Weekend in the Mountains with Mom

All of the recent changes in my life have left my calendar relatively wide open for the month of November.  I recognize that this sort of "time off" might not ever happen again.  With that said, I've been really trying to make the most of this time by investing in my own yoga practice, substituting whenever I can, cooking up a storm, and taking time off to visit friends and family.  In fact, just this past weekend my Mom and I met up in Blue Ridge, GA for a long weekend together.  (Note: My Mom's side of the family owns a house in the mountains, and it is the perfect place for a FREE fall getaway.)  The timing worked out perfectly for both of us (a rare thing indeed), and we couldn't wait to have a few days of relaxation and uninterrupted mother/daughter time together.

Lola decided to come along for the trip, so on Thursday morning we loaded up my new car and started the 7 1/2 hour drive up to Blue Ridge.  It took her a while, but eventually Lola found a way to get comfortable in the floorboard of the passenger side seat.  From this position, it doesn't seem like dogs can get a "crick in their neck"...

When we arrived around 3:00PM the sun was shining, and the day was simply resplendent.

Here's a peek down the driveway from the cabin.  

Just look at all those fall colors: red, orange, yellow, green, brown, grey, white, and more!  

As you might recall, I LOVE fall colors!

Here's a view of the side of the house...I could have sworn I took a pick of the front, but I guess I didn't.
Oh well, you'll just have to imagine how gorgeous it is.

Since I decided to bring Lola along for the trip, my Mom decided to bring her dog, Annie Mae, as well.  Annie Mae, as sweet as she is, is VERY shy and skiddish; and while she is wonderful with most people (once she warms up to them), she doesn't have a lot of experience with - or exposure to - other dogs.

With that said, their introduction didn't go so well.  

As much as Lola tried, Annie Mae just was NOT interested in being friends.  In the end, we ended up having to keep them separated the entire weekend.  Our solutions were either to:

• have Annie Mae in the crate while Lola roamed around freely;
• have Lola in the crate while Annie Mae roamed around freely;
• put Annie Mae downstairs while Lola remained upstairs; or
• keep Annie Mae on her leash while they both roamed around freely.

We tried and we tried to keep them both unleashed and free simultaneously, but it just didn't work out.  As loving as she is to me and other people, Annie Mae just would NOT make friends with Lola.  Oh well, maybe Lola's upcoming visit over the holidays will do the trick! (Hey, I can hope, can't I?!)

On Friday morning, after eating breakfast in the cabin, Mom and I decided to head into town.  Our first stop was Mercier Orchards.  When we first arrived, we both picked out a bag of apples to take home.  There were over a dozen different kinds of apples to choose from; but in the end Mom chose a bag of Yates apples, and I went with the Winsap variety.

If you like apples, then you would love this place!

They even had tastings so that you could try out all of the apple varieties.
It's amazing how different one apple can taste from another.
They're each so unique.

MORE AND MORE APPLES!

While apples are certainly Mercier Orchards specialty, they also make a wide variety of other products including:

• apple butters;
• fruit jams and jellies;
• chutney's;
• barbecue sauces;
• hot sauces;
• syrups;
• apple cider;
• honey;
• candles; and
• so much more that I can't even remember it all!

I thought that their honey display was really cute and clever!

For lunch, Mom and I ate in the Mercier Orchards cafe.  We split 1/2 of a pimento cheese sandwich and vegetable soup.  The sandwich was delicious, and having just 1/4 of a sandwich each was perfect because the pimento cheese was wonderfully rich.  

As for the soup, it was SO good.  

Honestly, I think we both could have drank a vat of just the broth.  

It was THAT delicious!

Mom saying "Yummmmm"!

Of course, we couldn't possibly have left without sampling an amazing homemade dessert...or two.  

Mom ended up settling on a mini apple fritter, and I chose a strawberry rhubarb pie.  

Thankfully, we were both generous enough to share portions of our delicacies!   

After sampling them both, I'm not sure which one I preferred.  

They were both wonderful, but also very different.  

The pie was sweeter, so perhaps better for a traditional dessert.  Whereas the fritter was sweet, but not so much so that it couldn't be eaten for breakfast with a decadently rich decaf coffee.  

