Thanks for all of your congratulations! We are so excited 
To answer> your questions:
- We’re moving to Charlottesville, Virginia, likely late next summer, where the bakery will be (the location has long since been decided).
- We’re hoping to open doors next fall, although it could be longer if we hit snags. It usually takes at least a year to open doors.
- I’ll have plenty of time to finish my R.D. and internship, which is over in July, before we move.
- I am not sure when I’ll finish my masters (there is a masters program for R.D.s at JMU in VA that I’ve researched)
- And I have no idea where my career will take me, but I will be working at the bakery – likely more on the PR + marketing + owner responsibilities + event side where my interests and experience lie. Of course I still love nutrition and hope to continue my career as a pro blogger, online nutrition consultant, recipe developer and freelance writer on the side.
Ahhhh home. It’s so comforting and inviting to be here again
We spent the evening unpacking from our trip and sucking up dead bugs in the vacuum. Hopefully the colder weather has taken its toll on the population that spies on me at night!
Dinner came in baked form and we worked with what we had in the house: squash!
When I go out of town I like to keep a root veggie in the kitchen for the return dinner and use pantry staples to round it out. (And I always grab a banana from the hotel or airport for breakfast!)
For these Curry Stuffed Squash, we baked an acorn and a delectica squash at 425* face down in a pan of water for about 30 minutes until they were fork tender.
In the meantime we cooked a cup of brown rice with a few tsp of curry powder and some raisins.
When the squash were ready, we stuffed them with the rice, some microwaved hot apple, cinnamon, pumpkin seeds and some of BethT‘s plum jam!
The dish was great! I ate some of the squash skin (it gets very tender) but I didn’t eat it all mostly because I don’t want to hurt my intestines with too much fiber!
We had quite a bit of mail arrive while we were gone.
First, some Intentional Chocolate.
Do you guys believe the way food is cooked impacts the person who eats it? Intentional Chocolate does. This is the intention embedded into each piece:
"Whomever consumes this chocolate will manifest optimal health and function at physical, emotional, and mental levels, and in particular, will enjoy an increased sense of energy, vitor and well-being for the benefit of man-kind.’
A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study published in Explore: The Journal Of The Science and Healing (Oct. 2007) found that one ounce of Intentional Chocolate eaten daily for 3 days increased subjects’ well-being, victor and energy by an average of 67% and in some cases up to 1,000%.
And the company donates 50% of profits to organizations committed to the benefit of humankind, so all the more reason to partake.
Believe it?? Hard to.
It certainly tasted amazingly dark and rich.
I had a few pieces tonight and we’ll see how I feel in 3 days…
***
Also on the package front – Pistachios! I thought the delivery box was quite clever
"What Do You Get For 100 Calories"
With a circle of different portions and their nutritional value. Of course pistachios won out for the best snack choice!
If you’d like to win some pistachio prizes, go to PistachioHealth.com and tell them how or why you plan to incorporate pistachios into your diet.
I like ‘em because they’re GREEN! My favorite color.
***
BRRRR it’s chilly up in he-yah! It’s only 6PM in Montana, but I’m out of energy for the day. Wish I had a big tub to take a bath in. Our dinky bathtub is not that appealing! Might just hit the sack early and read Wicked, or work on some projects. Or catch up on some blog reading! Wish I had been able to go to the POM Harvest with those lucky ladies – I had to turn it down because of our Montana trip 
Nite!
{ 75 comments… read them below or add one }
Congrats, Kath! I am so happy for you guys!
Cant wait to see the future for the blog!
CONGRATULATIONS, Kath + Matt! How exciting!
Thanks for all the info Kath. It sounds perfect for you and Matt. I’m definitely excited to hear how all the plans unfold over the next year or so!
LOVE this dinner! Perfect squash recipe!
CONGRATULATIONS KATH AND MATT!!!!! This is the best news ever!! You will make great bakery owners–I hope to visit one day
Congrats, again! It alll sound SO exciting! Let us know if the chocolate worked its magic on you
Whoa, that is crazy good news . . . I’m glad you can finish school before you get into the nitty and the gritty of everything.
