Keeping it simple

Just wanted to put up a quick post about this past weekend. I cooked quite a lot for this little pool party we had and would love to share the recipe for mini cheeseburger puff pastries, salted caramel ice cream, chocolate ice cream or the might tasty slow cooker pulled pork that Max threw together. However, in the interest of time I am going to just mention the simple salad I made.

The veggies from the farm box have been outstanding all summer. I love yellow squash, zucchini, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers...oh and the BASIL is to die for and comes to me in bunches 8 times larger than those that you buy at the store. So, I took advantage of everything I got on Friday and made the following easy as can be recipe. I've made this before but I feel like each time I bring it to a party people just love it and ask what went in to it. Well...here you go:

3-4 large cucumbers, large dice
4-5 medium/large tomatoes, large dice
3 fist fulls of fresh basil, sliced up (ok a chiffonade if I MUST say it)
2 balls (2-3 oz each prob) of fresh mozzarella cheese, large dice
1 medium purple onion, sliced very thin
olive oil (just a couple of turns around the bowl, maybe 2 TBS)
balsamic vinegar (same as above)
salt
pepper

Mix it up, let it chill out for a half an hour and serve. Deeeelicious. It's great with diced avocado added in as well.

Enjoy!

The Good Life

Ok, so this has absolutely nothing to do with cooking but I haven't blogged in such a long time. So, here I am, trying to get back in the groove of things.

I have been cooking quite a bit - the fresh produce here in the summer is unbelievable. We have been graced with tomatoes, watermelon, peaches, plums, basil, cucumbers, squash and zucchini among other wonderful things. It's so easy to eat healthy with food like this at my fingertips.

Well...ok you caught me...it's easy to eat healthy if we eat at our HOUSE but Austin still has way too much good/bad for you food out there that I need to get my lips around. I've been indulging in moderation though, I promise.

Also, I started doing Zumba a few weeks ago at a dance studio down the street from our house and am completely obsessed. I've been going at least once a week, two if I can and I bought the dvd's online last week. Such a great workout, it's insane.

All I have to report other than those little things is that I am completely, unabashedly happy. You know those moments that we all have from time to time where you are just filled with happiness to your brim feel like you might burst? Those moments are becoming more close together every day. I can't think of a time in the recent past where I was down (well, my stepdad had a heart attack and that took me off guard but he recovered and so did we all).

I made this move to become closer to my family and focus on my personal life outside of work and that is exactly what has happened. Work is good here but more importantly my life is just aaaamazing. Max and I are beyond great and we have made some solid friends in town so we actually socialize with people...WHOA! I know.

Anyway...that's all I have for now. Tata!

-Ashley