12 Gluten-Free Dishes for Summer Cook Outs

Here is a quick little gluten free round-up for you guys!  I love summer food.  Grilling out, sitting on the patio, fading light and fireflies, big glasses of iced tea... Plus, even desserts tend to be lighter and fresher in the summertime.  Hope that your holiday weekend is filled with family, friends, and lots of good food!

1. Chipotle Rubbed Texas Brisket

2. Heart-Stopping Berry Pie

3. Toasted Coconut-Lime Cupcakes with Coconut Clotted Cream 

4. Homemade Turkey Burgers with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Basil

5. Mango-Strawberry Ice Cream (Delicious, but please ignore my horrific photos...)

6. Roasted Corn & Poblano Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

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27 Weeks

I really can't believe that we are coming to the close of the second trimester.  In just a few months, Jason and I will have a kid.  That completely blows my mind.

How far along: 27 weeks yesterday!

Weight gain: 20 whopping pounds! Ugh!  I hate that moment at the doctor's when I climb on the scale.  It's all for a good cause right?  After my last post, so many moms came up to me to encourage me that the weight really does come off faster than you think it will. I was so grateful for their encouragement since I feel like a small continent.

Clothes: Lots of dress, shorts, skirts, bikinis... Pants tend to be too clingy and warm in the humidity and it's not even June yet. Leggings... unacceptable. I will probably just run around naked in August.  

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roasted corn & poblano salad with lime vinaigrette

Memorial Day cookouts are and should be a summer side dish extravaganza. Pasta salads, potato salads, coleslaw, vegetable platters, chips and salsa, chips and ranch dip, fruit salad, fruit pizza, watermelon... You name it and you will probably find it alongside a hamburger or hotdog this weekend. I got to admit I kinda love that about cookouts. I love taking a bite or two from every dish and trying it.  I love seeing the mix of flavors and foods and colors that guests bring to the table. 

This year, we are heading to a beach house for Memorial Day weekend and I wanted to have a side that wowed my family.  My mom is a pretty fantastic cook and it's hard to impress her, but I'm pretty sure this roasted corn and poblanosalad will do the trick.  Chocked full of veggies and drizzled with a tangy lime vinaigrette, it is the perfect, light side dish to bring to any cookout. Plus, it's served cold, which is kinda perfect for muggy, beach weather.

This really is an easy dish to make.  Roast corn and peppers in the oven.  (The poblano keeps the flavor pretty mild, but if you want some more kick toss in a jalepeno or two.)  Stir in fresh tomoatoes, cilantro, onions, and black beans. Whisk together your dressing and mix it all together. BAM! Impressive, simple, cheap, and the perfect thing to bring to a summer party. 

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