A year ago we decided to live up the summer and invite all of our friends to a big backyard low country boil party.
The mosquitoes thought that meant them too, so this year we held the event in May in hopes of a picture-perfect day. While we did not get the weather we had hoped for (Mother Nature is sticking to her guns with this Worst Spring Ever business), we had an awesome turnout out friends and plenty of shrimp, kielbasa, corn and potatoes (and beer!) to go around.
Second Annual Low Country Boil Party
The Party Setup
This event was sponsored by Great Harvest Bread Co.! Har har.
It was nice to have the tent because it kept everything safe from the swirling misty rain.
We prepped all afternoon. Note my new heritage collection ball jars!
They are more blue than teal compared to the antique version pictured here, but I still love them.
Snack mixes from NatureBox!
Fruit salad
The Low Country Bar
We had three kinds of beer – a Monk’s Bread Multigrain Belgian, a Multigrain IPA and a Jalapeno IPA, which I think stole the show. Matt hit it out of the park with that one! It has all the flavor of jalapeno without toooo much spice. We also had a keg of sparkling water.
Pot Luck Side Dishes
Our friends brought so many delicious dishes – this is a snapshot of just the ones there before we dove in, but many more yummy things arrived.
How To Do A Low Country Boil Party Pot
Soon enough it was time to dump out the low country boil. Find a home brewing pot. Fill with water and boil. Add ingredients. Drain water through pot hose. Dump!!
Always a fun sight to see. Dig in!!! {And here’s my low country boil recipe for the stove top}
Guests
We had lots of babies in attendance this year : )
And Mazen had a blast playing with Karen and Tracy!
The Dessert Table
This is the dessert table also before the gaps were filled in completely. So many amazing things to taste!
We had over 50 people in attendance – can’t wait to do it again next year!
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says
What a fun, colorful event! I love your invite, too. Your backyard is perfect for parties!
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! says
MMMMMM! Everything looks so good! Especially the boil itself! I’ve still yet to make one but I love all the ingredients that go into it…it’s just a matter of me buying them all at once and boiling them up! Need to do this this summer for sure! 🙂
Lynn @ the actor's diet says
I still wanna do one of these one day! They look like so much fun.
Mara says
Great party! I would love for you to do a post about prepping, planning, organizing for entertaining. How do you setup tables with food, drinks, plates, utensils, etc? How do you choose your guest list? Where is the invite from? Any tips you can share about entertaining would be fun to know.
KathEats says
That would make a fun post. Except every party is different! The invite is Paperless Post, which I LOVE for party planning!
Natalie @ FreshLifeFindings says
This looks like so much fun! I want to do a backyard party this summer asap!
Jeri says
We did one last yeah for the GT vs VT game as a way to welcome
Georgia to VT. OMG!!!! That was my first one and it was delicious! Havent done one since. I need to. Maybe an end of summer party. After I find those ball mason jars ????
jillian says
you always inspire me to entertain more! I have a great backyard, i need to get my act together!!! It looks like a fantastic party.
Carly @ Snack Therapy says
So fun! That invite has to be the cutest thing ever. I don’t even like seafood (and I live in California) and I want to have a low country boil. Something’s not right with this picture ; ).
kristen @ verbs and vignettes says
I love it!! looks like you had a blast even with the less-than-perfect weather. 🙂 the invitations are awesome. I emailed great invitations to a party last year from red stamp, but it didn’t handle rsvps.
I wonder how I could do a vegetarian boil. haha.
Beth @ Mangoes and Miles says
OHMYGOODNESS THAT GIANT MOUND OF FOOD LOOKS LIKE THE MOST AMAZING THING EVER. And the desserts. Oh my!
I agree, it has been a pretty terrible spring. And even so, my allergies are worse than ever. Mother Nature, what gives? It sounds like y’all had a blast though!
