The Easiest Sheet Pan Cookie Cake & Homemade Buttercream Icing
There are times for homemade, from-scratch desserts…and there are times when 20 teenagers are coming to your house and you need something easy, delicious and almost impossible to mess up.
This is that recipe.
It’s the cookie cake we make for birthdays, parties and last-minute gatherings because it takes just a few ingredients, feeds a crowd and can be shaped and decorated however you like.
Best of all, it’s simple enough for the kids to make—which might be my favorite part.
Because hospitality doesn’t have to mean perfection. Sometimes the best thing we can do is make the food simple enough that we can actually enjoy the people we invited over.
Easy Sheet Pan Cookie Cake
Ingredients
2 boxes Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
2 sticks (1 cup) butter, melted
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons water
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
Add both packages of cookie mix, melted butter, eggs and water to a large bowl.
Stir until everything is completely combined and a thick cookie dough forms.
Transfer the dough to the parchment-lined sheet pan.
Using clean hands or a spatula, press and shape the dough into a large rectangle, circle or whatever shape you’d like. Try to keep the thickness fairly even so it bakes evenly.
Bake for approximately 20–25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set but still soft. Start checking it around the 20-minute mark—you don’t want to overbake it.
Remove from the oven and allow the cookie cake to cool completely before decorating.
Easy Homemade Vanilla-Almond Buttercream
This is less of an exact science in my kitchen and more of a “keep mixing until it tastes and looks right” recipe—which is exactly why it’s so good.
Ingredients
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, completely softened to room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar, plus more as needed
1 tablespoon milk or cream, plus more as needed
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
Pinch of salt, optional
Instructions
Add the softened butter to a large mixing bowl and beat until smooth and creamy.
Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix again.
Gradually add the powdered sugar, about one cup at a time, mixing between each addition.
Add about 1 tablespoon of milk and continue beating until the frosting is light, fluffy and spreadable.
Adjust as needed: if the buttercream is too thick, add milk one teaspoon at a time. If it becomes too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.
Once the cookie cake is completely cool, spread or pipe the buttercream around the edges and decorate however you like.
A little tip: The almond extract is what gives this frosting that classic bakery-style flavor. A little goes a long way, so ½ teaspoon is plenty.
Make It Your Own
Add sprinkles, tint the buttercream with food coloring, pipe a birthday message across the middle or let the kids decorate the whole thing themselves.
It doesn't have to look perfect.
Put it on the counter, order the pizza, open your home and go enjoy your people.
Because that's really the point anyway!
5 Simple Crock-Pot Chicken Recipes that are Saving our Back-to-School Schedule
All you need is a crock-pot & 5 minutes to throw it all together, friend! Hope these family favorites are a blessing to you & yours!
A Hidden Gem in the Heart of the Upstate: Liberty Hall Bed & Breakfast, Pendleton, SC
There are places you stumble upon that feel less like a discovery and more like a homecoming. Liberty Hall is one of those places.
Tucked into the quietly charming town of Pendleton, South Carolina… just four miles from Clemson University… Liberty Hall Bed & Breakfast is the kind of place that makes you wonder how it isn't already on every Southern city bucket list in the country. And honestly? I think part of its magic is that it isn't. It's a hidden gem in the truest sense and I am so glad I found my way there.
Built in 1849, Liberty Hall has spent nearly 180 years becoming exactly what it is today. It began as a family home, served time as a dairy farm, and has since been lovingly restored into one of the Upstate's most beautiful retreats. In a year when our nation is pausing to mark 250 years of history, there is something quietly profound about stepping into a place that has witnessed so much of it and is still standing… still welcoming… still warm.
Small Town, Big Feeling
If you've ever watched Gilmore Girls and felt a quiet longing for Stars Hollow then Pendleton is going to do something to your heart. It is that town. Historic, unhurried, and completely lovely.
Liberty Hall sits right in the middle of it all, a beautifully restored historic property with twelve-foot ceilings, original hardwood floors, and fireplaces that tell stories older than any of us. The restoration has been done with an extraordinary amount of care where nothing feels overdone or out of place.
The inn is run by two couples who came from California, fell completely in love with the Clemson area, and simply never left. It's the kind of leap of faith that produces something truly special. Day to day, they lead the way and from the moment you arrive you feel it — the warmth, the attentiveness, the genuine joy of hosting. You are not a guest here so much as you are family, too.
The Room: Bridal Belle
I stayed in Room One, the Bridal Belle, and I could see immediately why it would be any bride’s dream room as she prepares to walk down the aisle.
The room has its own private porch looking out over the gazebo where many of Liberty Hall's outdoor wedding ceremonies take place, as well as a stunning view of the white canopy tent used for larger gatherings and celebrations. Waking up to that view, coffee in hand, with the quiet of a small Southern town settling around you is the reset your nervous system has been asking for.
Breakfast Is Not an Afterthought — It Is An Event
Breakfast at Liberty Hall is a two-course affair served with the kind of grace you would expect at a fine restaurant and a gracious gift for a weekday morning inn stay. The first course arrived as a beautiful fresh fruit parfait and my coffee never once got cold or dipped below half a cup. That alone tells you everything about the level of care they take in serving their guests.
The second course was a perfectly poached egg over prosciutto and a toasted English muffin, with roasted new potatoes and garden-fresh tomatoes with basil. Absolutely divine, elevated, intentional, and served on Fostoria vintage American glassware that was a visual dream. Every detail had been considered.
A Place for Every Occasion
During the week, Liberty Hall is peaceful and intimate. It is perfect for a solo retreat or a couple's getaway. On weekends, the property transforms into a destination wedding venue. The gazebo, the white canopy tent, the wraparound porches, the gracious hosts are all details that perfect a bride's dream day.
And it isn't only weddings. Liberty Hall is a natural fit for a girls' weekend, a family reunion, a corporate retreat, or any celebration that deserves a beautiful setting. The house has the bones and the heart for all of it.
Come for the Tigers, Stay for the Magic
If you have any reason to be near Clemson — a home game, graduation, a campus visit — book Liberty Hall instead of a hotel. You may find, as I did, that you have no desire to leave Pendleton at all.
This is the Upstate at its most surprising and most lovely…unhurried, gracious, and tucked away from the noise of the world in exactly the way your soul has been craving.
Book your stay or inquire about events at Liberty Hall Bed & Breakfast in Pendleton, SC. Wedding and event inquiries welcome.
Rebecca visited Liberty Hall as a personal guest. All opinions, as always, are her own and offered with the full sincerity of a woman who genuinely did not want to check out.
A Return to What Matters Most: A Sacred Southern Story with Erika Glover
There’s a certain kind of clarity that comes with coming home and Erika Glover knows it well. It’s one that doesn’t arrive all at once, but gently unfolds over time. For Erika, that clarity was shaped by years spent chasing opportunity, building a career, and stepping into new seasons of life only to realize that what she had been searching for was, in many ways, waiting for her all along.
