Ode to DVR

One of my loyal fans (*cough* hubby *cough*) keeps reminding me that I haven't updated my blog in quite some time - and he's right! I'm busy with school, of course, and time is just flying by for me these days. That said, here is the post I've had in my head for a few weeks now -

Having DVR for the first time is one of my very favorite things about my new living situation. I used to enjoy it at my parents' house, but we didn't have it in our first apartment for the last year (plus). It's so wonderful to have it especially with my busier schedule, because TV is on my time, and I never have to miss an episode of Teen Mom, Project Runway, ANTM, Glee, or Modern Family. Was anyone else as excited as me when some of those shows came back last week? Anyway...

It's also great to be able to pause TV to go do something and then restart it. When hubby was here, we could also pause TV to discuss what's going on, which is great, because in the past I'd just have to miss what was going on... I mean, I'd get to benefit from his genius comments instead of hearing the boring television. :-)

Anyway, not a big thing, but some small things, and it's all about the small things! I'm pretty happy with life these days, except for the not-so-minor fact that I'm impatient for hubby to get here! Ah well, soon enough, and time is flying by pretty fast.

Hopefully this weekend I'll get some more posts up, including a surprisingly yummy recipe for using CSA produce!

My Newest Cooking Adventure

I briefly mentioned this before, but I'm finally taking the time to write in more detail about my latest food adventure - I joined a local CSA (which stands for community supported agriculture). Individual programs looks slightly different, but in the one I chose, I sign up for a set number of boxes of produce at a time (from a local farm), and I get to choose the frequency and dates I pick my boxes up. Since I'm living on my own for now, I started out signing up for four boxes on a biweekly basis. So far I've picked up two of my boxes, and it's been great for making me go out of my comfort zone both eating and cooking, and it has also helped me focus on continuing to consume a healthy amount of fruits and veggies! Joining a CSA was something I'd wanted to do for a while, and I'm so happy to finally be doing it!

I'm hoping to update the blog on a semi-regular basis with a record of what I've been getting and how I manage to use it. Figuring out how to use the bulk of the veggies I receive is definitely a challenge, but one I'm glad to be taking on. For one thing, it makes it easier to decide what to make for dinner (narrows it down a bit). That being said, here is a photo of the contents of my first box:

Some of this will be obvious, but there was arugula, acorn squash, basil, summer squash, eggplant, beets, peppers, sweet potato greens, mint, and onions.

I used all this in a variety of ways over the next couple weeks, but here are some things I managed to photograph. These dishes include the contents of this box and the next one I got as well.

Quesadilla (with summer squash I believe) and sauteed greens and peppers 

Balsamic glazed beets with goat cheese and basil

Pasta with acorn squash and pork in a spiced sauce

This was the first time I'd ever cooked okra, so there's a bonus picture of it before I chopped it up

Okra fritters 

It's been fun finding ways to use my local produce, and I'll try to continue sharing the different things I end up doing! It occurs to me now that I've also made a couple of delicious vegetable pizzas (usually with eggplant and in one case with summer squash). The vegetable pizza, along with the veggie frittatta, is one of my favorite ways to use the veggies up!

There's my introductory post! As usual I'm more than open to suggestions of what to do with these things, or other stories of similar experiences.

Pretending

So I'm not original in pining for the feelings, foods, and weather of fall, but I am struck to write about it regardless.

First, some essential facts.

I grew up in a place where September/October looks like this:

[From here]

Being a New England girl, I associate these months with big piles of leaves, cool crisp weather, apple cider, hayrides, pumpkin patches, sweater weather, and all those wonderful things. I don't feel truly homesick often (aside from wishing I could spend more time with family) but this time of year makes me feel so nostalgic and makes me want to go spend time enjoying the atmosphere there. The worst part is, I totally took it for granted growing up - I didn't realize how many tourists flock to the area just to see the leaves change color!

So contrast that to where I live now:

Don't get me wrong - this area is beautiful in its own, new way. Cacti! How exotic! I love the food, the culture, and the people here, and I'm thrilled to live here for a few years. That's not the issue. The issue is that the high was over 100 today and I'm used to having to start layering by now. I expect to be able to make apple pie on Columbus Day and it not feel totally wrong. Certain coffee stores have started serving pumpkin spice lattes, my friends are posting pumpkin recipes, and yet I still spend my outside time in sweltering heat. Alas.

