Want to know how to make authentic Charleston okra soup? Yeah, I thought you might.
This Southern staple enjoys a special kick with Chef Swanky’s version. It’s easy to make and delicious! Take a look:
Got a question for the great Chef? Drop us a comment below, and we’ll pester Chef Swanky to impart some more wisdom.
Follow Chef Swanky here and on Instagram at chefswankyhw.
Something I have been doing with our two youngest children to calm down a tantrum or meltdown is telling them to “find your light.”
We put both hands over our hearts and take a deep breath: in through the nose: 1, 2, 3, 4, and out through the mouth: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Most of the time, it works (they are four and two, after all).
But it is also calming for us parents.
It’s a good thing to do under the sun if you’re a morning person, or under the moon if you’re a night owl.
Or, if you’re a two-year-old, you can take a breath and point at the nearest lamp — because you indeed found a light!
Our guest blogger,
Mrs. Swanky, posts
on ways to Feed Yourself
— in body, mind, and spirit.
Click here for more Vim & Verve.
[Enjoy this guest post from Mrs. Swanky]
This month I am listening to the graphic audios of the ACOTAR series in preparation for the upcoming two books later in October and January.
In honor of the complex and wonderful (and sometimes misunderstood) Nesta Archeron, and of course our lovely Queen of Terrasen, Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius (I know, different series, but same author, so she counts), we have chocolate cake!
Important Note: I may be Mrs. Swanky, but I am definitely not a chef like Chef Swanky, so Duncan Hines it is.
* Obligatory disclaimer: We are not paid to promote these items. We just happen to like them.
Our guest blogger,
Mrs. Swanky, posts
on ways to Feed Yourself
— in body, mind, and spirit.
[Note: I’m doing a 26-word post on the first day of each month of 2026. It’s an exercise in concision and precision, which every writer should attempt now and then. Also Note: This explanation is separate from the 26-word count.]
Two hundred and fifty years ago, we were given the gift of a new nation, based on the idea that we’re all equal. Let freedom ring!
[Enjoy this guest post from Mrs. Swanky]
Something I would like to start doing is making a dish from a book I’ve been reading. Whether it’s a full meal or snack, it is very interesting when books highlight their cuisine.
This month I have been reading the Fey Spy Academy series by C.N. Crawford, starting with Avalon Tower. It is about a girl who goes on vacation in France and is swept up in a war between fey and humans.
It is a completed trilogy, a fun read, low/medium spicy, and the graphic audio books make it even more fun!
They talk a lot about the fey food in these books being better than anything she has ever eaten before. One thing that stood out to me was a chutney and cheese sandwich.
There wasn’t any more detail given than that, so here is my version: mango chutney with gouda on French bread. I also found port wine cheese and gave it a try.
* Obligatory disclaimer: We are not paid to promote these items. We just happen to like them.
Our guest blogger,
Mrs. Swanky, posts
on ways to Feed Yourself
— in body, mind, and spirit.
Ever wondered about the origins of the swanky pineapple in the most historic city in America? Of course you have. Chef Swanky explains what’s up with all the displays of the magnificent pineapple in Charleston.
Got a question for the great Chef? Drop us a comment below, and we’ll pester Chef Swanky to impart some more wisdom.
Follow Chef Swanky here and on Instagram at chefswankyhw.
Go Write Right Now 