This Weekend

Todd's parents were in town this weekend and we really lucked out on having beautiful weather. We made the most of the short time they were here and packed in lots of fun (and way too much food). Todd's parents are true foodies and we explore the city meal by meal when they visit.

While Todd's family spent the day with Crosbi on Friday, I enjoyed some much needed time to myself. I kicked off the day with an exciting trip to the dentist (major sarcasm), but I was thrilled to find out I was cavity free. I hadn't been for a visit since before I found out I was pregnant. Yikes. So when the dentist told me my teeth looked great, I almost got out of my seat to hug him. I spent the rest of my day shopping in downtown Franklin, followed by coffee with a good friend. I love being a mom, but it's so nice to have some time to myself to recharge.

For dinner we had reason to celebrate. Todd's mom is 5 years cancer free. Such a blessing and answer to prayer. We decided to try a new Nashville hot spot (literally) at Hattie B's Hot Chicken. Oh my word. So good. On Saturday we fit in a trip to the farmer's market, one of my very favorite spots, and finally tried Mas Tacos. We'll definitely be back. 

We spent dinner that evening around our table enjoying fresh seafood we purchased at the farmer's market and enjoyed a night at home before Todd's family left this morning. Thankful that we'll see everyone again in just a few short weeks. 

Until then, you will find me at the gym. After this weekend, I'm not sure any of my jeans fit. 

Happy weekend.

xoxo 

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Red Oak (formerly Red Lark)

Just a few miles from our home is the cutest little coffee shop which was once called the Red Lark, but we were informed as we walked in that it is now the Red Oak. Either way, its small town charm and iced chai lattes keep me coming back. 

Todd had never been, so this morning we decided to experience it as a family. That was after Crosbi slept until 9 (say whaaaaaat?!). We had reason to celebrate.

I ordered the breakfast quesadilla and iced chai of course. Todd and Crosbi both had the croissants - his with eggs and bacon, hers with peanut butter and bananas. We'll always jump at the chance to support our local businesses - especially when they're as cute as the Red Oak.

Coloring. Always coloring. 

Happy weekend!

xoxo

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So Long Winter

The first day of spring may be just shy of a month away, but we're already embracing the season in the Stepp house. I love fall and can confidently say it's my favorite season, but spring is a close runner up. I think I'm especially looking forward to it this year with a toddler in the house. She has a fierce love for the outdoors and I want to spend as much time as possible letting her run wild outside.

We're also referring to this year as the "Year of the Farmer's Market." We thought really hard about joining a CSA, but we're not quite ready for that kind of commitment. We want to do a test run this year by hitting our local farmer's markets as much as possible. This way we'll still be supporting our local farmers, but we can have a bit more control of what we purchase.

We kicked things off today with a visit to the Franklin Farmer's Market. It was still a little chilly outside, but we shopped long enough to grab some red new potatoes, rainbow carrots, and fresh tilapia from Gulf Pride Seafood - a team of guys who drive to the Gulf and bring back fresh seafood weekly.

Crosbi enjoyed every minute of it.

Have a lovely weekend!

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Food & Family

They say when it rains it pours, and that seems to always be the case, but I'm learning that this saying doesn't have to be negative. It has been pouring around here, but we've been soaking in the best kind of rain. Cool, refreshing rain that you want to dance in. Rain that brings life. Rain that you wouldn't mind staying around awhile.

Since July 26th we have had family in our home. First my family, then Todd's. Our days have been busy and full and with all the craziness, they flew by. When I woke to a quiet house this week, it felt strange. Crosbi spent most of the day looking around, expecting someone to pop out and play with her. She had no shortage of playmates these past couple of weeks!

Unfortunately I didn't get many pictures with my family. My dad is the proud owner of a new iPhone, so he and my Stepmom were the official photographers, but I got a few shots of our time together.

My parents came armed with new toys and books. Crosbi is definitely the center of attention these days.

It was great catching up with my sisters. We spent the evenings talking as we took long walks, burning enough calories to justify homemade cookie and ice cream sandwiches.

