Artichoke Bread (recipe) & Weekend Recap

"NC Poor Couple Artichoke Bread"

This Artichoke Bread was born when I visited Mathew when he lived here:

Poor couple we were... little to no money, just scraping by to see each other while I was living in Ohio...So instead of eating out every night I was there visiting..we went to the grocery store in search for some cheap inspiration. I vividly remember walking around Food Lion in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and I though of making this yummy bread... I bought:

Ciabatta Loaf

Olive Oil 

Fresh or Shredded Mozzarella 

Grape or Roma Tomatoes

Can of Marinated Artichoke Hearts

I beleive this was the secret ingredient... 

Not fancy but like I said, we were poor & there was no kitchen in his barracks room, just a lonely old toaster oven. 

Directions: Preheat oven or toaster oven to 400

Line toaster or baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. 

Cut bread in half lengthwise & then again into single portions of your choosing.

Drizzle with olive oil - cut tomatoes & artichokes into about 1/2 - 1 inch pieces and spread evenly onto the bread. Cover with cheese. Grind a generous amount of the Italian Blend Grinder onto the cheese. 

Bake at 400 for about 15-20 min, or until the cheese melts & slightly browns. 

Cool, cut and serve. 

So this is what we had for dinner Friday night, along with our first lettuce from our garden for a side salad. It was perfect. 

Then we headed on a little village adventure.

First stop of course was ice cream

Then we visited the park where this little guy loves to throw rocks and feed ducks

Saturday we enjoyed another park day, and we prepared for a little cookout with friends. 

BBQ'ing is one of our very favorites in the summer.

Its just so much easier to eat outdoors, and thankfully there were no bugs!

These girls.

Samantha laughed so hard with them and they had the best time.

Little brother always in tow.

He bounced, and played by the girls ...and he was outside for the better half of the day wearing himself out.

Our friends brought this amazing homemade Carob Cake - which I am going to make soon. It was so amazing. I had a slice for breakfast too.

Since the kids were really loving being outside, we decided to forego the routine schedule, and let them stay outside until it got dark. We built a bonfire & they just layed in the grass having their evening snacks & relaxing from a long fun day.

We have a few more weeks of school still, but we got to work on our summer bucket list this weekend as well. I know two months will go super fast, so I want to try and get as much in as we can.

And I finished the third order of clothespins this weekend

a little work and a lot of play. 

It was a good weekend.. Looking forward to celebrating our Daddy next weekend & more fun!

7 Years of Marriage

Our anniversary is today..

 

We started off the weekend with an Ice Cream Social at Samantha's Nursery School on Friday night

It was cute.. all the kids colored & ate their sundaes.. and Andrew just ran around the tables like a little social butterfly.. he isn't afraid or shy AT ALL.. its too funny.

 

Saturday I went out looking for some additions to a few gifts I got the hubby, but I couldn't find what I wanted at Barnes & Noble for him..

But I did find this for myself.. The cover had me.. Its just too cute.. and all the recipes are either mini, or bite sized foods.. I love anything mini!

So one day when I actually HAVE time to have an "afternoon tea" party.. I'll be prepared.. ha!

Today... (Sunday) was a really nice day.. it was close to 70, sunny and beautiful.

We spent a lot of time outside.

Grammy came over, and Andrew took a decent nap, so Daddy and I got to get some things done, and we feel pretty accomplished.. Nothing major, just the usual, Daddy was outside getting a few things ready for spring/summer, lawnmower, garden & lawn pruning, and I got some things done, laundry, changing our spring sheets on our bed, more laundry.... organizing a few cabinets, the pantry, my makeup cabinet in our bathroom.. and I baked a little anniversary sweet

 



I attempted to make some chalk paint with Samantha.. but it came out more like chalk rocks instead.

I pinned a recipe .. and it was kind of a fail.. Im not sure we crushed the chalk as fine as we were supposed to.. but she didn't care.. and as you can see it turned from sidewalk, to tree.. and I think its quite pretty!

 

So 7 years..

We've had quite a lot of living since we met on this evening in Cleveland (below)

Who would have thought.. 7 years later.. 2 kids, a house, post-military career, stay at home mom...wheew... and you know what? It truly seems like yesterday.. time has flown.

Sometimes I wish I could go back to these fun times .. but then I look at SJ and Andrew and think, what did we do without these two miracles in our lives! We have so many amazing memories, and some trying times that aren't so warm and fuzzy. But that's marraige, right? Ups and downs, and you work through, because you're a team, and there is no one else I would want by my side through our journey together as husband and wife and as parents. 

 

We've learned to keep each other grounded..

We calm each other during stressful times.. and during the most difficult moments (most were last year with a colic baby) We each knew when one had to take over for another without even saying a word...and that to me is part of our special bond that I value and never ever take for granted.

 

As we grow and change, so does our marriage, and our love for one another.

I am so thankful for you, my groom, and if there is one day I could go back and re-live all over again, it would certainly be this day..

back in Jacksonville, NC.. Friday, April 28th 2006.

No one but us.

One of my most cherished memories.

And here's my dessert I made for tonight..

Its not very pretty.. but it tasted identical to an Original Cookie cake from back in the day.

I pinned the recipe last week, and thankfully this one was not a pinterest fail.

So good!

On The First Weekend in December...

This is how we spent the first weekend in December!

Its beginning to look a little like Christmas in our house.

