Showing posts with label Savannah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Savannah. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Southern Watermelon Benedict


Beautiful, isn't it?

This is a perfectly refreshing summertime addition to your breakfast or brunch that will pleasantly surprise your guests!  We ate this at the Azalea Inn whenever we stayed there on our recent Savannah trip.  Every night at the Inn, they put up on a pretty chalkboard what was for breakfast the next morning, and whenever we read "watermelon benedict" we were kind of perplexed--curious for what we were going to be served.  Of course usually when you see some benedict, it's usually eggs.  (So I thought umm....eggs and watermelon?!!)  Our interest was peaked and we were pleasantly surprised by what was presented to us as the "first course".  A colorful dish that consists of sliced watermelon and kiwi on granola with a thick drizzle of yogurt.  Lovely on the eyes and yummy on the tummy! :)

Here's a picture of the original watermelon benedict we fell in love with at The Azalea Inn & Gardens.


This is a very easy recipe that looks much more elegant and difficult than it really is!   My husband is the one who made these for breakfast this morning, and he did a fabulous job!  He had the bright idea of how to do the granola.  We have chewy white chocolate chip granola bars from Cascadian Farms.  First, he flattened them out with his hand, then he split them in half and put them side by side and molded them together to make one square.  Next, he used a biscuit cutter to make the perfectly round shape each one of them has.  The sweet white chocolate in the granola was a subtle complement to the fruit!  I wish that we had taken picture of assembling this, but we didn't. All this takes is basically some cutting and assembling...so easy!  We used Greek yogurt because we like that the best, and it has a lot of protein in it.  

So here is a simple recipe for Watermelon Benedict!  Please try this refreshing dish out for yourself and just imagine being out on a veranda in Savannah enjoying every bite!


Watermelon Benedict

2 white chocolate chip chewy granola bars

 fresh seedless watermelon

1 kiwi

1 small carton Greek yogurt

1 tsp. honey

mint sprigs for garnish


As I mentioned before, take each granola bar and cut it in half.  Place both halves side by side and press together to form a square-like shape that is big enough to cut a round shape.  Do this to both granola bars so there are 2 squares.

Using a 2 1/2 to 3 in. biscuit cutter, make a circle from both granola squares.  Set the granola circles to the side.

Using the same or one size down (what we did) biscuit cutter, make circles from 1/2 inch slices of watermelon.  You will need 4 circles.  Set watermelon circles aside.

In a small bowl, mix together yogurt and honey.

On the plates, start to assemble the benedict.  First place the granola circles, then stack 2 watermelon circles, and lastly 2 slices of kiwi.  Next drizzle a generous portion of yogurt on the top.  Enough to spill over the sides.
Garnish with a freshly washed mint sprig.  

Serves 2.


(Completely enjoyed this first bite!)


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Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Tybee Island Memories with my Love


This the the last post of our vacation to Savannah and Tybee Island.  
(It's been very busy around here--I meant to have this finished a couple of weeks ago.)
  I'm excited to share with you a few of our pics and let you in on our wonderful trip together!


Here is the first time we saw the beach on the afternoon we arrived.  I am so excited to be here!



Our first meal on the island, at our favorite spot, AJ's Dockside Bar & Grill. 
It sits right on the water, just about a block from our cottage...so we walked there!
(And maybe burned some of those delicious seafood calories!)

I didn't take a picture, but I had the blacked fish po boy sandwich with homemade dill potato salad.  It was great!

This was our first day at the beach.  Look at all the sand dunes on the way to the water.  Sea turtles bury there eggs here.  I was really hoping to catch peak of their hatching one night!  I would LOVE to see those sweet little flippers make there way across the sand.



Here is our mode of transportation around the island!
We agree that riding bikes was one of the best things about being there....such a laid back place.





I LOVE this man!!!


Here we are leaving the little grocery with a basketful of food, including fresh sub sandwiches for lunch.
Oh, don't forget the flowers!



What's better than a picnic on the beach (no sand, please) with your Love?
I have a virginia ham with swiss and cucumber, lettuce, tomato and mustard. 
Simply delicous with BBQ chips!


