Berry Cobbler!

I am in love with this recipe! Really it started out as a cherry cobbler, but I'm not a big fan of cherries. Blackberries were on sale this week at the grocery store and I had some strawberries in the freezer, so it became a Berry Cobbler. You can really use whatever you have on hand. I can't wait to make it a peach cobbler sometime this summer! The crust was so buttery and tender and it had a delightful sprinkling of sugar on the top that gave it a nice crunch. The berries were tart and juicy. This dessert was perfection in a spoon! Served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, this recipe is definitely a keeper!

My New Hobby: Knitting!

I've taken up a new hobby here in Texas. I am now a knitter! I recently took a class at Joann's Fabric and I'm excited to learn even more. I have lots of projects in mind...scarves, hats, socks, stockings for Christmas, etc....

But for now, I'm just a beginner and this is my first project. I am making a blue scarf for Justin, and I'm sure he'll appreciate it next winter! Wish me luck!

Next up in May: Quilting!

The Beautiful Colors of Vegas!

Justin and I made a quick trip to Las Vegas last week to see some friends and do some business. We had a great time visiting some of our favorite spots. We got to go to our awesome church Central Christian. I especially loved going to Caesar's on Sunday night and seeing everyone there. I was kind of sad that it wasn't me dealing cards!

On Monday morning, we headed to one of the most beautiful spots on the Strip, the Bellagio Conservatory. It's such a tourist attraction, but we just love how they highlight each season with flowers and plants. Justin and I are planning on incorporating a conservatory into our future house!

After that we headed over to the brand new City Center. All I can say is wow! This place is impressive. It's really modern and uses lots of different materials (wood, stone, etc...) in really unique ways. It has a grand but minimalist sense to it that is in contrast to many of the other properties in Vegas. It is truly a work of art. Here are some snapshots from the outside. Enjoy!

Texas Hill Country and Bible Fellowship Retreat!

Justin and I had the pleasure of traveling to Texas Hill Country this past weekend for a Bible Fellowship Retreat. We've been attending church at Prestonwood Baptist Church here in Plano and have been going to a wonderful Bible Fellowship class on Wednesday nights. This group of people has been truly amazing! They are a great group of young married couples, and it's been so encouraging and uplifting for our spiritual life to be around other Christian couples!

Since Justin and I had never been to Texas Hill Country we decided to make a small trip out of the drive down. We were lucky to be in the area when the Texas Bluebonnets were blooming. The flowers were gorgeous and the scenery was beautiful! We'd heard a lot about a certain BBQ place from my dad, so we checked out Cooper's in Llano. This place definitely lived up to its reputation! The food was awesome and grilled to perfection. We had pork ribs, jalapeno sausage, beef brisket, and grilled chicken. I need a BBQ pit like they had!

After that, we headed down to around Kerrville, TX where one of the couples in our class has a family ranch. We had a great weekend getting to know some of the couples in the class and enjoying some beautiful spring weather in a stunning location. The guys shot guns and went on a search for wild boars (no sightings). The girls went shopping in Fredricksburg, a cute little German inspired town.

On Saturday afternoon, a few of us went spelunking in a cave that was on the property. Later in the day, we'd all meet up to have dinner and hang out by the fire at night. Then on Sunday morning, we went to a sunrise Easter service at a local church and then headed back north. It was a fabulous weekend away from the hustle and bustle of Dallas, and a great way to spend the Easter weekend!

Spring is here! Let's eat Lemon Pie!

So, I have quite a collection of cookbooks, but probably only about 10 that I actually use on a regular basis. This recipe came from a cookbook that I had never used before, and I remember getting this cookbook, Icebox Pies, some where around my sophomore of high school. So that makes this book 10 years old! (And reminds me that I'm getting old!) Why in the world did I wait so long to try it out?? This pie was delicious!

Lemon Pie. Perfect for spring. It was so bright, creamy, and cheerful. The perfect dessert for those hot summer days that are on their way. This pie had a crunchy graham cracker crust and a tart but sweet lemon curd and whipped cream filling. After a few hours in the fridge, it was ready to go. I also love these pies, because you can make them in advance and it gives you more time to entertain your friends and family! I definitely won't be waiting another 10 years to use this book again!

Homemade Marshmallows!

I first learned to make marshmallows back at the French Pastry School. I think I was one of the only students there that absolutely loved them! Everyone else was a little freaked out about the amount of gelatin that we used! But, to me they were perfection. Little puffy clouds of sugar and egg whites that you could flavor or color any way you wanted! I also like to cut them into shapes to make them a little extra special. These are the plain vanilla variety, but there's really nothing plain about them. They are great for s'mores, hot chocolate, or just popping a few into your mouth!