She grew up in Chapin, South Carolina, where life was marked by simple, meaningful rhythms of early mornings fishing for striped bass with her father on Lake Murray, back porch sunsets with her mother’s homemade treats, and the familiar sound of a basset hound howling in the distance. “Growing up as an only child, I spent much of my time with my parents,” she recalls. “They’ve always instilled integrity. My dad always says your last name is everything. If you make a promise, be sure to keep it.”
Those early years, filled with father-daughter baseball games and mother-daughter trips to Charleston, quietly laid the foundation for the woman she would become. And yet, like so many of us, it wasn’t until she left that she fully understood the depth of what she had been given. After heading north to Pennsylvania State University, she found herself navigating a world far different from the one she had known with harsh winters, long walks to class in freezing temperatures, and a pace of life that felt removed from the warmth of the South. It was there that her appreciation for home began to take root in a new way.
“Growing up in South Carolina was a treat I did not truly appreciate until I moved away,” she says. But more than climate, it was the culture that shaped her…the quiet but powerful practice of Southern hospitality. Now, as a news anchor, that same instinct shows up in the way she approaches her work. “I often interview folks during some of their worst days,” she explains. “Before jumping into questions, I stop to ask how they’re doing. I want to learn about their family and find out if there’s any way I can help.”
It’s a posture of care that has followed her beyond the newsroom. Whether covering joyful moments or heartbreaking stories, Erika has found herself moved not just to report but to respond. She’s returned to interviewees’ homes with care packages, stayed connected to families long after the cameras stopped rolling, and uses her platform to create meaningful impact. In recent years, that has looked like organizing large-scale giveaways where she partners with artists, athletes, and community leaders to provide coats, shoes, Easter baskets, and essential items to families in need.
Her career path eventually led her to Nashville…a place she describes as a “serendipitous blessing.” It was there she stepped into her dream role as a morning news anchor. It was also where life seemed to move at full speed: she met her husband, got engaged, married, and welcomed their daughter, Ryman. And, all within a single year during a global pandemic. Ryman, named in part for the historic Ryman Auditorium, became both a symbol of that season and a turning point within it.
As her life expanded, so did the demands of it. Early mornings, long hours, and the weight of balancing career and motherhood began to reshape her perspective. Her mother eventually moved to Nashville to help care for Ryman, making it possible for Erika to continue her work. But it was during a quiet spring break trip back to Chapin that something shifted.
“We were on a neighborhood walk, and we started imagining what life could look like if we came back,” she says. “We envisioned Ryman’s childhood and realized we wanted her to have the same kind of memories I had.”
What followed wasn’t a dramatic decision, but a deeply grounded one. “In that moment, we decided life in South Carolina came with a peace of mind money can’t buy,” she says. “A sense of security we could no longer find in Nashville during that season of our lives.”
Leaving Nashville, however, was not without its grief. “I grieved my in-person friendships,” she admits. The relationships she had built there with women who had walked alongside her through some of life’s most transformative moments aren’t easily replaced. And yet, she has found ways to nurture those connections from afar, through intentional gestures, shared trips, and the quiet faithfulness of staying present even at a distance.
Perhaps one of the most unexpected parts of her return has been moving back into her childhood home. To many, this is a choice that runs counter to much of modern culture’s definition of success. But for Erika, it has been nothing short of life-giving. “I used to think success meant moving out and doing it all on your own,” she reflects. “Now I believe life, especially when you’re raising children, requires a devoted village.”
Her parents welcomed them home without hesitation, creating a space where three generations now live, learn, and grow together. “Being able to share this amount of time with my mom, while watching her bond with my daughter, is a type of love I cannot put into words,” she says.
Motherhood has also given her a new lens through which to see her own mother not just as a parent, but as a woman who carried both responsibility and ambition with strength. “Now I’m wondering where she found the energy,” Erika says. “She’s my biggest motivator whether it’s packing my lunch, being my accountability partner, or simply asking how I’m feeling.”
And then there are the small moments that don’t make headlines, but somehow hold everything. A Sunday morning, a toddler at the breakfast table, pancakes made with MiMi, a grandfather heading out to fish. “To some it’s a simple morning,” Erika says, “but at 35, I know these moments won’t last forever.”
Her awareness of that fleetingness has shaped the way she lives now. Erika is not in pursuit of doing more, but in learning to hold what matters most with intention. Rest, she admits, doesn’t look the way it once did. “Resting and being a toddler mom don’t typically go together,” she says with a smile. But in the midst of it, she’s learning to slow down in smaller ways, to savor the hugs, to release the pressure of perfection, to accept that not every box needs to be checked.
For the woman who doesn’t have the kind of family support Erika returned to, her words are both honest and hopeful. “I’m keenly aware of complex family dynamics,” she says. “Not everyone has that.” Having built community across multiple states, she encourages others to seek connection intentionally. “Find your team. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. So many people are looking for meaningful relationships.”
At the heart of it all is the legacy she hopes to leave for her daughter that isn’t defined by achievement alone, but by presence, love, and the kind of home that always welcomes you back. “I hope she always knows she has a place to return to,” Erika says. “I hope she remembers cooking with her MiMi, fishing with her Pappy, and a childhood full of love. And I hope she saw her mom building a life well lived.”
In a world that often celebrates how far we can go, Erika’s story is a quiet reminder that sometimes the most meaningful journey is the one that leads us home.
The Weekend We Didn’t Know We Needed: A Generations Deep Family Trip to Boathouse Point, Lake Greenwood, South Carolina
Weekend to Boathouse Point, Lake Greenwood, South Carolina, Waterloo, Cross Hill, lake rental, family time, family gathering, boating, fishing
The Weekend We Didn’t Know We Needed: A Family Getaway at Boathouse Point on Lake Greenwood
A few weeks ago, I loaded up the family and headed to a lake house in the middle of South Carolina.
Three generations. Eight people. One waterfront property.
And if I’m being completely honest, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.
As a mother, planner, and someone who often carries the responsibility of making sure everyone enjoys themselves, I spent much of the drive wondering if this would be one of those trips that sounded wonderful in theory but felt stressful in reality.
Thankfully, it was exactly the opposite.
A Season of Transition
What made this trip especially meaningful wasn’t only the absolutely ideal property for connecting but it was also the timing of it all. It was the season our family is currently walking through.
My dad was preparing for a knee revision surgery after spending much of the last year dealing with significant pain and limited mobility.
At the same time, our oldest son recently graduated college early and was preparing to move into his own place. As parents, you spend years preparing your children to launch into adulthood, but no one quite prepares you for how quickly that moment arrives.
Life has been busy. Full. Beautiful. Heavy in places.
And like many families, we found ourselves needing something we didn’t even realize we were missing.
Time together.
The Gift of Slowing Down
Boathouse Point sits on Lake Greenwood and offers the kind of setting that immediately encourages you to slow your pace.
The property features expansive waterfront views, a historic boathouse dating back to the 1950s, and enough shoreline that you never feel crowded or rushed.
