October

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

- Albert Camus

I'm loving this weather! Note to self: Next year I am going to take a stay-cation and actually spend a week enjoying the Nashville fall...

I love my job, but this time of year makes me want to be outdoors going for walks and bike rides, or sitting out on the front porch swing reading a book. Also, it makes me want to warm up with a bowl of chili, so here is one of my favorite recipes. It is really easy to make, and tastes great. Warning - it has some kick. It is one of the few things Mark actually doesn't add hot sauce to...

Pepperjack White Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 32 oz. box of chicken stock
• 3 cans of white beans, left undrained
• one rotisserie chicken shredded
• 1 16 oz. jar of green salsa/salsa verde
• 8 oz of shredded pepperjack cheese
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• black pepper to taste
• salt to taste

Place all ingredients in large pot on stove and cook on med-high until all the cheese is melted. I always add cornchips and sour cream too.

We have been busy with work and life. Next week is Mark's 37th birthday, so I'm in the process of putting together a birthday gathering for him which will be sure to include a bonfire on the deck with good friends. Last week was Oktoberfest in Germantown and so we did a 5K Bier Run followed by the festival. Mark took first place in his age division. (For that we won a giant beer mug.) Tomorrow we are headed to Chattanooga for a friend's wedding. I love Chattanooga! Mark and I took a day trip there 3 years ago when we first started dating, so it has some good memories. Here's and old picture from that day:

Lookout Mountain, Oct. 2007