Thursday, October 30, 2014

6th Blog Anniversary and a Cookbook Giveaway


My Carolina Kitchen is celebrating its 6th blog anniversary this month. I can hardly believe it’s been six years and that old saying must be true – “time flies when you’re having fun.”  And fun it has been. But for me the best part is the opportunity to get to know you my readers better. The blogging community is such a wonderfully supportive group and it is a real pleasure to be a part of it. Meakin & I have been fortunate to meet many of you in person, often including your spouse and family. We hope to meet even more of you in the future.

To thank my loyal followers, I’m giving away a copy of The Little Paris Kitchen by Rachel Khoo. I first got to know Rachael from her series television series The Little Paris Kitchen. For those of you who may not be familiar with Rachael, she moved to Paris to study patisserie and consequently fell in love with the city. She opened her very own restaurant in Paris in her tiny kitchen there, a very itsy bitsy kitchen in fact. That launched her career and she is now a bestselling author. Her wit and personality will definitely put a smile on your face.

It’s easy to qualify to win the cookbook. All you have to do is be a follower of My Carolina Kitchen and leave a comment below saying so and also what is your favorite French food. Following by email counts too. For an extra chance, follow My Carolina Kitchen on Facebook, but be sure to make that a separate comment. Please leave your comments no later than next Wednesday, November 5 at 5 PM Eastern Standard Time. I will announce the winner here next Thursday, November 6, 2014.

At anniversary time I usually feature the most popular posts from the past. This year I thought it might be fun to talk about one of our favorite places to eat in the Palm Beach area and also one of the surprise recipes that has been a big hit on Pinterest – my sweet & spicy pineapple salsa for a luau that I served at Larry (Big Dude’s) Annual Blogger Get-together at Tellico Lake in eastern Tennessee a couple of years ago when the theme for the party was an Hawaiian Luau, post & pictures here. Larry made smoked pork butts that were wrapped in banana leaves as well as smoked ribs below for the Luau.





It turned out that the sweet & spicy pineapple salsa was a perfect complement to BBQ. The recipe was inspired by a sweet and spicy salsa I first tasted at Little Moir’s Food Shack, a funky fish joint on the east coast of Florida just north of Palm Beach. It blew my socks off from the very first bite. I had never ever tasted anything that even resembled the burst of flavors in the fruit salsa. Moir’s changes the fruit in the salsas depending on the season and what’s the freshest.



Sweet & Spicy Pineapple Salsa/Sambal
My Carolina Kitchen’s version of Fruit Salsa from Little Moir’s Food Shack, Jupiter, Florida – serves 4
Printable Recipe

½ of a pineapple, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 large mango, peeled and chopped
1 tomato, seeded & diced (Roma tomatoes work well)
½ red onion, minced
Juice of ½ to 1 lime or to taste
1 tablespoon hot pepper, such as a jalapeno, minced (or more to taste)
2 rice unseasoned rice vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon honey (or more to taste)
Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons fresh basil, cut in a chiffonade
Hot sauce, such as Tabasco, as needed

Place first six ingredients in a large bowl and toss gently. In a jar with a tight fitting lid, add the vinegar, olive oil and honey and shake well. Pour over the fruit and season with salt & pepper. Add basil and cilantro and toss gently. Taste the mixture for seasonings and add more hot pepper, lime, or honey to taste. You want a nice balance of sweet and spicy. Sometimes I add a few dashes of hot sauce, such as Tabasco, for more heat. Let mixture stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

This is great with any fish dish and is also incredible served with BBQ.

Photo of Little Moir's Food Shack dining room courtesy of Big Dude's Eclectic Ramblings

Little Moir’s Food Shack is in an ordinary looking strip mall near a Publix Supermarket on the corner of A1A and Indiantown Road in Jupiter, Florida, just north of Palm Beach. You could easily miss it if you weren’t looking for it, but don’t let the looks of the place deceive you. Owner Mike Moir (rhymes with foyer) is the Chef and an absolute genius when it comes to seafood. He calls his cooking style “a simple twist of taste,” but it a far cry from simple taste. The tastes he creates will excite your taste buds and make your mouth sing. The soups change daily and are incredible too. Meakin’s favorite is panko fried oysters over greens, mixed fruit and gorgonzola. My favorite dish is the tuna basil rolls with wasabi dipping sauce served with their spicy fruit salsa (very similar to the pineapple one above) Here’s a link to My Carolina Kitchen’s version of Little Moir’s Food Shack Sweet & Spicy Fruit Salsa.