But what stood out most wasn’t the property itself- although it’s clearly set up in every perfect way that you honestly could just pack your swim suit, a few snacks & make yourself right at home.
It was what happened because of all the intentionality that the owners have put into making Boathouse Point truly be set apart in a sea of rentals.
Mornings began with coffee on the porch while watching the sun rise over the water.
The kids spent hours kayaking, fishing, and exploring- all of which was provided right there on property.
There were horseshoe games, hammock naps, sunset conversations, and countless moments that would never make an itinerary but somehow become the memories you treasure most.
One of my favorite moments was simply watching my daughters spend time with their grandparents. My son fishing with Grandaddy and games on the screened porch that I used to play as a child.
No phones.
No rushing.
No agenda.
Just conversation, curiosity, and connection.
Vacations Don’t Have to Be Fancy
We often hear messages telling us that meaningful vacations require elaborate plans, expensive destinations, or once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
While those trips can certainly be wonderful, this weekend reminded me of something important:
Meaningful memories are rarely created by luxury alone.
They’re created by presence.
They’re created when families have room to linger over breakfast.
When grandparents tell stories.
When children have the freedom to roam.
When nobody is looking at the clock.
When laughter echoes across the water at sunset.
Some of the richest experiences in life are surprisingly simple.
What I’ll Remember Most
Years from now, I probably won’t remember the trim down the hallway (it was lovely though!) or what tile was in the walk in shower…
But I will remember watching my dad smile as he enjoyed a weekend free from appointments and obligations before surgery.
I will remember seeing our son, standing on the edge of adulthood, laughing with his siblings.
I will remember the quiet mornings.
The dock at sunset and the immeasurable birdsong.
The horseshoe games.
The feeling that, for a brief moment, everyone slowed down enough to simply enjoy one another.
And perhaps that’s the greatest gift any getaway can offer.
Not an escape from life.
A return to what matters most.
If you’re looking for a place to gather your family, reconnect, and embrace a slower pace, Boathouse Point on Lake Greenwood is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the best adventures are found right here in South Carolina.
And sometimes, the trip you almost talked yourself out of becomes the one you’re most grateful you took.
To book your visit to Boathouse Point, visit https://rentallakegreenwoodsc.com
Southern Sandwiches Worth Saving: Three Nostalgic Recipes Every Southern Kitchen Needs
Discover nostalgic Southern sandwich recipes including cucumber sandwiches, old fashioned ham salad, and pineapple cream cheese tea sandwiches. Perfect for church luncheons, baby showers, summer parties, and Southern gatherings from Palmetto & Pine Magazine.
There is something so very comforting about the simple sandwiches Southern women have been making for generations. These are the recipes that showed up at baby showers, church luncheons, beach trips, family reunions, and after-Sunday-service gatherings. They are humble, nostalgic, and somehow always taste like home.
As part of our Southern Recipes Worth Saving series celebrating the release of the brand new Summer Issue of Palmetto & Pine Magazine, I wanted to gather three classic Southern sandwich recipes in one place for you to save and share all summer long.
These are the kinds of recipes worth keeping tucked into a recipe binder beside handwritten church cookbook cards and notes from your grandmother. I hope y’all enjoy!
Classic Southern Cucumber Sandwiches
Soft white bread, creamy spread, and cool cucumbers somehow become something truly special in the South. These little sandwiches are perfect for showers, luncheons, tea parties, or slow summer afternoons on the porch.
Ingredients
1 large English cucumber, thinly sliced
1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon fresh dill (or ½ teaspoon dried dill)
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 loaf soft white sandwich bread
Instructions
In a bowl, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, dill, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Pat cucumber slices dry with paper towels.
Spread cream cheese mixture onto bread slices.
Layer cucumbers evenly over half the slices.
Top with remaining bread and gently press together.
Trim crusts if desired and cut into triangles or finger sandwiches.
Chill before serving.
Southern Tip
Serve these ice cold with sweet tea and fresh fruit for the ultimate Southern luncheon spread.
Old Fashioned Southern Ham Salad Sandwiches
Ham salad may not be trendy, but Southern grandmothers everywhere know this recipe belongs in the hall of fame. It is salty, creamy, nostalgic, and absolutely perfect on soft white bread.
Ingredients
3 cups cooked ham, finely chopped
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
Black pepper to taste
Soft white sandwich bread
Instructions
Combine chopped ham and eggs in a large bowl.
Stir in mayonnaise, relish, mustard, and pepper until fully combined.
Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Spread onto white bread and serve immediately.
Southern Tip
Many Southern families originally made this using leftover Easter or Christmas ham run through an old hand grinder.
Pineapple Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches
If you grew up attending Southern showers, church fellowships, or ladies’ luncheons, chances are you have seen these sweet little sandwiches sitting on a tray somewhere nearby.
Ingredients
1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
1 cup crushed pineapple, very well drained
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
½ cup chopped pecans (optional)
Soft white sandwich bread
Instructions
In a bowl, mix together softened cream cheese, pineapple, mayonnaise, and pecans.
Spread onto slices of white bread.
Top with another slice of bread and gently press together.
Remove crusts and cut into triangles or finger sandwiches.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Southern Tip
These are best served cold straight from the refrigerator during hot Southern summers.
At Palmetto & Pine Magazine, we believe recipes tell stories. They connect generations, preserve traditions, and remind us that some of the very best things in life are simple.
Our brand new Summer Issue is officially hot off the press and filled with even more Southern recipes, sacred stories, beautiful stays, and inspiration for intentional Southern living all across South Carolina.
Subscriptions begin mailing next week, and we would absolutely love for you to grab a copy and follow along with us this summer.
Southern Side Dishes That Taste Like Sunday Dinner
There's something sacred about a table laden with sides. Not the fancy dishes or the ones that take all day to prepare—but the real sides. The ones that show up at church suppers, family reunions, and Sunday dinners where three generations gather around worn wooden tables.
These are the sides people ask for by name. "Make that casserole again," they say. "Remember when we had those potatoes?" These recipes aren't complicated. They're not trying to impress anyone. They're just good—the kind of good that tastes like home and carries the weight of intention behind every bite.
This week, I'm sharing three sides from real Southern families—recipes that have fed generations and that will feed yours. Because feeding your family well isn't just about nutrition. It's about creating moments. It's about building a table where people want to gather.
Easy Pineapple Cheese Casserole
Ingredients
• 2 (8 oz.) cans pineapple chunks
• 2/3 c. sugar
• 5 Tbsp. flour
• 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
• 1 1/2 c. grated sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1 stick butter, melted
Instructions
Drain pineapple chunks and place on bottom of 8 x 8 casserole dish.
Mix together sugar and flour, then sprinkle over pineapple.
Add cheese on top.
Crumble cracker crumbs over cheese.
Pour melted butter over top.
Bake at 350°, uncovered, for 35 to 40 minutes.
