I just ate the most amazing stuffed peppers. Beautifully color bell peppers from the market loaded with lean beef, brown rice, onions, garlic, and a tomato cream sauce. And we can't forget the basil and mozzarella. YUM. Recipe here. I used much less cream than the recipe calls for.

I saw The Help last night. I don't say this often, but it was just as good as the book. Some minor difference, but it really captured my attention. I also think I was the only one in the a theatre full of middle-aged women that did not cry. Not sure how that happened since practically I bawled my way through part 2 of HP 7.

Tonight I helped my husband study for his licensure (you can think of it as boards for pastors). He is brilliant and it blows my mind how well he knows the Scriptures. I think I could learn a few things from him. :)

Fall is almost here!

Fall is Near

The weather has started to cool, and ever since I have been highly anticipating fall. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Apple picking- Every fall Adam and I talk about going, but we've just never made it happen. Well, we are finally going to do it next year. There is a place about 45 minutes away from our home, and I am so excited to go. I can already smell the apple scones, pies, and cakes that will be made out of all the apples just waiting to be picked!

2. Boots. I have a pair already, but it never hurts to have choices right? :)

3. Sweaters, cardigans, leggings, scarves. I just love fall clothing. Fall clothing is both trendy and comfortable. I've been having fun searching clothing websites and stores trying to find the perfect additions for my closet. Pinterest and polyvore have been helpful guides.

4. Pumpkin spice lattes! The barista at the Starbucks in the hospital told me they would be selling pumpking spice lattes in the beginning of September. The "true" sign that fall is truly on its way!

5. Celebrating my wedding anniversary. I loved having a fall wedding, and it has been fun to celebrate so far. This year we will be heading to Charleston the weekend after our anniversary. We'll be staying at a little bed and breakfast right in the historic district, which means we'll be able to walk anywhere we want to go. Bliss.

Farmer's Market Fun

I went to our local farmer's market last weekend for the first time in awhile. I met up with my sweet friend Dorothy, whom I hadn't seen in ages. Not only did it provide for good company, but I left the market with a lovely supply of fresh fruits and veggies, including heirloom tomatoes, grape tomatoes, blueberries, and a gigantic bunch of beautiful basil.

I unfortunately did not take any pictures of my goodies, but I can show you what I did with the tomatoes.

One of my favorite cookbooks these days is Cooking Light's, Cooking Through the Seasons. It is an amazing cookbooks and it's divided into the 4 seasons, filled with recipes based on the foods unique to each season. I haven't made many recipes from it. But I do love looking through it, mouth watering, wanting to make everything I see immediately.

I was trying to find a new recipe to use the tomatoes, and I found a flatbread recipe, topped with tomatoes, basil, and goat cheese. I didn't have goat cheese, so just used mozzarella instead. The dough was a cinch to put together, and only needed 2 hours to rise.

Lovely tomatoes.

Here's the finished product.

We paired it with a simple chicken, topped with honey-roasted tomatoes. It was absolutely delicious, and I'm pretty pumped about making it again. Check out this cookbook and make sure you try this recipe.

Snippets of Summer

This summer has been very hot and busy. Full of long days at work, but plenty of fun times.

Favorite flowers.

Incredible used book store in Asheville.

Spa at the Grove Park Inn. Pure bliss.

My sweet niece Ally. Can't wait to see her baptized this Sunday.

This building used to be a Saks 5th Avenue. I'm quite glad it's now Forever 21.

Delicious vanilla cupcake at Baked bakery in Charleston. Checkout their cookbook

Best place to get breakfast in Charleston.

My niece and Adam's mom. Isle of Palms, SC.

Margaritas at Juanita Greenburg's. Most amazing quesadillas. Period.

Isle of Palms. View from the balcony.

Homemade pizza and beer.

I'm not ready for summer to be over. I am ready for this heat to cool off a bit though.

The weekend is upon us. Good things will be happening.

Dinner Friday night at Pomegranate. Hopefully on their back patio. Hello pomegranate martini.

Cooking out with friends from work on Saturday.

Celebrating Mother's Day with my sweet parents at their lovely house on the lake.

Saturday morning, I will be heading for the Greenville Saturday Farmer's Market. I have been waiting for its return pretty much since the last Saturday of the season in the fall. Cannot wait for those fresh fruits and vegetables, and fresh pasta!

Today, I made muffins. Delicious, fresh from the oven muffins.

There was whole wheat flour and strawberries. There was a little bit of lemon zest involved in the goodness also. But, before you start thinking these are healthy muffins, there was definitely butter and sugar involved too. I wanted to add some oats to them too, but the husband thought that would make them too healthy.

Church, and baking is how I've spent the first day of the month so far. It's May! It feels like the year is practically over! Okay, not quite, but it does seem that the months are passing rather quickly. Which makes me think about all the things I'd like to do before the year is over. I have an ever-growing list in my head, but I thought it would help to actually put them down in words. I suppose some are resolutions, but most are just new things I want to try before the year is over.

Here are just a few items on the list:

1. Host a wine and cheese party - adam and i have been wanting to do this for over a year; it's time to make it happen!

2. Make homemade cinnamon rols- i'll definitely be using pioneer woman's recipe.

3. Make fresh, homemade pasta.

4. Complete Couch to 5K so that I can .....

5. Actually run in a 5K, and finish it!

6. Introduce myself to people I don't know at church - I am soooo bad at this.

7. Plant some flowers in our yard. I've been a little resistant to this since we're just renting, but it's time to make this place a bit prettier.

8. Hike a new trail - I've done several here in the upstate, but there are still so many more beautiful trails to hike, many with waterfalls!

9. Visit a winery.

10. Go apple/strawberry/blueberry picking.

This is a short list, but I hope to keep adding to it a little at a time. Knowing myself, if I add much more to it at once, I'll just get overwhelmed. So we'll keep it here for now.

Happy Sunday!

This Weekend I....

- slept in

- made from-scratch waffles for saturday morning breakfast

- explored new cookbooks at barnes and noble

- read some of this book in cleveland park

- heard an amazingly, complex and convicting sermon here

- celebrated the resurrection of my Savior

- watched The King's Speech (amazing movie, and bonus: it stars colin firth!)

- went for a bike ride

- hosted Sunday lunch for old and new friends

A wonderfully fun and relaxing weekend indeed.