Time for Soup!

It finally dipped below 90 degrees here in DC yesterday and I'm loving it (of course, give me a couple weeks of this and I'll be crying for the heat of summer).

To celebrate both the changing of the seasons AND the fact that I was able to prepare dinner at a normal hour, I pulled out the recipe for Italian Sausage Soup that I have been DYING to try even since it was recommended to me (thanks, Amy!).

The verdict... we thought it was absolutely delicious (though I do have a disclaimer - I am QUITE biased towards all products turkey... and this week, my favorite is hot italian turkey sausage so this fit the bill).

*Cook's notes - I only had whole grain penne pasta in the cupboard which worked well as a nice healthy substitution, and my can of diced tomatoes only had garlic and onion, so I added some dried oregano on my own

Five Months

So we are planning a wedding (!!!) to take place in less than 5 months... though truth be told, it'll be over 6 months since we were engaged (on August 29). I've had friends do this in about the same amount of time (and they didn't even have access to my mother-extraordinaire!) so I know it's possible... but some days it feels less possible than others. Yesterday was one of those.

Not wanting to dwell on my pity-story (it won't be the only time I feel overwhelmed, I am well-aware)... I did want to start a (short) list of pros and cons of planning a wedding in a short amount of time... hoping that this will inspire some of YOUR thoughts, suggestions, and even warnings.

PRO: you're forced to make decisions so there's no time to dwell on each of the hundreds of options (and there are HUNDREDS)

CON: you DO have to make decisions quickly... and when you're like me and you want to explore EVERY option to make sure you're getting the most and best for your money, that's against every bone in my body

PRO: if the vendors you're hoping to work with do happen to still be available, they are usually willing to "work with you" since you're probably their last hope for a job that particular date

CON: occasionally (I've been relatively lucky so far - keep your fingers crossed!) the vendors who've been referred to you and the ones you REALLY want will already be booked

With our very limited time these days, I pretty easily resisted (I do admit, I considered it!) the urge to start a whole new blog devoted to the pitfalls and successes of my wedding planning experience, but I do welcome any and all of your advice. This serves as notice to expect a few "wedding-y" posts here and there throughout the next few months... but please, at ANY point, feel free to send me your suggestions, both solicited and otherwise.

OH... tonight's activity to take my mind off being overwhelmed? Annabelle and I went on a short walk and I was able to put aside my annoyances at the temperature being around 80 degrees at 8pm in mid-October and enjoy it! Plus, even though it won't be until '08, I day-dreamed about celebrating Christmas (cookies, warm drinks, a TREE!!!) with my to-be-husband in our to-be-house! *speaking of which, we close 10/26 - prayers, please!

A Feeble Attempt

I know I'm not the only one short on time these days... but somehow, all of you out there still seem to be able to come up with delicious-sounding, healthy and creative meals (how do you do it??). In my opinion, my recent attempts have produced less than notable results (though when most of your meals consist of egg-white omelets or buckwheat pancakes and turkey bacon, it doesn't leave much room for creativity). I guess I did achieve one of my goals last night - and that was the healthy part (1 out of 3 isn't TOO bad?)... but I'm just not inspired! Help!!

As for the meal... after finding my go-to fish (I agree, Carolyn!), tilapia, on sale, I dreamt up this menu and at best it was "eh" - I think I owe it another try and this time, I will pump up the amount of seasonings I use.

It was completely edible, for sure, but could have used some "kick" - my tilapia was lightly breaded in seasoned bread crumbs mixed with about 1 tsp of Old Bay seasoning and then grilled; I boiled the thinly sliced sweet potatoes and then finished them off also on my grill pan, and my spinach was simply sauteed with some sliced onions and garlic powder.

*I have, however, decided to buck the trend in my office to bring in ONLY delicious baked goods for "Sweet Treat Wednesday" and have committed this week (it's my turn!) to bring in sliced apples and a sweet dip! I'll keep you posted on the reaction of my co-workers.

Lucky in Love

My first (and probably only) trip down to my alma mater's hometown this fall was not your usual tailgating, football game-watching, Dixie Classic fair-going weekend... but what better reason to visit than to celebrate the nuptials of my dearest former DC-er, Mary Claire, and her wonderful (now) husband, David.

We drove down Thursday afternoon and after dropping Chris off at our gracious hosts' home in Kernersville, I met the rest of the girls at Foothills Brewery for dinner (if this sounds familiar, it should... we dined here during my 5-year reunion as well as a previous visit with Jayne and Jason), followed by time well-spent at a super cute wine bar, 6th and Vine. The weekend was certainly off to a great start... and our bride-to-be was as relaxed as ever.

Friday, we were treated to a fun afternoon at Tranquility Day Spa which included either a relaxing manicure or pedicure and a full brunch, complete with mimosas!

Thanks to Mr. Hsu's delicious turkey roll-ups and Fresh Market's yummy desserts and fruit and cheese platter, we were well-fed. Mary Claire emerged with a new hair-do that we all absolutely loved, ready for a fun Texas BBQ evening!

After a bit of downtime back at the hotel and greeting some of the arriving guests, we set off for Reynolda Presbyterian and then ultimately, the Barn at Tanglewood - the scene for MC and David's rehearsal dinner.

