Nine Years and Counting......

Today is my Wedding Anniversary! I am excited to spend some quality time with my man at dinner tonight.  Today I thought I would share some of our wedding details with you from nine years ago.

We chose this State Park so we could have the ceremony and reception outside. Our guests could go hiking if they chose, enjoy the waterfalls or just relax. All of our guests traveled from out of town so this was very important to us.

We had all our photographs taken before the wedding so we could spend more time with our guests.

This is a great picture of my hubby and father-in-law. But it does not tell the whole story.....

 My father-in-law forgot his dress shoes for the wedding and had to wear his sandals. For some brides this would have been a problem, but for me, I don't sweat the small stuff.

We even had our dog Gunther at our wedding.

Our alter.

After attending another outdoor wedding where the couple had trouble lighting the unity candle due to the wind we opted to use glass hurricanes around the candles.

My niece was our flower girl and she did great at the rehearsal.

Having kids in a wedding can always be a variable and our wedding was no exception. Thank goodness for my best friend because they ended up walking together down the aisle. She is soooo great with kids.

Then it was time for my dad and I to head down the aisle.

I really tried to take a deep breath, look around and appreciate all of our friends and family that had gathered to share in our big day.

Our ceremony.

We had microphones so our guests could hear the ceremony over the noise of the falls. 

Finally, husband and wife!

You can see my matron of honor and our best man in the background. We chose to keep our wedding party small.

Each place setting had a rock with the guests name on it. Thanks goes to my dad who wrote on each one!

Every table was named after a different tree.

All of the rooms at the hotel in the park are too. 

Our cake. It was very yummy.

The taste testing prior to the big day wasn't so bad either.

We had good friends taking polaroid pictures of our guests before they entered the reception.

After their photo was taken they could write something to my hubby and I underneath. It has become a great keepsake from our wedding.

I heard the food was great......

Does any bride and groom get to eat at their own wedding?

Gunther even got in on the dancing action.

Here is my hubby and a few friends playing Bocci.

An oops!

We made a donation to a charity instead of favors but many guests never knew. I forgot to designate someone to hand these out as guests were leaving. 

All of our guests saying their goodbyes!

It's been a great nine years and I am looking forward to many more!

Happy Anniversary honey.

Love,

Jen

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Salmon with Cucumber Salad and Dill Sauce

During the summer I crave fresh food. This recipe is one of my favorite's because the flavors blend so nicely together. I swear, it tastes just as good as anything I have ordered in a restaurant.

Salmon with Cucumber Salad and Dill Sauce

adapted from My Recipes

Ingredients for Dill Sauce:

6 Tbsp. Low-fat sour cream

1 Tbsp. dried dill

1 1/2 Tbsp. finely chopped shallots (I have used onion)

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp. lemon rind

1 garlic clove minced

2 Tbsp. Rice vinegar

Ingredients for Cucumber Salad:

1/2 cup rice vinegar

2 Tbsp. sugar

Kosher salt

1 Seedless (English) cucumber

1/2 red onion thinly sliced

1/2 tsp. chopped dill (I omit it)

1 tsp. kosher salt (or less)

Salmon:

4 (6oz.) Salmon fillets

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 cup dry white wine

non-stick cooking spray

Combine sour cream, dill, vinegar, shallots, lemon rind, lemon juice, and garlic in a bowl. Stir well: cover and chill.

Bring the vinegar, sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring. Remove from heat. stir in 1/4 cup of ice cubes until melted. Shave cucumber into ribbons. Toss the cucumber, red onion and dill in a serving bowl with vinegar mixture; place in refrigerator.

Sprinkle salmon with salt and pepper. Heat a large non-stick skillet over med/high heat. Coat pan with non-stick spray. Add fish to pan and cook for 3 minutes and then flip over and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and pour in white wine. Let stand for 3 minutes or until fish flakes easily.

When serving place cucumber's on the bottom, then salmon and top with dill sauce.

Jen

Linking to: Tasty Tuesday

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Blueberry Recipes

After spending a day picking blueberries it was time to start cooking! Here are some of my keeper blueberry recipes.

Buttermilk blueberry breakfast cake

This cake is moist, delicious and great if you are having guests.

Cucumber & blueberry salad with feta

We took this to a party on Saturday and it was a hit. This recipe calls for white balsamic vinegar and it  blends all the flavors nicely.

Blueberry Smoothie

1 cup vanilla almond milk

6oz. container vanilla Greek yogurt

3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1/2 of a banana

ice (if you use fresh blueberries)

Usually I will add an Acai ( great for extra antioxidants) packet as well or fresh strawberries. To change things up I often add peanut butter but the boys don't like it so I left it out this time.

Baked Oatmeal

I first saw this at Lulabelle's View and you can also find it here.

What I like about this oatmeal is that there is a layer of bananas on the bottom so my kids are getting two  fruits as they begin their morning.

Blueberries and walnuts on my Greek yogurt.

Lastly, I freeze blueberries on a cookie sheet

before transferring them to freezer bags for future use!

Jen

Linking to: Tasty Tuesday

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Blueberries!