At a certain point, I'm just going to start making fall recipes, weather be darned. The whole purpose of this post actually is a mini recipe round-up. Soon I want to make these pumpkin chocolate chip muffins that I found on a friend's blog, and this pumpkin cheddar mac and cheese that I saw Rachael Ray make on television. I'm intrigued, to say the least! All I'm saying is, it just feels so odd, and I miss those iconic autumn feelings from home.

Anyone want to share some fall recipes and help me pretend?

Where to Start?

There's so much to update about, but since school has been the major thing I've been doing with my time, I'll start with that.

The last two weeks have involved a lot of learning and falling into a routine even more. I am still working out when I like to leave in the afternoon (right after class, or after completing my work at school), but my morning routine is working pretty well, and I've even been to spin class two weeks in a row! It feels great to get it in before I even have class, and it's more pleasant to drive to school at the even earlier, darker hour that involves a bit less traffic.

A stressful wrench was thrown into life a couple weeks ago, when it came to my attention that the car needed a new alternator - right away. It essentially died on a Sunday night, so though it was stressful, I was able to schedule a tow through my insurance for Monday morning, got towed to the dealership, rented a car, and drove the rental to school. Though it was financially painful and somewhat stressful, the car got fixed in one day and has been driving fine ever since (as far as I can tell). Keep in mind, this was my fourth day of classes - so not exactly ideal timing. Then again, when is it ever ideal for one's car to break down?

Luckily, the week steadily got better from there, and it culminated in hubby's arrival on Friday to start off the long weekend! Words cannot describe how happy we were to see each other again and how enjoyable and special it was to have almost a week to spend together. For the first two days of the weekend, I didn't worry about school at all, and hubby and I both relaxed and did some things in our new area. We went to a winery, went out to a nice dinner to celebrate our anniversary (yes, it was 3 months ago, but we weren't together thanks to his training), and did some fun stuff in our nearby city where I go to school. It was also wonderful for him to finally see this new house that I had to pick out on my own. I'm glad he liked it even more than he thought he would based on photos. :-)

Most of all, it was just fantastic to be together. It sounds so simple, but it's so very true, and it's worth saying. We've had a lot of obstacles that have made it difficult to stay in one place at the same time, but we've made the best of it, and it's all worth it because of the one that I'm with. I know you're reading hubby, and I know you know how much I loved spending time with you!

Together! (At the winery)

It was sad that hubby had to leave on Thursday, but I just tried to focus on being grateful that we got to break up this time apart while he is finishing training in our old home. 

Slowly but surely, I am finding a groove at school. I'm not there yet, but I had to be "on call" in one class, along with a pair of other students, and we've gotten some good feedback after having been on call. Being able to answer a good portion of the questions correctly was definitely a confidence booster, and I am starting to feel more like I can actually "hack it" here with this new subject matter and new discipline. Of course, I may be feeling a bit differently when it comes time to study for finals, but there's some time yet before that! 

I've been socializing a bit as well, which is nice - I go to school with a lot of interesting and fun new people. Last night though, I was so ready to come home, relax, and just watch some TV. It was also glorious to wake up without any alarm this morning! Let's just say I slept a good long time... 

The weekend is racing by of course, but I'm mostly just catching up on neatening the house, random other things on the to do list, and a bit of schoolwork (though I'll do most of that tomorrow). Today I'm also enjoying some sports - US Open tennis and college football (now that my law school is actually one with a really good football team). The past couple days have also afforded the opportunity to catch up with some college girlfriends via Skype, which was a welcome addition to my weekend as well. 

So that's kind of where life is - definitely more good than bad, to be sure. I am very much looking forward to getting into more of a routine at school, and to the arrival of hubby (and our furniture!) next month. This house is great, but I know I will love it even more when we can add in more real furniture and I can do some more "decor" type stuff. I am also really loving getting to know the small town where I live and the city where I go to school, and I look forward to continuing that process as well!

I'm Alive!

I apologize for my blogging absence, but I am not sorry about the reason - hubby is visiting, he was here this past weekend and will be a couple more days! It's been beyond wonderful, but I've been focusing mostly on spending time with him, and getting enough schoolwork done (and you know, going to class) so blogging hasn't been happening. That said, here are some posts to look forward to:

1) How last week started off not great (involved car repairs) and steadily improved (hubby's arrival!)
2) I joined a CSA, got my first box of produce, and started cooking with it!
3) Hubby and I did some lovely and enjoyable things during our long weekend together

I'll be working on these later in the week and over the weekend! In the meantime, I hope September is treating you all well so far.