Hmmm...that would be so good!

After filling our bellies, we headed to downtown Blue Ridge to do some Christmas shopping!

Mother/Daughter love.

I found several gifts for Bo and I's family; and after a couple of hours, Mom and I decided that it was time to head home and check on Lola and Annie Mae.

Lola posing SO pretty for the camera.

Such a pretty, pretty girl.

We spent the rest of Friday afternoon/evening at home walking the dogs, cooking in, watching a Hallmark holiday movie, and heading to bed early.  

It was perfect.

On Saturday morning, after eating a hearty breakfast, Mom and I decided to take the dogs for a hike.  

There are so many wonderful trails within 5-10 miles of the cabin, that we just chose one of the closest ones and headed out.

The trail itself was absolutely gorgeous.

We got there early, before any other hikers were on the trail:
such precious moments in the company of God's creation.

If we had chosen to do the entire Benton Mackaye Trail, it would have been 10.4 miles round trip.  

Well, we weren't quite up for that; so we decided to walk about a mile and a half in, and then turned around and walked back out.  

We took our time, and in the end we hiked for about an hour and a half.  

Mother/Puppy Daughter love.

Sunlight through the trees.

I'm not sure what my mom was trying to capture here, but I actually like this "accidental" picture.
I think that I was trying to make Lola "sit", but it turns out that sometimes candid shots are better than posed ones.
Go figure.

Sunlight through the trees.

So bright.

So beautiful.

Mom and Annie Mae.

Hugging trees (i.e. tree huggers) ;)

Lola saying: Hurry up, Mommy!

On Saturday night - the last night of our getaway - Mom and I whipped up an absolutely salivatingly delicious meal.  It was amazing.  Here was the line-up:

"Until Next Time" dinner:

Mom's garden purple hull peas

Mom's garden turnip greens

Frances' hoe cakes (an old family recipe)

Sliced tomato w/ Ranch dressing

It just doesn't get any better than that, in my opinion.

Be patient with me over the next month and a half!  

I leave Wednesday for another long weekend trip (not returning until Sunday), but I will post when I get back.  Then Thanksgiving will be here (not 100% sure of our plans yet), and then the movers will be here to pack our house and start the official move to Whidbey!
Like I said, ch-ch-ch-changes are headed our way!

WHEW - I'm a little tired (but super excited) already!

Question of the Day:

Do you (or did you) ever take one-on-one trips with one of your parents?  If so, I would love to hear about some of your favorite memories from those trips in the "Comment" section directly below?!

Blessings,
Ally and Bo

Honey Dijon Potato Salad

I LOVE potato salad.  

Don't get me wrong, I love a potato just about any way you want to cook it, - baked, shredded, diced, fried, in a casserole, in soup, au gratin, etc. - but something about potato salad just says "summer" to me.  I grew up eating it at summer picnics, and something about the dish makes me daydream about picnic tables, backyard fires, and old friends and family (all the things that you should think about when it comes to the summer months, in my opinion).

The only problem is, I don't really like mayonnaise.

Truth be told...

...I actually hate the stuff.

I know that some of you are freaking out right now wondering how on Earth anyone could dislike mayonnaise, but what can I say?  I have tried the stuff time and time again, and time and time again it disappoints me, leaving me slightly disgusted and skeptical of the man-made slimy mixture.

I mean, I will eat the stuff on occasion - if I simply can't get around it - but never do I crave it.  Usually I avoid it.  Call it blasphemy if you must, but I prefer my potato salad sans the bottled white goo.  Instead, I like my potato salad with a kick of mustard, and in today's case, balanced out by the perfect sweetness of nature's sticky gift: honey.

Honey Dijon Potato Salad
Serves 6

2 stalks of celery, diced
2 large carrots, shredded
2 large Russet potatoes, diced and boiled until tender
1/2 red onion, diced
1 apple, diced
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1T (heaping) Dijon mustard
1T (heaping) honey
1T EVOO
1/2T apple cider vinegar

Directions:

• Add the celery, carrots, potatoes, onion, and apple to a large salad bowl.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• In a small jar or shallow bowl, shake/whisk together the Dijon mustard, honey, EVOO, and apple cider vinegar.
• Pour the dressings over the potato salad.
• Serve warm or cold, depending upon your preference.

