Girls Raised in the South LOVE Dumplings

Yesterday, I had to run some errands..."Here's What I Wore"  The capris are by Lilly and the pink gingham blouse is by Izod

My Accessories:  The monogrammed 'Trouble Hibiscus' tumbler is by Lilly.  I used my white iPhone cover monogrammed in pink and wore a bit of 'Wink' Lilly fragrance.  The white mules are by Lilly.  My ponytail bow is pink grosgrain and I wore my pearl necklace and earrings, with my 'Eternity' wedding band by Cartier and 'Oyster Perpetual' Rolex.

I carried this cute little 'All a Flutter' wristlet by Lilly...

Later in the day, it was time to prepare dinner for Miss Pauline and my husband.  I decided to go with Chicken and Dumplings--one of their favorite dishes...none for moi, of course {although I do love them--must stick with my clean eating diet!}  Here I am with a goblet of iced tea...wearing my G.R.I.T.S.--Girls Raised in the South apron...from my "Prissy Apron Collection."

I used Mary Hill Dumplings...of course!!!  So very Southern.

Mama has used Mary Hill Dumplings to prepare her Chicken and Dumplings for years.  No wonder, 'cuz they are very close to homemade and the company is located in Mama's hometown of Hazlehurst, Georgia.  Ms Hill started the company but doesn't actually own the company any longer.

Now y'all know my dinnerware had to coordinate with my outfit...pink gingham!

The Chicken and Dumplings and green beans...

 Cornbread and sliced tomatoes.  Gotta keep it Southern for Miss Pauline!

You can find these delicious dumplings in the frozen section of Walmart.
Miss Pauline's {AKA Mary Hill's} Easy Chicken and Dumplings recipe:
Place the chicken in a large pot and add water to cover, cook until tender.  Remove the chicken, and remove any skin and bone.  Bring the chicken broth to a boil and drop the dumplings one at a time.  Stir the dumplings very gently...adding more chicken broth.  Turn the heat to low, cover, and cook 30-35 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally...gently!  You can add the chicken back to the pot or add it to the dumplings, plated. 

G.R.I.T.S. ROCK Giveaway!!!

Yes, we are G.R.I.T.S.--Girls Raised In The South! And, we do love grits y'all!!! Grits is a comfort food that has helped many a Southerner through tryin' times. Grits are "King" at the Waffle House and they are also a favorite on the tables at wedding receptions, funeral receptions, and posh Southern soirees. Just like the other well-loved Southern comfort food--macaroni and cheese, grits is a Southern lady's blankie!

Exactly what is grits? Grits is made of hominy and hominy is the dried kernel of corn after the hull and germ have been removed.

My giveaway is all about Grits!!! I love grits prepared any style...plain grits with real butter, grits with cheese, or shrimp & grits. When The Queen of Southern Cuisine, Paula Deen was married, the classic combo of shrimp & grits was served to guests at her wedding in martini glasses. Now my daddy would have said that was too high-fallutin' for him!!! I love it though...shrimp & grits served in a martini glass! I prepared Paula's recipe last night and we all loved it!!!


Here's some proper Southern grits etiquette for all y'all who live outside the South:

~Grits should always be served on a plate...along with your eggs and bacon and eaten with a fork; unless they are served alone, then you may use a bowl. Of course, they may also be served in a martini glass for a posh presentation!
~Grits are always eaten with a fork, 'cuz they should be thick enough not to run through the tines.
~Never put syrup on your grits--this irritates us Southerners to no end!
~Don't even think about putting sugar on your grits!!! Good Lord.
~Ketchup on your grits?...no ma'am, that's very Waffle House!
~Don't you dare eat instant grits...don't you dare!
~Don't call grits "cream of wheat"--again, very irritating to Southerners!

Recipe for Paula Deen's Shrimp & Grits:
2 servings cooked grits
2 tblsp olive oil
1/2 cup diced tasso ham*
2 tblsp diced onion
2 tblsp diced green peppers
20 medium to large shrimp, peeled and de-veined, with tails on**
1-2 tblsp white wine
1 cup heavy cream
Salt & pepper
Green onion tops, chopped
*Tasso ham is a cajun ham found outside of Louisiana. You can substitute salt pork, pancetta, or prosciutto.
**Miss Janice takes the tails off the shrimp before serving

Cook grits according to package directions; set aside and keep warm. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tasso and saute until crisp. Add diced vegetables and saute until onions are translucent. Add shrimp and saute for 30-45 seconds, or until pink. Remove from the pan and set aside. Deglaze the pan with a little white wine. Slowly add the cream and let reduce until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add grits to martini glasses and spoon the shrimp & sauce on top. Enjoy!

The Giveway...
First up, I'm giving away an apron just like the one I'm wearing today. It's too cute y'all! I get a LOT of compliments on it everytime I wear it!!! G.R.I.T.S. is printed in large pink and green letters and "Girls Raised In The South" is printed below in smaller pink and green letters. Pink & Green...Southern and preppy!!!

Next...I get so many emails from readers asking advice on 'How to be a Southern belle'. To help y'all start Southern Belle 101, I'm offering these two books by Deborah Ford.

"The G.R.I.T.S. Guide to Life"...The unspoken rules and rich traditions that makes Girls Raised in the South so unique! If you're not from the South and would like to learn more about being a Southern girl, this is the book for you. Or maybe you were raised in the South and now you live Lord-knows-where and just need a refresher course on Southern traditions. Love this book y'all!

Another book by Deborah Ford, "Puttin' on the G.R.I.T.S., A Guide to Southern Entertaining"--is a must-have for those who want to know how to be the perfect Southern hostess. From Potluck to Thanksgiving Dinner, this book has all the tips & ideas to help you plan the perfect social event!

It wouldn't be proper of me NOT to include some grits!!! And, they are Dixie Grits. Yes ma'am they are!

*Please note that I'm not giving away Jean Paul y'all...just the grits sitting next to him!!!

Rules for the Giveaway:

~For one entry--you must leave a comment on this post.
~For two entries--you must be a follower of my blog or let me know if you are a new follower.
~For three entries--you must post about my giveaway on your blog.
~For four entries--you must be a follower of SocialGraces101 (that's me y'all) on Twitter or let me know if you are a new follower.
~For five entries--you must tweet about my giveaway.

Good luck to everyone! I'm taking some time off be be with family this week. This giveaway will end at 12:00 midnight E.S.T on Friday, July 30th and will be announced on Saturday, July 31st.