Time Changes Everything...or does it?

Autumn has always been a reflective time of year for me. As a child, I loved fall – it meant a new school year, new clothes and new possibilities. It meant changing leaves, apple picking, pumpkin soup, and big comfy sweaters. Something about fall felt hopeful, like a fresh start. I can remember journaling (with pen and paper back then) and thinking about how fall seemed so much more like the appropriate time to make resolutions as opposed to in the dead of winter.

In truth, I still feel exactly the same way; so please forgive me while I take a moment to ruminate on why this time of year continues to hold a special place in my heart.

This past weekend, our family came together in Goshen, KY to celebrate the birthday of my niece. She is two years old now (!) and I can't help but consider all that has happened since the day she was born. It feels like yesterday, and yet, the whole world seems different now.

This darling girl was born on October 12, 2010 – only 3 weeks before Hubs and I tied the knot in New York City. It was a beautiful day when this sweet little one came into the world.

Then

Now

However, almost immediately after we welcomed this new life, a great deal of heartache fell upon our family. On October 14, 2012 one of the best men in the world went home to be with the Lord. My grandfather passed away after years of struggling with various ailments. Few people are as close to their grandparents as we are and to lose him felt as though the world couldn't possibly make sense without him in it. Nothing has really ever been the same since he left us. Holidays carry a weight they never did before, birthdays, graduations, weddings, sporting events, performances – they all feel as though they are missing something.

If you knew my grandfather, you remember his catch phrases as third base coach for the little league team, "Thada boy Tiger!"; or you can recall him fondly referring to all his little girls as "Minnies". You smile at the thought of him ordering a diet coke "easy on the ice", and have completely lost count of how many times you've heard him tell stories from his Army and Pan Am days.

Me & Gramps in 2007 when I

returned home from study abroad

My grandfather was a special man. He was profoundly traditional, wholly Italian, and endlessly loving. He was a Korean War Vet and a union man in his day. He taught us to drive, fry eggplant, and sprinkle Parmesan cheese. He sat front row at recitals and dance competitions and was the loudest voice on the sidelines at soccer and baseball games. He was deeply committed to his grandchildren and was, without question, our biggest fan. We are so blessed to have had him in our corner all these years.

One of many graduations

At the time that he passed, I was all but fully consumed with my upcoming wedding. I was three weeks out and should have been thinking about final dress fittings and seating plans. But on October 14th, everything stopped. I couldn't bring myself to imagine my wedding day without my grandfather. When November 6th rolled around soon after, I carried him with me in my heart, and on my bouquet. We honored him in word, in song and in dance, and I like to think he was dancing right along with us that night.

Fast forward two years...

Hubs and I now live in Tennessee, our youngest sibling is off at college, and that sweet little girl is growing up. She is a firecracker with a spunky personality. She has just discovered her love of ballerinas and dancing and this Aunt of hers is doing all she can to nurture that love.

Tiny Dancer

She even has a baby brother, named for our beloved Grandpa, and is embracing her new responsibilities as Big Sister.

Sweet boy with Grandpa's smirk!

Watching them grow and experience the world with fresh eyes is inspiring. Their young lives give me so much hope and I am reminded that no matter how much has changed in the last few years, so much has remained the same.

We are still a close and loving family. We are still children of the Most High and we feel His pleasure when we enjoy the many blessings He has bestowed on us. We still watch His world painted bright red, yellow and orange with the changing leaves. And we can still curl up in those big comfy sweaters.

So while change can be difficult, exciting and emotional, I take solace this time of year, in all the things that will never change.

Simple Pleasures

I tend to think that Sundays are perfect for contemplating the simple pleasures of life. You get to sit in church and sing songs of worship to your Savior. You get to curl up on the couch and watch your favorite football team (a little Go GMEN is necessary...and just for good measure, Go Pats as well!). You get to spend as long as you want making dinner as a labor of love rather than a sprint to get food on the table. You may even be able to sneak in a nap or a long walk. All of these are among the simple pleasures that make my life feel so full.

We spent a truly wonderful weekend with my parents. We toured them around Knoxville, took them to eat at several restaurants, introduced them to the UT culture, and just generally enjoyed each others' company.

