Closing Time!

After weeks of waiting, it was finally time to close on our first house. Unlike many of our friends, we had a very smooth and uneventful experience. Most of this was due to our amazing realtor, Jo Lewis and our fantastic loan officer, Cleo Garza. After signing a stack of papers the little house is FINALLY ours! Jo (see picture) gave us a great little gift--a bowl to match our new kitchen, great chef's knives and other kitchen accessories. We could not have had a better realtor! We have to do some routine things before moving in...calling the locksmith, getting it exterminated, etc... but we can start moving in any day. We're going to pick up a new TV and finalize paint colors this weekend! It's all very exciting and I can't wait to get started. We will definitely keep you updated on our redecorating process.

First Anniversary Weekend

One year of marriage: done! With all the changes--graduation, moving to Texas, new job and now a new house, we almost didn't have time to do anything special for our big day! We decided to take a weekend trip to Fredericksburg, Texas for a quaint celebration. Second only to Napa Valley, CA the Texas Wine Country is one of the largest wine producing regions in the US. There are numerous vineyards and winery starting in the verdant Hill Country about one hour northwest of San Antonio. We stayed an adorable Bed and Breakfast, 'The Magnolia House" right in the heart of Fredericksburg. There are B&Bs on every corner in the wine country, each with their own twist on Texas charm. The Magnolia House was voted "Best Breakfast in the Wine Country" and we could easily see why. Homemade peach muffins, great fresh squeezed juices, and local sausages made the breakfast to die for! Ricky and I also enjoyed a wonderful anniversary dinner at The Nest, followed by our one year old butter vanilla wedding cake. It was delicious!

To see pictures from our trip, click here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2059331&id=50401332&l=ebc827af73

Massey-Williams Family Vacation

I love vacations. There's just nothing better than getting away for a few days, indulging in great food and relaxing. In May, Ricky and I went on our first post-marriage vacation with my parents and Erin to Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. After meeting up with Erin in Jacksonville, we travelled to St. Augustine to do some sightseeing. The Castillo de San Marcos is a key stop in St. Augustine as it is the oldest military fortress in the United States. We had a great time walking around Old Town and enjoyed a great wine tasting of Florida citrus wines. While in Florida we enjoyed time at the beach and a great seafood meal at Clark's Fish Camp (my personal favorite). We decided to be adventurous and try some exotic food while at Clark's. If we had known that the snake of the day, python, would be totally repulsive we definitely would have picked kangaroo or turtle. I LOVE trying new foods but I cannot recommend python. Imagine removing the sole of an old, sweaty gym shoe, covering it in batter and frying it. That's exactly what fried python tastes like! I've never chewed and chewed something only for it to remain in the same shape it was when I put it in my mouth. NEVER again!

We road tripped from Jacksonville to Charlotte, NC. On our way, we stopped and spent a day in Savannah, GA. If Savannah is known for anything other than coastal waters and historic homes, it has to be food. Of course we had great meals while were there and tried to burn them off by walking the Savannah River Walk. If you ever visit Savannah, we recommend the Pirate's House southern brunch buffet. It's delish! Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, okra, green beans, macaroni and cheese (the best I've ever had) squash casserole...mmm mmm! All kinds of southern goodness. If you are in the mood for spirits, the Key Lime Cooler is amazing as well.

Ending our trip in Charlotte was great because we got to spend time with many family members I don't get to see often. My aunt Michelle hosted a barbecue at her new home so that we could see as many people as possible while we were in town. We were also privileged to meet Isaac Taylor, Annalee and Chris Taylor's new baby! Isaac was lovable and cuddly, just as we expected. To see pictures from our vacation, use this link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2058848&id=50401332&l=07a3aa940a

Our First Home...the Williams Edition

Ricky and I have casually been looking at real estate in San Antonio for the past few months. With the first time homebuyers tax credit on the brink of expiring we hustled our search into high gear and finally narrowed down our house search to a few picks. After much deliberation, we decided on a small one story house in the quaint subdivision of Emerald Point on the northeast side of town. It's cozy with just the amount of space we need--an ideal find for first time homeowners! I'm already making plans for painting, new furniture and backyard parties. Ricky is shopping for BBQ grills and lawnmowers. Needless to say, the three days of offers and counteroffers, along with all the stress, was totally worth it. We cannot wait to move in! (Closing date is tentatively June 14th). As long as our inspection goes well this week, we'll be calling this our home!

Lauren's Mac and Cheese

Since I detest and refuse to eat Easy Mac, I've been working on perfecting my own homemade macaroni and cheese recipe for a while. I wanted the baked cheesy goodness my Mom and Grandma can consistently produce but I didn't want to ask for their help, hahaha. If you're interested, my fantastic concoction is below. It was amazing; Ricky and I devoured half of an 11 x 13 baking dish of it by ourselves!

