Just ordered our family Christmas cards for 2010!

Yule Bough Christmas

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Leaves of North Carolina!

Here are some pics of the leaf peepin we did while in Asheville, NC last month. Although we missed the peak of the leaves changing colors, they still put on quite a show for us!

Mountain Mama!

I took the kids to Asheville, NC over Veteran's Day holiday for a long weekend. We had such an amazing time and perfect autumn weather! We ate some of the best, fresh, organic food in the city and the local chocolate shops didn't dissapoint either. I cannot wait to go back!


~Day 1~

After an amazing lunch at Rezaz, we headed to the NC Arboretum for the best time you can have for $8 (the cost of admission per vehicle). Although it was 50 something degrees, we soaked up the sun and loved being outdoors. The kids got alot of enery out while exploring the gardens!

I think they should make the entrance prettier!

My two angels!

Check out those red leaves!

The Bonsai exhibit was Maddie's favorite, she loves all things Japanese.

I wish they played outdoors like this all the time!

Golden yellow Hostas!

Me and my little man!

Me and Maddie just messing around!

...still messing around!

Cute ant sculpture in the gardens!

Playing airplane on the stone steps.

My favorite picture that Evan took from the trip!

That night we had dinner at Tupelo Honey Cafe and then a stop for chocolate. This is one of the cases at the Chocolate Fetish! They have the best Sea Salt Caramels...I'm having withdrawals!

~Day Two~

We woke up early Saturday and headed to the Biltmore Village where we had an amazing brunch at the Corner Kitchen. After some eating and shopping (the kids got some ornaments for their Christmas Tree) we headed to Chimney Rock State Park to see the lookout and Hickory Nut Falls. The evening was complete with a fancy dinner at Vincenzo's (where we had researched and made reservations before even leaving Florida).

They have such great food, Evans Rueben was AMAZING!

The beautiful Grove Park Inn!

Check out those fall colors in the background!

I love you Maddie!

Hiking up to Hickory Nut Falls!

400 ' tall Hickory Nut Falls...or should I say Hickory Nut Trickle?

Chimney Rock Overlook, we made it ALL the way up there!

Dinner at Vincenzo's....the best Lobster Risotto I have ever eaten!

~Day Three~
On the last day of our trip we headed to DuPont State Forest in Cedar Mountain, NC. It was a beautiful scenic 45 minute drive south of Asheville. We hiked the forest trails and saw 3 different waterfalls and even a covered bridge!

Yummy breakfast at the Green Sage Cafe to fuel up for another day of hiking!

Evan is such a natural poser!

Maddie was quite the guide.

Triple Falls, my favorite out of all the ones we visited!

Hooker Falls, where Last of the Mohicans waterfall/canoe shot was filmed!

We had to get some chocolate for the road! This was by far my favorite chocolate shop (yes, it even beats the Chocolate Fettish!)

Lunch at Soba Japanese before the 6 hour drive home!

Menu Monday - Pasta Pie!

I stumbled across this Martha Stewart adaptation recipe this weekend at the Noble Pig blog and I had to make it asap! (Click the link to see their pics and the complete recipe). I knew it would be a big hit with the kids, so I got the camera out during the process.

I had to buy a 9" spring form pan today in order to make it, but I needed an excuse to buy myself a new kitchen gadget anyhow (and now that I have this fancy pan, I can make my own cheesecakes too)!

Boil the rigatoni VERY aldente as it will soften up more in the oven. Toss the pasta in the grated cheese and place them vertically in pan (it says to butter pan first, but I didn't because I coated the noodles in olive oil after I rinsed them instead).

Patience is needed for this part....I used the thick end of a wooden chopstick to stuff the meat sauce down in each and every noodle! Maddie helped, Maddie whined...she is not patient!

Yummy goodness! Make sure you let it stand for at 15 minutes before you take the spring form ring off the pan or it will fall apart. Again, patience is required b/c you just want to eat the thing!

Spring form ring has been removed. You could also slide the bottom of the pan out at this point too (before slicing).

Check out that crust! It looks like a deep dish pizza!

The finished product with fresh romaine lettuce salad! I know, its just pasta with meat sauce...but it's all about the presentation, the kids thought it was so cool. They even had another slice and more salad for seconds! Still have 2 wedges left over for lunch tomorrow!

So easy to make! I made it my own by adding a splash of red wine and a tbsp of sugar to the meat mixture, also added 1/2 cup chopped purple onion when I cooked the garlic cloves.

I used Organic Muir Glen Crushed Tomatoes with Basil, White Oak Pastures Grass Fed Ground Beef, fresh cracked black pepper and freshly grated Boars Head Pecorino Romano Cheese! There are very few ingredients in this, so they have to be great quality!