Baked Bean Casserole
Ingredients
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can lima beans or butter beans, drained
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can French style green beans, drained
• 1 (15 1/2-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
• 2 cans baked beans
• 1 (4-ounce) jar sliced mushrooms
• 1 pound bacon, crisply fried, crumbled (reserving 2 tablespoons drippings)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Sauté onions in bacon drippings for 15-20 minutes or until tender.
Add brown sugar, mustard, garlic, salt, and vinegar; mix well.
Combine beans and mushrooms in a large baking dish.
Pour sauce over beans.
Sprinkle bacon on top.
Bake uncovered for 1 hour or until longer and soupy.
Yield: 8 servings
Parmesan Potatoes
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 6 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 1/2 cup butter
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine flour, cheese, salt, and pepper in a bag.
Shake to coat potatoes.
Melt butter in 9x13-inch casserole dish.
Place potatoes on top of the butter.
Bake for 45 minutes or until tender, turning potatoes after 10 minutes of baking.
Yield: 10 to 12 servings
Why These Sides Matter
There's a philosophy behind a well-set table. It says: You matter enough for me to slow down. You matter enough for me to gather. You matter enough for me to nourish.
These aren't fancy recipes. They're not trying to be. They're just honest, good food that brings people together. And in a world that moves so fast, that asks so much of us—a table full of sides like these feels like an act of rebellion. An act of love.
If you want to go deeper into this philosophy—if you want to understand the why behind how real women are building intentional lives through faith, family, and the table—the Summer Issue of Palmetto & Pine Magazine is waiting for you.
In this issue, you'll meet women like Kelly Pelfrey, who's learning to balance resilience and joy. Erika, who's building deep family connections. And others who are discovering that feeding their families with intention ripples into every part of their lives.
These aren't just recipes. They're invitations into a way of living that feels more peaceful, more purposeful, more you.
This Week's Challenge
Pick one of these sides. Make it this weekend. Gather people around your table—whether that's your immediate family, extended family, or friends who feel like family.
Notice what happens when you slow down enough to prepare food with intention. Notice the conversations that happen.
Then, if you want more of this—more stories, more strategies, more permission to live intentionally—grab your copy of Palmetto & Pine's Summer Issue.
Because every woman deserves a table, a community, and a magazine that gets it.
Mama’s Recipes Worth Saving: Southern Desserts Passed Down for Generations
My heart has always been to share the kinds of things that make a house feel like home…
and if we’re being honest, nothing does that quite like a well-loved recipe passed down through generations.
There’s something sacred about an old church cookbook.
The slightly worn pages. The familiar names. The recipes that don’t come with long instructions because they were never meant to—they were learned by watching, by doing, by standing shoulder to shoulder in a warm kitchen.
These are the recipes that showed up again and again.
At Sunday lunches. At potlucks. At holidays. At the moments that mattered most.
Not because they were fancy…
but because they were faithful.
Today I’m sharing a handful of those recipes—the ones that feel like they came straight from a mama’s hands or a granny’s kitchen. The kind you don’t want to lose. The kind worth writing down one more time.
So whether you’re baking for your own family or simply holding onto a little piece of the past… I hope you love these as much as we do.
My Mother’s Crisp Crunchie Cookies
Ingredients:
1 stick butter
1 stick margarine
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp vanilla
1 egg, separated
2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
Instructions:
Cream together butter, margarine, and sugar. Add egg yolk and vanilla, mixing well. Add flour and beat until well blended.
Spread thin on an ungreased cookie sheet, allowing mixture to nearly reach the edges. Brush the top with beaten egg white and sprinkle with pecans.
Bake at 325° for 10–12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cut into squares while hot and remove from pan.
Granny’s Chewy Cakes
Ingredients:
1½ sticks margarine
2 cups light brown sugar
2 cups self-rising flour
2 eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
Optional: chopped pecans or chocolate chips
Instructions:
Melt margarine over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Pour into a greased 9x13 pan and spread evenly. Add chocolate chips if desired.
Bake at 325° for 20–30 minutes, or until lightly browned. Do not overbake. Cool completely and cut into squares.
Nana’s Fruit Cobbler
Ingredients:
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 stick butter
2 large cans fruit (peaches or your choice), reserve one can of juice
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375°. Melt butter in a large baking dish.
In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, and milk. Pour mixture over melted butter—do not stir. Spoon fruit over the top and add one can of fruit juice.
Bake for 40–50 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
Mom’s Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup margarine, softened
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2½ cups quick oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream together margarine, peanut butter, and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well.
In a separate bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and stir until combined.
Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten with a fork dipped in sugar to create a crisscross pattern.
Bake for 8–10 minutes. Cool briefly, then transfer to a wire rack.
Granny’s Pecan Pie
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
3 eggs
Pinch of salt
½ stick butter, room temperature
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°. Mix all ingredients together until well combined. Pour into pie crust.
Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until set. Let cool before serving.
Derby Day Favorites: 5 Southern Recipes Worth Saving for Kentucky Derby Weekend
Derby weekend is almost here — and in the South, that means something. Before Kentucky ever claimed the race, South Carolina had horse racing roots going back to the 1700s. This week on the Palmetto & Pine blog, we're celebrating with five recipes made for the occasion: a pitcher-style Mint Julep Punch, Carolina Benedictine Dip, Baked Pimento Cheese Bites in puff pastry, Kentucky Derby Pie Bars with chocolate and pecans, and a Sparkling Peach Mint Mocktail that surprises everyone. All make-ahead friendly and every one worth keeping.
Derby weekend is almost here and in the South, that means something!
Before Kentucky ever claimed the race, South Carolina had horse racing roots going back to the 1700s. The Washington Race Course in Charleston was one of the earliest formal tracks in the entire country. Carolinians were dressing up, gathering together, and celebrating the beauty of the horse long before the Kentucky Derby became a household name. And every spring, Camden's Carolina Cup carries that tradition forward in the most beautiful way. If you've never been, put it on your list.
So this week's Southern Recipes Worth Saving collection is a Derby celebration — Carolina style!
The best Derby parties aren't about perfection. They're about presence — putting something beautiful on the table and gathering the people you love around it. These five recipes will do the heavy lifting. You just show up in your prettiest hat and enjoy the afternoon!
All five full recipes are in this week's newsletter as well and arrive every week straight to your inbox. Not subscribed yet? I'd love to have you — and our Summer Issue releases June 1st!
Southern Recipes Worth Saving: The Salads That Always Make the Table
Discover easy Southern salad recipes including grape salad, ambrosia, pasta salad, and egg salad—perfect make-ahead dishes for potlucks and spring gatherings.
There’s something about a Southern table that doesn’t need explaining.
It’s familiar. It’s welcoming. And more often than not, it’s filled with dishes that have been passed around for years—sometimes without a recipe card in sight.
As we count down to the release of the summer issue of Palmetto & Pine Magazine on June 1st, I wanted to start a simple series—something that felt true to the heart of this community and the way we gather.
Southern Recipes Worth Saving.
Not complicated. Not fussy. Just the kind of recipes that show up again and again… because they work!
