Living a tasteful life

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Life Lately July | Coastal Living

Summer may be over, but it sure doesn't feel like it here in Charleston. We are fortunate that our warm weather usually lingers until around mid October.  We had a blast this summer, enjoying much of our time on the water and I'm hopeful that we will be able to take advantage of a few more boat days like this before the cool weather creeps in. 

Whit and I spent Fourth of July weekend here in Charleston and enjoyed some time out on the water.
Several of us got together to celebrate my friend Lauren's 29th Birthday with a festive backyard BBQ.
I brought these yummy strawberry cheesecake bars for dessert. 
We attended a beautiful wedding for one of our family members at Magnolia Plantation. Most of Whit's family was there which was really nice. The last time we were all together at a formal event was our wedding day. 
I loved the vintage photo booth bus that was there. I've seen a lot of booths, but never a bus. It was so adorable. 
We often find ourselves at Angel Oak Restaurant for brunch when Whit's parents come in town. If you haven't been there before, run! Everything is so delicious, especially these house-made beignets. 
I'm obsessed with these oxygen eye masks. I was given them to try and now I'm hooked. I really felt like they reduced the puffiness under my eyes and left me looking and feeling refreshed, which is a win in my book. 
A delicious poke bowl from Beech Test Kitchen that was located at Workshop. I say was because something new has since replaced it. Workshop is a trendy food court with a rotating selection of food options from emerging and renowned chefs. The best part about it, there's always something new to try. Don't worry though, if you didn't make it there in time to try one of these fresh and flavorful bowls, Beech has a permanent location downtown.
July was also the month that we said farewell to one of my favorite items on the menu at Edmund's Oast...
The infamous pickled shrimp toast made it's last few runs and I nearly wanted to cry. This was one of the best things on the menu and I'm so sad that they took it away. On the bright side, the recipe was posted publicly. I'll let you know when I attempt it on my own...but I just don't think I'm ready yet. 
We may have ordered quite a few.
Tracey Lawrence made a stop in Charleston on his tour, so naturally Whit and I had to go. We love a good country concert, especially the good old stuff.
One of my favorite events of the summer- the Beaufort Water Festival! It's a two week long celebration that takes place in Beaufort, SC. The sandbar is where we spend most of the weekend, us and 100's of other people. It's basically like a high school/family reunion for many of us.
Our good friends welcomed a sweet little baby boy into the world. Emmett James, five days old and just as cute as can be. I was so excited to meet him.
Round two of the Beaufort Water Festival did not disappoint.
I took a quick 24 hour trip to Nashville for work but managed to squeeze in some good food while I was there. We had an amazing dinner at a new spot called Henley. I loved everything about this place, from the food to the decor. I'm hoping to find time to check out a few other places when I go back next week.

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Monday, September 18, 2017

Shrimp and Orzo Salad

We had friends over for dinner a while ago and I was in the mood for a light and simple meal. Whit had been bugging me to make this shrimp recipe he found online so this seemed like the perfect time to do it. There were a few things I would do differently the next time around, so I decided to put those modifications in this recipe post! This salad is very light and fresh and can be served as the main dish or a side. It would be perfect to take to a dinner party or the last of the outdoor BBQ's before winter creeps in.
Did I mention I love orzo? It's good served alone, added to soups, salads, casseroles, you name it. The versatility is great!  What are some of your favorite orzo recipes?


Shrimp and Orzo Salad
Ingredients
2 lbs. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. sea salt, plus more to taste
3 cups orzo (cooked)
1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves, chopped plus 4 to 6 whole leaves for garnish
4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled


Instructions
1.     Peel and devein and rinse shrimp
2.     In a bowl, stir together the shrimp, 1/4 cup olive oil, paprika, red pepper flakes and the 1/2 tsp. salt. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
3.     Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the orzo, stir well and cook according to package instructions, until al dente.
4.     Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium-high heat, warm 2 Tbs. olive oil. Drain the shrimp, discarding of the marinade and add them to the skillet. Cook about 1 to 2 minutes until the shrimp are opaque throughout.
5.     Transfer the shrimp and any juices to a bowl, cover and keep warm.
6.     Drain the orzo and transfer to a warm serving bowl. Add the cooked shrimp and their juices and mix together well.
7.     Top with chopped basil and feta cheese and gently stir. Garnish with the whole basil leaves and serve immediately. 
Serves 6 to 8.





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Sunday, September 10, 2017

Recent Purchases

Happy Sunday! It's a gloomy day here in Charleston due to the effects of hurricane Irma that are headed our way. We are so fortunate that the path changed slightly but we are not completely in the clear. The lowcountry is still preparing for flooding and strong winds. Prayers go out to all of those that have been in the path of this awful storm. 

There has been so much going on lately that I haven't been able to give much time to the blog. This afternoon consisted of sitting inside with my favorite candle burning with the windows open, enjoying this fall like weather — which may be the only bright side to this hurricane. It seemed like a good time to work on a post.

I've been on a mission lately to find a few new outfits to take with me on my upcoming trip to Italy. Sadly I haven't had a whole lot of luck. I love everything I've ordered, but some things were the wrong size and others just didn't fit my petite frame, so there will be some returns. My bank account is happy about that — me, not so much. Here are some of my recent  purchases, plus a few other things I've got my eyes on.


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