Think what you will about mayonnaise - I'll not judge - but give this recipe a shot!  I would be willing to bet that you won't be disappointed; AND, if you make this recipe for your upcoming July 4th celebrations, I bet your friends and family will love it too!

Next time - a FABULOUS book review!  The book in question will encourage you to contemplate hurt, family, personal responsibility, and vulnerability in a whole. new. way.  

Trust me, WILL want to know more about this book!

Question of the Day:


How do you like to make (and eat) your potato salad?  I feel like potato salad is one of those recipes where everyone has their own "family recipe" and secret ingredient or two.  What's yours?!

Blessings,
Ally and Bo

Apple Pie Oats

After eating a bowl of Cherry Pie Oats two mornings ago, I couldn't get the idea of "pie oats" out of my head.  They were simply too delicious to be forgotten.  Thankfully, I had another stray can of pie filling in my pantry, so I didn't have to wait too long to fulfill my culinary fantasies of dessert for breakfast.  This time, however, I had apple pie filling.

In my mind, apple pie is quintessentially American.  When someone mentions apple pie, I immediately envision grandmothers in the kitchen, star spangled banners, and summer parties abounding with friends and family.  Therefore, I found this breakfast to be particularly apropos considering it is the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, and the unofficial kick-off to the summer season!

Forget the label "breakfast", this bowl of oats is like having a steaming pile of sweet, delicious apple pie first thing in the morning!  Let's be honest, doesn't practically everyone love good ol' fashioned apple pie?!  Well this breakfast is just like that, except it is perfectly acceptable for you to gorge yourself at 7:00 in the morning.  Enough said.

Apple Pie Oats
Serves 1

1/2 C oats
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp apple pie spice
1 1/2 C water
1/2 tsp butter extract (or 1T butter)
1 C Lucky Leaf's Sugar Free Apple Pie Filling

Directions:

• Add the oats, salt, and apple pie spice to a medium saucepan.
• Pour in the water and butter extract.
• Boil; and immediately reduce to heat to low.
• Simmer for 7-10 minutes until the mixture begins to thicken.
• Remove from heat; and pour into a large bowl.
• Stir in the apple pie filling.
• Serve immediately!

Next time - Saturday adventures with Lola and - assuming the weather cooperates - her first doggy park!  Water will be around, so I hope to get some great pictures of her frolicking in the doggy lake. ;)

Question of the Day:


Can you make pie from scratch?! 


I feel like generations past knew how to make practically everything from scratch, whereas nowadays we rush to the store to pick up pre-made whatever.  To be honest, I have never made a pie crust from scratch...maybe I should change that...

Blessings,
Ally and Bo

Cherry Pie Oats

On a whim - for no apparent reason other than it was on sale - I recently bought a can of Compton's No Sugar Added Cherry Pie Filling.

Well, that was almost a month ago.  

Since that purchase, the large can of cherry pie filling has sat, ignored, in the back of our pantry.  Keep in mind, we don't have any pie crusts in our refrigerator or freezer.  For that matter, Bo and I don't really even like pie crust all that much.  Most of the time, on the few occasions that we have either ordered or baked a pie, we end up eating out all of the "innerds" (that's not a very nice word now is it?) and leaving the crust for the birds.

Seriously, what in the world was I thinking buying pie filling?!

It was simple.  

I was going to have to come up with another way to eat this pie filling.  

And that got me thinking...how else can one eat pie?  I mean let's be honest, who doesn't try to get away with eating dessert for breakfast every once in a while (Come on...what do you think cinnamon rolls, french toast, and scones really are?!)?  So why fight it?  Why not just embrace the concept of pie for breakfast, but turn it into something healthy, delicious, and fulfilling?  The truth is, there is not reason not to.

So that's exactly what I did.

