,  Atlanta” – Alison Krauss

2)      “Graceland” – Paul Simon

3)      “Memphis”- Chuck Berry

4)      “ Chattahoochee” – Alan Jackson

5)      “Home” – Marc Broussard

6)      “Southern Accent” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (a bit slower than the others, but sooo good)

7)      “Tennessee” – Arrested Development (this is so 6^th grade summer camp)

8)      “Dance, Dance, Dance” – Steve Miller Band

9)      “Down in Mississippi and Up to No Good” – Sugarland

10)   “Stars Align” – Virginia Coalition

Here a few of the classics:

1)       “Ode to Billy Joe” – Bobbie Gentry

2)      “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” – Charlie Daniels

3)      “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd

4)      “Midnight Train to Georgia” – Gladys Knight

5)      “Deep in the Heart of Texas’ – Gene Autry (who doesn’t love to clap?)

Finding your summer theme song might be the perfect antidote to the humidity blues.  If I think of my life, there are so many songs forever connected with my memories, hopefully your song will bring good memories in years ahead. 

What is your summer theme song?

NYC: Street Scene, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1936

 

We’ve already discovered that even the New York City has great tastes of Southern art from time to time. When I was visiting the many treasures of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, we had the pleasure of viewing a collection works from the photographer, Walker Evans.

 Evans was originally from Missouri, but traveled around the South in the 1930’s, taking pictures of scenes such as roadsides, cafes, advertisements, buildings and rooms, and small-town main streets.

 This barber shop may have been a small detail in street life, but a focal point of the social community, perhaps only following the church. As the barbers await a doubtless busy day, they enjoy the early morning Southern sun.

 Most of you will be familiar with this famous work, of Allie Mae Burroughs, which has come to be known as a symbol of the Great Depression.

 Evans knew Ernest Hemingway in his days spent in Cuba. Some of these photos were available recently at the Cummer Museum in Jacksonville, Florida. His clarity, point of view, and emotion are stunning.

 Evans was also a passionate reader and writer, even writing for Time magazine in the 1940’s.

 And this isn’t the first time Evans’ work has been featured at the Met. In 1938, it was the first collection to be featured comprised entirely of photographs from a single photographer. In 1994, all his works were left to the Met, and can be viewed at the Library of Congress.

 I’d encourage all Southerners to take a moment to enjoy the beauty and simplicity of the wonderful artist’s work.

NYC: Southern Hospitality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can Southern food be found above the Mason-Dixon line? The answer is: “Sure ‘Nouf!”

Upon our first night after arriving in the Big Apple, we were wanting some good food, but a casual atmosphere (somewhere where plane hair was a-ok thrown up in a ponytail). For an immediate taste of home, we went to Southern Hospitality, discovered because it’s our good ol’ homeboy from my town Memphis, Justin Timberlake’s restaurant.

Featuring BBQ, and Southern-bred waitresses (ours was from Knoxville, but she took care of us, so I forgave her that), this restaurant was full of Southern memorabilia on the walls, loud music, and the constant hope that Mr. JT would walk in, sit down, and share some pulled pork with us.

It wasn’t authentically Corky’s or the Rendezvous, but it was still pretty finger-lickin’ good (what else you gonna do with BBQ? Use a napkin? Please!)!

Tuesday Tip: No More Watered Down Drinks

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Is it just me, or is it hot outside?  During this sweltering heat, my poor little heart desires a very cold beverage.  You know a drink so cold that it cools your body while restoring your soul, and somehow it helps you find the strength to live through another day of the humidity.  And NO, I am not dramatic!

To ensure my drinks are cold, I often pack a glass full of ice, but sometimes ice just isn’t appropriate.  With ice, your drink ends up watered down and frankly, becomes a boring mess.  To avoid such quandaries and also spruce up any old afternoon, try freezing green grapes.  They do not melt, are not made of yucky plastic (past trend), and when you finish your drink a treat awaits you. 

Frozen grapes are wonderful on their own (I can remember summers of stealing them out of the freezer for an afternoon snack), but in a cocktail or non-alcoholic beverage they can easily become your best friend this summer.

Where in the World is This Southern Girl?

Ok, ok… no big secret here. New York City! So what happens when a confirmed Southerner goes north? Find out all this week on Sweet Iced Tea.