Go get your (healthy and clean) eats on! Have fun and be safe!
Charleston
The Charleston County Library Rocks!
StandardDo you go to the library often? I go at least monthly and am amazed by the wealth of goodness every time. There are movies, music, magazines, art, and of course books of all topics just ready and waiting for me. I mean, everyone.
This is just a sample of the plant-based selection. If your location doesn’t have what you want, reserve it and have it brought there.
Healthy lifestyle topics are available, too.
I’m on my way over now to return and pick up more reading material. And I’ll drop a few more entries in the Adult Summer Reading Contest. Maybe I’ll catch you there.
Reading helps me relax, and relaxation is required on my wellness journey. Nice, eh?
Playing tourist
StandardWe like wandering around and going where the wind takes us. Enjoy these sights from the South Carolina Lowcountry.
What are you reading?
StandardMy name is Sherrie and I have a book problem. Am I the only one? I can’t be.
Worthy Evans is a College of Charleston alum and brilliant writer.
My problem started years ago and only became worse after a few months of library work followed by bookstore work. I loved every second of shelving and discovering new titles and topics. I love it when I get lost in a story or can almost taste the recipe by reading the ingredients. When I drop by the library I can’t seem to help myself. I walk in to return the stack I spent a month pouring through and leave with more.
Taking time for myself is a necessity. Reading for pleasure reduces stress and helps me relax. Even if the story has me wound up and jumping at the slightest sound, I’m more relaxed than if I’m working all day. Do you take time to read? What are you reading now?
Raw or cooked, plant-based comfort food rules!
This is perfect reading when I need a laugh.
I’ll catch you later. It’s time to curl up with a good book.
June already? What’s your plan?
StandardCan you believe 2014 is already six months old? June is already 11 days old? Where did the time go? Are you on track? Anywhere close to where you wanted to be? I’ll admit it, I’m not. And I won’t let it throw me much. I’ll tweak my plans and go month to month.
My plan was in part inspired by a dream. I’ve been back and forth to the doc and specialists (yes, plural) trying to finally figure out what all ails me. It’s exhausting and frustrating and frightening if I K et my mind wander too much. More so if I consult Dr. Google instead of waiting to for a specific diagnosis. According to Google, cold symptoms could be anything from a cold to a rare syndrome that would put someone just outside death’s door. No one needs that kind of stress or fear without knowing what’s going on inside them.
So, back to this dream. Of course I dreamed about a doctor visit. I mean, it’s been at least 33% of my focus for a while now. So, I’m waiting for the doc to walk in, and it’s Kris Carr! You know, the woman behind Crazy, Sexy Cancer. Her.
I was so in awe and blown away. I think seeing her was a sign. Not that a cancer diagnosis is looming, but that I’m doing the right thing by following up with the docs and working on healing. Another round of physical therapy starts next today My diet is cleaning up and even more greens are coming in. My healthier cookbooks are my main kitchen inspiration and I’m eating to live.
There they are, two of my inspirations!
One of my go-to’s for healthy vegan eats. Lindsay Nixon photo.
A fav dish from Crazy Sexy Kitchen. This and the tahini dressing that is.
I’ll hit the library more often than the bookstore for new inspiration.
I don’t want to just survive anymore. I want to thrive, glow, and kick ass.
So, what’s happening with you? Have any good dreams lately?
Semi-Wordless Wednesday: Southen Season is a foodie paradise
Hubby and I finally stopped into Southern Season this past Sunday. Imagine a cooking school, gourmet grocer, beer and wine shop, coffee shop, kitchenware gift shop, and restaurant under one roof.
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| So many nut and soy butters, so much time. |
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| Yes, a huge section of just jellies, jams,and preserves. |
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| SC’s own Vegetable Kingdom dressings! |
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| Yes, chocolate pumps! Several options available. |
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| Retro cookie tins ready for filling. |
We didn’t eat this time, but will check out Southerly from breakfast, lunch, dinner, or bunch sometime. Gluten-free and vegan options are available at all serving times.
Have you been to Southern Season yet?
Semi-wordless Wednesday: Puree Organic Cafe Revisited
Once again,. Puree Organic Cafe proves that vegan organic fare is delicious for veggies and omnis alike.
Ah, date night. Sometimes Hubs and I can easily agree on where to dine and sometimes we can’t. When it comes to veggie dining, options on Charleston are growing, but we have our favs and tend to stick with them. If you haven’t noticed, we like Puree Organic Cafe in Mt. Pleasant, SC. A lot. It’s on our short list of vegetarian places in town that hubby really likes. We stopped in to try to new dinner menu and were thrilled with the results.
