Can I just start by bragging on my husband? If you read my post yesterday, you know that yesterday was our first anniversary. He went ALL out. I just kept getting surprised!! We are going on a vacation in a few days and I just thought that would be (other than gifts, cards and dinner) how we celebrated our anniversary but I was so wrong...
He started the day by waking me up with coffee and scones from Starbucks. Then he gave me a gift and the card said that we had an appointment for a couples' massage and we needed to leave immediately! SO exciting!
After the massage, we came home and got ready because I had to go to a baby shower and he "had some things he needed to do." When I got home from the baby shower, he had a bag packed, a blanket ready and Jack was wearing his leash... we were off for a romantic picnic at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.
After the picnic and a long afternoon nap, I was instructed to pack an overnight bag and get dressed up!! I was SO excited again. When I was ready to go, we went to dinner at Ferneau, a fabulous Little Rock restaurant that neither of us had ever been to!
After dinner, we went to the Capital Hotel (where we got engaged and spent our wedding night). And just when I thought the surprises were over... we went up to our room and it was the EXACT same room that we had stayed in on our wedding night and there was dessert and champagne waiting for us inside (also the same kind of champagne that we had on our wedding day!).
I am so proud of my sweet husband for putting such thought and detail into our anniversary. He definitely made it special and memorable!! I just love him! :)
Now, since this is a food blog... I need to brag on this restaurant:
The restaurant is named after the owner and executive chef, Donnie Ferneau. He uses mainly Arkansas ingredients, flies in fresh fish daily and changes the menu seasonally. It was such a GREAT experience. Although the restaurant doesn't make this claim, I felt like the menu had a southern flair to it... which I loved. I ordered Shrimp and Grits and I could not have been more pleased! I am a lover of this dish and I order it often but Ferneau's shrimp and grits may have just been the best version that I have ever had. As I was enjoying my dinner last night, I realized that I have never actually made shrimp and grits at home and I decided that it is time for that to change! So, I looked up a Southern Living recipe and I plan to make it very soon. I'll share it with you in case you also love this classic southern delicacy!
Shrimp and Grits
Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 (14 oz) can chicken broth
3/4 cup half and half
3/4 t. salt
1 cup uncooked regular grits
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 T. butter
1/2 t. hot sauce
4 bacon slices
1 lb. unpeeled, medium-sized fresh shrimp
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 (8 oz) pkg. sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 T. fresh lemon juice
1/4 t. hot sauce
Directions:
Bring first four ingredients to a boil in a medium saucepan; gradually whisk in grits. Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes or until thickened. Add cheddar cheese and next 3 ingredients. Keep warm. Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels, reserving 1 T. drippings in skillet. Crumble bacon. Peel shrimp and devein. Sprinkle shrimp with 1/4 t. salt and pepper; dredge in flour. Saute mushrooms in hot drippings in skillet 5 minutes or until tender. Add 1/2 cup green onions, and saute 2 minutes. Add shrimp and garlic, and saute 2 minutes or until shrimp are lightly browned. Stir in 1/2 cup chicken broth, lemon juice and 1/4 t. hot sauce; cook 2 more minutes, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of skillet. Serve shrimp mixture over hot cheese grits. Top with crumbled bacon.
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Back to quick and easy recipes tomorrow... but it's always good to know how to make the special stuff too!! :) Hope you had a great weekend!!
