Catching up

Hello friends!  It's been a while since I've had a chance to update my blog.  Life has been very busy since Charlotte started back to school last month.  We are back into our routine which feels nice.  Third grade has been a big transition from second grade for Charlotte and myself, really.  The children are expected to be much more independent this year.  She seems to be happy and adjusting well.  

I've been cooking/baking quite a bit which has also been very nice.  One of my favorite places to be is cooking away in my kitchen!  I made our favorite  chocolate cake and topped it with buttercream icing.  Twice a month, during the school year, I make this chicken noodle soup and stash it away in the freezer for school lunches and a quick dinner here and there.  I also made these delicious pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.  I'll definitely be making them again this fall.  And the granola bars are a weekly staple in our house.  I almost always have these on hand.  They are perfect for a quick breakfast or snack. I add chocolate chips, raisins and pumpkin seeds to mine.  I also made dutch oven bread to go along side spaghetti and meatballs last week.  Lately, my lunch several days a week has consisted of leafy greens with olives, pumpkin seeds, Dubliner cheese and a big scoop of quinoa topped with lots of olive oil and it seems to keep me full all afternoon.

Hopefully, fall is beginning to arrive where you are.  We are still waiting on cooler weather, as it has been hot here since May.  Once it fully arrives, it will be much welcomed.  I am not a hot weather person.  Fall and winter suits me just fine!

Hurricane Florence has been making her way through our area over the weekend with just some off and on rain and wind - thank goodness.  I made brownies and cozied up on the sofa last night to watch a new Hallmark movie and it was delightful.  Yes, I'm a Hallmark movie junkie!