Cherry Pie Oats
Serves 1

1/2 C oats
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 C Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
1 C water
1/2 tsp butter extract (or 1T butter)
1 C Compton's No Sugar Added Cherry Pie Filling
1 T unsweetened, shredded coconut (optional, for garnish)

Directions:

• Add the oats, salt, and cinnamon to a medium saucepan.
• Pour in the almond milk, water, and butter extract.
• Bring to a low boil, immediately reduce heat, and simmer for 7-10 minutes until the mixture begins to thicken.
• Pour the oats into a large bowl, and mix-in the cherry pie filling.
• Garnish with the shredded coconut, and serve.

On the off chance that you aren't a fan of cherry pie (Really?  How is that even possible?!), here are nine other recipes from the ABC blog that are perfect for breakfast:

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

This is the PERFECT bowl of oats for fall weather.  Stock up on canned pumpkin so that you can enjoy this recipe all-year round!

Overnight PB&J Oats

Peanut butter, jelly, cream, and oats all in the same bowl.  

Enough said.

Peanut Butter and Banana Overnight Oats

This recipe takes a classic snack combination and turns it into something perfect for breakfast.  This bowl of oats will keep you fueled and full for hours!

Blueberry Cobbler Oatmeal

This is one of my personal favorites!  

Feel free to get creative with ANY herbal teas you have laying around!

Cranberry and "Dressing" Overnight Oats

Tradition with a twist, this oatmeal recipe will have you wistfully reflecting on Thanksgiving come and gone.  But don't wait until November to enjoy this any-time-of-year bowl of oats!  

Apple and Peanut Butter Oatmeal

Here's another classic snack combination turned into something marvelous and delicious for breakfast.  If bananas aren't your thing, this bowl of oats should fit the bill!

Biscoff Overnight Oats

What's Biscoff?  

Don't ask.

Just get into your car,

drive to the nearest grocery store, 

buy it, and

rush home to make this for breakfast tomorrow.

You can thank me later.

Spring Green Overnight Oats

Think you don't like green foods?  Well, this bowl of oats isn't your average sauteed spinach, boiled broccoli, or mushy asparagus.  Don't be scared, just go for it!

And again...thank me later.

Roasted Coco(nut) Oatmeal

Running out of fresh fruits and vegetables?  Don't despair...oatmeal is here!  Add a few tablespoons of pantry staples such as nuts and coconut and you are good to go for hours!

Question of the Day:


Do you like fruit pie?!  If so, what is your favorite flavor (i.e. cherry, apple, peach, blueberry, blackberry, strawberry, etc.)?  

P.S. I have a can of Lucky Leaf's Sugar-Free Apple Pie Filling in my pantry as well.  Hmmm...I see another variation of "pie oats" coming your way in the near future!

Blessings,
Ally and Bo

Tofu Salad with Curry Veganaise Dressing & Coconut-Infused Israeli Couscous

Last Friday Bo and I went grocery shopping at Whole Foods.  I can't tell you how excited I was to learn that Jacksonville has a Whole Foods approximately 15 minutes from our home.  Like many people, and especially like many vegetarians/vegans, I LOVE Whole Foods.  Even if you don't buy anything, it is so much fun to walk around looking at their stock.  We found ourselves salivating over:

• a million different kinds of cheese (ok, only Bo salivated over that one!);
• wines from around the world;
• two dozen (or more!) kinds of nut butter;
• produce arranged in a beautiful spectrum of color; 
• freshly baked bread; and
• of course - one can't forget - the prepared foods bar!

I wasn't much in the mood for cooking anyway, so I asked Bo if I could make my own "carry out" box of prepared foods for dinner.  After agonizing over my choices, I ended up with a random hodge-podge of different salads jammed into a cardboard box.  Everything was delicious, but one salad in particular really stood out on my taste buds.  This salad was a spin on the classic chicken salad, with a twist!  Instead of chicken, this salad had browned tofu in it, and was tossed in a creamy, yet spicy, dressing that made the whole dish mouthwateringly good.  

After two bites my decision was made.

I had to figure out how to recreate this recipe at home.

Three days later, I did just that, and it turned out wonderfully!

