Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Farmer's Market Finds

It seems like everyone in our grass-roots generation raves about their particular farmer's market or CSA. I am no different. I enjoy going to the Franklin Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings, sipping on a Frisky Berry coffee beverage, listening to some blue grass, and letting Addison pet all of the fancy dogs. This past Saturday we actually ran into my mom there and enjoyed shopping with her.

The first of my finds was this beautiful bouquet of flowers for $5. I love fresh flowers. I especially love mixing sunflowers into pretty summer bunches, and these have made me happy all week. (Thanks to mom for standing in line so long to get them. Those guys were hopping! And next time I am hosting a party, I will go there for floral decorations, no doubt.)
Then we stocked up on vegetables, and I've been enjoying using fun summer recipes that incorporate all of the summer veggies I love to eat like squash, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes... The first thing on our menu for the week was this: Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables from the Food Network that my friend April sent me. (She recommended using the Italian Cheese bag from Publix, and I also add 2 cups of cooked, shredded chicken. I leave out the mushrooms--yuck.) It makes so much! I love taking it to new moms, and I really love the leftovers!

Today was one of those "stay-at-home-in-your-pjs-all-day" today. Addison is working on her eye teeth--story of our life. It is way too hot to do anything outside that doesn't involve being under water. So we created a "Dora-Elmo-Disney" station on Pandora, and rocked out to it while we cooked and colored all day all day. My little helper really made it fun.

Tonight our menu was Veggie Night. Tomato Pie, Squash Casserole, Crispy Okra Spears, Tossed Salad, and Bread. Yogurt Pie for dessert. So yummy!
We even decided to have a little impromptu dinner party for this one and enjoyed our time with our dear friends, the Stephens.

Yesterday, I took this little girl to her first movie: Charlotte's Web.
[BTW, staying in your pajamas until dinner also warrants minimal hair fixage. Loving these headbands for a quick fix to her curly mop. :)]

We dressed up in dresses, packed our diaper bag full of fruit snacks and goldfish, and made our way to the free showing at Green Hills. I was hesitant to take her, not knowing how long she could make it. The "free" incentive got us there. Since there was no cost involved, the risk factor went down drastically, and I figured even if we made it just 15 minutes, we could head to the mall and do something different afterward. She totally surprised me and lasted the whole time. It was packed, and she was so interested in watching everyone around her. I will not say that the movie raptured her, but she stayed engaged during the duration. My favorite part was her running commentary. Everything began with, "Oh, Mommy, look..." (really drawn out and dramatic) "... at the big TB." "that pig Wilbur--he crying." "that bug soooo nice... that web soooo pretty." When she got restless, we snacked. When it was over, she clapped. We went to Pottery Barn Kids and picked her out a new lunchbox, and then I treated us to grilled cheese sandwiches at Panera. When we got into the car, she said with sleepy eyes, "Mommy, I had fun at the moobie." Melted my heart, and was the perfect Mommy/Addison day.

7 comments:

Haley said...

1. Love the Farmer's Market!
2. Love the penne recipe (and your tomato pie recipe too!)
3. What is yogurt pie? Sounds yummy.
4. LOVE your tablecloth? Where'd you get that?
5. LOVE Addison's hair. Hilarious. Reminds me so much of M.E.'s.

Wish y'all lived here.

Holly-- The Storm Chaser said...

What sweet commentary! She's such a cutie.

McKinney Madness said...

Okay, so that meal makes my mouth water!! May need to get the recipe for that tomato pie... YUMMY!!! I'm so impressed you have the time to set such a nice spread for dinner and watch your 2 year old AND you're pregnant!! I feel so lethargic in this heat these days!! Miss you and hope you're doing well!

Tiffany Norris said...

So hungry now!

Lindy said...

Your little girl is so cute! Love that "curly mop!" The dinner menu looked delicious,I may need to steal some recipes! By the way, we have the same china (Italian Countryside).

Tiffany Norris said...

Also--here's the link to the Real Simple book club.
http://simplystated.realsimple.com/simplystated/no_obligation_book_club/index.html
Definitely worth checking out! It's fun discussing online!

Kristy said...

Haley--Tablecloth was Target Clearance about a month ago. It's that Dwell Studio design. Yogurt pie is a cinch--2 cartons of whatever flavor you like mixed with a carton of cool whip on graham cracker crust frozen for an hour. Yum. (Our fav is cherry.) I think our curly heads would get on fabulously, so one of these days we'll have to try to see each other for sure! :)

Cort--just click on tomato pie, and the link will take you to the recipe.

Tiffany--THANKS for the RS book club link. Checking it out now!