Sami says
The get-together looks like great fun. You are a wonderful host….and the cute graphics on the invite had me thinking you were serving crawfish. As a Louisiana gal, I was all excited but reading on I see it was shrimp…still delicious…but shrimp definitely don’t have pinchers! lol
Lindsay says
As always, your photos are truly beautiful. Looks like a fun {and delicious} time! Seafood is one of my favorites to cook during the Summer.
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
Oh my gosh that looks like SO much fun!!!
Kieran says
Kath, what a fabulous party!! We call it Frogmore Stew. I live here in the Lowcountry–Charleston, SC! We always get our shrimp fresh off the dock. The combination of flavors is always scrumptious! Where do you get your shrimp?
KathEats says
We got them from a local seafood shop – they were USA low country wild caught : ) Would love to get them right off the docks!
Kieran says
That’s so nice of you to support the USA shrimping industry! I know our local shrimping families appreciate it. :>)
Alex says
Jalapeno IPA??? Sounds awesome! Can Matt share the recipe??
Matt says
I brewed an IPA and fully fermented it, crash cooled, and racked to a keg. I actually made a 5gal keg of regular IPA and 2.5gal of Jalapeno in a small keg. I cut one jalapeno in quarters length-wise and put in a hop sack, tied secure with dental floss (everything sanitized well) and then dunked in the 2.5gal keg. I figured it would take 3-5 days, but decided to taste it at 24 hours and it was perfect. Lots of pepper flavor and a nice lingering spice in the aftertaste. I removed the jalapeno sack at 24 hours. Then, I dry-hopped in the keg for 7 days before the party.
If you’re going to do this, just remember that jalapenos can vary wildly with spiciness so you need to taste frequently.
alex says
I will pass this on to my husband, thanks!
Lea says
Maybe an odd question… but how do you drain off the water before you pour the food out on the table?
KathEats says
Great question!! That’s the beauty of using Matt’s beer keg kettle – it drains off from the bottom with a hose so we don’t have to tip boiling water over
Dani says
Where did he find this kettle?? My hubby brews and we are searching high and low for one. Stainless?
Ashli @ But What About Protein says
Your garden is gorgeous! And I love the blue mason jars – I just bought a couple myself. I’m using them as vases – they look so pretty!
Jane @ Not Plain So Jane says
It looks like you still managed to be outside which is nice! Misty May is still probably better than late summer in VA!
Mel says
That is such a cool invitation!
Lisa says
What a fun party! I would love to try to make the ‘boil’…not sure I have a large enough container but I’ll do my best!
[email protected] says
So fun just dumping it out on the table for everyone to dig in! That bundt cake would definitely be my go to on the dessert table!
Tracy says
What a fun party! I’d love to do this for our family reunion this summer!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Sounds like fun! And with a TON of delicious things to eat too!
cathy says
What a good idea! Now I’m rethinking the usual 4th of July BBQ menu. 🙂
Jenn says
Love the jars! When will you do a skincare post?
KathEats says
I have a beauty line review coming up and a make-up one in the works – probalby a few more weeks
Karen says
Hey Kath – On a similar note, remember that comprehensive sunscreen primer you did last year in anticipation of the arrival of your lil’ guy? I recall you made a few modifications to those recommendations based on reader input, and likely have made some since then. I’d really enjoy an updated version of that primer as I (and likely others) are on the hunt for the safest, most natural and least irritating products out there. It would be great if you alleviate the some of pain of the yearly vetting process. I remember you found quite a few bargains too – all the better for slathering it on like there’s no tomorrow! 🙂
Lea says
Oh, and totally unrelated, but a while back you posted about a dinner event where they served “milk and sugar pie”, and you linked to a site that had a recipe. I tried it out (maybe I searched for a similar recipe–that website’s recipe was incomplete but it’s not hard to figure out) and got rave reviews. It’s like a sweet quiche! Have you tried making it?
KathEats says
I haven’t tried making it, but it tasted amazing!
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
I am SO sad to have had to miss this because I was at BLEND–not that I didn’t have so much fun there :)–but I did get to try a jalapeno beer in Utah, so it’s…almost the same thing?
Samantha @ Sweetly Striving says
Everything looks so yummy!
