We're Pregnant!!!

We have been holding on to a BIG secret for a while now (5 months, in fact)!!! We're having a little one! After holding on to it for so long we wanted to share our good news with everyone we know through the best way we know how- picture announcements! I swear you would think if you knew us that we're very vain. We have a picture photo shoot for every big thing in our lives (save the dates, wedding, 1 year anniversary, pregnancy announcements). That's not really the case it's just that we have a very talented friend, Nikki, (check out Little Bits by Neoshia) and when we get together our creative juices start following and a small photo opt some times turns into BIG "to do". I am lucky that Nikki loves to take pictures and create props for photos with me. So without further ado here are most of our pregnancy announcement photos:

This is one of Hubby's favorites. This is poses (obviously), but have been battling this for the last 2 months so it's not all that funny. :)

It had rained for the last week before our photo shoot so our nice lakes were a little swampy.

If you need any painted props check out Little Bits, by Neoshia she free hands everything and can paint most requests.

This picture probably would have been better if I had moved arm- oh well, you live, you learn, then get Luvs.

"Falling" back into the habit of posting....

Okay, I know it has been a while since I have posted anything (at least 7 months!!) I admit I am a slacker, and it is just hard for me to get on here at least once a week, or as the past would show once a month, and post things. BUT, I have a lot of exciting things coming up in my life and know that I will want to share all the events with family and friends and this is the best way to do it. So here goes my first attempt at getting back into a habit of posting things in my life and what better way than with the two recipes I made up and tried out tonight. They were amazing! I fixed hubby a couple of his favorite foods ( to show him just how much I love him), which happen to be fall comfort foods and coincidentally it was the first day of fall! What a neat coincidence, right?

First up an earthy fall oven roast:

 Here's what you need:

bottom round oven roast ( I used 1.9 lb)
1 onion, sliced
3 carrots, chopped into pieces
mushrooms, sliced
1 garlic clove, chopped
salt
pepper
Olive Oil
2 tsp of  dried rosemary ( I just shook the seasoning until I thought I had enough. I wanted a nice earthy flavor)
1 tsp of dried oregano (or more/less depending on your liking)
1 tsp of  dried basil ( or more/less depending on your liking)
1 bay leaf
1 14.5 oz can of beef broth
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 packet of onion soup/dip mix

Here's how to do it: 
Preheat oven to 400.
 Put oil in a cast iron pot and turn on heat. Rinse roast and pat dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and then place in pot. Sear on both sides so they are brown (about 5 minutes total)

Meanwhile,  slice onions, chop carrots and garlic and get mushrooms ready ( I bought presliced mushrooms). After both sides of the roast have a brown coloring to them remove the roast and place on a paper-towel lined plate. Add a little more oil, if needed, and add onions, carrots, garlic and mushrooms. Let saute for 5 minutes. 

While that is sauteing,  mix the beef broth, onion soup mix, and cream of mushroom soup in a bowl.  After 5 minutes, add the rosemary, basil, oregano and stir it around. Let the seasoning simmer on veggies for a minute or so then place the roast on top of the veggies and pour the beef broth mixture over the roast and add the bay leaf. Add a lid to the cast iron pot and place in the oven for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the lid and continue to cook in the oven for another thirty minutes. Take out of oven let sit of a bit before cutting the meat and remove the bay leaf. I made mashed potatoes and served it over the mashed potatoes. It was delicious!!

 Now on to something sweet...

Normally, I wouldn't post a recipe for apple pie since you can find one just about anywhere, but half way through making the pie (I had already cut and sliced the apples) I realized I didn't have enough sugar so I had to come up with an alternative recipe. It turned out to be even better! Hubby LOVES apple pie, it is probably his favorite dessert. For me, it is fun to make, but just okay to eat.This pie, though, was seriously delicious I could have eaten several slices.

Here's what you'll need to make it:
 Pie crust ( I prefer store bought-sorry)
6 gala apples
1/4 cup of white sugar
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp and a bit of nutmeg
1 tbsp. of orange juice ( I didn't have lemon juice)

Here's how to do it:
Preheat oven to 425. Place/press one pie crust in a 9 in. pie pan so that it fills out the pan- leave a little hanging over the edge. Wash, core, and slice apples into thin slices ( l did not peel the apples- I am too lazy for that). Place the apples in the bowl then add both sugars, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and orange juice. Stir until the apple are well coated. Place the second pie crust on top. Fold the edges together and crimp the edges using your fingers or a fork (depends on the look you want). Use a knife and make a few small slits on top of the crust so it can "breathe".  Place in the oven. Set the timer for 15 minutes. Take the pie out and cover the edge with small strips of aluminum foil to avoid burning. Place back in the oven and bake for 25 more minutes. Serve warm with/without ice cream. 


Enjoy!


Sarah