What's For Dinner? Week 4

Veggie bag from October 18th:

Contents: 1 butternut squash, 1 HUGE kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, parsley, purple broccoli, tomatoes, green peppers and kale.

{Menu for October 22-28}

We tried a new pumpkin pancake recipe from Better Homes and Gardens that weekend. The recipe came from an article (years ago) with lots of interesting pancake recipes and homemade toppings/syrups. There was a suggested a coconut caramel pecan topping for this pancake, which sounded amazing, but I wasn't so keen on putting caramel ice cream topping on my plate first thing in the morning. So instead, I just followed the recipe and then stirred some coconut and chopped pecans right into the batter. Yum!
With some of the remaining sweet corn and basil from our CSA, I made a Fresh Corn and Basil Cornbread that was delicious!

And to go with our yummy bread, I tried another new recipe that was just perfect for maximizing our current CSA veggies: Dijon Chicken Stew with Potatoes and Kale. I'd torn it out of Cooking Light FOUR whole years ago and this is the first time I've tried it! So flavorful and rich and comforting. This picture doesn't really do it justice because it really thickened the longer it sat and the flavors were even better the second day. This would be a great pot of stew to put on early and let simmer all day.

Our dinner plates this evening... I added some cheese slices and apples to round out the meal.

Another evening this week consisted of what is sure to become a staple in our house: Cabbage Roll Casserole. I posted it here not to long ago from one of our CSA newsletters. It is ridiculously easy... SO TASTY... and enjoyed by ALL of us. That's a very rare occurrence to meet each of those points! It's not the most beautiful casserole to look at, but don't be fooled! It's really, really good. I'll definitely be repeating this often throughout the winter.

Also this week, we had a potluck at work where I brought along my usual: white bean dip with pita chips and veggies. And the leftovers were my lunch for a couple of days.

Plus these two dishes (above) were very plentiful with leftovers for multiple evenings. And over the weekend (22/23) we had dinner out and then dinner at my in laws where I was off the hook for cooking. ;)

Me & Him

It was kind of fun looking through older pics of Craig and I when writing his birthday post. I found a bunch of old favorites that showcase our goofball personalities and thought it would be fun to collect them into their own post. No special reason... although I guess it was right about this month, 16 years ago that I met Craig for the first time. (Next spring will be 15 years as a couple!) So most of these are silly and some are just favorite moments.

Me & him...

This was at my parent's house. Pretty sure Craig was home from Ohio State and I was still in high school. Oh, to be a teenager again when we could spend hours just "hanging out".

One of my high school dances. I think I was a junior? But I wore all my dresses twice (can you believe that?) so sometimes it's hard to tell. We were posing for goofy pictures at his parents house.
I love our friends. That's Craig's sister in the teal jacket. Mike (as in "Sensei Mike") in the sunglasses and Craig's cousin Julie in the background. We were in Colorado for another one of Craig's cousin's wedding. Still can't believe I was allowed to go. It was the spring of my junior year in high school! When we were sitting at this gorgeous wedding ceremony, in a chapel, high up on a mountain, listening to "Can't Help Falling in Love" (Elvis) sung acappella, I remember thinking "I'm going to marry Craig and I want this song to be sung at our wedding". Five and a half years later... I did... and it was. :)

Tupac & Aunt Jemima - out to eat for Craig's mom's birthday. (You can't take us anywhere. Haha.)

Fast forward a couple years. Caribbean cruise with a bunch of family & friends.

Craig asked me to marry him on this cruise! May 2002.

My junior year of college. Pumpkin carving contest at my parent's house with Craig's sister Kelly and my brother Taylor. Kelly won.

My 22nd birthday. In the house I lived in in college.

Senior year of college.

Craig, at 24. Still one of my favorite silly pictures of him.

My college graduation. I was trying to reenact a picture of my mom at her high school graduation. :)

I'm married!!!

Our wedding day - October 2, 2004.

Eating at Bubba Gump's in Maui, Hawaii on our honeymoon.

Hawaiian themed New Year's party at our friends house 2004.

On a cruise with my family - summer 2005.

Same cruise. :)

Newlyweds - same cruise.

Putt-putt with our friends. Summer 2005.

Goofball.

Christmas 2005

New Year's Eve 2005 - in Cleveland with friends.
Sorry - there was some alcohol involved this night.

UFC night with friends - haha!

Maine vacation with Craig's parents - fall 2006. Does this look realistic? He was about two feet off the ground. ;-)

Getting ready to eat Maine lobster rolls. Posing goofy for my hubby.

Following directions... ;-)

A hike at sunset.

Craig wanted to frame this in black & white. :)

Niagra Falls & a rainbow.

Don't know why, but I love this series of pics so much. We were just talking and goofing around and Craig's mom took pictures.

The next day, when we returned home, I found out we were pregnant with Will. Maybe that's why I like these pics. We had a surprise and didn't know it. :)

And this is how I told him! Haha! I had a list of clues that left him hunting for the next clue all over the house when he got home from work and the last one told him to lift up my shirt. That's eyeliner written upside down and backwards - I was pretty proud of myself. ;-)

About 6 months preggo with Will - lovely.

Weekend trip to Traverse City with friends - June 2008. (Will was just 1 and at home with Aunt Casey & Uncle Wes.) Craig put his hat on me and I was posing.

Such a fun weekend.

About 4 months preggo with Soph. Thanksgiving 2008.

I look horrible in these. We had another loosely-themed New Year's Party with our friends. The guys were supposed to wear tuxedo t-shirts and the girls were going to wear old bridesmaids dresses. Craig opted instead for a Miami Vice look and I wore an A-line that belonged to my sister in law to fit over my Sophie-belly.

So classy.

Playing outside with the kids on a summer evening.

Labor Day 2010. He tackled me.

Halloween 2010. I love this one of Craig 'cause he doesn't always smile "for real".

Random. I'm pretty sure I'd just stolen a bite of his brownie and we both had brownie in our mouths.

"Fist-pumping" (ala Jersey Shore) at Casey's birthday dinner this year.

Picnic at the beach with kids this past summer. Will took this one.

I love my hubby. We are two peas in a pod. :)