Coming up with a better life today in South Carolina! Featuring the Roadside Fresh Markets in SC
(This article came to mind while I was visiting with my neighbors recently out in the front yard. We were all coming and going; but we always manage to stop and say, “hello”) Saturday mornings bring back fond memories of when I lived in Camden, SC; Columbia, SC, and now Myrtle Beach.In Camden, SC–Mamma would always head to the country to see family and gather vegetables from the garden, pick wild grapes and blackberries along side the road. It was really fun but work! We’d sit out under the tree and shell beans and peas, peel tomatoes and peaches—whatever was in season. We’d do cooking, canning and eating a vegetable lunch with cornbread that was made on the top of the stove. A lot of times, we’d go fishing and then come home and cook fish and hushpuppies.
Columbia, SC—I’d head to the country and look for roadside open-air markets and go looking for antiques. We’d always look for the round oak tables, oak iceboxes and just good old furniture. I still have one of those old hatboxes bureaus (?). It was definitely a rare find. It seemed like the song I’d hear on the radio, with the windows down in the car heading home, was Rod Stewart’s, “Maggie Mae.” I loved that song…….”Wake up Maggie I think I got something to say to you…”listen for yourself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9dlG-iq3F8 My favorite part is 4 minutes into the song. It’s the mandolin which reminds me of the country and heading “back home”).
Myrtle Beach, SC—I’d cook a good breakfast, always having grits and biscuits (which were always on the table while growing up). We’d head for Caledonia to go fishing (crappie and bream were in abundance). My father-in-law at that time, Captain Frank, would always cook up something on the grill and we’d have something from the garden. “Great times!” Today, in Myrtle Beach, I love the feeling of getting things done around the house; but, I can’t get away from going to the roadside stands, getting vegetables and coming home and cooking all those vegetables and some cornbread! Check out our South Carolina Roadside Market Link: http://dining.discoversouthcarolina.com/shop/roadsidemarkets.aspx. “Wonder what Paula Dean does on her Saturday mornings?” Paula Deen’s Website
This is a picture of my favorite spot at Myrtle Market in Myrtle Beach at the Indigo Farm’s Booth. They are actually located on the NC/SC line and it’s a beautiful way to spend a Saturday morning.
I sure hope that you have fond memories of Saturday mornings and that you are still living them out. If not, try a new thing and make your life a little better in South Carolina! Just another way to Celebrate South Carolina! Tell me of some good things or ideas of how to make a better life today! Post your comments! or respond back to Nina c21cl@sc.rr.com.
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Tags: Cooking in the South, Paula Dean of Savannah, SC Road side fresh markets, Southern Cooking
Elizabeth Cestari 
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