It's a South Carolina Snow Day Y'all

We have to say that when we moved to South Carolina from snowy cold New York State we never thought we would have 4 snow days in one year!!

Snowstorm Pax came through and hit upstate SC head on. At our house we got about 3 inches and both of our offices were closed for days. I know what you're thinking, you're a New Yorker and you are actually telling someone you got 3 inches of snow and work was closed? Well, I guess the difference is here in SC they use sand (not salt) and we have 3 snow plows for all of Greenville county. Sooo...

3" in SC

Here are some pictures from our fun and unexpected South Carolina Snow Day. Lilly is in absolute heaven with the snow, she looks so perfect and fluffy! I am now even more convinced that she is a Goberian (Siberian Husky/Golden Mix).

I'm pretty sure this is what doggy heaven looks like.

GOBERIAN!!! 

We gathered a group of friends and went sledding at a local park by our house. It was fun to be a kid again!! 

Big Kid Snow Day with friends! In SC we use inflatable boats for sleds :-)

After getting home from sledding we enjoyed some homemade hot chocolate with frothed milk and Chai marshmallows from the Troy, NY farmers market and built a fire. Man, I really felt like I was home in NY!!

No snow day would be complete without a hearty soup, and that is exactly what we were craving. Check out the recipe for our hearty "South Carolina Snowed In Soup!" No South Carolina soup would be complete without bacon right? Right.

BLT Foodies: South Carolina Snowed In Soup

• South Carolina Snowed In Soup
• Serves: 6 servings
• 
  
• Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
• 4 slices Applegate Farms Uncured Turkey Bacon, chopped
• 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into 2 inch pieces
• 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 5 plum tomatoes, chopped
• 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped
• 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 cups water
• 3 cups fat free, low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup uncooked orzo
• 1 15oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon white wine

• Directions

1. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Cook turkey bacon for about 5 minutes until crisp, sauteing as needed. Remove bacon from pan, and set bacon aside in a small bowl.
2. Add chicken breast to the large saucepan and sauté ~6 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and set aside in small bowl with the bacon.
3. Add another 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan, and add the onion and garlic to pan; cook 4 minutes or until tender. 
4. Add plum tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms, dried oregano, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. 
5. Return bacon and chicken to the pan. Stir in 3 cups water and broth, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Bring to a boil. 
6. Add the orzo, and cook for 9 minutes or until al dente. 
7. Add beans and cook 2 minutes or until heated. 
8. Remove from heat; stir in thyme and wine.
9. Serve and enjoy by a warm fire!

Enjoy the snow y'all!

Homemade Egg Drop Soup with Sweet Corn

Happy Chinese New Year!  

Being a second generation in a Chinese-American family, Chinese New year is a time I most vividly remember spending with my family going to our favorite family owned restaurant in Albany, NY.  We ordered family style and used the lazy susan on the table to "pass" our food around and share.  

This year I had plans to be in NYC for Chinese New Year and was looking forward to spending time celebrating with friends and family in NY.  But of course, it is winter and nor'easter Nemo came and quickly demolished those plans.  Looks like I will have to plan a trip this Spring to NYC for some good Chinese food, bagels, pizza and many many visits with friends/family!

With a free weekend in Greenville, I took this extra time to complete my first test in graduate school!  My midterm for BU's American Health System course was online and it feels SO good to have it completed :-) I'm now more than halfway through the class!

On Saturday, Trevor and I celebrated New Year's Eve at Lieu's Chinese Bistro on Woodruff Rd. in Greenville.  It wasn't exactly dim sum in Chinatown, but it was very good.  We ordered the Happy Family (minus the scallops, Trevor's request after the Xmas incident...), egg flower and sweet and sour soup, spring rolls, and the spicy cabbage.  It was all wonderful and we would recommend all of these dishes, though the spicy cabbage was even too spicy for Trevor!  If you chose to order a spicy dish at Lieu's, we recommend trying it mild first. ;-)

On Sunday, for New Year's dinner we made Trevor's mother's famous Chicken Almond recipe and egg drop soup.  It was a perfect New Years dinner and a great end to a long weekend!  Check out the egg drop soup recipe below, adapted from  Food Network.  This soup has a wonderful consistency to it and we sweetened it up a bit by adding some corn, I always love the little crunch and sweetness the corn adds!

Egg Drop Soup with Sweet Corn

Homemade Egg Drop Soup with Sweet Corn

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 cups low sodium chicken stock, plus 2 tablespoons

1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

1/2 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 cup frozen yellow corn

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 green onions, chopped for garnish

White pepper to taste

Directions

1.  In a large pot on high heat, bring the low sodium chicken stock, soy sauce, ginger and frozen corn to a boil.  

2.  In a small dish, combine the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of chicken stock.  Stir until the cornstarch is dissolved.  

3.  Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the soup while constantly stirring.  Continue to stir until thickened.  

4.  Reduce heat to a low simmer.

5.  Add the beaten eggs slowly while stirring the soup in the same direction.  Egg will spread and feather.

6.  Turn off heat and season with white pepper to taste (be careful, it is spicy!)

7.  Serve a 1 cup serving in each bowl and garnish with green onion.  Enjoy!

Nutrition for 1 serving: 90 Calories, 2.5g Total fat, 0.7g Saturated fat, 180mg Sodium, 11g Total Carbohydrate, 1.2g Fiber, 6g Protein

Chicken Almond source: Susie Jones.

What is your favorite Chinese dish?  Tell us below!