Little Moir’s Food Shack is a DO NOT MISS if you are in Jupiter, Florida and it’s well worth the short drive north from Palm Beach.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my walk down blog memory lane. Don’t forget to leave a comment to win Rachael Koo’s The Little Paris Kitchen cookbook as a thank you for being a follower of My Carolina Kitchen. How to qualify for the give-away is above. Offer ends next Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at 5 PM Eastern Standard Time. The contest has ended and the winner of the cookbook is Kaye Barley. Congratulations Kaye.

For better viewing, click on photos to enlarge.

This will be shared with Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm, Miz Helen’s Country Kitchen Full Plate Thursday, and Weekend Bites at Simple Recipes.

Have a great weekend everyone & Happy Halloween.



48 comments:

  1. I have been stalking this book for some time and would love to win. I'm a follower and get your posts by email. My favorite French food? Hmmm. All of it!!

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  2. Six years of blogging is quite an accomplishment Sam. Thanks for sharing your love of food!!I am sure I have followed you all these years.

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  3. Congratulations! Six years - I wish I'd have known about your blog from the very start. I've really enjoyed your blog and the great recipes, many of which have worked their way into my repertoire. I hope you will continue to delight us for years to come.

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  4. Congrats on 6 years Sam. You have posted some wonderful recipes on your blog over the years! I adore Rachel Khoo. Thank you for the chance to win her book! I follow you through bloglovin.

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  5. I agree six years is a long time to have been such a constant regular blogger.
    I wish I remembered how I "Met" you..Wish it had been the whole 6 years..
    En tout cas..Bon Anniversaire..!
    Kudos Sam..and to your Meakin...

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  6. Congratulations Sam!! It is wonderful to have met you in this blogging world.
    The salsa and bbq look wonderful. Blessings dear. Catherine

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  7. Happy Blogiversary Sam and I look forward to your next six years. Thanks for the shout out and the salsa was delicious with the pork. Please leave me out of the cookbook give-away as we are downsizing.

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  8. Congratulations on six years of blogging, Sam. That's an accomplishment to be proud of. I always look forward to your wonderful recipes and informative posts. Rachael Khoo is one of my favorite tv personalities and I would love to own a copy of her book. It's amazing what she can conjure up in her tiny little Paris kitchen. I have been a follower for ages and look forward to the next 6 years of visiting your blog.

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  9. I follow you on Facebook as well.

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  10. Not here for the giveaway - although the book is on my list. Here to congratulate you for six wonderful years and to add that yes, that salsa looks special! I also love the community of bloggers. It's been such a grand addition to my life. I love coming here!

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  11. Congrats on your anniversary Sam, wow 6 years. Bravo to you and your hubby!

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  12. Happy Bloganniversary and to many more! That's a real milestone...

    Your recipes are always wonderful and extremely mouthwatering.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  13. Six Years! Hard to believe, isn't it? Congratulations,Sam, on a beautiful and fun blog.

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  14. Congratulations on your anniversary! I am a long time follower and also follow you on facebook :) I don't think I can narrow down to just 1 favorite french food. I love the bread, the sauces and the soups! (My mouth is watering just thinking about it all). Looking forward to many many more wonderful posts from you.

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  15. Congratulations on your blogiversary! What a delightful place to visit. Best wishes. I am an e-mail subscriber. I enjoy Baguettes, Croissants, and Mille-Feuilles, Ratatouille and Macarons. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. I follow you on facebook. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  17. Congratulations Sam. I so wish I had found blogging sooner. It has cured many of my "ills".

    I love Rachel Khoo. For those that do not know her, you can find her on youtube. She has the sweetest voice and I love her food. When I feel bad about my little kitchen I think of her. Her kitchen is miniscule.

    I follow you on google+ and by email. Oh, and I love all things French. My most viewed are the Madeleines, but Crème fraîche, and Crêpes are right up there.

    Madonna

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  18. Congrats! What a fun giveaway!

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  19. 6 years is a long time to keep up a quality site! Congratulations!

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  20. I love cooik books and this one sounds like a keeper.As for favorite food I am pretty eclectic and enjoy trying new recipes

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  21. Congratulations Sam! I like Rachael Khoo's cooking too. A great giveaway, Sam.
    Ciao,
    Angie

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  22. Congratulations, 6 years is quite a feat. This post is making me very hungry :-))) Keep well Diane

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  23. Happy 6th Blogging Anniversary, Sam! Yes, time flies when you're having fun :) I can just imagine what a perfect pairing your salsa would be for a hot and spicy barbecued meat. No wonder it's so popular! Please don't enter me in your giveaway as I was so fortunate to have won a cookbook for you already. Good luck to your readers!

