The Blue Marlin Restaurant

Even though my birthday isn't until Wednesday it was more convenient for the family to gather in Columbia on Sunday.  The boys are finishing classes and preparing for exams, and Stephanie, Natalie and I are gearing up for Spring Break and our trip to New York City.  So I got to choose where in Columbia we should eat – being MY birthday and all.

There are many fine places to eat in our state’s capitol, and making a decision is about as hard as a kid choosing ONE piece of candy in a candy store.  I went online and checked a few menu’s and replayed prior dinners in my mind.  It was the latter that won out, and I chose one of my favorite all time places – the Blue Marlin.

The Blue Marlin is located in the remodeled Seaboard Coast Line depot of the revitalized and thriving Congaree Vista District of the Columbia.  The restaurant is about fifteen years in existence now.

I love seafood, especially when it is cooked in Low Country style.  For those that are not aware of Low Country fare, it is the rich flavors blended from the Caribbean, West Africa and Indies brought here years ago with the plantation servants and slaves.  

The Low Country is the area of coastal plains, marshes, beaches and inlets from Georgetown, South Carolina south to Savannah, Georgia.   Many great, delicious, flavorful meals come out of this area from the shrimp, crabs, fish, and other abundant fauna and flora of the area.

The atmosphere at the Blue Marlin lends itself to an upscale eatery in the Vista, but dress is casual.  The restaurant is filled with all sorts of wonderful smells, but the fresh baked bread aroma would make even the least bread-lover drool. 

The hostess and wait staff were grand ambassadors of “Southern Hospitality” the entire evening.   They even seated us before we had all of our party present.  This is something a bit rare on busy nights, and with the Gamecocks just finishing off #1 Vanderbilt at Carolina Stadium ,it was about to get much busier.  (Way to go ‘COCKS!)

The bar is fully stocked!

As we waited for Matthew and Katlyn to arrive, Patrick, Natalie and I enjoyed an appetizer.  We ordered the Pecan Dusted Calamari.  It’s dusted with crushed pecans and romano cheese with a sweet onion dipping sauce!  Natalie, my six year old, loved it although we had to cut it into bite sized pieces for her.  Patrick and I ate our share too.  Steph is not a fan of “fish bait” as she calls it.  That’s what I get for taking her deep sea fishing – more “fish bait” for me!

Once we gathered in all the directionally challenged people in our group, we were able to place our orders.  The menu offerings were for all.  The Blue Marlin has the fried seafood eaters covered with a large platter of many sea creatures.  They have the land animals offered up in various chicken and beef dishes, as well.  But tonight, I would be ordering from the Chef’s Choice section of Low Country cuisine – Tilapia Charleston.

(Tilapia Charleston is humorous in the fact that Tilapia is NOT a traditional Low Country fare as Tilapia is not a native fish!  That understood, I like it better than the flounder or sea trout that are.)

This dish is two small pan seared tilapia filets topped with a light shrimp and crab cream sauce.  Adluh grit cakes and sautéed fresh green beans were served up as the sides to compliment the main entrée. 

Adluh grit cakes are made from Adluh grits - duh!  The Adluh milling company is located in the Congaree Vista since the early 1900’s. 

Next time you’re looking for a somewhere special to eat, try the Blue Marlin.  The price is normal for restaurants of comparison, such as Bonefish Grill, or Chestnut Hill in North Myrtle Beach.

ENJOY!

Saturday mornings

Saturday mornings are special aren't they?  This morning was one of those special Saturdays.  It was GAME DAY Saturday, as Natalie had a soccer game this morning.  Fortunately the 1st graders don't play until 10 o'clock, giving way to a nice leisurely morning.

It started with my bride rolling over, gently rubbing my back to wake me.  She whispers softly into my ear, "Do you remember how you made that special egg breakfast for Natalie this week before school?"  Which I mumbled from a far off dreamland, "uh huh".   She then sweetly responds, "MY TURN!", and pulls back the covers and proceeds to start the day!

April 26th will be 25 years of marriage, so I'm pretty sure I knew what she wanted for her special egg breakfast!

It starts with red onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and turkey sausage all chopped and sauteed in a tsp of olive oil.

I then lightly beat three eggs in a bowl, add a little water, and cook in a seperate skillet.  Adding the above ingredients along with shredded cheddar cheese, salt and pepper. 

The omelette is folded after lifting and swishing the egg to the bottom  and allowed to finish cooking while I slice the topping - fresh chopped tomato. 



If you recall, I'm trying to eat healthy, so my breakfast was a little different.  I used two egg whites instead of three whole eggs saving about 170 calories.  I, too, like the onions, peppers, mushrooms and turkey sausage, but I include crushed red pepper flakes for that added little bite.  I also incorporate my special egg mixture into a Thomas Light English muffin.

Natalie didn't win her soccer game, but she played hard, had fun, and got the most important thing - her after game snack and Easter Basket the coach's wife put together.

Yes, the day started off great and finished great with all three of us getting pedicures.  Yep, I'm a spoiled man.  :)

ENJOY!



Cold Cut Wrap

Tonight's fare was simple.  We had leftovers from last night's throw together.  The Sausage and Cabbage was better tonight after the flavors blended and sat in the fridge overnight! 

The ease of just reheating supper made the cardio work out on the Rail Trail much more relaxing this afternoon.

For my readers outside of the area, (yes, both of you) the Rail Trail is a former railway line that the city/county municipalities converted into a recreational area for walking, jogging, biking, roller-blading and so forth.  Pets are welcomed as long as they are leashed and you curb them.  (Note for another blog- PLEASE CURB THEM!!)

