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12 Gluten-Free Dishes for Summer Cook Outs

2013-05-24T04:00:08Z

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

27 Weeks

2013-05-23T04:00:28Z

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.

roasted corn & poblano salad with lime vinaigrette

2013-05-22T04:00:47Z

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.

weeknight wonders: tequila-lime chicken fajitas

2013-05-20T04:00:09Z

Summer is never subtle in Virginia. One minute it's a cold, rainy sweater-wearing-kind-of-day and the next morning you're greeted with blue skies and muggy, sunshine-y air. Summer strikes fast and with it flip-flops, sunscreen, beach days, and dinner on the patio.

These fajitas would be the perfect meal to serve on the back deck. Chicken is marinated in orange juice and tequila with a touch of lime and then quickly sauteed with peppers and onions. Served on warm tortillas with a touch of sour cream and fresh cilantro. They go great with iced tea, guacamole & chips, and tiki lights by the pool.

The best part? This meal comes together in about 30 minutes flat. Make these this week and kick off your summer right.

still waters

2013-05-18T04:00:50Z

Sometimes life is overwhelming. This year has been a good year, an exciting and happy time. My little sister is graduating, my little brother is getting married, and Jason and I are becoming parents. It’s a big year.

But this year has also when riddled with loss and hardship. My grandpa is gone. He won’t dance at my brother’s wedding or meet my sweet baby. One of my dearest friends is facing an impossible decision. Another has faced multiple health scares. The third happened this past week. My circle of friends is brimming with people being pushed to the edge of their ability to understand and trust God with the present. Nothing seems sure or easy. All around me I can see doubt, fear, and trial.

Having a baby has raised new waves of fear. Will I actually be able to deliver this kid? It doesn’t sound pleasant. Will I be a good parent? Can we really afford me coming home, really? Just because something works out on paper, doesn’t mean it’s sure. There is so much uncertainty with change, even good change.

The other day, I was walking on my lunch break mulling over all these things, all the difficulties, the tears, the frustration and suddenly the Lord brought a very familiar passage to mind. Psalm 23... I memorized it when I was just a little girl and sometimes have dismissed it as cliche or something you'd find embroidered on a pillow. In spite of the familiarity, the promises didn't seem worn or commonplace. The felt fresh and near; salve to my raw soul.

The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want…

You might not be able to change your circumstances or buy whatever you want or find the security and solutions you crave, but you will never lack what you need. You are my child and I will sustain you. Your friends, your family, you, my people will never lack the grace they need.

He makes me lay down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul…

Rest in me. Lay your burdens down and rest in the promises I have given you.

He leads me down the path of righteousness for His name’s sake.

It’s not just your life or the lives of people you care about at stake… My name is at stake; my holy name. If I have been faithful for millennia, will I suddenly break my promises now? I am the one leading you down this path and it is for my glory.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me.

David didn’t fear death because I was with him. I sustained him. I am with you now. I will be with you in that delivery room. I will be with your family, your friends. I am with my people. Stop being afraid, Heather. I am right here.

Your rod and your staff they comfort me.

Discipline and guidance isn’t always comfortable, but it is comforting. I’m leading you. It won’t always feel good, but it is good.

You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.

You have all the mercy, all the goodness, all the grace you need. Your cup is brimming, running over with my love. When you ask for grace, my answer is always here's more.

Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…

Every day may not be easy, it may not feel easy, but every day I am exercising mercy and goodness toward you. Because of Christ, all my promises are yours and they are true every day. Every day is good.

… and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Today is uncertain, but eternity is sure. In Christ, life eternal belongs to you and one day you will close your eyes in death and open them in my presence. You will dwell with me forever. All this fret will be but a hazy memory on that day.

I know this is an unusual post for me, but I felt so light, so at peace after that walk, that I wanted to share it. Out of the blue, He reminded me of his promises and goodness and life exactly when I needed to hear it. His goodness washed over me and calmed my troubled soul. Life is overwhelming and hard, but His grace is overwhelming too.

caprese bruschetta

2013-05-17T04:00:50Z

Jason LOVES Italian food. LOVES IT! Spaghetti, lasagna, baked ziti, alfredo… You name it. That boy will eat it. His favorite restaurant is Olive Garden. We head there at least once a month for date night and he goes all out, appetizer, salad, marinara sauce for the bread sticks. My favorite food is definitely Tex-Mex, that glorious mix of American and Mexican, but I do to make a lot of it and Jason will get a little tired of it after about three or four meals in single week. “Babe, not everything has to have salsa…” Italian, however, he does not get sick of. One month, I made only Italian food for dinner for nearly two weeks straight just to see if he could get sick of it. I think it may have been the best two weeks of his life. Unfortunately, by the end, I burst into tears at the sight of uncooked pasta or tomatoes.

Bruschetta is the salsa of Italian foods. It is one of those dishes that can easily be a meal, side dish, or appetizer. It goes great on crusty bread or grilled chicken or stirred into cold pasta. Sometimes, for lunch, I’ll whip this recipe up and enjoy it all by my lonesome. Other days, I might serve it as a starter or plate it alongside Spaghetti or Mediterranean Chicken. This bruschetta is divine. Inspired by Caprese salad, it has juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and lots of basil. The bread is lightly toasted in a little bit of olive oil and garlic. I eat mine on Udi’s Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread, but I usually make Jason’s with Ciabatta or a loaf of crusty French bread. It’s delicious either way! Enjoy and have a great, Friday folks!