Comfort food with a twist, this salad takes some traditional ingredients and makes them extraordinary.  Don't be scared of the curry veganaise dressing...it makes the dish!  If you don't have raisins or almonds, feel free to substitute with craisins and/or pecans/walnuts.  Make this dish suite your own tastebuds, and at your next backyard barbeque, consider adding this salad into the mix!

Tofu Salad with Curry Veganaise
Serves 2

1 block of tofu, drained/diced/browned
1/3 C raisins
1/3 C sliced almonds
2 stalks of celery, diced
1 apple, diced
3 heaping T veganaise
1 T honey
1 T lemonjuice
1/2 tsp curry
1/4 tsp cinnamon
3-4 dashes tumeric

Directions:

• Add the raisins, almonds, celery, and apple into a large salad bowl.
• In a separate bowl, mix the veganaise, honey, lemonjuice, curry, cinnamon, and tumeric.
• Pour the dressing into the salad bowl and mix well.
• Add the tofu and toss to incorporate.
• Serve chilled, atop a bed of lettuce, and alongside Coconut-Infused Israeli Couscous.

To go with the tofu salad, I decided to whip up something other than rice, millet, or quinoa (my standard go-to's).  Israeli couscous to the rescue!  In case you don't know, Israeli couscous is larger than regular couscous, and is great at absorbing flavors.  I opted to play up the Indian twist from the curry dressing by adding coconut oil, shredded coconut, and coconut extract to the couscous.  It turned out great!  I can't wait to serve this dish alongside a short-cut Indian dinner soon!

Coconut-Infused Israeli Couscous
Serves 2

1/2 C Israeli couscous
1 C water
1 1/2 T coconut oil
3-4 T unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 tsp coconut extract
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

• Place the couscous, water, and oil in a medium saucepan.
• Boil the water, and then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Stir in the shredded coconut, coconut extract, and cinnamon.
• Serve immediately.

Next up - 30 X 30 is officially on!  If you missed my BIG post about 3 Steps to a Better Style, feel free to catch up here.  Today was Day 1 of 30.  So stay tuned over the course of the next month for updates on this fashion experiment!  I can't wait to show you what I chose for my month of mixing and re-mixing!

Question of the Day:

Have you ever been inspired to recreate a recipe from a restaurant in your home?  If so, how did it turn out?!

Blessings,
Ally and Bo

Apple and Peanut Butter Oatmeal

Like I promised, today is all about oatmeal.  But this isn't just any ol' oatmeal recipe, I assure you!

Do you frequently enjoy an apple smeared with peanut butter as an afternoon snack?  Why, might I ask, do you feel as though you must wait until the afternoon to enjoy that perfect marriage of flavors?

YOU DON'T!

You can have your apple and peanut butter, and eat it too...

...for breakfast, that is!

Creamy and slightly salty, this oatmeal will leave you feeling full for up to five hours!  This recipe is perfect for those busy days when you know you might not be eating lunch until late into the afternoon.  For an extra crunch, feel free to toss a small handful of crushed peanuts on top!

Apple and Peanut Butter Oatmeal
Serves 2

1/2 C oats
pinch of salt
2 stevia packets
3/4 tsp cinnamon
3 heaping T PB2
2 C water
1/4 C almond milk
apple, diced

Directions:

1. Place the oats, salt, stevia, cinnamon, PB2, and water in a medium saucepan.
2. Boil, reduce to simmer, and cook for 5 minutes.
3. Pour the oatmeal into a medium Tupperware container, and refrigerate overnight.
4. In the morning, add in the almond milk and stir to incorporate.
5. Meanwhile, microwave the diced apple for one minute.
6. Divide the oatmeal between two bowls, place half the apple in each bowl, and sprinkle with cinnamon.
7. Serve warm or cold, depending upon your preference.

Later today, or tomorrow, Bo and I are going to start packing up the house for our big move to Jacksonville. Everything is happening so quickly...EEK!

...oh, and we have that little thing called a cruise to pack for as well...

...I guess I better get going...

...talk to you soon!

Question of the Day:

Apple & PB?
Banana & PB?
PB & J?


Which is your favorite?!

Blessings,
Ally and Bo