This week, we’re starting with the salads that always seem to make their way to the table—whether it’s a church gathering, a spring luncheon, or a weekend with family.
Y’all enjoy!
Window Boxes in Charleston, SC: A Blooming Tradition Rooted in History
Discover the fascinating history of window boxes — from ancient Rome to the streets of historic Charleston, SC. Learn what to plant in your Lowcountry window box and why this centuries-old tradition is still thriving in the Holy City.
If you've ever strolled down a side street in Charleston, South Carolina — past the pastel-painted row houses, the wrought iron gates, and the lush hidden gardens — you've almost certainly stopped to admire a window box. Spilling over with petunias, trailing ivy, sweet potato vine, or maybe a tidy row of fresh herbs, Charleston window boxes are one of the city's most charming and recognizable details.
But these little gardens have a history that goes far deeper than Southern charm. Window boxes are, in fact, one of the oldest gardening traditions in the world.
The Ancient Origins of Window Boxes
Long before they became an Instagram-worthy detail on a Charleston single house, window boxes were a matter of survival.
The earliest evidence of container gardening dates back to ancient Rome — around the first century B.C. — when many Romans lived stacked on top of one another in crowded urban housing not unlike modern apartments. Without yards, without space, without resources, lower-class Roman families used window boxes as an economical way to grow food and medicine right outside their windows. Roman wives, in particular, were known to keep herb boxes close to the window for easy access while cooking and healing. Sound familiar? That story you may have heard — about reaching out the kitchen window to snip fresh herbs for dinner — turns out to be historically true, and thousands of years old.
The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder even wrote nostalgically about villagers whose windows overflowed with colorful plantings. It was clearly a beloved custom even then.
Over time, as Rome's influence spread across Europe, so did the window box. What began as a practical solution to urban crowding gradually evolved into something more beautiful. Flowers replaced some of the vegetables — roses, lilies, violets, and pansies became favorites — and the window box began its long transformation from kitchen garden to decorative art form.
Window Boxes Across Europe
By the 17th and 18th centuries, window boxes had taken root across Europe, each region developing its own distinctive style:
France evolved the window box into elegant wrought iron containers, sometimes so spacious they functioned almost like small balconies.
England favored wire hay baskets mounted to cottage walls, overflowing with trailing flowers.
Italy continued the terra cotta tradition, with rustic clay boxes that still define the look of Tuscan and Roman streetscapes today.
Germany, Holland, and Ireland each developed their own regional styles, turning window boxes into a point of civic and personal pride.
The Victorian era, in particular, was a turning point. Mass production made terracotta and metal planters affordable to the middle class for the first time, and window boxes became nearly ubiquitous across Europe's cities. They were both practical — a way to grow herbs and vegetables in tight quarters — and deeply decorative, a connection to nature in the heart of dense urban environments.
Window Boxes Come to America
Window boxes crossed the Atlantic with European colonists and quickly found a home in America's early cities. In places like Boston's Beacon Hill, where homes were built flush to the street with little or no yard, window boxes became the logical solution for kitchen gardens. Homeowners would plant herbs just outside the window — close enough to reach, practical enough to feed a family.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, window gardening took on an additional dimension in American cities, becoming part of a broader civic beautification movement. Women's groups promoted window gardens as a way to bring color, order, and a sense of community pride to dense urban neighborhoods. "Gardens in a box," as early advocates called them, were seen as a way to connect the private home to the public street — a gift to the passerby as much as the homeowner.
Charleston, SC: A City Made for Window Boxes
Few places in America are better suited to window boxes than Charleston, South Carolina — and that's not an accident.
Charleston's historic architecture, with its iconic single houses, double piazzas, and narrow lots, was practically designed with window boxes in mind. The city's mild climate allows for year-round planting, meaning a well-tended window box in Charleston can be a living, changing work of art through every season. The long, warm growing season supports lush, trailing plants that spill dramatically over the edges of boxes — the kind of overgrown abundance that looks effortless but takes real care.
Walk down any street in the French Quarter, Harleston Village, Ansonborough, or South of Broad, and you'll see window boxes that have been tended for generations. Some are overflowing with seasonal flowers — geraniums, petunias, and sweet alyssum in spring and summer; ornamental kale and pansies in fall and winter. Others hold fragrant herbs: rosemary, basil, thyme, and mint, nodding to that ancient Roman tradition of the kitchen garden outside the window. Charleston's window boxes are as varied as the city itself — some formal and architectural, some wild and romantic, some simple and sweet.
They are, in their own quiet way, a form of storytelling. Each one says something about the person who tends it, the history of the house it adorns, and the neighborhood it belongs to.
What to Plant in a Charleston Window Box
If you're inspired to start your own window box garden here in the Lowcountry, the good news is that Charleston's climate is forgiving and generous. A few tips for local success:
Spring & Summer: Geraniums, lantana, pentas, sweet potato vine, petunias, and vinca all thrive in the heat and humidity. For herbs, basil, rosemary, and mint do beautifully with good drainage and full sun.
Fall & Winter: Swap summer annuals for pansies, ornamental kale, dusty miller, and snapdragons. Rosemary and thyme carry through beautifully into cooler months.
Year-round: Trailing ivy, creeping Jenny, and sweet potato vine add lush texture in any season. Ferns love Charleston's humidity and add a classic Southern touch.
The key to a thriving window box in the Lowcountry is drainage. Charleston summers are hot and wet, and roots that sit in soggy soil won't survive. Always use a quality potting mix, ensure your box has drainage holes, and water consistently but not excessively.
A Living Piece of History
The next time you pause on a Charleston sidewalk to admire a window box — the way the petunias catch the afternoon light, the way the rosemary spills over the edge, the way the whole thing transforms a plain facade into something alive — remember that you're looking at a tradition stretching back more than two thousand years.
From ancient Rome to Victorian England to the streets of the Holy City, the window box has always been about the same thing: the human desire to grow something beautiful, even in a small space. To reach out the window and touch something green. To offer a little color to the world passing by.
Charleston does it better than most. And we're here for it.
The Azalea Mocktail: Augusta's Most Beautiful Drink, Made for Every Table
Make the iconic Azalea mocktail at home just in time for The Masters. This beautiful pink drink is non-alcoholic, easy to batch, and perfect alongside your watch party sandwich spread.
Every April, the azaleas bloom at Augusta National and the whole world turns its attention to a golf course in Georgia. The Green Jacket. The roars from Amen Corner. The perfectly manicured grounds that look almost too beautiful to be real.
And then there's the drink.
Named after the vibrant pink flowers that famously line the Augusta National course, the Azalea is as essential a part of the Masters experience as the mint julep is to the Kentucky Derby. It's bright, it's pink, it tastes like spring and it belongs on your watch party table whether you follow golf or just follow the food.
I've given it a mocktail makeover here, because I believe the most beautiful drinks should be for everyone at the table. This version keeps all the color, all the sweetness, and all the charm.
