Southern Charm

As a newly minted southerner myself, I'm always fascinated by southern culture! The first year we lived in Texas, I was surprised to find out things really are different in the south. It's true: the pace is a little slower, the people are a LOT friendlier, and the landscape is a little more colorful than I've seen anywhere else.

So I was super excited to tackle some classic southern recipes in celebration for Bravo's new reality series, Southern Charm! (Check out the trailer here!) It's about a group of twenty-somethings in Charleston, and I love that it's showing all the traditions of southern culture, and the behind-the-scenes drama too!

I've already set my DVR for the premiere on Monday -- it's basically everything I look for in a reality show! Southern aristrocrats, backstabbing drama... I. Cannot. Wait!

For this post, I picked two of the ultimate classic southern recipes: Strawberry Shortcake and Sweet Tea! (Incidentally, these are two of Chad's favorite things on this planet, so I had a very happy husband when he got home!) One of my favorite things about southern culture is the way that it can be so traditional and so modern at the same time, so I thought these were the perfect dishes to try! They're both recipes that his parents and grandparents have made, but they're perfectly at home in our modern kitchen. Kind of like this show -- a little old, a little new, and the perfect guilty pleasure.

(And yes, I totally ate shortcake for breakfast after making this!)

So mark your calendars for the premiere on March 3rd, and in the meantime, get in the mood by whipping up these southern recipes!

Sweet Tea

INGREDIENTS

Pinch baking soda

2 cups boiling water

6 tea bags

3/4 cup white sugar

6 cups water

1 lemon, sliced

DIRECTIONS:

Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda into a large metal bowl or glass pitcher (must be heat-proof). Carefully our in boiling water, and add sugar and tea bags. Stir, and allow to steep for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, pour in cool water, stir again, and then refrigerate. Serve over ice with sliced lemons.

Strawberry Shortcake

INGREDIENTS

16 ounces fresh strawberries, stems removed and sliced

1/2 cup white sugar

2 1/4 cups flour

4 tsp baking powder

2 tbsp white sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup shortening

1 egg, beaten

2/3 cup milk

2 cups whipped heavy cream

1/4 cup sugar

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Toss the strawberries with 1/2 cup of white sugar, setting aside a few for garnishing. Allow to sit for 15 minutes.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, 2 tbsp white sugar and salt. Cut in the shortening until combined, and then add the beaten egg and milk. Stir until just combined.

Spread the batter onto a greased 8-inch cake pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden, and then allow the cake to cool for about ten minutes on a wire rack.

Slice the partially cooled cake in half, making two layers. Place half of the strawberries on one layer and top with the other layer. Top with the whipped cream and reserved strawberries, and serve.

And remember to tune in on Monday, March 3rd at 10/9c for the Season Premiere of Southern Charm only on Bravo!