This year since a certain 10 month old would be quite a danger with a live tree .. we opted for one of our spare faux trees... mounted and pushed back and away from certain destructive hands...

 

Grammy came over and the girls decorated the tree together..

Andrew was napping but when he woke up... he was so excited he didnt know what to do..

He let out a "boof ... buuu ... buuuu .. " it was so cute.

I definately think this was the way to go though.. I'd be running into the living room every 2 seconds.. or held prisoner guarding the tree and saying "NO" for the next 4 weeks.. um, no thanks...

Poor Andrew and his ears..

He can barely sleep anymore.. naps sometimes only last 5-10 minutes.. and then he's a bear because he's so tired.. We have an appointment with the ENT next week to hopefully discuss and move forward with tubes if this 4th antibiotic doesnt work

Samantha and I also decorated and she did some tasting.. of our first Gingerbread House!

She loved putting all the candies on..

She also helped me make a batch of sugar cookies this weekend.. I froze them though.. and will decorate em in a few weeks.. 

Sunday seemed like I was in the kitchen a lot too..

We made a big batch of homemade soup..

 Naan Bread

And a Mini-Batch of my favorite

Southern Living's Chicken Enchiladas

they went right in the freezer for another quick meal .. all ready..

 We finished up the weekend with a little grocery shopping...

and I had to hand over my purse again ... this time she had her own cart!

I love that girl!

The official countdown to Christmas is moving closer and closer now that we're in December.

Yeay!

Random iphone Dump

If I dont post these pics ... I'll never get back into the blogging groove.

Lately I've been running crazy around here..

Busy days.. and nights..

Playdates, School. Cooking, Baking, Pre-Christmas Shopping (yes already)

 

So here's a few highlights from the past weekend and few days.

The weekend started off so nice.. 60's and sunny..

Sunday Samantha "helped" Daddy mow the lawn one last time ..

Andrew was just a bystander..

But Im certain in the spring he'll need his own mower and will be following right along

We took a drive out to a little town we love and did a little shopping.

I snapped a few pics of ideas for Samantha..

She has a Hungry Hippo App on my phone..

I thought it would be a good idea to get her the real one..

I snap pics, and then try to find good deals online with Mr Rebates, Coupons, etc.

She loves music and instruments..

We sadly dont have a guitar yet though..

After some browsing, I always need a few cupcakes from the bakery on Main Street.

We got Nilla Birthday cake and Samantha requested the Red Velvet.. She told me, "I want the Ruby Slipper Cupcake!"

 

The kids lately have been good.

Although Samantha is sneaky and she's quite rough and mean sometimes.. I know the whole sibling rivalry thing.. but seriously.. he's 9 months old! We are trying to raise our kids to not fight and to love each other.. and God must have been listening to me, because today .. they got along great..

She even stood here (below) while he played with her hair and gave her the sweetest hugs.

 

He adores her. .

And she's his little mama..

They are so good for each other.

And they play so nice together 90 percent of the time.. ha!

 

Today Samantha had her little friend from school over.

She insisted on her outfit choice.. of course she's very much into large skirts and tights at the moment.. ha!

We headed to Target tonight to stock up on a few groceries, and I couldnt help myself.

 I grabbed a few sprinkles, and small toys for SJ and A.. and I had to grab a few boxes of these..

I know its early.. but it wil be here before we know it..

 

Begin & End with Cookies... {Our Weekend}

Our Weekend in Pics.

It started off with cookies .. and ended with cookies...(read on...)

 

Friday I nearly forgot I signed up to add something to Samantha's school's Fall Festival and craft/bake sale. I was supposed to participate in the craft fair.. but.. no time.. I tried.. but maybe next year.

 

Saturday I took SJ to the festival

She had a ball..esp in the bounce house...

Donut bobbing was also fun for her.

It was getting cold and cloudy around 11 though.. so we left.

 

Daddy and I were feeling spontaneous..

and we decided since it had started raining...to go for a little road trip.

We packed up the car with two tired kids and snacks/gear.

We drove about 1 hour away to Rochester.

They just got a Trader Joe's .. and we decided to check it out.

I LOOOOVE trader joes... I used to live within walking distance of one in Ohio.. why didnt I ever walk there?? And in NC we'd make a stop every time we drove to Raleigh. But now Wilmington has one!

It was pretty nice though when we got there.. no rain!

The fall foliage was very pretty although you cant really tell from my pics to much

 

We had fun..a few trying episodes.

Daddy ended up waiting outside while SJ and I finished up shopping

 We left with 4 bags full of goodies!

 

Some new stuff I tried was their Cookie Butter (below)

I made pumpkin pancakes and spread the cookie butter over it.. mm heaven...so so delish!

 The kids both passed out about 1/2 way home until we pulled into the driveway greeted by huge sopping raindrops.. It was a really rainy Saturday here.

Sunday was bright and sunny and upper 60s!

The kids played outside in the morning while I started baking/cooking ALL DAY..

I loved nothing more..

Sunday Sauce...

I add a bunch of green peppers.. then once theyre cooked, I blend them along with some sauce in a blender, and return to the mixture.

The house smelled so good all day.

 I made Homemade Oreos and Chewy Oatmeal Cookies too..

We had Grammy over for dinner, and she helped us with baths after.

I ended the evening with a huge glass of milk and two enormous homemade oreos.

So I ended our weekend as it began, with cookies.