The Azalea Mocktail Serves 4 — or make it by the pitcher
Ingredients:
2 cups lemonade, fresh-squeezed if you can manage it
1 cup pineapple juice
2 tablespoons grenadine (look for one made without high fructose corn syrup — it makes a difference)
1 cup sparkling water or ginger ale
Ice
Maraschino cherries and lemon slices to garnish
In a large pitcher, combine the lemonade, pineapple juice, and grenadine. Stir gently until the grenadine swirls through and the whole thing turns the most gorgeous shade of blush pink. Just before serving, pour in your sparkling water for a little fizz and give it one more slow stir. Pour over ice in your prettiest glasses and garnish with a cherry and a lemon slice. Serve immediately while it's still cold and the bubbles are still lively.
To make a single glass: combine 4 oz lemonade, 2 oz pineapple juice, and a generous splash of grenadine over ice. Top with a splash of sparkling water and garnish.
A few notes from my kitchen:
On the grenadine: The color of this drink comes entirely from your grenadine, so use a good one. Traditional store-bought grenadine is often made with artificial ingredients and high fructose corn syrup— check the label and reach for something made with real pomegranate if you can find it. Your drink will be richer in color and flavor.
On making it ahead: This mocktail is perfect for a crowd. Mix the lemonade, pineapple juice, and grenadine together up to a day in advance and store it in a pitcher in the refrigerator. Add the sparkling water right before you serve so it stays fizzy.
On the garnish: A maraschino cherry and lemon slice are classic. A fresh sprig of mint makes it feel a little more garden-party. If you happen to have any fresh flowers on your table — even a single bloom from your yard — tuck one nearby and let the presentation do the talking.
Serve it alongside:
This mocktail was made to sit next to a spread of Masters sandwiches — egg salad on soft white bread, pimento cheese piled thick, chicken salad with a little crunch. The tartness of the lemonade cuts right through the richness of the mayo-based salads and the whole thing just works the way good Southern food always does.
The azaleas at Augusta bloom in full every April, right on time for the tournament and this drink blooms right along with them. Whether you're watching every shot from the first tee or just catching the back nine with a glass in hand, this is the drink that belongs in it.
Make a pitcher. Slow down. Let the afternoon be what it is.
🌸 Save this recipe and pair it with our Masters Watch Party Sandwich Salads carousel for the full spread.
5 Compound Butter Recipes to Elevate Everyday Meals at Home
5 Compound Butter Recipes to Elevate Everyday Meals at Home
There’s something timeless about setting a table with intention.
A warm basket of biscuits. A simple roasted chicken. Fresh vegetables pulled from the oven. And right in the center—a small dish of butter.
But not just any butter.
Compound butter.
It’s one of the easiest ways to elevate everyday meals at home, and in a Southern kitchen, it feels like a quiet little luxury—simple, thoughtful, and always worth it.
If you’ve never made your own compound butter, you’re about to discover just how easy (and useful) it really is.
What is Compound Butter?
Compound butter is simply butter mixed with herbs, spices, or sweet ingredients to create a flavored butter that enhances your food.
It can be:
Melted over steak or chicken
Spread onto biscuits or cornbread
Tossed with roasted vegetables
Used to finish seafood or pasta
And the best part? Most compound butter recipes take less than 5 minutes to make.
How to Make Compound Butter (Simple Method)
Start with softened butter
Add your ingredients
Mix until fully combined
Roll into a log using parchment paper (optional)
Refrigerate until firm
Slice and serve whenever you want to make a meal feel a little more special.
5 Easy Compound Butter Recipes to Try
1. Honey Cinnamon Butter (Perfect for Biscuits & Breakfast)
A Southern staple that feels right at home on any breakfast table.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup softened butter
2 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch sea salt
Instructions:
Mix until smooth and creamy. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.
Best served with: biscuits, cornbread, pancakes, or sweet potatoes
2. Garlic Herb Butter (Steakhouse Favorite at Home)
Savory, rich, and incredibly versatile.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup softened butter
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
1 tsp lemon juice
pinch sea salt
Instructions:
Mix well, then roll into a log using parchment paper. Refrigerate until firm.
Best served with: steak, chicken, roasted vegetables, or warm bread
3. Lemon Dill Butter (Fresh & Bright for Seafood)
Light, citrusy, and perfect for spring and summer meals.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup softened butter
1 tbsp fresh dill
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp lemon juice
pinch sea salt
Instructions:
Stir together and chill until firm.
Best served with: fish, shrimp, asparagus, or rice
4. Maple Pecan Butter (A Cozy Southern Favorite)
Sweet, nutty, and perfect for slow mornings or holiday tables.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup softened butter
1 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp finely chopped pecans
pinch cinnamon
pinch sea salt
Instructions:
Mix thoroughly and refrigerate before serving.
Best served with: biscuits, toast, waffles, or baked sweet potatoes
5. Hot Honey Butter (Sweet Heat Southern Favorite)
A bold, slightly spicy butter that takes simple dishes to the next level.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup softened butter
2 tbsp honey
1/2–1 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
pinch sea salt
Instructions:
Mix until smooth and creamy. Chill slightly or serve softened.
Best served with: biscuits, fried chicken, cornbread, roasted vegetables, or sandwiches
Why You Should Keep Compound Butter in Your Fridge
If you’re looking for a simple way to make meals feel more intentional without adding extra work, this is it.
Compound butter:
Comes together in minutes
Elevates even the simplest meals
Stores well in the fridge or freezer
Adds flavor without complicated recipes
It’s one of those small, thoughtful touches that makes home feel warm and welcoming.
A Final Note from My Kitchen to Yours
Around here, we believe that home doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful.
Sometimes it’s lighting a candle at dinner.
Sometimes it’s setting the table just because.
And sometimes—it’s as simple as a slice of butter melting over a warm biscuit.
Save This for Later
Keep these easy compound butter recipes on hand for:
Sunday suppers
Dinner with friends
Holiday gatherings
Weekend brunch
Or simply making a weeknight meal feel special
Looking for More Southern Recipes?
If you love simple, elevated recipes like this, you’ll find more inside Palmetto & Pine Magazine—where we share Southern stories, meaningful stays, and recipes designed to help you live well right where you are.
5 Easy Spring Sheet Pan Dinners for Busy Weeknights
5 simple spring sheet pan dinners including chicken, steak, salmon, Mediterranean chicken, and shrimp fajitas. Easy one-pan meals perfect for busy families.
As the days grow longer and the evenings warmer here in the South, dinner tends to shift toward meals that feel lighter, simpler, and easier to prepare.
One of my favorite ways to bring a nourishing meal to the table without spending the entire evening in the kitchen is with sheet pan dinners. Everything cooks together on one pan, the flavors blend beautifully, and cleanup takes just minutes.
These five spring-inspired sheet pan dinners are perfect for busy weeknights when you want something wholesome without the hassle.
Lemon Garlic Chicken & Spring Vegetables
This bright, fresh dinner feels like spring on a plate.
