Asparagus Egg and Bacon Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette.

Staying on trend with my Skinnytaste recipe love, I made this light, yet tasty, recipe on Sunday. My parents had us over for smoked brisket and I thought this would be a great dish to accompany that. 

What my picture lacks in presentation, the taste makes up for!

Recipe found here from Skinnytaste. 

1 large hard boiled egg, peeled and sliced

1 2/3 cups chopped asparagus

2 slices cooked and crumbled center cut bacon

1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

pinch salt and pepper, to taste

Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the asparagus and cook 2 to 3 minutes, until tender yet firm. Drain and run under cold water to stop it from cooking further. Set aside.

In a small bowl mix the Dijon, oil, vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Arrange the asparagus on a plate, top with egg and bacon and drizzle with the vinaigrette. Enjoy!

Our Easter Weekend.

What a wonderful Easter weekend it was! The weather could not have been better, we got a lot accomplished, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and spent it with our loved ones! 

Luckily, I had Good Friday off, and indeed it was a Good Friday! I spent it with Emily and Lane - we had lunch at Park Cafe and walked up and down King Street. 

Later that day, Cameron and I went on a boat ride with some friends, which ended with dinner at Mex 1 at 10pm. 

Saturday was warm but pretty overcast all day, which was perfect for our planned day of yard work. We headed to Lowe's and stocked up on which seemed like every herb and veggie imaginable. Everyone else must have had the same plans as us, as it was packed! Also bought a few shrubs, rose bushes, and a bird feeder! 

These.smell.so.good!

While I was tending to my garden, Cameron was in the front yard replacing the mailbox and mailbox post that we're pretty sure is original with the house, which was built in 1959. Getting the mailbox post out of the ground literally look him an hour to remove. And here's why.....

From his hand below, that is how much of the pole was in the ground!
You can also see all of the rust...which is why we replaced it....after 4.5 years of living with it.

That evening, we enjoyed a well deserved delicious meal of NY strips, gorgonzola gnocchi (via Trader Joe's), caprese salad, and moscow mules.

Easter Sunday we went to church with Cameron's parents, ate a late lunch at my Grandmother's house, then ate dinner at Cameron's parents house. It wouldn't be a normal holiday if we weren't driving back and forth over Charleston, and eating way too much!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend, too! 

Friday Five {What I've Been Up To}.

{one}

Two weekends ago my Grandma Anna turned the ripe young age of 80! Not trying to brag, but I seriously have some good genes on both sides of my family. We celebrated at my Aunt & Uncle's house in Summerville. We had an awesome dinner prepared a little bit by everyone and afterwards, we sat around the table while Grandma Anna opened up her gifts and cards.  The best gift was from my mom, uncle, and aunt. They snuck into my grandma's old photos without her knowing and put together a photo book of memories. It was so neat to listen to a story about each picture.

Grandma with her granddaughters

Picture from the photo book - Grandma Anna was and still is a looker

Uncle Jerry & Aunt Debbie who drove from Iowa!

{two}

I posted a few weeks ago my weekly meal plan based around Skinnytaste cookbook recipes. I'm happy to say that none of the recipes disappointed and I would definitely make them all again!

Here are a few photos that I took, which look nothing like the cookbook's. ;)

Skillet Lemon Sole with Tomatoes and Capers
(I made with tilapia because that's what I had)

Chicken Pasta Caprese

{three}

Last weekend we celebrated our 2 year anniversary with dinner at Cypress, followed by coffee with Bailey's at a local coffee/dessert shop in Avondale, and ended with some nightcaps at The Roost with friends. 

I hadn't been to Cypress since prom my senior year of high school. It was amazing then and now, including the service! They started us off with two glasses of champagne and we ordered the cucumber tuna rolls to go along with it. I ordered the butter lettuce salad and Cameron ordered the Ceasar salad. He definitely had food envy after having a bite of my salad! For our entrees I ordered the filet topped with Boursin cheese and Cameron ordered one of their specials - veal with a soft shelled crab. We decided to forego dessert because they did not have bread pudding and well, we were stuffed! If you ever go to Cypress, even for their bar upstairs, you must order the lavender martini! So refreshing and delicious. Even Cameron liked it! 

I'm hoping my hair doesn't look this red in person. Someone please tell me if it does!

My yummy butter lettuce salad with bacon jam, buttermilk blue cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, and chives. SO GOOD.

Filet topped with Boursin cheese accompanied by asparagus, leeks, roasted garlic, crispy potatoes, and Madeira sauce.

{four}

Last weekend we also spent a lot of time in the yard getting it ready for Spring. I focused on my garden area, but did not plant anything due to the cold snap we had. Maybe I can plant my herbs and veggies today since I have the day off! I also picked up some peony bulbs at Costco last weekend. Who know's if they'll grow here in the scorching hot summer. Here's a good old fashioned before and after photo. Don't mind the pink ribbon - we're getting quotes to take down a few trees in the yard. 

{five}

I paid my car off this week!!