Weekend Recap (October 9, 2017)

We had another fun filled Fall weekend!

Here is what it looked like....

Friday

I enjoyed lunch at Wasabi with Jess.  We got to catch up and decompress a bit.  

My favorite thing there?  The Volcano Roll...

it actually comes to the table in flames!

Friday Night

 Daddy had a gig so the girls and I crashed.  I have been binge watching Riverdale on Netflix so I enjoyed a couple of episodes before heading to bed.  My friends Coleen and Dave went to the gig along with my stepdaughters Kayla and Ally and between those two parties, they sent me some cute pics!

Saturday

Diana and I were up bright and early for cheer practice.  It was our final clinic with ECE.  The girls made some progress but it is not always pretty.  Check out the videos below to see what I am talking about (our first comp is this Saturday-eek!)

Hard Work is Not Always Pretty...

Some Progress...

Meanwhile at home, someone was getting a "fat bath"...her favorite! ;)

 After cheer, the girls and I had a dance party in the kitchen and then got ready for a Fun-Filled Fall Day with the Fournier Gals.

We did some apple picking at Mac's to start.  It was Pidge's first time and she picked apples with all her might!  She also insisted on carrying the bucket that was SO HEAVY...she kills me!

We snapped some great shots....

and of course a selfie!

Once we were done, we killed some time in HomeGoods down the street...oh I love HomeGoods...and it was mission accomplished for me...I was looking for a fun fall mug for my morning coffee and I snagged this one..isn't it adorable?  

Then we dropped Diana off at her Nutcracker rehearsal and headed to our house for some snacks and "libations."  I made us our customary caramel apple cider martinis and we enjoyed some apps.

This one, I just love.  Can you guess what it is?

Yep, candy corn (thank you again Pinterest!)

It was so much fun just to decompress and catch up!

Then it was time to pick Diana up and head to dinner.   We headed up to the Copper Door in Bedford.  We love it there so we are so excited when they announced that they were opening right next door in Salem.  We cannot wait!  They should be open by Thanksgiving.  Copper Door boasts the best atmosphere and some great food.  Cass and I stuck to apps with our cocktails and she picked the best ones for us.  Seriously I cannot get them out of my head.  My favorite though were the maple and pork croquettes.  Oh my Lord were those to die for!

Exhibit A

and our other delicious apps

The Crab and Avocado Salad

and the meatballs....

Pumpkin Martinis

Group shots were on tap too of course

 and while we were out doing this, Pidge and Daddy were doing this...

Diana ended the night with a fun sleepover at the Fourniers.  As soon as she got home on Sunday morning, she declared, "Auntie Cass makes the best pancakes!"

Sunday

We usually head straight to mass but I had lots of cooking to do.  We had my parents and Lea's parents over for dinner before our game.  It was the first time they got to meet each other and we all had a lotta fun.  It was so easy because they are so down to earth and fun.  

Oh and side note, when Rob went to get Diana, he saw a bunch of turkeys down the street.  I had explained to him that I had seen the biggest turkeys ever near our town hall.  I don't think he believed me until he saw this flock and snapped a pic.  (Really my worst nightmare!)

I made Fancy Pants Chicken.  Have you tried that recipe?  You can find it on Pinterest.  It is SO easy and SO SO delicious!

Before heading out to the game, I snapped a few pics of the "rents."

(Poor Bob getting stuck listening to my Dad's stories) ;)

 and then it was game time.  We all headed out to cheer the girls on.  The weather ended up clearing and it was a beautiful day for a football game!

Our girls....

That's a wrap!  This was one of my most favorite weekends ever!  What did you do?

Friday Favorites (October 6, 2017)

It's Friday- Praise...The...Lord

I don't know about you but I crawled to the finish line this week...it was a tough one...so I am so happy to see this day!

As always, linking up with Erica, Andrea and Narci HERE 

Here are some faves from this week.....

Respect

 

 At cheer practice one night and I looked up and this sign reminded me how true it really is...needed to snap a pic :)

Celebrating Daddy's Birthday at Ralphie's

So we got a gift card for our anniversary and decided to put it to good use for Daddy's Bday.  Everyone loves them some Italian especially when Daddy picks the canoli for dessert ;)

My Girls...Always

Inspirations

Today....Yesterday...Always...when you hear tragic news as we did this week....when families are struggling to stay alive after acts of God...certain people will remind you to stop thinking about yourself...focus on how you can help...focus on others and do your part

Have a wonderful weekend friends....hold your loved ones tight!

Gratitude

I am thankful for.....

Being close to the best hospitals in the world and having access to excellent healthcare

Having real love

Having my fam

Having the village

Having the work 

 

Apple, Bacon and Blue Cheese Stuffed Pork Chops

 

 

 So this past weekend, when we were hosting a dinner for friends, I decided to go full fall mode and whip up a meal for the season.  I scoured Pinterest and my own recipes and pulled it together.  These pork chops were the main event and received much praise.  I, of course, had to share the recipe with you.

I served them with pumpkin alfredo fettucine and a nice autumn salad.  I also had Rob grill up some chicken in case there were some who prefered a plain meat instead of this fancy stuffed kind but you know what?  The pork chops were wiped out- everyone loved them and so I consider this recipe a win!

Here we go!

 (I doubled the recipe to feed 8)

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

Total Time

50 mins

 

Ingredients

• 4 pork chops
• 1 large shallot chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 apple peeled cored and sliced small
• 4 slices bacon chopped
• 3/4 cup blue cheese crumbled
• 1 tbsp fresh rosemary chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees.
2. Cut a pocket in each pork chop, bone in pork chops can be used as well. Season each pork chop with salt, pepper and rub them with the rosemary. Set aside.
   