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  24. Happy blog anniversary! You have given us some great ideas.

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  25. Sam, Good timing with this posting... I have 2 racks of Big Dude's ribs being heated up in the oven right now! We have guests in town and that's what we're serving them for dinner tonight. They do look fine! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

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  26. Congrats on six tasty years Sam, the salsa sounds amazing! Happy Halloween:@)

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  27. I follow your blog! And although this is very plain, I don't think you can get much better than a fresh baguette with brie.........or some buttercake from Brittany!

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  28. Hi Sam, I follow your blog, and my favorite French food is probably a crepe or croissant. Also love your sweet and spicy salsa!

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  29. Congrats on six years! This recipe looks DELISH!

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  30. Happy blog anniversary, Sam! Congratulations on 6 wonderful years! I love your recipes and wonderful reviews. I love all French cheese and breads, and of course French wine! I think I could live on all three ;) I'm your follower her and on facebook, but I never subscribed to e-mail posts---doing that now!

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  31. I came here to say Happy Blogiversary Sam! Congrats on 6 years. I love your chicken marabella, it's perfect now for the colder season and I have to try your salsa come warmer weather. Keep doing what your doing, cooking with love!

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  32. Happy anniversary, Sam! I may not have been around all those years, but I know your blog is delightful and I can count on it for inspiration.

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  33. Happy six years, Sam! So pleased we met and it's been wonderful having you as a friend. Love your blog, your recipes and your comments! :) Time flies, doesn't it?
    I think I'm already following you both here and Facebook.

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  34. Happy Anniversary, I have been a follower for years. My favorite french food is anything out of the Barefoot in Paris cookbook, Ina is one of my favorites. We have been to Little Moir's and love it.

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  35. Happy Blogiversary Sam. You were one of the very first blogs I ever started following. Hard to believe it's been 6 years. My favorite French food is any of the braised chicken dishes is the cream sauces. omg.

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  36. Congratulations to you and Meakin on six years of inspiring recipes, writing, and photos!

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  37. Congratulations to the two of you on six years of blogging. You have provided us with so many tempting dishes and Meakin's photos make us want to head to the kitchen and prepare the recipes right away. :) Would you believe that our son took us to the Food Shack one night…we drove from his home in Vero Beach to Jupiter and back. That was a long drive but the food was terrific.

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  38. If the recipes you shared are any indication of the yum factor in your cookbooks--would love to have one!! Ronnalord(at)msn(dot)com

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  39. Happy, happy anniversary dearest Sam,

    Every time I read about your divine cuisine I wish that we were more than virtual friends.

    Thank you for all the pleasure you have brought to us.

    xo,
    Tish

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  40. Happy anniversary! Your pictures are making me drool! Lkvoyer at aol dot com

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  41. Congrats Sam! Has it really been 6 years. Doesn't seem possible. I think my favorite French dish would have to be Quiche Lorraine. I just made one and had a slice for breakfast too. I am a follower.

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  42. I also follow you on Facebook.

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  43. I could tell how passionate you were about food and sharing your cooking experiences when you provided me with recipes for Conch salad, Conch Chowder, and Conch fritters that you got while living in the Abaco Islands. Our friends and I thank you every time I make those dishes. My favorite French meal is simple...Escargot baked in a simple parsley, butter, and garlic sauce served with a nice green salad and fresh French Baguette. Congratulations on the anniversary of your 6 year blog!
    Ken Mills

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  44. Congratulations Sam on your 6 years of blogging!
    You and your blog have been such an inspiration to me and I always look forward to your post. What a lovely give away and a beautiful cookbook. Hope you are enjoying each and every day of your anniversary month!
    Miz Helen

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  45. You must've started your blog just a few weeks before I started mine. I have watched your popularity and Meaken's photography skills grow and grow. I always enjoy your colorful recipes, which are tasty, too. Here's to more years of sharing your recipes and stories!

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  46. Oh yeah! Happy blog anniversary! I am so glad I get to visit your "kitchen" every week and see all the new things you have cooked up. You are always an inspiration and I so enjoy getting to know you! Thanks for sharing your recipes with us year in and out. Love that cookbook too- a great one to have for ideas and recipes.

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