CONGRATS!! That’s amazing news. I’m new to your blog, but it’s great. Squash – yes! – I had that tonight as well – got home late and showered and didn’t know what to have…but I paired it many, many, many veggies (!), spaghetti sauce…and egg whites (yes, eggs…haha…I thought I should throw some protein in there I guess
Wish I had that Invention Chocolate, I could use it…Oh well I’ll settle for the ‘stash’ I have. I have chocolate every day!
I started my own blog and am intrigued to find out any advice/comments you could share about the blogging world, etc. It is my dream to get more serious with my writing…how did you transition into ‘pro blogging’? Would this be a silly dream for someone like me, entirely implausible?? Thanks!
Kath!!! This is great news!! Very exciting times for you and your husband!
Congrats to you both!
Ah this is SO exciting!! Oh and btw, I WENT TO JMU!!!! So if you have any questions at all let me know
Yippee! Congrats to you kids! What great news.
yayyyy kath for the bakery! i am so proud of you and matt, that is awesome!
that chocolate looks great, i wonder if you will really see results in a few days!
jenna
D’oh! Totally late to the party. CONGRATULATIONS! You guys will be such great bakery owners. So excited for you!
Do you have any friends who can open a Great Harvest in NYC? Between the breads, oatmeal raisin cookies, and cinnamon rolls I think I could keep them in business by myself.
And the French Meadow! Yum. I miss Minnesota sometimes.
Hooray for happy news!
congratulations! i’ve heard wonderful things about charlottesville. i’m sure that you and matt will love it and fit right in to the community
Such an exciting time for you!!
Your news is so exciting!!! And I thought calling 911 to report a weirdo was exciting… clearly, my life is a bit dull these days!
Your meal looks so tasty… reminds me of autumn. So nice.
sorry for being late, but congrats!!! looks like you’ll be doing what you love-the most important thing! have fun!!!
The baked squash looks wonderful – I have one of the acorn variety just waiting to be baked. I’m thinking: stuffed with blue cheese, cranberries, and brown rice!
I missed the post earlier, but congratulations!! Its very exciting news!
I love when I can see something tangible like what I could be eating instead. It helps me make better choices. I think that’s why the eat this not that sections in magazines are awesome to help make better choices.
BTW huge congrats on the new endeavors. It sounds like you have this well thought out and are super excited.
Agh! Congrats! From Charlotte to Charlotte-sville! Love it!
If you ever need VA school tips, let me know – I’m pretty familiar with most of them. So exciting!!!!
Charlottesville is an awesome town. I did the C-ville half marathon a few years ago and it was so pretty.
Congrats! I can’t wait to hear all about your bakery adventure =)
xo
K
Ahh, Kath, congrats! Just now reading (been at FNCE this weekend) your good news. One of the girls I went to undergrad with went to James Madison for her internship/masters (she focused on sports nutrition).
Can’t wait to read more about your adventures!
Woohoo! I have a few friends who live in Charlottesville and they absolutely love it
What good news for you and Matt. I wish you the best
That is so exciting! Congratulations on your new ventures!!
CONGRATULATIONS KATH + MATT! I’m so happy for you guys, sounds like an incredible opportunity. I know your bakery will rock!
Congrats to both of you! Such fun!
yay!! That’s going to be so exciting!
Hooray for you and Matt! What an exciting challenge for you two.
And you’ll only be about 2.5 hours from Alexandria! I think a trip to Old Town would be the kind of weekend escape that’s right up your alley!
CONGRATULATIONS Kath & Matt!!! Wow – that’s really fabulous news! I’m so happy and excited for both of you!
It was great meeting you in Charlotte – and I hope I get a chance to visit Charlottesville some time next year – I’ll certainly come by your new bakery!
Congratulations again, and all the best to you both!
Congratulations on your new endeavor! How very exciting!
Congrats Kath and Matt! But sad that you will be leaving Charlotte.
yummy squash dish! and that chocolate sounds like a bit of a snowjob but hey – whatever it takes!
