Adventures in Apple Hill

This weekend we made our way up the hill for our annual trip to Apple Hill! But unlike the past two years we've gone, this weekend graced us with a beautiful, sunny afternoon! It was a great time, complete with apple doughnuts and a few fun pics in the pumpkin patch and may have ended with my husband purchasing an entire apple pie to take home...! Oh, how I heart Fall!

Happy Halloween!!

Apple Hill

As usual, Apple Hill was everything I expected and more! This year we stopped at a new place called Jack Russel Brewery, which will definitely become a regular Apple hill lunch stop - hello tri-tip sandwich and vanilla stout! Yum-O! It rained pretty much our entire time up there, but we were well prepared. Have I mentioned I love this season?

Our first stop, Bill's Apples. Pretty grounds and this cute little shop.

At High Hill, were I pretty much go solely for their hot cider and apple fritter! And yes, I did share this ginormous thing with the hubs:)

I spy apples! We left with 6 lbs., I think.

Our last stop was Boa Vista Orchards for their pumpkin patch.

This picture makes me happy!

The rain has yet to let up, but I am totally okay with it because it is the perfect excuse to stay in my yoga pants and sweat shirt, making homemade applesauce and other apple treats with yesterday's fare!

Happy Sunday!

Psst~If you've never been to Apple Hill, you don't know what you're missing out on! Come visit us, we'll be happy to go again:)

Sweets & Treats

Now that we're smack dab in the middle of Fall, the time has come to take a weekend jaunt up to Apple Hill! Oh how we love this Northern California tradition! Endless varieties of apples, apple butter, apple doughnuts, the best ever apple cider (unpasteurized, as it should be!), caramel apples, apple pie, basically everything apple you can dream up. And then there's the pumpkin patch, craft fair, face painting and any other imaginable Fall festivity. And this weekend promises to be a bit chilly with some rain - even better!

Can't wait to share our apple-y finds with you! Have a lovely weekend!

image/via

Homemade Applesauce

Last night I experimented with my own applesauce and to my delight, it was a success! To do so, I used the Vita-Mix, which took a total of about 25 seconds! I heart my Vita-Mix!

All I did was quarter the apples and toss them in the carafe (skin, core and all) with 2 tablespoons lemon juice and blend on variable 6 for 20-30 seconds. And of course, top with a few teaspoons cinnamon to spice it up. Delicious!



Doing things like this makes me really excited to make my own baby food! That is not a hint, I'm juts sayin' when that time comes, you know what I'll be doing.

I realize I refer to my Vita-Mix a lot, but you just don't understand how amazing this machine really is! The past year we've had ours, we have made countless smoothies, hot soups, cold sorbet, applesauce, peanut butter, other nut butters, hummus, pesto, salsa, batter, sauces and marinades, fresh orange juice, honey butter and with the dry carafe you can even grind your own flours! Not only does it help to create healthy, simple meals and snacks, but it is a cinch to clean up! It really is the appliance of all appliances! Check it out. It would make a fantastic Christmas present:)

Happy Hump Day!

Apple Hill and Roasted Tomatoes & Garlic

This weekend we took our much anticipated trip to Apple Hill! We decided to go without our pup this year. It turned out to be a wonderful 78 degree and very busy day! We made our way to our two favorite places and brought home 8lbs. of apples, Chris' all-time favorite apple juice (unpasteurized, of course), apple butter and their famous apple pie! We also purchased a Christmas ornament, a seemingly new tradition of ours:)

I am so stoked about the apples we picked out this year. As always, I got several Granny Smiths for baked apples (my favorite!), caramel apples and other baking needs, a few Gravenstein apples for homemade apple sauce and Chris threw in some other less known red varieties for snacking:)




Sunday night was incredibly relaxing for us. As usual, I was a busy little bee after church, getting the house put together, Chris watched football and then we went for a run together. For dinner I gave into a craving I've had for several days: roasted tomatoes and garlic! I simply tossed them into whole wheat linguini and added freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano. It was nothing short of delicious!



And Chris felt like celebrating, so we popped open a bottle of Chandon's Brut and paired with a delightful slice of warm apple pie!


Definitely a fabulous weekend!

A Soft Place to Land

I love to reflect on life. This morning, as I am doing so, I can't help but laugh. Life can throw some real zingers! The awesome thing is, if you are lucky, they are usually padded with some extra good moments.

This being said, I need to brag on my husband for a minute. Those of us who know him are very aware of his blunt nature and logical mind. You may also know that I almost always analyze with my emotions. I have always thought of the logical people as cold in a way. However, I think I have discovered their secret: They are actually just saps in disguise! I have felt down lately. I am just in one of those funks, you know? Being a woman, I have hormones to blame part of it on:) So Chris, in his non emotional way, has really picked me up this week (Always really, but especially lately!) I can't even begin to tell you how grateful I am for a partner who can see my needs and use the tools he has to love on me. This is why I have titled this blog A soft place to land. I am thankful to have one.

Let me count the ways~
~He brought me home beautiful flowers for our 4 month anniversary. This is so not cliche-I LOVE having fresh flowers!
~When I got all of my music stolen from my car, he started finding all of these new artists he thought I would like and downloading the music for me:)
~When we were 35 minutes out of apple hill and I realized I forgot to pick up the ornament we bought, he turned around like it was not even a big deal. Even though gas is ridiculously overpriced!
~He tells me I am the most wonderful wife for doing simple everyday things so I know he appreciates them.
~He has committed and initiated waking up at 6:15 in the morning to go jogging with me!

Please don't throw up, I will stop the mushy stuff! I just think we should remember to thank our loved ones for doing all the special little things that make us smile!

With that said, We had one of the best weekends we have had in a long time. On Saturday, we went to Apple Hill! We decided to take Abby girl. She needs the socialization and exercise. She was so good, BTW! Apple Hill is a tradition for many people in Northern Cali. Basically, it is hundreds of privately owned apple orchards. You can buy the best apples, eat yummy apple treats and they have a bunch of vendors with crafts and other fun stuff. We really enjoyed not having any time constraints and nowhere to be. On our way home, Chris asked what was for dinner. I told him that I had planned on making halibut with some grilled veggies and couscous, but I didn't really feel like it. Chris and I got crafty and decided to make fish tacos with the halibut. They were so good! Excellent really. Here's the recipe:

Serves 4~
2 halibut steaks
1 packet Simply Organic Fajita seasoning
8 corn tortillas
2 avocados
1 packet guacamole seasoning
lettuce
salsa
reduced fat sharp cheddar

Marinate the halibut in the fajita seasoning for about 30 minutes, turning the fish half way through. Place Halibut in foil and place on grill about 4 minutes on each side. Flake fish and serve with warm tortillas and toppings. Enjoy!

We were so impressed with how yummy these ended up being, not to mention quick and healthy! I just wanted to share our new finding!

The last thought I will leave you with: Why is it that the moment you say, "I Do", the world starts asking about babies? Please hear me out, I CANNOT wait to have babies, but I can. Make sense? If up to us, kids will come in about 3 years. And when that time comes, we will be the most ecstatic, giddy couple. Trust me!! I just think it is really funny that every time I have been the least bit nauseous, someone says, "Are you pregnant?". Yikes, don't scare me like that! It doesn't help that I keep having dreams about being prego.

Okay, last last thing, while writing this blog I have been listening to Colbi Caillat and I just LOVE her!!

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Here we are in Apple Hill

Abby was so worn out from such an exciting day!