It's not a successful visit until we go to Mellow Mushroom. If my family is going to pick a must-visit restaurant, they picked a good one. Todd and I never turn down the House Special.

Shaye, my youngest sister had never had self-serve frozen yogurt (gasp!). I had to fix that immediately. Todd and I treated her to one of our favorites - Sweet Cece's.

Nine days later my parents returned home, just in time for Todd's family to arrive.

 

Stealing Papa's hat.

Crosbi showing Granny Sue (Crosbi's Great Grandmother) her toys.

Crosbi has developed a love for books. I can't think of anything that could make her Grandma more proud.

We are so spoiled when they visit. They love our daughter so well and it doesn't hurt that both grandmas are amazing cooks!

A little dish Todd's mom put together. Yum!

Life is slowly returning back to normal. We're enjoying a wonderful break in the heat, spending lots of time outside, and trying to rest before things get busy again later in the month. More on that soon!

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Pinterest: It's What's for Dinner Part II

Pinterest has become my official cookbook. So much so, that I had to reorganize all of my pins. I deleted several recipes that looked amazing, but I knew I would never make. I don't have time for 20-ingredient recipes and I don't think mini cheesecake pans fit into the budget, so I purged some pins and what is left are recipes that stand a good chance of being made. I even created new categories for entrees, sweets and drinks. Thanks to Pinterest I'm actually spending a bit more time in the kitchen. Not as much as I should - we still have our fair share of takeout, but it's progress!

Below is part two of the recipes I have tried recently. Part one can be found here.

Turkey Stuffed Peppers

I know I made these, but I can't really remember what we thought of them. Obviously they weren't memorable enough to deserve a repeat. I do know that I used beef instead of turkey since we have organic beef from Todd's family farm. I also remember that I liked them a bit more than Todd did. I'm thinking they could have used a little extra "something" to give them more flavor. I've got a new stuffed pepper recipe from Trader Joe's that I will be making soon. We'll see how they compare.

Crash Hot Potatoes

The Pioneer Woman does it again! These are a staple in our house. I bet I've made them nearly a dozen times. Now that I'm growing my own rosemary, they're even easier (and cheaper). I could eat these weekly if not more. Yum!

French Dip Crescents

Need an easy weeknight meal that doesn't require much thought? Here you go. Not the healthiest dinner in the world, but they're pretty tasty. As easy as they were, I think I prefer a classic french dip with "real" roast beef that has cooked for hours on crusty bread. It's unlikely I'll make these again.

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Who on Pinterest hasn't made these? Super easy, really tasty, great for freezing, the list goes on and on. A good friend brought these over right after we brought Crosbi home from the hospital and they were delicious. I later made them for my family when they visited. Great when cooking for a large crowd. These will be in our rotation for sure.

I've been doing quite a bit of "cooking" for my little girl too. Who would have thought making baby food could be fun? It's so much easier than I thought it would be and I love knowing exactly what Crosbi is eating. Plus she's experiencing so many new textures when I make her food rather than the soupy texture in jarred baby food. It's really funny to see where my strengths are being used these days. Months ago I was called on to write marketing plans for Christian artists. Now my resume includes whipping up pureed peas and green beans. Crazy.

I'll be back soon with Crosbi's six-month recap once I pull myself together and come to terms with the fact that my baby is more than half way to being a one year old. I've got to soak in each day with my baby while she's still a baby!

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Pinterest: It's What's For Dinner

First of all, thank you ladies for your sweet comments on my last post. It was so great to "meet" April and find another great blog to add to my list. Christine encouraged me as always. It was her blog that inspired me to start writing back in 2007 when I was just learning what blogging was all about. Ashley was encouraged to start writing on her blog again as she anxiously awaits the birth of her little boy this summer, and this little blog has allowed me to get to know Todd's cousin Allison, whom I've yet to meet in person. I'm so glad our blogs let us keep in touch and I hope to finally meet her sooner than later!