Ingredients
2 lbs chicken thighs
1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
1 cup baby potatoes, halved
3 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh thyme
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Toss potatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a sheet pan and roast for 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven and add the chicken and asparagus. Drizzle everything with remaining olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and thyme.
Return to the oven and roast for 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken is golden and cooked through.
Sheet Pan Steakhouse Dinner
This meal brings the flavors of a steakhouse dinner home with very little effort.
Ingredients
1½ lbs flank steak, sliced into strips
1 lb baby potatoes
1 cup mushrooms
1 red onion, sliced
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
Salt and pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Toss potatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Roast on a sheet pan for 15 minutes.
Add the steak, mushrooms, and onions to the pan. Return to the oven and cook another 10–12 minutes, until steak reaches desired doneness.
Serve with fresh parsley and a small pat of butter if desired.
Honey Dijon Salmon with Spring Vegetables
This sheet pan dinner is light, flavorful, and perfect for warmer evenings.
Ingredients
4 salmon fillets
1 cup snap peas
1 cup sliced carrots
1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Toss snap peas and carrots with olive oil and spread onto a sheet pan. Roast for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix honey, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice.
Remove pan from oven and place salmon fillets on the sheet pan. Brush each fillet generously with the honey Dijon sauce.
Return to oven and bake for 12–15 minutes, until salmon flakes easily with a fork.
Mediterranean Chicken Sheet Pan
This meal brings bright Mediterranean flavors to a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
2 lbs chicken breasts
1 cup cherry tomatoes
½ red onion, sliced
½ cup olives
1 zucchini, sliced
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Arrange chicken, tomatoes, onion, olives, and zucchini on a sheet pan.
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Bake for 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
Finish with crumbled feta and fresh parsley.
Shrimp Fajita Sheet Pan
This quick and flavorful meal is perfect for taco night.
Ingredients
1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 onion, sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp taco seasoning
Juice of ½ lime
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Toss peppers and onions with olive oil and taco seasoning. Spread onto a sheet pan and roast for 10 minutes.
Add shrimp to the pan and return to the oven for 12–15 minutes, until shrimp are pink and cooked through.
Serve with warm tortillas, avocado, and fresh cilantro.
A Note From My Kitchen
Simple dinners like these are part of the heartbeat behind Palmetto & Pine Magazine — helping women create homes that feel warm, welcoming, and nourishing without adding more stress to an already full day.
If you love recipes like these, you’ll find even more intentional meals, Southern stories, and home inspiration inside the Spring Issue of Palmetto & Pine.
A Southern St. Patrick’s Day Menu: Easy Green Recipes for Your Holiday Table
Looking for St. Patrick’s Day recipes with Southern charm? This Southern St. Patrick’s Day menu features broccoli salad, Watergate salad, pesto chicken pasta, collard greens, cucumber salad, and key lime pound cake for a festive green holiday table.
If the internet had its way, St. Patrick’s Day would always involve corned beef and cabbage.
But if you grew up in the South, you know that our tables tend to look a little different.
Around here, a proper green holiday meal might include a bowl of creamy broccoli salad, a dish of pistachio fluff that somehow qualifies as a “salad,” a pot of slow-simmered greens, and something comforting baked in the oven. Southern cooking has a way of turning simple ingredients into something that feels warm, familiar, and meant to be shared.
This year, if you're looking for Southern St. Patrick’s Day recipes, here’s a menu full of green dishes that feel festive while still honoring the kinds of foods that show up at church potlucks, family gatherings, and Sunday dinners across the South.
Whether you're hosting friends, cooking for your family, or just enjoying the early hints of spring, this Southern-style St. Patrick’s Day menu is simple, comforting, and full of flavor.
Southern St. Patrick’s Day Menu
☘️ Classic Southern Broccoli Salad
☘️ Watergate Salad (Pistachio Fluff)
☘️ Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta
☘️ Slow-Cooked Southern Collard Greens
☘️ Creamy Cucumber Salad
☘️ Key Lime Pound Cake
Let’s start with one of the most beloved dishes in Southern kitchens.
Classic Southern Broccoli Salad
If you’ve ever attended a church potluck in the South, you’ve probably seen a bowl of broccoli salad sitting proudly on the table. It’s creamy, crunchy, salty, and just a little sweet — the kind of dish that disappears quickly.
Ingredients
5 cups fresh broccoli florets, chopped
½ cup cooked bacon crumbles
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup diced red onion
½ cup sunflower seeds
Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine the chopped broccoli, bacon crumbles, shredded cheddar cheese, red onion, and sunflower seeds.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and toss until everything is evenly coated.
Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving so the flavors have time to come together.
Watergate Salad (The Classic Green Dessert)
Watergate Salad has been a Southern favorite for decades. Despite its name, it’s really a fluffy dessert that combines pistachio pudding, pineapple, marshmallows, and whipped topping into a sweet and creamy dish that’s perfect for spring gatherings.
Ingredients
1 package pistachio instant pudding mix
1 can crushed pineapple (with juice)
1 cup mini marshmallows
½ cup chopped pecans
1 container whipped topping (Cool Whip)
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the pistachio pudding mix with the crushed pineapple and its juice. Stir until the pudding begins to thicken.
Fold in the mini marshmallows, chopped pecans, and whipped topping until everything is well combined.
Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving.
Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta
For a warm main dish that still keeps the St. Patrick’s Day theme, this creamy pesto chicken pasta brings together tender chicken, fresh spinach, and bright basil pesto.
Ingredients
1 pound pasta
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
½ cup basil pesto
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup heavy cream
1 cup fresh spinach
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Cook the pasta according to package directions and drain.
In a large skillet over medium heat, combine the pesto and heavy cream. Stir until warmed through.
Add the shredded chicken and fresh spinach to the skillet and cook until the spinach begins to wilt.
Toss the cooked pasta with the sauce mixture and finish with grated Parmesan cheese.
Slow-Cooked Southern Collard Greens
Collard greens are a staple across the South and make a wonderful addition to a St. Patrick’s Day meal thanks to their deep green color and rich flavor.
Ingredients
1 large bunch collard greens, washed and chopped
4 slices bacon
1 small onion, diced
3 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of sugar
Instructions
In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pot.
Add the diced onion and cook until softened.
Add the chopped collard greens and chicken broth. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Cover and cook for about 45 minutes to an hour until the greens are tender.
Finish with apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and a small pinch of sugar. Crumble the bacon back into the pot before serving.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
This light and refreshing cucumber salad balances out the richer dishes on the table and adds another fresh green element to the meal.
Ingredients
3 cucumbers, thinly sliced
½ red onion, thinly sliced
½ cup sour cream
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
In a bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper.
Add the sliced cucumbers and red onion and toss until well coated.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Key Lime Pound Cake
For dessert, a bright and citrusy key lime pound cake brings a beautiful spring flavor to the table.
Ingredients
1 box pound cake mix
½ cup key lime juice
1 tablespoon lime zest
½ cup sour cream
3 eggs
Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons key lime juice
Instructions
Preheat the oven according to the cake mix instructions.