Sweet Hubs spent the better part of the weekend studying for finals and wrapping up several major projects. On Sunday, as he drove off to school and I drove my parents to the airport, I thought of how I might bless his day and that of his study group amidst the stress of exams and endless assignments. There was a distinct chill in the air and so my mom and I decided the perfect pick-me-up for the weary grad student is a big ole' bowl of homemade soup -- pumpkin soup in fact...and a few pieces of crusty sourdough to boot!

So after saying my farewell to my fabulous parents (whom I miss already), I drove to the market and picked up everything I would need to concoct this deliciousness. I scurried home intent on creating the most soul warming of soups any of them had ever tasted. Armed with yummy ingredients, a 5 quart Le Creuset dutch oven and a general know-how (as opposed to a legitimate recipe), I set about fixing this soup.

And friends, let me tell you something... it was absolute fall perfection!

When it was finally just right, I sent Hubs a little text asking if I could bring them all a little treat. Three large plastic containers, a sliced baguette and some plastic cups and spoons made for the perfect care package for the study group.

It was such a joy to feed them -- a simple pleasure indeed.

In fact, I was so thrilled with how it turned out, I went straight home and whipped up another batch for Hubs and me to have on hand this week!

The rest of the night flowed from this expression of love. We spent a few stolen moments cuddling on the couch near a warm fire and even got out some of our favorite fall decorations.

Once again, I was reminded that this season, if nothing else, is about being thankful for the many (many) blessings in our lives. I, for one, am taking a great deal of pleasure from considering that these days.

A New Dynamic: Playing Host to Mom & Dad

Before we moved to Tennessee, Hubs and I had a unique living situation out in the suburbs of Northern New Jersey. We, quite literally, lived next door to my parents. It was a little "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" without the lawn statues and columns. In reality, we did lead completely separate lives, but that really didn't do much to dispel the assumptions of those whom we told about our neighborly living conditions.

In truth, it was awesome living next door. We could meet up for Sunday dinners easily, we could mooch on leftovers, borrow cars, use the pool (!), ask favors from time to time (don't worry, it was reciprocal), and so on. 

When we were considering moving, Hubs looked at me and gently reminded me that I've never really lived away from home. I considered this a moment, and realized it was true. Save for a stint in London on study abroad and a short time in Dallas or South Carolina over summers, I had really always been within 30-45 minutes of my parents' house -- my home.

Needless to say, moving to Tennessee has resulted in a need, on our part, to embrace our independence. Not to say that we were "dependent" on them, but to some degree, just the feeling of their being close by was comforting. I'm finding that I am enjoying the time away and frankly, so long as we have Facetime and G-chat, mom is only a webcam away in case I simply can't proceed without her input. 

But this weekend we have a special treat! Mom and Dad are here to visit for the weekend and I couldn't be more excited! It is strange and fun to play host to them in our new home, and while I'm certain that when Sunday comes, I'll drop them at the airport with a heavy heart, for the time being, I am really proud to be sharing our new life with them! I hope they love it here as much as we do and come back to visit often!

Forging My Own Frontier: Confessions of a Home Cook

So some of you know that in the last few years I have become quite the active home cook. Hubs swears my food is delicious (I'm not sure if he's being entirely honest, but I'll go with it), so I just keep coming up with new ways to experiment in the kitchen. Sometimes I get it way wrong, but the days when I get it right, there really is nothing better!

I'm fairly certain that the catalyst for my love of cooking was the same as many women...becoming a wife. When you're engaged, you register for all of this professional-grade cookware, you start watching Food Network with reckless abandon and dog-earing (or "Pinning") Pottery Barn-esque scenes like a junkie. And then you get married. Something about becoming a wife triggers a chemical release in our brains that tells us (no matter how much of a feminist we are...or aren't), we want to make our man happy. And what better way to a man's heart than through his stomach!?!

Since moving to the South, I've started to expand my repertoire to include some southern classics. I've started watching more Paula Deen than Giada and adding about twice the amount of butter to my dishes. (Mom, ignore that...and the 5 lbs. I've put on in the last month or so when you come to visit).

But my true inspiration, recently, has been a woman many of you fondly refer to as The Pioneer Woman -- the one and only Ree Drummond. I'll spare you the excessive gushing over her fabulousness, as it really speaks for itself, but her recipes and overall outlook on life have really taught me about being "an accidental country girl". I've been reading her blog and watching her shows religiously and she inspires nearly every decision I make in the kitchen these days... from wearing my cowboy boots to whipping up some homemade spinach and artichoke dip for gameday. 