Dinner was at The Crab Shack.
Rachel Ray has been here on $40 a Day!


We ate outside on the lovely deck beside the marshes.
The deck was built around these huge live oak trees with basket lanterns hanging everywhere.
It was so beautiful!



The beach the next day.
Here we are looking off the pier.




There are lots of beach houses on this side of the pier.


Next is shopping in the quaint downtown Tybee!  
It's filled with colorful buildings of little shops and restaurants.




Gelato and we are there!


So, I have no make up on in many of these pictures, only sunscreen. I am hoping as friends and family that you guys won't care!  Mr. Cozy looks like he didn't expected me to take a picture here as we're walking out with our cones!


I got campfire marshmallow-chocolate chunk gelato!!
Sounds kinda weird?  Soooo good!


Leaving for dinner again.


On our way back to AJ's to eat.  The sunset was stunning as we walked there!


A J's--the Best restaurant on Tybee Island!


The sunset from the dock overlooking the bay at the restaurant.




Look at this plate of deliciousness!
Fried flounder and shrimp with red skin mashed potatoes, snow peas and hushpuppies complete with a lemon wedge and tartar sauce.


Our favorite beach dessert: Key lime pie!


Tybee Island is known for it's gorgeous sunrise.

  


We wanted to get up really early, and go down to the beach to enjoy a romantic morning with just us and the sunrise.




We only saw a couple other people out on the beach.  We had it basically all to ourselves!


This next picture has to be my favorite! (My hubby is the best photographer!)
Look at the reflection of the water under my feet.




There is the sun poking through the clouds as the world opens it's eyes.


Being there, we couldn't help but be in awe of the Lord's creation.
The Artist of this sunrise loves me.


God is so good.


Breakfast at The Breakfast Club.
Highly recommend this hole-in-the-wall restaurant!
It has a cool beachy meets diner atmosphere.


Waking up with my first cup of joe!


Mr. Cozy is getting a great tan!


Waffles, perfectly crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. His with pecans!
Homemade breakfast sausage--spicy and perfect! (Love sausage!)
We also got scrambled eggs.
Simply delicious breakfast for our day!


After breakfast we went back to the cottage to change for the beach, but first decided to ride our bikes around to the northern part of the island to the lighthouse.  It was located in the historic district of the island, and had more magnificent live oak trees with the Spanish moss. 



Here is the (functioning) lighthouse and museum.  The cute house in the front was built for the lighthouse keeper and his family back in the 19th century.  


We climbed up the narrow, spiraling stairway to the balcony off the very top!


The wind the blowing hard when we got to the top, but we manages to capture a few pictures.  Here's one of them--the view of the Atlantic Ocean.

(I'm afraid of heights, so this was a big accomplishment for me!)


Some of the rooms in the Lighthouse Keeper's house.









Going to Uncle Bubba's Oyster House!
Paula Deen and her brother own this.  It's located to Wilmington Island, where she lives.


As fried pickle experts we ranked these as the very best!!!  Light and crispy breading with a wonderful homemade ranch dipping sauce. YUM!


Mr. Cozy's crab stuffed grilled flounder with a delicious sauce.  
(Forgot exactly what is was--but I know it was good!!)


My crab cakes (we love crab cakes!) with cajun rice and creamy coleslaw.  

This meal was outstanding for both of us!!!  We'll be back someday. :)


As we are leaving to go back home, we had to stop in Savannah at the unique, Gallery Espresso on Bull St.  This was located off of one of the prettiest squares.
We heard about this coffee house in April's issue of Southern Living!


I have never seen a more beautiful espresso maker.
It was huge for one, and made of shiny copper!
The baristas really took the time to make our drinks just right.


We SPLURGED!!!
He got cinnamon roll with a dark chocolate mocha and I got a  big, flaky, croissant with a white chocolate macchiato.
We shared the pastries, and they were as tasty as they looked! 

I. ate. too. much.





This trip was an especially wonderful time for us!  We really enjoyed all of our time together as we fell in love with Savannah and Tybee Island, GA!
God blessed us with a vacation that we will never forget.

I'm so glad I get to take the best part of it home with me--my Love!




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