While I'm giving a little blog love, I need to give a shout-out to Emily, a friend of mine who inspired this post. She has done a great job of blogging about the meals she has made from Pinterest. I know that I've pinned close to 100 recipes at this point, wondering if they're as good as they look, and Emily helps to take out the guess work. She rates the recipes, says what works and what didn't, which recipes need tweaking, etc. So, I thought I'd do the same.

Todd and I are really striving to eat healthier, but these recipes are in no way the healthiest ones on Pinterest. We've gone organic when it comes to milk and most fruits and veggies. Our beef is as organic as it comes (Todd helps butcher it himself!) and we're moving to free range chicken as well. But, we still sneak in easy, stress free recipes because we're trying to stay afloat most days, so no judging!

The photos below are borrowed except for one we managed to take ourselves.

Since I've made more than a dozen of the recipes I've pinned, I'll consider this post part one.

Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

Super easy recipe. It's made in a crock-pot start to finish. It doesn't get much easier than that. I like the fact that it doesn't need many ingredients, so it's a great go-to when I need to make something with ingredients I have on hand. I add a few more veggies than the recipe calls for. I think I doubled the carrots and I like to add peas, or some other veggie to round it out.


Crispy Cheddar Chicken

Not a bad entree, but I had a hard time getting the cheese to stick to the chicken. There has to be a better way. I think I liked the sauce better than the chicken itself. Not sure if I would make this again.

Rustic Pot Roast Pot Pie

Todd took this photo on his iPhone. To be honest, I tweaked this recipe so much it hardly resembled the original. Believe me, you don't want to stick to the original. I substituted the beer for beef broth and added a ton of veggies. Todd and I both love okra, so I added half a bag of frozen (thawed) okra and other frozen veggies. The recipe said to add potato flakes to the soup mixture to thicken it, but I would have needed to add half the box and I wasn't going for that, so no potato flakes for us. Instead I just added a little bit of cornstarch and strained the soup mixture before adding it to the pie crust. In the end, we both liked my adaptation. I would definitely make my very-tweaked version again.


Bite Sized Baked Brie

Yes. Loved everything about these. Todd's mom and I made these over Christmas and just thinking about them makes my mouth water. You really can't go wrong with Joy the Baker!

There you have it. I'll hopefully have part two ready very soon.

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Books with Pictures

Our first apartment in Nashville was a nightmare. It was cold, dark and infested with bugs. I wore flip-flops in the shower and wouldn’t sit on the carpet. It was awful. Thankfully it only took one complaint to break our contract. We signed a one-year lease and lived in the apartment 28 days. The longest 28 days of my life.

Todd and I didn’t know many people during our first month in town, and since staying in our apartment was too depressing, we spent countless hours drinking coffee and reading books and magazines at Barnes & Noble. We would stay until we were asked to leave, wanting to be anywhere but our home.

We quickly upgraded to an adorable apartment in Franklin, then again to a cute townhome and eventually bought our first house. Now we don’t want to be anywhere but home, but we still enjoy bookstore coffee dates. The only thing that has really changed for me is the reading material. I now love pouring over cookbooks. I can’t get enough of them. I wish I had bookshelves full of cookbooks, but unfortunately I don’t have the budget or the space.

Instead, I’ll take advantage of coffee dates at Borders or Barnes & Noble and I’ll take mental notes of the amazing photos and recipes I see.

However, I do have a little Christmas money left and there are a few cookbooks that I’ve had my eye on…

The Comfort Table: Recipes for Everyday Occasions by Katie Lee

I bet I have picked this book up half a dozen times. I love that Katie is close to my age and sticks to the food she grew up with. Fried chicken, anyone? You can’t go wrong with comfort food at any age.

Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood: Stories and Recipes to Share with Family and Friends

I bought this book for my step-mom for Christmas and I think I was more excited to read it than she was! Although my dad tells me they have had several dishes from this book, so it sounds like the gift was a hit. I only read it through once and immediately wished I had my own copy. Southern food at its finest with special tips from Garth Brooks is a perfect combination. Interesting fact: Garth likes to add cheese tortellini to just about everything. 