Her cookbooks (the second of which just hit shelves in the last few weeks) arrived today and I couldn't be more excited to dive into them!

I've been actively cataloging my most successful kitchen endeavors via Instagram the last few months, so here is a look at some of my recent homeruns!

Baked Potato-Inspired "Loaded" Filet

 

The Best Beef & Veggie Stir Fry Ever

 

Asparagus Soup & Pan Roasted Halibut

 Fish Taco Night! (One of our favorites)

w/ blackened tilapia, corn tortillas, lime cumin sauce, and all the fixins!

 My (almost) Famous Chorizo & Veggie Fritatta w/ Goat Cheese

A crowd pleaser every time!

 On the fly, gluten free chocolate bread pudding w/ whiskey sauce

(Note: For this one, I was watching an episode of Paula Deen where she was making bread pudding, I pushed Pause, trotted into the kitchen, grabbed what I had on hand, and whipped up this magical deliciousness! Good gracious it was tasty!)

 Pan Roasted Sea Bass & Scallops 

w/ Garlic Rosemary Polenta over Zucchini Ribbons

 Caprese Caesar Salad 

w/ Homemade Dressing and Parmesan Crisps

 Cowboy Ribeyes w/ a Cocoa & Coffee Rub

Bruschetta on Sourdough Boule

(this was one of Ree's)

 

Steak Pizzaiola

 Gluten Free Skillet Cornbread

 

Pasta w/Leeks & Pancetta

(also one of Ree's that Hubs saw on the show and casually said, "So Babe, you're making that for dinner tonight?" And so I did.) 

Apple Oat Muffins - so Fall-y & Delish-y (& Healthy) 

 

Four Cheese Ravioli with Italian Style 

Chicken Sausage & Homemade Tomato Basil Sauce

 

Wings Two Ways

Traditional Buffalo and Sweet & Spicy Asian Glazed

(also inspired by Ree) 

 

Roasted Beef Tenderloin Au Poivre & Peppercorn Cream Sauce

(inspired by Hubs' favorite dish at The Capital Grille) 

 Game Day Pizza Dip

Before

  

After

Homemade Coleslaw

 

Ree's Spinach & Artichoke Dip

(She's right, it is the best ever! No, seriously.) 

Before

  

 After

 

And finally...the most southern of southern dishes...

Pulled Pork 

(This one deserved a play-by-play)

The Dry Rub: The usual suspects

 

 

 

 

Building the Crust: Brown on all sides

Friends of Flavor: Garlic & Onions

Getting Cozy in the Pot

Full Disclosure: Used the bottled stuff this time

 Everybody in the Pool

 And then we wait.....

and wait...

But it is so worth it, because the finished product...amazing!

(Note: when I served this to Hubs' b-school friends, many of whom are from the South, they said it was the best pulled pork they'd ever had...I'll take it.)

 

Well, there you go. I just ate dinner and somehow, I'm starving again from looking at those! While I promise NOT to turn this exclusively into a cooking blog, I'm fairly certain this won't be the last you see of my food! If anyone is interested in specific recipes, feel free to reach out!

TODAY in Tennessee - as in the Show!

So in case you didn't hear, Kathie Lee and Hoda of the 4th Hour of the TODAY Show came to the University of Tennessee today to go "back to college".

Since moving here, UT has had several national news moments including ESPN's College Game Day and now this! What fun!

But with KLG and Hoda coming to town, my work colleagues and I were especially excited! So this morning, we all got up at 3:30 (ouch!) and were on campus by 5am to see our company featured in a segment on WBIR, the local NBC affiliate. We then parked ourselves near the stage to await the 4th Hour - which begins at 10:00 AM mind you. Needless to say, it has been a long, albeit super fun day!

Below are some photos from our morning on campus! Kathie Lee and Hoda even picked up my tweet and featured it on their blog! I can't wait to watch this on my DVR later!

That's my tweet!

Watching Kip Moore warm up - "somethin bout a truck!"

An early, rainy morning - but so worth it!

On set with Sarah!

Kip Moore rockin' out!

Kathie Lee & Hoda!

Filming our segment on WBIR at 5:30 AM!

Hanging out on The Hill waiting for KLG & Hoda

Bad weather can't stop us!