Snow days

We have had several weeks of frigid temperatures here in VA and I am starting to be ready for spring (already!). However, we were graced with several inches of snow on Wednesday. It came down fast and was beautiful!

Abby and I went out and played in the snow b/c all of our pt's canceled

I made a snow angel!

Isn't it pretty?!

Lucy enjoyed the snow too!

Red barn through the snowy woods

into the woods...

It's pretty, but now I am ready for it to go away :)

Applesauce Cinnamon Muffins

I'd like to share this delicious creation that I learned from my Mom. We used to eat these muffins (probably) weekly when I was young, and I always remember having a Tupperware bowl of left over batter in the fridge waiting to be cooked. They taste just as good now as they did then!

2 sticks margarine, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups flour
1 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp allspice
3 tsp cinnamon
1 (1 lb) can applesauce
2 tsp soda

Cream together the margarine, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Mix together and add flour, cloves, allspice, and cinnamon to the preceding. Combine the applesauce and soda and add last (mix using a wooden spoon). Mix well. Fill greased muffin tins 1/2 full. Bake at 400* for 18-20 minutes. Serve hot with butter or sprinkle with powdered sugar. Batter stores indefinitely, can store in a covered container in refrigerator. Makes 2.5-3 dozen muffins. (I usually make a half recipe because it makes plenty!)

Enjoy :)

Birthdays and girlfriends

I spent a wonderful weekend in Fredericksburg hanging out with my girl friends, catching up on things around the house, and celebrating my birthday! It was perfect!

Several of us braved the chilly temperatures to attend the Annual Fredericksburg Christmas Parade-the floats where pretty cool and the performers were great.

My girl friends and I had a wonderful dinner at Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen. I had the 'Sunday Gravy'; Italian sausage, pork, and meatballs simmered in marinara sauce for 6 hours and served over Tagliatelle pasta. We then went back to their house for drinks and Funfetti cupcakes. It was awesome! :)

Mmm...cupcakes and Raspberry Sherbettos

Yummy!

Thanks for a great birthday, ladies! I am so thankful to have you all in my new life here! :)

A time to give thanks....

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! I love this time of year! The weather is getting cooler, scarves and sweaters are pulled out of the closet, and it is the season to spend time with family and friends and remember all that we have to be thankful for within the past year (and always).

I had my first Thanksgiving in Fredericksburg this year and my family, Alec included, were able to meet here to celebrate the holiday. We had a great time and a wonderful turkey feast. Take a look below....

Clockwise L to R: Cheddar Cauliflower, Herb-marinated turkey breast, Crock-pot stuffing, sauteed brussel sprouts, and gravy

We also tried a new recipe for sweet potatoes. Check it out here. It was an interesting combination of sweet, savory, soft, and crunchy. Really amazing!

One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is left overs! What could be better than a delicious sandwich piled high with stuffing, turkey, and cranberry sauce on fresh baked bread (Eileen's bakery)?!?! Pure deliciousness.... :)

Mmmm :)

Eileen's Bakery

Taylor and I discovered another gem in Fredericksburg this weekend. It is called Eileen's Bakery & Cafe.  It is a wonderful bakery housed in a renovated Baptist church in historic downtown. Taylor ordered a Ham, Egg, and Cheese Croissant and a Bear Claw (that was HUGE!). I had the Cheesy Tater Wrap and an  Almond-Filled Bear Claw. Oh my, it was so delicious! Here is a sneak peak of (what was left of) the pastries.

I also bought a loaf of the Butter Whole Wheat bread.....it is indescribably soft and almost melts in your mouth. So yummy! 

Highly recommend trying it out :)

Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen

Taylor was in town to visit this weekend and we went out for a nice dinner on Saturday night. I had been wanting to go to a different restaurant downtown so we decided to try Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen.


It is a basement restaurant located in Fredericksburg, VA. Do not be fooled by the casual appearance of this restaurant....the food here is delicious! It has been named as one of the top 10 farm-to-table restaurants in the US, using local ingredients to create culinary masterpieces. 


We started with the House Antipasto which consisted of imported cheeses (mozzarella, bleu, and herbed spread), prosciutto, salami, roasted garlic, veggies, and crostini. It was a delicious start to a wonderful evening and there was plenty to share (probably about 4 servings). 


Then came the main event: Taylor ordered Chicken Parmesan with Tagliatelle pasta and I ordered a special which was Pumpkin Ravioli. Taylor's dinner was really good but mine was FABULOUS! I don't think I can find words to describe the deliciousness....my mouth is watering just thinking about it. It was a wonderful combination of melt-in-your mouth fresh pasta, rich pumpkin, creamy butter, and hint of cinnamon. More like a dessert than dinner, and I ate every bite of it!


 Here is a picture:

I highly recommend this place, it is AMAZING :)

Homemade Applesauce

Another one of my favorite fall dishes is homemade applesauce. I learned this simple recipe from my mom.

This time I used 3 honey crisp and 2 granny smith apples.

Cut the apples into fourths

I core them with a paring knife and use a potato peeler to easily remove the peeling

Cut apples into small pieces and place in a large pot. Add enough water to almost cover the apples.

Simmer on medium-low heat for ~20 minutes or until apples are tender. Drain water. Mash with fork or spoon.

You can serve this homemade applesauce warm or cold. You can also add sugar if needed (I recommend tasting before adding any). You can also add cinnamon if you like!

A great way to get the pickiest eaters to eat their fruit and can be served year-round :)