Butterfly Baby Shower

Better late than never! Earlier this month I hosted a butterfly-themed baby shower for one of the expecting coaches I used to work with. It was a lot of fun having the kids and parents over to help celebrate, and we timed it just right--her baby was born two days later!

Johns Island Farmer's Market

My sleepy little island community has a farmer's market! A pretty good one at that. There were people selling crafts, local wine, butter, cheese, honey, cookies, flowers, everything. Beautiful weather and lots of local goodies. I'll be back!

Hotlanta

Oh Atlanta, how I love to hate you. Maybe it's the traffic. Maybe it's the dirty slushy snow and cold. Maybe it's the crowds. Whatever it is, I always find driving through downtown ATL to be a hassle (except at 5 a.m. when this was taken).

But I love my cheerleaders, so I'm willing to deal with the city, and the five hours it takes to get there. Luckily the roads were safe and I left early from work so I could take my time getting in. I went to the World Congress Center before the hotel to get familiar with parking and the building layout. Apparently so did thousands of other people. It was PACKED. CheerSport Nationals brings 1,000+ teams from all over, and it's a dizzying array of athletics and glitter. Our kids kicked butt during the two day competition, and despite the 4:30 a.m. wake-up call the first morning, it was an amazing trip. Go WolfPack!

Sweet Potato Hash

It was one of those 'make enough for the entire week' kind of nights. Started with an old favorite, sweet potatoes steamed in veggie broth, with some kale and black beans added at the last minute (along with some chilli powder, garlic salt, and red pepper).

While this would have been good on it's own, I also added in some wild rice, a big container of pico de gallo, and leftover cheese cubes to stretch it a little further. Topped it off with a dab of Greek yogurt (my faux sour cream) and it was good to go!

Salad with a View

I've been sick for nearly a week and am finally turning the corner. Thought my immune system could use a little help so I ordered up some Dellz Deli. Love this place. Everything is made with love, and there are tons of veggie and GF options. They even made my favorite wrap into a salad. Bam!

After being cooped up in the house all week, I decided to have a picnic by Brittlebank Park downtown. Can't beat the view (or the nice weather we've been having lately)!

Eggplant Parm

My sister over for dinner and we decided to whip up some eggplant Parmesan. Oh how I wish I'd remembered to take an after picture! The gluten free version involves peeling and slicing a large eggplant, then salting both sides of the slices and letting them sit on paper towels for a bit (this supposedly pulls out some of the bitterness and helps flavor them), then patting them dry, dipping the slices in egg, rolling them in cornmeal (mixed with Italian seasoning and shredded Parmesan), then placing them on a baking sheet. They cooked at 375 for about 20 minutes (until they started browning). They were finished off with some tomato sauce and additional cheese, and would be great over GF pasta too.

For a side we chopped up a whole zucchini, a yellow squash, a red pepper, and an onion and sauteed the veggies with pesto and a can of kidney beans. I threw a little goat cheese on top before serving.

Bench Makeover

A year or so ago I got this bench and two chairs from the Habitat store for $40. They've been on the back patio getting minimal use since then. We finally ponied up for some nicer Adirondack chairs and I gave this one a make-over before sticking it on the front porch. The chairs were also sprayed, topped with pillows, and sold on Craigs List.

Before picture to come!

World's Best Spinach Dip

No exaggeration, this stuff is off the chain. It's my go-to party app. And so easy! I think it was a Martha Stewart recipe originally but I've tweaked it over the years. I've made it three times in the last month and am not tired of it yet!

Ingredients
1/3 cup mayo
1/3 cup Greek yogurt
Garlic (chopped, paste, salt, whatever you've got)
1 tub of grated Parmesan cheese
2 cans of drained, chopped artichoke hearts
6 oz.(ish) of frozen spinach

Combine everything in a big mixing bowl, transfer to a baking dish. Salt and pepper it up. I like to microwave it for about five minutes and finish it in the oven for about 10-15 minutes. Throw some extra cheese on top if you're feeling it. Serve hot with tortilla chips (gluten free) or Ritz crackers (buttery deliciousness).

Sweet Radish

When I grow up I want to be able to bake stuff as awesome as Sweet Radish (Charleston's only GF bakery). It's the cutest little shop and they always have the best stuff. Totally my baking inspiration. Below are a marshmallow S'mores cupcake, a PB&J mini-cake, and a vanilla cupcake (that is seriously better than a non-GF cupcake...how is that possible???). Now if only I could get them to stay open later...

Sushi Kick

I've been on a big sushi kick lately. Can't get enough of it! Have had it for lunch multiple times in the last week (delicious, but not so good for the wallet).

Sashimi and Hulk Roll....nom nom nom nom nom....

Basil

My favorite Thai restaurant in Charleston is Basil, hands down. I loved the first thing I ordered there (Pad Woon Sen with tofu) so much, that I've gotten it every single time since. I noticed on the menu now that my fav, despite being made with rice noodles, isn't gluten free. So I tried the Masaman Curry with tofu. Served with steamed rice, it was tasty and reheated nicely for lunch the next day.