It was a beautiful night - perfect for a casual evening complete with yummy barbeque, cole slaw, homemade apple and cherry pies, and cool vanilla ice cream. We were treated to a number of toasts to the happy couple and finished the night off with some authentic Texas line-dancing.

After such a fun evening, we all turned in so we'd be ready for the main event. Saturday morning we all convened at the Zevely House downtown for an amazing brunch - complete (again!) with mimosas, delicious grilled vegetables, fresh fruit salad, and some yummy breakfast casseroles. In the afternoon, I tagged along with the bride as she prepared to walk down the aisle; MC was tolerant enough to allow me to follow her around, as long as I promised to be her minion.

The wedding Saturday evening could not have been more beautiful - the weather was perfect and the bride and groom were in high spirits. The church was elegantly decorated with fall colors and Graylyn Conference Center could not have been a more beautiful setting for the reception.

After we waved goodbye to the newest Halls and they headed off to their luxurious retreat in upstate New York, we were lucky enough to still have some time to spend with our friends and hosts. But as always, Sunday early afternoon quickly came and went and we were back on I-95 with the rest of the world, heading back to DC.

Prepared for Fall

In my perfect world, the subject of this post would indicate some really fun and delicious new fall recipes... but alas, the last time I really cooked or baked is a distant memory at this point (although there is talk of actually breaking out real ingredients and a recipe tonight - do either of these Raspberry-Balsamic Glazed Chicken or Caramelized Onion Chicken sound good?).

For now, though, my excitement for fall surrounds my adorable nephew, Charlie, who once again graces the "cover" of my blog. This time he was showing us how he's prepared to help around the house once the leaves come tumbling down... (rumor has it that Charlie saw someone blowing leaves outside one day and later decided to put together this "costume" all on his own)

I just can't get enough of my almost two-year old cutie. *And this also serves as proof, to any of my pregnant friends, that toys are totally unnecessary for kids - look what the imagination can do!!

*Quick update - I saw someone reading this Washington Post article about apples and apple recipes which made me crave fall cooking even more! Stay tuned for more on these delicious (sounding) recipes!

And Not a Moment Too Soon

Sure, things might be insane right now... planning a wedding, cleaning out and selling a house, buying our own house, to name a few... you name it, we're in the middle of it.

However, we can ALWAYS find time for the special hour-long season premiere of "The Office". Besides American Idol (anyone know when the new season starts?), this is my only "must see" show (I know, I'm not female or American since I've never seen an episode of Grey's Anatomy - did I spell it correctly, Christy?) and in the midst of such chaos (albeit all very exciting things), tonight's premiere will be a welcome break.

Scranton or bust!!!

Checking In...

It's been a VERY long but exciting past 2+ weeks... and I've been missing you all and REALLY missing getting in the kitchen with some fun new recipes. At the start of every season, I'm always re-energized with the different produce and selections available. So, rest assured, I'll be back - might not be as regularly for a while, though.

To tide you over, here are a couple of my favorite pictures from my aforementioned trip to Scandinavia... and in case you just can't wait for me to finally finish my online picture album, check out Christy's post!

Good Eats in Scandinavia

My last week in Scandinavia was an adventure in every sense of the word... while surviving the first 3 days with no luggage and exploring lands yet undiscovered (by me), we worked up quite an appetite. The Danes and Norwegians seemed happy to oblige.

What a trip... I couldn't have asked for more: an 8-day tour of Scandinavia (truly some of the most beautiful of God's creation) and all the while being introduced to brand-new and exciting culinary traditions. *Kara-speak for "we ate well"

Here are some quick "bites" from my jaunt across the pond...

Danish version of Hefeweizen - always seemed to be served in very large glasses that we had no chance of finishing...

Delicious "European" cafe au lait - love the froth and the rich coffee.

A Danish landmark - Ida Davidsen. Eating the world-famous smørrebrød "Danish open-faced sandwiches" here was a right of passage... and absolutely lived up to the hype. As my Lonely Planet travel book said, "if time is tight, skip the museum for lunch at Ida's"... but make sure and get a reservation.

The "menu" and selection changes daily at Ida's... based on what fresh fish are available.

Some of the sandwiches are named after famous regulars who suggest combinations to the chef; my favorite was "Fireman's Nightcap" with boiled, sliced potatoes, bacon, delicious creamy chicken salad, and shaved fried carrots to garnish! YUM

Of course I can't spend over a week anywhere without my Mexican... so even though we weren't able to find cilantro, we made my guac for a going-away party, and later in the week, tracked down a Mexican restaurant overlooking the fjord in Bergen, Norway.

But we didn't leave Norway without trying traditional fare... we enjoyed fresh prawns alongside the Torget (Fish Market) in Bergen, lots of fresh fish, and we even tried reindeer! I think I prefer our beef steaks, but it was worth a taste!

Overall, I found the food to be delicious and was quite sad to leave it behind. There was definitely something for everyone and you often were treated to the delicious food while facing breath-taking scenery... that was enough to make anything taste good!

*Check back soon for more pictures of my trip overseas!