finally and officially

The husband and I have now been officially wed for almost six weeks. A few days ago I took the necessary steps to ditch the Haller from my name - maybe a tiny bit sad but once a Haller girl, really always a Haller girl:) It's my first time off from work since the honeymoon and wow, have I been once busy chick. I'd been blaming all the wedding hoopla as my one and only time suck. But turns out that there are all kinds of things out there stealing my hours!

Regardless, I promised myself that as life slowed down post nuptials I would get back to my biscuit head blogging. So here I am:

Yesterday I made the most delicious orzo with roasted vegetables and feta. I used a similar recipe from Ina Garten as a jumping off point. My new extended family - yay! - makes it frequently and it's ridiculously good. Our last week's veggie co-op haul included a beautiful eggplant as well as a few zucchinis and a summer squash. Once roasted with a little Greek olive oil, salt, and pepper I added the vegetables to a bunch of cooked orzo and a quick dressing consisting of more of the Greek olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice. After cooling to room temperature, I combined it all with some wonderfully salty feta cheese and perfectly toasted pine nuts. Yep. Awesomeness.

I'm not always as inspired by the produce we end up with.  There frequently seems to be more than our fair share of kale.  Gotta say, not a fan.  I think the family thinks it's funny to stick me with the greens they know I'll allow to rot away in my refrigerator.  This past week was no exception.  Two big (could I say ugly or would that just sound petty?) bunches of the stuff.  But that Clayton of mine was not even close to intimidated.  He decided the best way to handle this particular bounty was to juice it.  It probably won't surprise you to learn that I am still not a fan.  But I, being the thoughtful new daughter and sister in law that I am, have frozen his efforts in order to share with said family at our next Sunday night dinner.  Nice, right?  Much more on our adventures into juicing to come!

The haul also included several Kirby cucumbers that should be perfect for pickling.  They are sliced and salted and being cooled  - I don't know why exactly but I am, if nothing else, a dutiful follower of new recipes - in the fridge as I type.  And now it's nearly time for phase 2 which has something to do with making a brine.  Aren't I just the most fun?

P.S. I have joined Pinterest and am now struggling with addiction. 

P.P.S.  I've missed this:)