Taking a break

Since moving last December, life has been...hectic.  There have been some steps forward, some steps backward, and lots to think about.  A month or so ago, we visited our friends in Ft Worth...and I went to my 'happy place' to take a mental break.

The next few days will be some pictures from that trip.

A couple more pix of the Aggie Ring

At Texas A&M there is a giant Aggie ring by the Alumni center.  I really, REALLY have to have hobbies lest I become a work-a-holic so I got myself up, stopped by Starbucks, and spent some time with my camera.  The combination of golden sun and shadows was a bit of a white balance challenge.  Actually, I'm not really sure how to do better on this (other than some serious time with photoshop), but that's what the internet is for.

Welcome to Aggieland!

Because I promised...

I promised Jen that I would upload one of my pix from the weekend this evening...unless they all stank.  I liked this one.  Will tell more of a tale when I upload it's companion tomorrow.  But for now, off to bed.

Foggy Morning

Some days...

a little chocolate is in order.

New Year's

Some friends came to visit us (Thank you for coming down!!!) just before New Year's.  We went wandering through downtown to enjoy the lights and get a little dessert.

Christmas Dinner

We're finally getting into a groove here at the new house.  I've decided that I need to make an effort to chill on the weekends rather than bring my work home with me (unfortunate side effect of loving my job).  So, hopefully, I'll be back on here more often as my camera makes a reappearance into my life.

My husband and I weren't able to make it to the family Christmas this year.  Since we were on our own, I spent a little time on Smitten Kitchen looking for something 'different' to make our dinner special.

These are beef, pancetta, and vegetable pot pies that are loosely base on this pancetta and white bean recipe.  Not being a huge fan of beans in general, they got the boot.  The broth was altered to a beef base with some rosemary added to round it out.  

This delicious little puff pastry and apple tart was taken more or less directly from Smitten Kitchen's recipe.  A couple of notes: be patient and let the puff pastry fully thaw before proceeding.  When making carmel, there is a very fine line between browned sugar and burned sugar.  Keep in mind that your pan is hot and will keep cooking the sugar after you have removed it from the heat.  

Merry Christmas (a month or so late) !