Besides the asphalted trail that leads from Ebenezer Park to McLeod Health and Fitness Center (approx. 1.8 miles one way), there are nature trails that wind through and near Jefferies Creek.  It is a very serene place with birds, squirrels and a multitude of flora.

The trail is great this time of year with all the new foliage giving off that bright, light, new green of spring.  The birds and squirrels are very active too.  (They're active because this is a hard to find food time seed wise... Bugs are becoming plentiful though!)  Speaking of 'bugs', the trail had several different types of butterflies today.

I usually take my six year old daughter into the Fitness center, then I proceed to one end of the trail and back prior to working out on the weight machines.  It was a great day.

Hmm? What? The food?  OH YES! My food blog.  Well, since you know what I had for supper, I will share my healthy lunch that I "plastic bag" it in to school.  My lunch bags are recycled grocery bags.  I use them as trash bags later in the day too.

This morning while preparing breakfast, I also packed my lunch.  By the time I finished eating breakfast everything for my mid-day meal was packed and ready to go.

Start with an 8in whole wheat flour tortilla.  I added three slices of Oscar Mayer Deli Style oven roasted turkey and three slices of the Black Forrest Ham.

Spread 2 Tbsp of hummus on the lunch meat. Cut baby carrots and grape tomatoes in half and stick into the hummus.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Add chopped romaine and roll/fold your wrap.

The entire wrap runs around 240 calories with 8 grams of fat.  This depends greatly on your tortilla.  I use a 100 calorie version from Walmart.  Flat Out Light wraps are good too at only 90 calories.

Accompanying this wrap today was a Ziploc bag filled with 15 Special K Cracker Chips with Sea Salt. (another 55 calories)  For dessert?  Yes, a naval orange. (70 calories)

Lunch was filling, tasty, and only 370 calories!

ENJOY! 

What do you normally eat for lunch at work?

Sausage, Cabbage & Bean Skillet Supper

Tonight it was time to clean out the pantry and fridge of some odds and ends.  A little of this, a bit of that, all thrown together in less than 40 minutes to sit down to eat.  Of course, I had to keep a conscious effort to keep the fat and calories in check.  This was a delicious meal and filling too!

Ingredients:

4 Member's Mark Chicken Sausages with mozzarella & garlic,slice into 1 inch rounds
1/2 a Lg. head of cabbage, cored and chopped
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1 15oz can Light Red Kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
1/4 cup of stock (vegetable, chicken, beef, whatever)
1/4 cup of V-8 juice (or off-brand)
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 medium yellow onions, peeled, halved and sliced
1 package of Southern Home 90 second brown rice (or Uncle Ben's)

Directions-

Start with a large skillet and olive oil over medium heat. Add onions when hot. Stir every so often, until all onions are clear.



Add Cabbage, stock, and red pepper. Cook for 5-8 minutes.  In a separate skillet, brown the chicken sausages.

*- These sausages are fully cooked so it's just a matter of browning each side.

Heat rice in microwave for 90 seconds, then add rice, sausage, and remaining ingredients to the cabbage skillet.

Mix well and let simmer for another 10 minutes or so until cabbage has reached desired point.

ENJOY!!

Nutritional Information:  Makes 5 equal servings of

Calories - 336
Fat - 11g
Carbs - 42g
Protein - 22g

Coconut Shrimp and Jasmine Rice





I have cookbook upon cookbook.  Seriously, I have an antique case FULL of cookbooks. I can sit and read a cookbook the same as I read a James Patterson novel.  A great cookbook is as good a page turner as any mystery novel.  Tonight's menu came from the pages of one of my favorites.  If you don't have it - get it.  It is Fix It and Enjoy It! Healthy Cookbook by Phyllis Pellman Good. 

Ingredients:

Ø  Green onions, ½ bunch

Ø  Minced Garlic, 2 cloves

Ø  Coconut milk – Light, 1 can

Ø  Water

Ø  Jasmine rice, 1 ½ cups (uncooked)

Ø  Carrots, 1 cup shredded

Ø  Salt, 1 tsp

Ø  Shrimp, 25-30 medium peeled 

Ø  Snow peas, 2 ½ cups

Ø  Lime juice, 1Tbsp

Ø  Olive oil, 1Tbsp

SHRIMP!!  I don't know who the first human to eat one was, but THANK YOU!  The reason I say that is simple.  Have you really ever looked at a whole shrimp?  Who was it that said, "Ooo Wee!  I'm gonna eat one of these!"?  It had to be a dare.  Shoot.  It had to be a double dog dare!  I'm so glad they did!  

Anyway, you have to get your shrimp naked for this party!  Peel 'em!  I love Harris Teeter's shrimp.  Watch for when these babies are on sale, then stock the freezer.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. (a skillet you have a lid for!)  Add green onions and garlic.  Saute for a couple of minutes. 

Measure out the coconut milk and water to come up with a total of 3 1/2 cups combined.  Add this to the skillet and stir.

When this boils add rice, carrots, and salt. Cover and reduce heat to simmer for 12 minutes.

During this period zest your lime.

When the time is up, add shrimp, zest and snow peas.  If the rice is a little dry add water in small increments.  I had to add about a 1/4 cup.  Stir well to mix.  Cover and simmer for 3-5 minutes more.  Shrimp should be pink.

   

Divide mixture into six equal portions.  Each portion is about 315 calories, 44 carbs, 6g fat, and 4g fiber.

Enjoy!

While I cooked I got to enjoy some of these babies!

I boiled the "extra" shrimp from the bag and made some "Special Sauce"!!  Hot Horseradish is the key!!