Blowing Rock Cabin Weekend

This past weekend, Matt, Charlie, and I spent 3 days in a cozy little cabin in Blowing Rock, NC.  Matt actually booked this weekend a long time ago as part one of my Christmas gifts, so I was SO excited for the weekend to finally arrive! 

 The view from our deck

Our cozy little cabin for the weekend

 Charlie was so excited to roam the property all weekend 

Our backyard

I surprised Matt with Blowing Rock IPA. He thought it was clever.

 

We spent one afternoon in downtown Blowing Rock, {which just so happened to be Winterfest}, window shopped, and ate lunch at Mellow Mushroom!

We popped in at The Barking Rock Pet Boutique & Bakery to get a little snack for Charlie. 

Dessert time!

The gorgeous morning we woke up to

coffee by the fireplace

 

Fiesta Casserole & Mimosas for breakfast

 Boots? Check. Ball? Check. Jacket? Check.

Lunch: guacamole grilled cheese {recipe}, zucchini chips {recipe} and butternut squash soup {recipe}

Prepping the spaghetti sauce to simmer all day...

and enjoying the rest of the wine!

A little Jenga...

Matt - basking in his Jenga win. 

Spaghetti dinner {recipe}

Redbox-a-thon night

Our last gorgeous day in the mountains

Lattes and cinnamon rolls for our last vacation breakfast

Can't leave Blowing Rock without a spoiled rotten trip to the Tanger Outlets!

Bye-bye Blowing Rock. We'll be back!

Valentine Breakfast Treats

What better way to start off your Valentine's Day, than with a fun breakfast in bed? Here are 10 amazing breakfast ideas that say "I LOVE YOU!"

 Latte with whipped cream, peppermint flakes and a cookie!

 French toast with strawberry butter {recipe}

Heart-shaped cinnamon rolls {recipe}

 Heart egg in toast

 Heart muffins

Chocolate pancakes with heart confetti

Heart bacon

Heart donuts from Krispy Kreme

Heart pancakes

via

Hot chocolate with frozen heart cool whip

What sweet breakfast treats are you making your Valentine?

Hearty Butternut Squash and Quinoa Stew

This hearty stew has quickly become a wintertime favorite in my home. A low calorie, low fat, vegan option, this stew is the perfect solution to comfort food cravings. 

Need another reason to try this stew? Butternut squash is high in Vitamins A and C, as well as fiber!

You Will Need:

{1 ½} lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded & chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

{3 ½} cups chicken broth

{1} tbsp olive oil

{1} medium yellow onion, finely chopped

{½} tsp kosher salt

{4} cloves garlic, minced

{1 ½} tsp dried oregano

{1} can (14 oz) petite diced tomatoes

{2/3} cup uncooked quinoa

{3/4} cup pitted and quartered kalamata olives

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

{1/4} cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

 

Steam the butternut squash until barely tender, about 10 minutes. 

Remove half of the squash pieces and set aside. Steam the remaining squash until very tender, an additional 4 to 6 minutes. 

Mash this squash with the back of a fork or potato masher. Set aside.

In a large saucepan, heat to medium and add olive oil. Add onion and garlic, cook stirring occasionally, until onion is starting to turn brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add oregano. Cook, stirring, for 1 additional minute. 

 

To the saucepan, add tomatoes, butternut squash pieces, and mashed butternut squash. Stir to combine.

Stir in chicken broth and quinoa. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the quinoa turns translucent, about 15 minutes. 

Stir the olives, salt and pepper into the stew and simmer, uncovered, to heat, about 5 minutes. Stir in parsley and serve.

 ENJOY!