Instead of his beloved Deep South, Hubby went with the Rainbow Row ($21).
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| Old Charleston Spice braised seitan, with sautéed collards, mini corn cakes, and sweet onion jam. If you want seitan, this is the place to get it. Seriously. Go get some. |
I opted for the Eggplant Parmesan ($18).
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| House-made almond Ricotta and gluten-free pasta made it my first choice. |
Of course we had coffee and desert. Almond, soy, and coconut milk are options.
Hubby’s Coconut Crème Brulée ($9) was yummy.
My Mexican Chocolate Cheesecake from Unbaked was fantastic!
We met Chef and she was as friendly and delightful as well. See why we like it? It was all even better than it looks. Clean, gluten-free, organic eats from people who love what they do. Check the conversation on Facebook. We’re not the only ones who love them.
Playing with booze at Charleston’s Striped Pig Distillery
Hi. I’m Sherrie and on occasion I really like my booze. Vodka is my usual first choice, but rum, wine, and a good pint work equally well. Hubby and I were fooling around one Saturday afternoon and decided to stop by Charleston’s first distillery since Prohibition for a tour. We went for the tour and left with a bottle.
Striped Pig Distillery opened earlier this year with plans for a grand opening shortly. The beautiful facility is open to the public (21 and up) from 3-7 pm Wednesday though Friday and noon-5 for tours and tastings. We were warmly greeted by Todd and our tour started.
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| How gorgeous is this still? |
Reclaimed wood and lots of light are everywhere. Ingredients are in plain sight, too. Local non-GMO corn and molasses from Savannah are right there for us to see. We learned how finely they mill the grains, how long each batch takes, and how excited they are about their products. After a little ooh-ing and ahh-ing, we moved on to the bar for the main event.
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| Love the focal point! A local artist whipped it up. |
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| Neat bar table, eh? |
We tried the Striped Vodka, Striped Shine, and Striped Rum. We started with my beloved vodka. I liked the flavor and warmth. Striped shine is straight-up moonshine, but with a cleaner taste than expected. It burned so good. Rum is something I usually mix, but I easily drink Striped Pig’s Striped Rum straight up. It is the best rum I’ve had to date.
After all was said and done, we decided we had to have a bottle of limited edition rum. Sorry if 43 is your lucky number because that one is ours.
Swing by and pick up your favoite spirit from 10-7 pm Monday through Friday and noon until 5 on Saturday. Remember, the tour schedule is different from the store hours during the week. Shoppers have t-shirts, barware, and spirits to choose from. I see booze as holiday gifts this year.
Follow Striped Pig Distillery on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for daily updates on events like their packing party. We’re sorry we missed that one.
Cheers!
What I’m reading these days
Your friendly neighborhood Sherrie has a cookbook problem. I know it and own it. I read them like novels and can tear through one in a couple of days. I also have a money problem, so I pick most of my books up from the library, Mr. K’s (used and new, but always cheap), and free Kindle books (for reading on my Kindle app). I’ve wanted to hold books more than reading text on a screen lately, so I’ve hit the library practically every week. Here’s a sample of what I’ve gone through in August alone.
I first heard of Angelica Home Kitchen thanks to an early 90’s copy of Vegetarian Times. Back then I was playing with the idea of he veggie life and loved the idea of a all veg restaurant. Good book, great recipes.
This one needs no intro. I checked it out for more ideas on healthy whole food vegan goodness. I like it, but don’t think I need to add this one to the permanent collection.
Between the abundance of rain, a bad spine summer, and crazy schedules, our garden is a sad, bare wasteland. Except for mint and huge tomato plants which may or may not bear fruit. Microgreens, baby vegetables, and sprouts, oh my!
And, you know, I cannot leave anything these two touch unread. And hubby is a pie addict. Vegan versions of his beloved blueberry, pecan, and key lime pies will be mastered! At some point.
No pictured are Crazy Sexy Kitchen and Crazy Sexy Diet. I have the Kindle versions, but can’t spend all my time looking a a screen.
So, what are you reading?
My stalker
I cannot leave the room without this guy following. If I close a door, he waits patiently for me to open it. He literally lean against me when I lose my balance and keeps me upright on wonky days. On painful days (like the past few days), he snuggles when I need it and just watches to make sure I’m ok.
Or maybe I’m giving him too much credit. He’s a goofy ball of love. Good boy, Victor.