   
   
3. Cook the bacon in a large oven proof skillet. Reserve 1 tbsp of the bacon in the skillet, and another tbsp for later, discard the rest.
4. Fry the shallot and apple together, for about 3 minutes until apple softens. Add garlic and continue cooking for another minute. Turn off heat and add blue cheese to skillet and stir.
5. Spoon about half cup of the stuffing into each pork chop.
   
    
6. Add remaining bacon fat to skillet and add heat. Place pork chops in skillet and cook on each side until they start to brown, about 5 minutes per side.
7. Place skillet in preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes.
    

    

   
   

   The sweetness of the apple and onion complements the saltiness of the blue cheese and together they moisten the pork up and make each bite mouth watering!  Be sure to visit me again and I promise to share the pumpkin pasta we enjoyed on the side with this dish!

Fall Favorites: The Blended Blog Linkup

It is time for the monthly linkup by The Blended Blog.  I am a day late but so wanted to participate so I am linking up HERE

Here are my faves.....

1. Favorite Fall Sweet Treat- Pumpkin Squares with Cream Cheese Icing

2. Apples- Red, Yellow or Green? Red all the way- Cortland for baking and Macs for  snacking

3. Favorite Fall Sport to Play Well Cheerleading of Course! ;)

4. Best Drink for Fall Would have to be my Caramel Apple Martinis and my Caramel Apple Cider Martinis for sure!

5.  Favorite Fall Activity- would have to be going to the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence RI - can't wait to get back there next year!

6. Must have Fall purchase- a Plaid Blanket Scarf

7. Pumpkins- Pick your own or buy them in the store?  I have to say we are guilty of buying ours at either Lowe's or Home Depot or a local Garden shop BUT next fall, once are schedules are a bit more light without the Wolverines, I would like us to make a day of it and go pick our own!

8. Real or Fake Pumpkin?  REAL all the way

9. Favorite Halloween Costume- my favorite of all time is a good old fashioned witch costume with purple, green and orange accents!

10. College Football or NFL- College if it were between these two BUT there is nothing better than High School especially on a Friday Night under the lights with the sounds in the background of the cheerleaders and band- this, my friends, has been a true highlight in my life...at different stages and for different reasons

11. Fall or Halloween Decor- for me?  Fall but I do appreciate Halloween decorations in others homes

12. Raking leaves or no leaves to rake- this one is all Robby B and his fancy leaf blower

13. Favorite Soup? Egg Lemon Soup but for Fall, I like to whip up Chicken Tortilla Soup and Chilis in our crockpot

14. Favorite Fall Candle Scent- Pumpkin Buttercream

15. Love or hate pumpkin spice- LOVE it

16. Short booties or tall boots?  I love booties on other people just not really on me so for me, tall boots all the way!

17. Favorite Halloween Candy Milky Way

18. PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) Y/N? YES...only occasionally though due to the calories ;)

19. Hayride or Corn Maze?  Hayride only!  I am claustrophobic so I am certain I would have a panic attack if I tried to navigate through a corn maze- eek!

20. Favorite Fall TV Show....3 words...This...Is...Us!

Weekend Recap (First Feelings of Fall Edition)

So I am recapping our weekend yet again and this time, while I am writing, I feel the need to tell you that here in New England, it felt like fall for the first time this past weekend.  Our temps were in the 60's and it was brilliantly sunny filled with lots of pumpkin!  Here is what it looked like....

Friday

I snuck out for a quick lunch with Lea.  We decided to meet in Londonderry since she had a hair appointment right after down the street. We ran out of time as always but I made sure our lovely waiter snapped a couple of pics for us ;)  I mean, would you expect anything less from me?

 and it truly felt like fall.  I tossed on a sweater and my black leather pumps and it was so comfy!

Friday Night

We had cheer practice with an ECE clinic mixed in.  The girls worked REALLY hard.  I snapped a couple of pics before they got down to business.

  After practice, Jill and I took the girls + Leah to grab a quick bite.  It turned into a "night" with these crazy cats.  We ended up at Windham Restaurant and all they needed to hear is that the place is haunted and their imaginations ran wild...

They were "seeing" and "hearing" things everywhere and we decided next time we are leaving them home ;)

Saturday

It was a rainy, cozy day.   Originally we were supposed to cheer at a pep rally but due to the rain, it was postponed until next weekend.  We took the opportunity to snuggle and watch Glee.  (with some silliness mixed in)

Diana had Nutcracker rehearsal in the afternoon and then I got cooking.  It was our turn to host one of our little friend groups for dinner and games.

I decided to go "all fall" and whipped up a dinner for the season.  We started with my pumpkin shaped cheeseball and crackers (trademark) along with Mike's homemade Jalapeno Poppers (which I tried but they were so hot, I go the hiccups and had to run outside- no joke!) and Brenda's brie and jam in puff pastry.

(My Gift from God and her Brother Bobby)

After our cocktails and apps (and feeding the kiddos their pizza and such), we headed into the dining room for our adult dinner.  I made Stuffed Porkchops (they were stuffed with blue cheese, onions and apples), Grilled Chicken, Pumpkin Alfredo Fettucini and an Autumn Salad (all recipes coming soon!)

We enjoyed some great red wine too- Beth Ann brought an amazing bottle and we also broke into the Shortcake.  

 and then we played our trademark games of Things and Cards Against the Humanity- they were fun but not as wild and hysterical as some other times in the past.  We decided to cut our card games short and enjoy some sparklers with the kiddos.

and check out these new best pals....squishes my heart!

and Fall Gals

 Great night with quality peeps!

Sunday

It was time for mass, groceries and organization...perhaps with a nap squeezed in too! :)

Then Rob took Eva to skating while Diana and I headed to her game in Bedford.  The girls cheered their hearts out and I snapped a few pics of course!

It was a wonderful fall weekend....what did you do?