Cait @ Dare to Move. says
I have only been to a low country boil once, but I absolutely loved it! Always offers a little something for everyone. I’m glad that y’all had a fun time despite the drizzle!
Chelsea @ Designs on Dinner says
Mmm….low country boil just screams summer. Looks like a fab party!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Oh I LOVE this! Low Country Boils are a favorite here! Our family loves them! The left overs make amazing the most amazing chowder.
Double Dippers says
Love the idea of making the Low Country Boil an annual event with friends! We do a boil last summer at our lake home and it’s always was much fun! You’ve inspired us to turn it into an annual event!
Double Dippers says
Love the idea of making the Low Country Boil an annual event with friends! We did a boil last summer at our lake home and it was so much fun! You’ve inspired us to turn it into an annual event!
Emily @ The Sunny Studio says
I love the rustic nature of this party, especially with the boil simply poured out on a table cloth! And what yummy sides and desserts that everyone brought. A lovely summer shindig 🙂
Katherine says
What a great idea!
http://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com
Lee says
This looks like so much fun. My husband and I are building a new deck (well, when I say we, I really mean him!) and really want to do one of these when it’s done.
Michele says
Another fabulous party idea! Thank you for sharing all the great photos.
Christina @ The Beautiful Balance says
My cousins are from South Carolina and do a boil twice a year. Such a great way to get everyone together with a casual feel.
Lisa @bitesforbabies says
I’m dying to go down south and try one of these “boils!” I see them on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives all the time, lol!!
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
It looks like a lovely and successful party! I love those mason jars! I’ve always wanted to get into the whole mason jar thing now that they have colors, it’s even more of an incentive for me to get some 🙂
Alyssa @ Road to RD says
What a great looking party! Delicious food too!
joelle @on a pink typewriter says
How fun! I like the colored Ball jars you used.
Andy says
This looks like such a satisfying event. 50 people is a huge turnout! I love all of the baby pictures. I have a four month old boy and can’t wait to show him off at all of the summer festivities. The food looks amazing too! I was practically drooling while reading your blog post. Keep up the good work.
Nina @ Too Hottie For That Body says
Jalapeno IPA?! Add a little tomato juice and you would have the yummiest red draw ever! This is an original drink from Wichita Falls TX (my home town) you should give it a shot. You’ll love it 🙂
Mandie Marie @ The Fruitful Turtle says
I love those Ball jars! Thanks for posting where to buy them 🙂 The party looks like it was so much fun!
J @ Chocolate Covered Chickpeas says
Everything looks delicious! I’ve never had a low country boil before, but now it’s on my bucket list!
Neil Butterfield says
What a great idea! I am sure that everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly.
Amanda - Small Home Big Start says
New blue mason jars! Thanks for putting them side-by-side with the vintage one. I spotted them online a few weeks ago, but I wasn’t sure about the colour.
Kim says
This past Thanksgiving my whole family gathered at the beach and had a non-traditional dinner: low-country boil. The next morning, my sister-in-law diced/sliced/peeled the leftover potatoes, corn, sausage and shrimp and pan sauteed them in a little butter. As many LC boils as we have had, I had never had it or thought about it as breakfast. But it was SO GOOD and another great way to use up the leftovers!
Kate says
Hi!
Great pics and am really curious about what the vessels are that you’re cooking in? They are cool looking and would love to buy a couple-thanks!
KathEats says
They are Matt’s big brew kettles – old kegs
Erin says
What a fun party! I am hosting a low country boil couples shower for 50 people. I would love to know how much food/spices went into the boil!!! I already have the same mason jars and tablecloths!! Great minds think alike! Thanks so much for any help!
KathEats says
I’m pretty sure we did: 7 pounds Kielbasa and 12 pounds of shrimp for a guest list of 60ish. We had a good amount of leftovers, so it seemed to be plenty. I think we did half an ear of corn per person and one small or half a large potato per person. We just dumped in lots of lemons and old bay until it seemed flavorful!