Giada at Home: Family Recipes from Italy and California

Saturday mornings used to be filled with cartoons. Now they’re filled with my favorite Food Network shows, and Giada At Home is an absolute favorite. This book is basically her show in written form. This is another book I flip through often. 

Pretty Delicious: Lean and Lovely Recipes for a Healthy, Happy New You by Candice Kumai

Lastly, a new to me cookbook that I discovered in a magazine (I think it was Southern Living). The author is all about FWB’s (food with benefits). This book would be a good, healthy compliment to The Comfort Table and Trisha’s book!

Any other great cookbook recommendations? 

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Snow Day

You would have thought two children lived in my home last night. Todd and I were giddy at the thought that work might be canceled because of snow today. We were constantly looking out the window, waiting for the first snowflakes to fall. Right before we went to bed the sky seemed to open and spill out snow on our quiet neighborhood. Within ten minutes the streets were covered. We knew we wouldn't be going anywhere in the morning. 

We're well into the afternoon and Todd and I have yet to change out of our pajamas. I've been cooking and cleaning (also taking breaks to check work e-mail now and then). When Todd hasn't been playing video games, he's been having snowball fights with the neighbors and their kids. Calem, our little neighbor across the street was up early building a snow fort with his dad, waiting patiently for Todd to step outside so he could attack. Honestly though, I think the "big kids" enjoyed throwing snowballs more than the little guys. So fun!

After lunch I tried a new recipe - Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream. It's so easy and pretty tasty.  More than being in the mood for ice cream, I really wanted to try out my handy new food processor that Santa was nice enough to bring me. This recipe would be great for you girls with kids.

Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream
(via 5 Ingredient Fix)

Ingredients:
2 to 3 ripe bananas
1 to 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1 to 2 tablespoons honey

Directions:
Cut the bananas into 1-inch pieces and freeze. Put the frozen bananas in a food processor and puree, scraping down sides periodically, until smooth. Add the peanut butter and honey and puree. Serve immediately or refreeze until ready to enjoy.

Happy Snow Day!

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Christmas Came Early

One great thing about my job is getting corporate thank you gifts during the holidays. Because I placed such a large order with Harry & David last year, they thanked me this year by sending me a "Tower of Treats." I don't know how Todd and I are going to eat all of the goodies they sent, but I've never been known to turn down chocolate. Seriously. I don't think I have ever turned it down. 

The large box on the bottom is full of pears. I've never been a fan of pears, but I'm going to try to disguise their flavor by making a pear crisp or something similar. I can't let them go to waste, right? My luck they'll be moldy before I ever get to the baking part. That's okay. Did I mention there's chocolate?

Although not pear related,  I did try a new recipe this week. Prosciutto and Gruyere Strombolis are super simple to make and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Tip: buy prosciutto and gruyere from the deli at the grocery store. The recipe only calls for two ounces of each, so it's much cheaper than buying the prepackaged kind. Recipe here.

This week has been really busy, but the best kind of busy. We had friends over for dinner and I had a great girls night that included dinner at Urban Flats (yum) and a movie. This morning Todd and I had an incredible brunch at Marche in East Nashville. Oh. My. Word. We loved it. We thought brunch would be a nice way to celebrate his new job. Thankfully his self-employment season didn't last too long! The problem now is that he's my direct competition. Our discussions about work could get interesting.

How did you spend your weekend?

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Chili Cook Off

On Saturday Todd and I met some friends in Leiper's Fork to attend the town's annual chili cook off. With nearly 17 different kinds of chili (and a couple of versions of homemade salsa), we left very full. Throw in some live music, a Barney Fife look-a-like and a visit from one of the candidates running for governor, you have a truly Southern festival.

In other news, I tried a new recipe I found on Whole Foods' site. I typically just buy a frozen kit for stir-fry, but Todd watched Food Inc last week and since he was pretty disturbed by what he saw, I bought whole wheat pasta, and organic chicken and veggies. Not sure we'll completely transition to all organic, but it did feel good knowing our food wasn't processed or full of chemicals. 

Chicken Broccoli Stir-Fry, recipe found here.

Hope you had a great weekend!

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