Blogging for Books: Lighten Up Y'all

Since moving to Charleston, I've definitely gained an appreciation for Southern cooking.  However, most of it is very heavy and filled with calories: shrimp and grits, fried chicken and waffles, chicken-fried steak, and my favorite: hushpuppies.  Don't get me wrong, all of it is delicious and I definitely love indulging, but I was so excited when I saw a cookbook about lightening up Southern recipes on the Blogging for Books list this month!  I received an advanced copy of Lighten Up, Y'all by Virginia Willis and could not wait to cook up some of the healthy and wholesome recipes!

For dinner this week, I made Virginia's Basil-Peach Chicken Breasts and Sauteed Green Beans with Summer Corn.  This full plate of food was only 365 calories and was filled with fresh vegetables, fruit, and herbs.

Mike and I both loved the dishes and the recipes were easy to follow.

As you can see, I already have plenty of recipes bookmarked and I can definitely see some Apple-Raisin-Carrot Slaw and Citrus-Grilled Shrimp in our future this summer.  The book is also filled with great winter soups and a Georgia Shrimp and Corn Chowder that sounds wonderful!  And to end any perfect meal, don't Brown Sugar-Strawberry Shortcakes sound amazing?!

Lighten Up Y'all will be available on March 3rd, and you can pre-order a copy by clicking here.  Virginia also wrote two other "Y'all" books: Bon Appetit, Y'all and Basic to Brilliant, Y'all that I will surely be checking out!

I received this book from Blogging for Books to facilitate this review.

Our Wedding Ceremony

I could not be more excited to share today's post.  Our wedding ceremony meant so much to me.  After a very emotional walk down the aisle (Mike and I waited to see each other on our wedding day until that walk), we started the ceremony off with a laugh and all of my nervousness disappeared.  To be honest, I don't remember what it was about, but it definitely broke the ice and gave the whole ceremony an upbeat mood.  We chose to have a traditional Catholic mass (here are the psalms and scriptures we chose).  Because of the Jesuit philosophy at Holy Cross, many guests told us how welcome they felt and all Christians were welcomed to communion.  It was so perfect for our multi-denominational crowd.

We heard readings from our cousins and a friend, and Mike's sister (my Maid of Honor) even sang.  My godmother and Mike's godfather brought up the gifts.

The homily was perfectly fit to us and our priest bought items from the college bookstore for members of our family that represented past memories and future hopes: golf balls, tissues, and even some postcards.

Then came the vows and rings.  At the exact moment we stepped back to the middle of the alter, the sun shone right into my eyes and I lost it.  Almost exactly 13 months earlier, we lost Mike's mom, and this was the perfect sign that she was with us on our special day.

We celebrated communion and shared a sign of peace with our bridal party and families.

Right before the mass was over, we joined back together for our first kiss.  (Truth be told, we definitely practiced the kiss: where to put our hands and what kind of kiss it would be  - don't judge.  Future brides: I highly suggest doing the same - I've seen my fair share of awkward ones!)

We did it!  We excited the church, and it was time for the receiving line.  I'll be sharing all about that next week!

 

Now it's your turn! Share your own post with Macy and me for our weekly Wedding Wednesday linkup below:

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Beanie Weenie Casserole

Before I get to my post, I wanted to share today's South Carolina news: I have a snow day.  Okay, so maybe it's a freezing rain day, but still: all schools are closed and supposedly it's an ice rink out there.  Down here, you have to use bridges to get everywhere, so when the temperature drops (rarely), freezing happens very quickly.  Now to today's recipe: some great comfort food for a cold day.  Friends, I have no idea where Mike found this recipe, and let's be real, I thought it sounded insane.  But, if you're looking for some hot, stick-to-your-bones home cooking, you've come to the right place.  

Beanie Weenie Casserole

(unsure of origin but possibly adapted from here)

Here's what you do:

- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

- Line 8-inch square pan with 1 can of beans.

- Slice 3-4 hotdogs into 1/2 slices and layer on top of beans.

- Make your favorite corn muffin or bread mix and pour (uncooked) on top of hotdogs.

- Bake for 30-32 minutes until top if light brown,

You won't be sorry!  Okay, maybe you will, but I swear it's actually pretty good :)

Linking up for Kate and Emily's Tuesday's Recipe Swap!