*Note: The picture is not of my macaroni but of the closest replica I could find online (www.countryliving.com). We ate half the pan before I thought about taking a picture. I also want to try these individual baking dishes when I serve it for a dinner party!*

You'll need:

2 cups of rotini pasta

2 tablespoons of unsalted butter

1 egg, scrambled

1 teaspoon diced garlic

3 turns of fresh ground pepper

1 can of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup (low sodium)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup shredded (not grated) Parmesan cheese

1 cup half and half

Cook the pasta for about 3 minutes so that it's not quite al dente. I use the Barilla pasta with extra protein so it takes a little longer to cook. In a large bowl mix the following with a spatula: cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup cheddar cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, half and half, butter, garlic, pepper and egg. Add the cooked pasta (drained) to this mixture. Mix thoroughly and place in a greased baking dish. Top the mixture with the remaining cheeses including the Parmesan. Bake for 25 minutes at 325 degrees until the cheese on top is fully melted with small regions of brown crispy cheese on the edges.

Enjoy!

Texas Wildflowers

I knew the state flower of Texas was the Blue Bonnet but I had to Google one to see what it looked like. According to my research, Blue Bonnets pop up in the early spring and hang around until the dry heat of summer comes. We have had a considerable amount of rain this year, enough to bring Texas out of its two year drought, so we have lots of green grass and Blue Bonnets EVERYWHERE! I didn't realize that this part of Texas is known for their wildflowers and there are many different varieties other than the Blue Bonnet. My 40 minute commute to work each day has been made a little brighter as every field lining the highway is now FILLED with flowers.

Now for a little lesson in Texas flora:

1. The Blue Bonnet: (see above) Named for its color and, it is said, the resemblance of its petal to a woman's sunbonnet, the bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas. It blooms in the early spring and can be readily found in fields and along the roadsides throughout central and south Texas.
Scientifically named Lupinus texensis, the bluebonnet is also called buffalo clover, wolf flower, and (by the Mexicans) el conejo. It was adopted as the official state flower by the Texas Legislature in 1901. Note: it is apparently illegal to pick Blue Bonnets off the side of the road!


2. Firewheel Indian Blankets: A hardy, drought tolerant annual native to the central United States. Easily established from seed, it forms dense colonies of brilliant red flowers with yellow rims. The flower diameter is slightly smaller than its perennial cousin Gaillardia aristata. An excellent variety of coastal beach-front property or sand dune reclamation sites. Thrives in heat and full sun in well drained soils. (Don't you like the cactus in the background? It just SCREAMS Texas!)


3. Indian Paintbrush: The flowers of Indian paintbrush are edible and sweet, and were consumed in moderation by various American Indian tribes as a condiment with other fresh greens. These plants have a tendency to absorb and concentrate selenium in their tissues from the soils in which they grow, and can be potentially very toxic if the roots or green parts of the plant are consumed. The Chippewa Indians used a hair wash made from Indian Paintbrush to make their hair glossy and full bodied and as a treatment for rheumatism. The high selenium content of this plant has been cited as the reason for its effectiveness for these purposes. Nevada Indian Tribes used the plant to treat venereal diseases and to enhance the immune system. Various other tribes used the plant as its name suggests -- as a paintbrush .















4. Slender Stemmed Bitterweed: found in any open, sunny space anywhere in San Antonio, commonly on the sides of roads. It can grow up to a foot and a half tall, and blooms from March to October. (They are the yellow ones in my picture.)

I took the pictures along Highway 181 between Wilson and Bexar counties here in Texas. If you're local, I suggest you visit them in person. It's beautiful!
Credits: www.wikipedia.com

Recent Tasty Recipes

Unfortunately, nothing very exciting has been going on for the last month so I haven't posted anything. However, I have tried a few new recipes that were very yummy so I thought I'd share:

Almond Crusted Tilapia

(This is for two people but you can expand it as needed to fit your family.)

2 large tilapia fillets

lemon pepper seasoning

kosher salt

garlic powder

onion power

1/2 cup whole almonds

1 cup whole wheat flour

one egg

1 TBSP olive oil

Season the fillets to taste with the seasonings listed above. Using a food processor or blender, chop the almonds. Mix the almonds and flour together on a plate. Scramble the egg in a bowl. Coat the seasoned fillets in the egg. Bread the fillets with flower and almond mixture In a large skillet heat the olive oil on medium heat. Pan fry the filets for about 5-7 on each side (keep the heat on medium). It has a great crunch texture because of the almonds! I served it wilt green beans almondine and garlic mashed potatoes.

Bacon and Gouda Stuffed Pork Chops

I tried this recipe but my pork chops were too thin to stuff. Instead I topped them with bacon and cheese and finished cooking them in a white wine cream sauce. I will try it again with them actually stuffed but they were still great! (I took this picture from the recipe website. It's what they are SUPPOSED to look like.)

Ingredients
2 ounces smoked Gouda cheese, shredded
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 (2 1/4 inch thick) center-cut, bone-in pork chops
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper

Directions
Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat.
In a small bowl, combine the cheese, bacon, parsley, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper.
Lay the chop flat on cutting board, and with a sharp knife held parallel to the board, cut a pocket into the pork, going all the way to the bone, but leaving the sides intact. Stuff cheese mixture into pocket, and close with a wooden toothpick. Brush meat with oil, and season with salt and more black pepper.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes on each side, or until pork is done. Careful not to overcook!