"She feels like kicking out all the windows and setting fire to this life"

I went through a huge Dave Matthews Band phase in high school. I never really listen to them anymore but I've always had a soft spot for "Grey Street." It reminds me of everything I went through and everything I overcame. I really don't know if I would have survived high school if it hadn't been for great music. I remember lying in bed after a breakup, feeling as if it was the end of the world and listening to sad sack music for hours wishing I could feel better. And I always felt better after a good song. I think music has healing powers. Do you have a song that makes you feel better everytime you hear it?



Yesterday, I made myself a fantastic sandwich using leftover cranberry-apple sauce, turkey, irish cheddar, and a tomato. It was beyond amazing. The sharp cheddar cheese went so well with the slightly sweet cranberry sauce. I love sweet and savory combos.



To prove my weird cravings yesterday. I ate a salty pickle, carrots and crunchy pb and 2 Newman O's with my sandwich. The carrots were boring so I dipped the Newman O's in the PB. YUM!



I also wanted to share some of my Christmas decorations with you. I am obsessed with Snoopy. My parents claim it was one of my first words. "Two-pee," I believe it.



Cute stockings from Andy's mom.



A candy dish



One of my favorite ornaments. My parents got it for us last year when we got engaged.



My aunt got us this ornament. I LOVE IT! It says Amanda & Andrew 11/10/08. Our engagement date.





Told you I liked Snoopy.



Andy's favorite ornament. lol.



My first Christmas card from my good friend Shelly.





I got the book Rose made us! It is beautiful in person with plenty of pages for pictures. I can't wait to fill it up with wedding pictures. Check out Lobster Books and have Rose make you an album or a journal.



I love the exposed spine. This picture clearly doesn't do it justice and just shows you that I was playing xbox instead of working.



And the hearts for Andy and I to put our names.



Also Rose, my dad is obsessed with trains. (In a completely nerdy way!) So this card fits me perfectly. How did you know?! haha

Flashback Friday! In honor of my new blog friend Janetha I have decided to participate in Flashback Friday.



Here's Andy and I at our "first look." We both cried a lot.



I look like a T.Rex





This was way fun!



Hope you enjoyed my flashback friday! Would you guys like it if I posted more wedding recaps? And if you posted a flashback friday post, please let me know and I'll link to it!

Yes, I really do cook.

I'm in a mood. I really wish I wasn't. Yesterday, I did some errands with my mom and did some Christmas shopping. It was fun and relaxing and I finally finished my Christmas shopping for Andy! But for some reason, I am in a funk today.

I wish I could explain more but unfortunately someone is reading my food blog and I do not want that person knowing what's up quite yet. Vague enough for you?



Ok, here are the eats I've created over the last 2 weeks. Green bean casserole. With fresh green beans, ricotta cheese, summer squash and homemade mushroom gravy. It was time-consuming but so worth it. I did include the traditional french-fried onions. They were good!



Turkey burger on whole wheat bread. Boring picture, awesome turkey burger.



Kerrygold cheddar really made these turkey burgers. This cheese is so sharp and creamy. YUM!



Fontina, tomato and asparagus frittatas. I've made this frittata before



Peanut butter, banana and flax toast!



It was a good recovery meal after an intense workout.



Gingerbread latte and starbucks oatmeal. This oatmeal is ok...a little watery for my taste though.



The best butter on the planet.



With herb-crusted pork loin and mashed potatoes. (The butter is in the mashed potatoes. I used 1 tbsp and made 4 servings.)



My mock Thanksgiving day meal. Cranberry-apple sauce, roasted butternut squash with brown sugar, turkey cutlets and a hawaiian roll.



For the butternut squash, I sliced up half a squash into cube shapes and coated them in 1 tsp olive oil, 2 tsp honey and 1 tbsp brown sugar. Tossed to coat and roasted in the oven at 400* for 25 minutes.



For the cranberry-apple sauce, I boiled 1 cup water and 1/2 white sugar. Then added 2 sliced honey crisp apples and 1 bag cranberries. Continue to boil until cranberries pop and release their natural pectin. This sauce WAS SO GOOD! I liked the sauce more than anything else.

So I've got to ask, do you have any cyber stalkers or unwanted guests reading your blog? How do you deal with it? I've decided to let them read and enjoy...maybe they really like cooking?

Also...have you ever heard of Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) dermatitis? It's a contact dermatitis from cutting up butternut squash? I noticed in last night when my hands got all dry, yellow and waxy feeling. It's gone now luckily but how weird is that? I googled, "hands feel weird after cutting butternut squash," and found tons of blog posts about it. WEIRD!