Strawberry Mint Spa Water

2013-05-15T04:00:28Z

Sassy Water caused quite a fuss on this little website. To date, it is my most trafficked post which Jason and find slightly hilarious. For all the trouble, planning, and effort I put into most of my recipes, I'm best-known as the girl that put cucumbers, lemons, and mint leaves in a pitcher of water. But, I do love Sassy Water. I still drink it and can definitely tell a difference in water retention and weight loss on the weeks I'm faithful to whip it up. Plus, it's all natural and totally safe for me and the baby.

But, what I love most about Sassy Water is how refined it makes me feel. I'm not just downing a detox tea... It's a pretty, light drink. Spa water in general makes me feel a little more elegant than normal. There is something delicate and relaxing about drinking a lightly flavored water with pretty pieces of fruit laced throughout it. So when we hosted brunch for Jason's mom last weekend, I wanted to make sure we served it.

I turned to lemons, strawberries, blueberries, and mint for this beverage. Lemons and mint provided a nice refreshing base flavor. The strawberries added a faint sweetness and a ruddy color. I really added the blueberries for a pretty color contrast, but you could sort of taste them. It was a lovely, leisurely drink with zero guilt. In fact, lemon water promotes hydration and detox. An all around win... Pretty with substance. Enjoy!

Weeknight Wonders: Chipotle Pulled Pork with Tangy Mustard Coleslaw

2013-05-13T04:00:00Z

Happy Monday! I hope you had a lovely Mother's Day weekend. We did. On Thursday, we had a cozy dinner with my mom and on Sunday we had a leisurely after-church brunch with Jason's. Both were lovely! We got our moms necklaces from Etsy that said "Grandma". After the baby is born, we can have the baby's name engraved on a separate little charm. Fun stuff, and I'm so glad they liked them. :) I was also very surprised to wake up Sunday to find art supplies and flowers waiting for me from Jason. Fresh brushes, canvas, and an easel... now I can attempt to paint something for our flat. His parents also got me a gorgeous necklace and my brother, Steve, bought me flowers. I felt very spoiled and very loved. I really wasn't thinking of this year as my first mother's day, but I guess it really is.

Sometimes, it's the little, unexpected things that brighten your week.

And, sometimes, an unexpected ingredient can transform a recipe. Dr. Pepper is the secret to crock pot pulled pork. I've tried time and time again to cook pork with bbq sauce, and I think it's cause I'm gone for about 9 hours most days, but every stinking time it ends up burned to a crisp. Even on low. Dr. Pepper, however, works like a charm. It keeps the pork moist, juicy, and caramelizes during cooking to lend a sweet, rich flavor to the dish. It really is a bit surprising, but key to this Chipotle Pulled Pork. This roast takes about 5 minutes of prep time, cooks for 8 hours, and is absolutely delicious. It makes a great sandwich, although I have made carnitas with the same recipe before. The smoky chipotle pepper really makes this barbecue a whole different animal... It's different from Carolina BBQ or Texas Brisket, but equally delicious.

I like to serve it with my mom's tangy mustard coleslaw. I'm not a big fan of coleslaw, but this one is tart, savory, and light, but not sweet, making it the perfect companion for the smoky bbq sandwiches. Enjoy and I hope you had a lovely weekend!

fluffernutter chocolate chip cookies

2013-05-10T04:00:30Z

Sometimes pregnancy causes really weird cravings... like my random mid-week craving for a fluffernutter sandwich. For those of you whose childhoods are clearly incomplete, a flufernutter sandwich is a peanut butter and marshmellow fluff sandwich. Pure heaven if you are seven years old or pregnant.

These cookies are a little bit of a compromise. Instead of cramming my face with fluffernutter sandwiches, I made mini chocolate chip peanut butter cookies laced with marshmellows. Delicious? Yum, yeah. Every bite filled with marshmellow-y, peanut butter-y, chocolate-y goodness? Check! Bite sized so that I can still exercise some self-control? Yes! They are perfect for lunches, coffee breaks, midnight snacks... Enjoy and have a great weekend!

10 Gluten Free Breakfasts for Mother's Day

2013-05-08T04:01:00Z

Do you make your mom breakfast in bed on Mother's Day? My mother wisely opted for a late brunch at the dinner table, probably to avoid me and my siblings from covering her room in syrup once a year. But, we still played it up. My sister and I would set the table with bouquets of freshly picked buttercups and pale roses from the backyard. The boys were in charge of positioning our presents and Hoops & Yoyo cards (Her very favorite) so she would see them as soon as she walked in. Dad woke her up. And, of course, we presented her with with tons and tons of girly breakfast food. No bacon and sausage on Mom's big day... Instead omelets, waffles, muffins, and fruit salads were served. Delicacy ruled the day.

How do you celebrate Mother's Day? Flowers, brunch, breakfast in bed, homemade cards, e-cards, phone calls, skype? However you celebrate your Mom, here are a few gluten free ideas for you to make your mother. Hope you spoil her!

Oatmeal Pancakes

Lemonberry Baked Oatmeal

Banana Coffee Cake

Wineberry Muffins (The gf substitutions are noted in the text prior to the actual recipe.)