Savannah in Photos

There's always something so relaxed and comfortable about visiting Savannah. I immediately slip back into old routines and act like a kid for a few days, daydreaming while my feet are in the sand, eating my favorite foods without spending any time in the kitchen, and enjoying hours upon hours with family and a dog who seems to have endless energy. We tried our best to keep up while we were busy being lazy.

Here and There

Jonah and I are heading to Savannah tonight to spend a few days with my family. I'm looking forward to the change of pace ... and the food ... and playing with a puppy who's all grown up. This is the first summer in a while that we don't have any friends' weddings or big travel plans, so we're taking a few quick trips here and there. We're visiting Denver next month with some friends, and I'd love to sneak in a trip to Nashville and/or Asheville. Do you have any summer travel plans?

Butcher Boards

These butcher diagram cutting boards are so clever. Wouldn't one make a great gift for Father's Day? So all the dads out there can learn a little something about butchery while they're carving meat or chopping parsley.

[photos courtesy of: woodink]

From Leftovers to Dessert

Whenever we have rice with dinner, we always end up with leftovers, so here's an easy coconut rice pudding recipe to repurpose all those extra grains. I've never been a huge rice pudding fan, but the flavor of coconut really wins me over on this one. And truth be told, I like eating it warm while it's a sweet, gooey bowl of comfort.

Coconut Rice Pudding

2 cups cooked rice, chilled
1 13.66 oz. can of unsweetened coconut milk
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash of cinnamon

Combine cooked rice in a saucepan with coconut milk and brown sugar. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring regularly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Serve warm or chilled. If chilled, add a splash of milk or cream and stir before serving to loosen up the rice. Dust with cinnamon and top with mango, raisins or whatever else you like. Makes two large servings.

Monthly Photo Project: June

The theme for this month's photo project is home. It could be an image of your favorite comfy chair, a view of your city, your doggy greeting you at the door. I can't wait to see what you come up with this month! I'll share the results on Friday, June 28th. If you want to email me your photo and information in advance, I'd love to highlight images from some of you. Send it to: southernhostess[at]gmail.com.

Weekend in Photos

It was hot this weekend and felt like our first full-on dose of summer. We fell back into old routines, wandering the city with the occasional ice cream or lemonade break. The highlight was heading to 7th Street in the East Village for a little tasting tour. We stopped by Luke's Lobster, Porchetta and the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop, all so delicious and all on one block. I'm telling you, I'd been craving a lobster roll for three weeks, and it did not disappoint. We did have some close-calls with our drippy ice cream cones, but it was a perfect, slightly sweaty start to summer.

May Photo Project: Breakfast

The photo theme for May was breakfast, and y'all captured all sorts of deliciousness. Thanks for sending your appetizing photos my way. I took a photo of my Saturday morning cup of tea and a crumble-topped muffin. Here's what you shared:

Amy of Reams Photo captured this carton of eggs.

Lesley of eat, etc... took a photo of her roasted rhubarb bircher muesli.

Daina of New York State of Mind photographed her French toast brunch.

Candice of The Savory and The Beautiful perfected a soft-boiled egg and served it with toast soldiers.

Natalie of Use Your Words, Little Girl took a picture of her new favorite breakfast, a homemade cappuccino and madeleines.

Celia snapped a pic of the home skillet breakfast at a diner in the Catskills.

Wendy of Young Heart Old Soul shared a photo of organic eggs.

And Laura of The Table Wanderer made a batch of maple and bacon buttermilk biscuits

If you want to share one of your breakfast photos, just leave a link below! I'll announce June's photo theme next week.