My favorite berries to eat above any other's are strawberries and blueberries.We went strawberry picking in June and they were delicious but the season always seems to end too quickly. I have been nervous that blueberry season would pass me by before I would have a chance to go picking, so last Thursday the boys and I headed out on our blueberry picking adventure.

We visited my favorite farm.

Jack kept thanking me for bringing them picking that day because the blueberries were sooooo sweet.

 Nothing but blueberry bushes for acres!

 With three boys and myself picking we ended up with 6 pounds that day!

One for me, one for the container!

Luke didn't even like blueberries until that day.

On the breakfast menu the next day were Kashi waffles with fresh blueberries on top.

Tomorrow I will post what I have made so far with 6 pounds of blueberries!

Jen

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Getting Nostalgic about Cape Cod!

When I was in high school I made several visit's to Cape Cod and Nantucket.

I fell in love instantly!

 Everything from the grey shingled houses....

This one is similar to the one we used to stay in.

To the beaches....

  The Hydrangea's.....

Jewelry.....

On my next visit I would like to purchase one of these. It has been a key jewelry piece to purchase among Cape Cod visitors. My friends who have them never take them off.

 The Chatham Bandstand.

You have to go early and set out your blanket to claim your space. It is so great to see the kids, adults and older people dancing to the band.

Shopping in Nantucket.

(all images of  Cape Cod via pinterest)

Of course, The New England Clam Chowder.

We would try the chowder at every restaurant we visited to decide which one had the best. If your spoon could stand up in the bowl then it would pass our test. Since I have been missing The Cape so much I decided to try my hand at making Clam Chowder. If I can't be there then maybe I could have a little taste of it.

Clam Chowder

(adapted from William Sonoma)

4 (6.5oz.) canned minced clams, juice reserved

2-3 cups water

5 oz. Pancetta

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter

1 yellow onion, diced

2 celery stalks, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1-1 1/2 tsp. dried thyme

2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

2 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced

2 bay leaves

1 cup heavy cream

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1-2 tsp. salt (or to your taste)

Pepper

Pinch cayenne pepper

 In dutch oven over medium heat, saute pancetta for 5 minutes. Pour off all but 1 Tbsp. fat; melt butter. Add onion, celery, garlic and thyme: cook 3-5 minutes. Add flour; cook 1 minute more. Add potatoes, bay leaves and reserved clam juice-water mixture: bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.

Stir in cream, Worcestershire, salt, black pepper and cayenne. Using fork (or immersion blender), lightly mash potatoes against side of pot. Add clams;cook 2 minutes. Ladle into bowls; garnish with chives/bacon bits. Serves 8. 

Jen

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The Best Ice Cream Sandwich Ever!

When I spied this recipe in my most recent issue of Coastal Living I knew I had to try it. These cookie were moist, had a great chocolate flavor and were delicious even without the ice cream. When my boys give a recipe a thumbs up I know it's good.

The Best Ice-Cream Sandwich Ever

1/3 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/3 cup sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

11/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

11/2 cups candy- coated chocolate pieces

Ice cream (about 2 cups)

1. Beat butter, brown sugar and sugar with an electric mixer 4 minutes or until creamy.

2. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients in a small bowl; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in candy-coated chocolate pieces until combined. Drop mixture by tablespoonful onto greased aluminum foil or parchment paper lined baking sheets (I flattened mine with a fork or pushed them down with my fingers.) My first batch came out too rounded when I did not do this.

3. Bake, in batches, at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and place on wire racks to cool (about 15 min.)

4. Place a small scoop of ice cream between 2 cookies and gently press together. Serve immediately or wrap in aluminum foil and freeze until ready to serve.

Jen

linking to: Tasty Tuesday

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Lake Houses!

As you drive around the lake you don't often see the true beauty of the houses because resident's invest the most on the lake view and not the road view. Today I thought I would show you some houses I have always admired from the water.

This is my favorite house on the lake.

 It reminds me of my time on Cape Cod. I love the combination of gray/blue shingles and stone.

It recently changed hands without even going on the market. That happens more often than people realize here on the lake.

The current owner's of this home have done a great job restoring it. It has original bamboo flooring throughout the house. I love how the stairs divide and go right and left.

 Many of the houses are very close together here on the lake. I always admire any house that has a large yard with it. There is also a tiny church on the property that lake goers attend on Sundays.

My husband and I used to kayak past this property when there was nothing built on it. It has always been my husbands favorite piece of property on the lake.

I have always loved this one! Especially the porch off the master bedroom on the left.

I run by this house often and never get tired of seeing it.

The two rooms on the left on all three floors have been recently been added to this home. Being a teacher I have always liked it because it reminds me of a school house. 

This property has always looked happy and lived in to me. I especially like seeing the badminton net in the yard, the playset and of course the trampoline. As a former gymnast I have a soft spot for trampolines.

This road view of this house is very beautiful. It has burgundy shutters that match the stone work.

 Last year while attending a party at this home the boys discovered the owner's had a movie theatre. For the boys last movie night before summer we watched Despicable me there. This family is so kind.

I hope you have enjoyed my house tour on the lake!

Jen

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