Combine the cake mix, key lime juice, lime zest, sour cream, and eggs in a mixing bowl and beat until smooth.
Pour the batter into a greased loaf or bundt pan and bake according to package directions.
Once cooled, whisk together powdered sugar and key lime juice and drizzle the glaze over the cake.
Bringing a Little Southern Charm to St. Patrick’s Day
Holidays in the South often become less about tradition and more about gathering people around the table with good food and warm conversation.
Whether it’s a bowl of broccoli salad that reminds you of childhood potlucks or a slice of key lime pound cake shared on the porch in early spring, these dishes bring a little extra charm to the season.
And sometimes, celebrating a holiday simply means enjoying a table full of food that feels familiar.
✨ If you love Southern recipes, charming homes, and meaningful stories from across South Carolina, you’ll find even more inside the latest issue of Palmetto & Pine Magazine.
Inside the spring issue you’ll find:
• seasonal Southern recipes
• beautiful places to visit across South Carolina
• stories of renewal and intentional living
• ideas for creating a home that feels peaceful and welcoming
Shop above and make the SPRING ISSUE yours today!
A Stay at Hotel Domestique: A Luxury Blue Ridge Mountain Getaway in Travelers Rest, South Carolina
A stay at Hotel Domestique in Travelers Rest, SC. A luxury Blue Ridge Mountain getaway near Greenville perfect for romantic weekends or quiet resets.
If you’ve spent any time researching romantic getaways in South Carolina or boutique hotels near Greenville, chances are you’ve come across Hotel Domestique.
It’s known for destination weddings, luxury cycling retreats, and its European-inspired design tucked into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
But I want to show you something different.
Where Is Hotel Domestique?
Hotel Domestique is located in Travelers Rest, South Carolina — just outside Greenville in the Upstate. Perched against the Blue Ridge Mountains, the property feels distinctly European, yet unmistakably Southern in its hospitality.
From the moment you turn onto the winding drive, the world slows.
Stone architecture. Courtyard fountains. Wide mountain views that stretch farther than your to-do list.
If you’re searching for:
A luxury hotel near Greenville, SC
A romantic weekend getaway in the Blue Ridge Mountains
A boutique hotel in Travelers Rest
A peaceful retreat in Upstate South Carolina
This one belongs on your list.
What Makes Hotel Domestique Different?
Yes, it’s popular for cycling enthusiasts and weddings.
But here’s what doesn’t get talked about enough:
It is a place to reset your nervous system.
The rooms are intentionally quiet. Many have private balconies overlooking the mountains. The courtyard feels like Tuscany without the passport. Even dinner on property feels celebratory without requiring an occasion.
This isn’t a place to perform.
It’s a place to exhale.
For mothers who build homes.
For entrepreneurs building businesses.
For couples who need to reconnect.
For women who simply need a pause.
And in a culture that glorifies busy, that pause feels radical.
A Romantic Getaway in South Carolina That Feels European
One of the reasons Hotel Domestique stands out among South Carolina luxury stays is its design.
The architecture and courtyard evoke a European countryside escape. You could easily imagine yourself in Italy or France — yet you’re only minutes from downtown Travelers Rest and the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
That blend of refinement and accessibility is rare.
You can:
Enjoy a quiet morning coffee overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains
Take a scenic drive through the Upstate
Explore Travelers Rest’s charming downtown
Return for an elevated dinner without ever leaving the property
It feels curated without feeling complicated.
Is Hotel Domestique Worth It?
If you’re looking for:
A romantic weekend getaway in South Carolina
A solo retreat near Greenville
A peaceful Upstate mountain hotel
A luxury boutique experience that feels intimate
Yes.
But not just because it’s beautiful.
Because it gives you something many places don’t: margin.
And margin is a gift.
Final Thoughts: Slow Is a Strategy
We often think of rest as indulgent.
But what if it’s wise?
What if slowing down in the Blue Ridge foothills isn’t escape — but alignment?
Hotel Domestique isn’t just a destination wedding venue or cycling retreat.
It’s a place to remember who you are when the noise fades.
And sometimes that’s the most luxurious thing of all.
Four Picnic Ideas for Every Season of Life (Southern-Inspired Picnic Plans in South Carolina)
Four Southern picnic ideas for kids, families, couples, and girlfriends. Easy picnic menus perfect for parks, lake days, or mountain getaways in South Carolina.
When I was growing up in the Upstate of South Carolina, my daddy was a preacher. Sundays were full & my Mama had it right grabbing that Family Chicken Dinner and slowing things down.
Paper napkins. Sweet tea. Feeding the ducks.
No Pinterest boards.
No curated baskets.
Just time together.
And I think somewhere along the way, we complicated something that was always meant to be simple.
So here are four Southern-inspired picnic ideas — whether you’re heading to a park in Travelers Rest, gathering at the lake, planning a romantic overlook, or meeting girlfriends just because.
1. The Kid-Friendly Weekday Park Picnic
Perfect for after-school afternoons or summer splash pad days.
What to Pack:
Fried chicken tenders
Watermelon slices
Cheddar cubes
Mini croissants
Applesauce pouches
Lemonade
This picnic works because it’s easy to clean up and easy to eat. Think practical, not precious.
Best for:
Local parks in Greenville or Columbia
Playground meetups
Casual weekday outings
2. The Classic Southern Sunday Picnic
This one honors tradition.
What to Pack:
Crispy fried chicken (homemade or store-bought)
Potato salad
Deviled eggs
Fresh sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper
Sweet tea
Banana pudding in jars
This is the picnic that feels like church clothes rolled up at the sleeves and cousins running barefoot.
Best for:
Sunday afternoons
Lake Murray
Family reunions
Post-church gatherings
3. The Romantic Couples Picnic in the Blue Ridge Mountains
If you’re staying near Travelers Rest or planning a weekend getaway in the Upstate, this one’s for you.
What to Pack:
Charcuterie board (prosciutto, brie, olives)
Fresh baguette
Grapes or figs
Sparkling water or wine
Dark chocolate
Keep it minimal and elevated.
Spread a neutral blanket. Let golden hour do the work.
Perfect for:
Blue Ridge overlooks
Mountain sunset views
A quiet afternoon near your hotel
4. The Girlfriend Gathering Picnic
Because sometimes you need conversation more than a reservation.
What to Pack:
Chicken salad croissants
Caprese skewers
Pasta salad with vinaigrette
Strawberries and whipped cream
Rosé or sparkling lemonade
This is the picnic that turns into two hours of laughter and real talk.
Perfect for:
Birthday gatherings
Book clubs
Midweek reset afternoons
Why Picnics Still Matter
In a world that pushes us toward restaurants, reservations, and curated experiences, a picnic quietly says:
We don’t need much.
Just a blanket.
A little food.
And each other.
Whether you’re staying in Travelers Rest, exploring the Upstate, or simply heading to your neighborhood park — picnics remind us that joy doesn’t require extravagance.
It requires intention.