🌿 Your South Carolina Summer Made Simple {May 27, 2025}

As summer settles in, it's time to embrace simplicity, whether in your meals or your moments of rest. This week, we're sharing a fresh, flavorful recipe perfect for back porch dining, a tip for making your summer meals a breeze, and a favorite South Carolina beach spot you’ll want to sneak away to ASAP—because we all deserve a little time to recharge. 🌊

🍋 Back Porch Greek Pasta

Light, bright, and bursting with flavor—this hearty pasta salad is just the thing for sunny porch lunches, family picnics, or a quick weeknight supper.

It’s packed with crisp veggies, briny bites, and a creamy homemade dressing that feels indulgent but stays light. We make it with chickpea pasta for a gluten-free twist, but you can use whatever pasta you have in the pantry.

📝 Ingredients

For the Salad:

• 8 oz chickpea pasta (or regular pasta), cooked and cooled

• 1 cucumber, diced

• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1/2 cup black olives, sliced

• 1/2 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped

• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

• 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, chopped

• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or dill (optional, but brightens it up!)

For the Dressing:

• 1/4 cup avocado mayo

• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1/2 tsp dried oregano

• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

• 1/4 tsp onion powder

• Pinch of salt and pepper

• Squeeze of fresh lemon juice (about 1 tsp)

🍴 Directions

1. Cook your pasta according to the package directions. Drain, rinse lightly with cool water, and set aside.

2. In a large serving bowl, combine the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, olives, artichokes, roasted red peppers, red onion, and feta.

3. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together all dressing ingredients until smooth.

4. Toss the cooled pasta with the veggies, then pour the dressing over everything and gently combine.

5. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes if you’ve got the time—it only gets better as it sits!

💡 Southern Tip from My Porch to Yours

We love to add sautéed shrimp or grilled chicken to turn this into a full supper. It’s a great way to use leftovers and stretch the meal even further. Want a little crunch? Sprinkle on some toasted pine nuts or crushed crackers right before serving.

Our Pick of the Week! 🚜 South Carolina Ag + Art Tour

• Lexington County: May 31 {This Weekend!}

• Richland County: June 7–8

• 🎶 Live music, 🍓 fresh produce, 🐐 goats, 🎨 local artisans

• Free + self-guided — perfect family weekend!

🎶 Soda City Market

📍 Main Street, Columbia, SC
📅 Saturday | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
A vibrant open-air market featuring local vendors, live music, and delicious food. Great for families to enjoy a lively atmosphere and support local businesses.
💡 Inside Tip: Get there early to grab some of the best handmade goods and avoid long lines at the food trucks!​

⚾ Columbia Fireflies vs. Fayetteville Woodpeckers

📍 Segra Park, Columbia, SC
📅 Friday, May 30 | 7:05 PM
Enjoy an evening of Minor League Baseball as the Columbia Fireflies take on the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. Don't miss the Hawaiian Shirt giveaway as part of Margaritaville Night!
💡 Inside Tip: Arrive early to snag your Hawaiian shirt and enjoy pre-game festivities.

🖼️ First Sunday at South Carolina State Museum

📍 South Carolina State Museum, Columbia, SC
📅 Sunday, June 1 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Enjoy $1 general admission to explore four floors of South Carolina art, cultural history, natural history, and science/technology exhibits. Additional fees apply for planetarium and 4D theater shows.
💡 Inside Tip: Don't miss the "Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume" exhibition, showcasing over 70 iconic Disney costumes.

👨‍👩‍👧 Midlands Family Expo

📍 Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC
📅 Sunday, June 1 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
A free event offering a variety of family-friendly activities, including educational exhibits, shopping opportunities, and interactive fun for all ages.
💡 Inside Tip: Check out the schedule of events ahead of time to plan your visit and make the most of the offerings.

What Every Guest Room Needs (But Most People Forget) 🛏️✨

If family or friends are coming to visit this summer and your home’s a bit full, don’t worry—you can still make your guest room feel like a cozy Southern retreat, even if the kids are getting rearranged and you're working with what you’ve got. A few thoughtful touches can make all the difference, and with a little creativity, you can create a welcoming space that feels like a home away from home. Here’s how to show your guests some Southern hospitality, no matter the situation! 🌸🛏️

The Essentials:

1. Comfortable Bedding 🛌

   • Fresh sheets, plush pillows, and an extra blanket for cozy comfort

2. Cozy Touches 🌸

   • A throw blanket, decorative pillows, and a scented candle for warmth

3. Convenient Charging Stations 🔌

   • Provide charging cables or a lamp with USB ports for easy access

4. Bathroom Essentials 🛁

   • Soft towels, toothbrush and toothpaste, plus extra toilet paper

5. Personalized Touches 💌

   • Add a welcome note or small gift to make guests feel special

What People Often Forget:

1. A Place for Luggage 🧳

   • A luggage rack or chair for guests to store their bags

2. A Mirror Outside the Bathroom 💡

   • A full-length mirror or small vanity mirror for getting ready

3. Lighting for Every Task 💡

   • A reading lamp or nightlight for easy navigation and comfort

4. Privacy Considerations 🙏

   • Ensure curtains or shades offer privacy for a peaceful stay

5. Extra Bedding 🧺

   • Keep extra sheets, pillows, and blankets handy for guest comfort

🌊 Hidden Gem: Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island 🌊

If you're looking for a peaceful retreat where you can truly relax and soak up the beauty of the Lowcountry, Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island is a must-visit. This hidden gem offers a quieter, less crowded beach experience that feels like a well-kept secret—and let me tell you, it’s one of my favorite spots to sneak away to when I need a little time to breathe.

The beach here is wide, clean, and absolutely breathtaking. Whether you're walking along the shoreline, listening to the waves, or simply enjoying the view, it’s the perfect spot to recharge. I love to visit early in the morning when the beach is practically empty, and the sun is just starting to warm the sand. If you're lucky, you might even spot some dolphins or a sea turtle making their way to the water. After soaking in the natural beauty, I recommend grabbing a bite nearby and making a whole day of it!

For more information or to plan your visit, check out their website.

If you’re looking for a relaxing beach day that’s a little off the beaten path, this is it. Trust me, it’s worth the trip!

Let your meals be simple.
Summer isn’t the season for overcomplicating things—it’s for porch swings, paper plates, and passing around something fresh and easy. A good meal doesn’t have to be fancy to be meaningful—it just needs to be shared.

🌿 Simple Summer Tip:
Instead of planning elaborate meals every day, think in terms of easy staples you can mix and match all week. On Sundays, I like to bake a loaf of banana bread to keep on the counter—something we can slice for breakfast, a midday snack, or even dessert. I keep good cheese in the fridge, a box of crackers in the pantry, and seasonal fruit on hand so I can throw together what I lovingly call my “adult lunchable.” A little tray of sharp cheddar, grapes, and cucumbers with hummus has fed me well on many busy days between homeschooling the kids and chasing chickens.

For dinner, I prep a protein or two (like grilled chicken or shrimp), wash and chop some fresh veggies, and make a quick jar of homemade dressing. Then it’s easy to toss together salads, wraps, grain bowls, or even just a hearty snack board for a no-cook supper.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel—just keep your favorites close and your fridge friendly. Simple food for an as-slow-as-you-can-get summer!

Thanks for spending a little piece of your week with The Palmetto Pulse! We hope you found something to love, laugh about, or look forward to. If you enjoyed this edition, share it with a friend who might love a little Southern charm in their inbox too! 💙🌿