Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Abby: We are sorry! and super busy :(

So much for blogging more often.  These first few weeks/months of school have been so jam packed I can barely find time to work out.  Don't get me wrong, I'm loving all of my classes (our classes) and surprisingly I've been getting "normal people" amounts of sleep!  Continuing being a morning person is my goal for the semester.  Trying to avoid old habits of being nocturnal. 
 
 just to wet your appetite and prove that Kristen and i still are cooking, eating, and snapping picts.  These are probably bad examples since one is a doctered soup from ABP, one is a SIAB (smoothie in a bowl), and the other is popcorn, but you get the point.
 
 I am right now studying for our Foodservice and Meal Management Test (Thursday) and our Food Science Test (Friday).  Did I mention we have Metabolic homework and a Metabolic quiz on Friday too?  Busy busy. 
On a brighter note, I am very excited to get to go cook at the Women's Shelter for my first time tonight! hmmmmm wonder what we are making. 
Kristen, If you want to study together late tonight let me know :) and everyone else, HAVE a WONDERFUL DAY/week/LIFE!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Abby: thursday morning pancakes

On Thursdays I don't have class till 2pm.  granted, that doesn't mean I have nothing to do till then, but it does mean that I get some time to make breakfast a little more special than the usual grab-no-go granola bar or quick bowl of oatmeal.
 I had roasted my pumpkin in the oven last night so this morning I was thinking pumpkin oatmeal.
 
but then while looking for a recipe I stumbled upon a KERF recipe for pumpkin oatmeal pancakes and realized I already had ALL the ingredients!
 
 while the recipe made more than is in the pictures...not all of it made it from pan to plate, some went straight onto my fork :) they were sooo good.
 a perfect 8am start to the day. Then did some homework that turns out isn't due till next week. Isn't it great when that happens.  And now, meetings, class, hw, study....let the crazy begin!

Abby: Back in the Black (Blacksburg)

Surprise surprise! Just because we are back down at school doesn't mean we have all the free time in the world. BOooooo!!! I honestly did think that this semester would be ...relaxing isn't the best word, but a little less crazy busy than our summers were. But hey, gotta do whatcha gotta do.  And luckily Kristen and I are in 3 classes together and a lab!

So here is what I had written the first weekend back. Sorry it took so long to get up here.

I love being back down here.  There is no other way to put it.  People who say there is nothing to do here or that it is “the middle of no where” just don’t get it.
(not my pic)

Last weekend I reconnected with friends for a jam packed Saturday.  I went on a short run at 7am (3 miles) to the Dixie Chicks playing in my ear while seeing cows munching in the field next to me.  It was heaven. 
A little breakfast then woke up the roommate for a trip down to the farmers market.
I was hoping to run in to you Kris, but not this time.  I had to stop myself from buying the whole market as usual.  But I did manage to pick up some great produce. 
 
 Nicole was planning a pizza for later in the week so she got a hunk of local cow motzerella to go with the tomatoes from her mom’s garden and the fresh basil I picked up.
 

When we finally pulled ourselves away and walked home, I made lunch to test out my new cherry tomatoes.  
Weird combo, but a great taste.  Tuna, tomatoes, carrots, and lime juice.  I made a jar of homemade lemonade to go with.  I am now addicted to using this old mason jar.
 
We then called the guys to join us for some local free wine tasting over at the Vintage Cellar. 

 
  While waiting to step up to the bar, we met some lovely ladies who were just finishing their tasting.  Lynn was from Floyd, just down the road and we bonded about the amazingness of Friday Nights at the General Store.  The streets are filled with live bluegrass playing and flatfooting (similar to square dancing).  I can’t wait to get back there when I’m not staying in to study on a Friday night.
Nicole and Sean each bough a bottle of their sweet red moscato wine to make sangria with.  I am eagerly waiting for that day!