Here’s a late congratulations. I’m excited to see how this process works in the future as you get closer to an opening day! Best of luck!
Congratulations! How very exciting
Ahh so exciting! I just graduated from James Madison and LOVED it.. I have a few friends that did the R.D. program and have heard great things:)
CONGRATS!
p.s.- I LOVE LOVE LOVE Charlottesville and you will too!
It sounds like BIG DEEP bathtub needs to be on your list of MUST HAVES for the next house. I know it is for me!
Congratulations! I am really happy for you! That bakery is going to be awesome. I wish I could come and see it when it opens next year.
Congratulations! I look forward to seeing where this new adventure takes you. It was fun to see Yellowstone through your eyes. I’ve spent many a summer in that area as my parents live close by.
congrats!
Congrats to you both! What an amazing journey you are both starting on. Have fun and enjoy the little moments along the way!
This is going to be such a fun adventure in the next page of your life. I truly hope we are taken along for the ride!
You two are a dynamo couple and will be excellent entrepreneurs. Congrats!
CONGRATS, Kath and Matt! It always makes me happy to see people following their dreams
You two will be perfect!
What a year ahead of you. Congratulations!
CONGRATS!!
I usually don’t comment but I’m a JMU gal and the fam is from Charlottesville and Harrisonburg. The program for RD is great at JMU and it’s an amazing school. In fact, one of the fam’s close friends is a professor in the program! I miss the valley- you’ll love it there!
omg. so excited about this bakery.
okay this is my real site. i’m so excited about this bakery. i go to virginia tech and i guess i will now have to go to Charlottesville…
wow! that is awesome amazing news kath.. congrats you too! : ) my work has a branch in C-ville (maybe its the only big business out there??) but i hear that C-ville is really nice with lots of good dining options.. plus with the addition of a great harvest, i think it will put c-ville over the top.. lol good luck!!
So happy for you!!! This next year is probably going to feel like a whirlwind
Sounds so awesome to own your own franchise though, how cool is that?!
How exciting for you both! I think you guys will make the perfect bakery owners:)
That squash dinner looks amazing. So creative!
Just wanted to say CONGRATS!! Charlottesville is awesome, I’m jealous.
Welcome back to NC and congrats again on your huge news!!
I love your non-alcoholic beverages that you post, great for nights when you want to be social and fun but not interested in a real drink. When you have a moment would you please post a list of your favorite non-alcoholic drinks – I think this would be great to have as the holiday work and social parties are approaching too.
Congratulations! Since mom knows best (usually), do I get free bread?
What a delicious looking dinner!
Very interesting about the chocolates! My friend Annette believes in blessing her food. She kind of says something along those same lines every time she eats, just being grateful that it has and may it nourish her body. That kind of stuff. I think all of that can really change your mentality and make you happier and therefore healthier! No harm in trying =)
Congratulations!!! This is amazing. I love reading how you guys plan to split up the duties. I would love to own a coffee shop with my husband someday (and like you, that is a very different area than what my Master’s degree is in, but it would be okay because I have loved the education I’ve received!) I was rooting for you guys!!! Congratulations again!
Jessica,
All of my mocktails have a base of club soda or diet tonic with a splash of something fun – POM juice, cranberry, cherry juice with lime, etc. Very simple!
Mom,
Only the whole grain ones!
K
Ahhh that’s sooo exciting! I’m happy for you guys! I would love to open a restaurant with my mom and sisters someday. My brothers would probably even join! Haha. It’s really a dream of mine.
Love the dinner–you both are so creative!
Congrats to you both!!! That is so excitiing that you are both able to be working in jobs you really love at such a young age :O)
Kath! I am so happy for you and Matt. This is an amazing opportunity, and I have no doubt you two will be great business owners! I will make it a point to visit you in C-ville at the bakery
OMG! Cannot wait for ya’ll to come to cville!!!!!!! I live close by and will visit the shop often, its about time we have one!
MAKE SURE TO VISIT THE DEVIL’s BACKBONE near wintergreen resort. Matt will be in HEAVEN!!!
Congrats again! And you’ve got a full plate ahead of you both, but I’m sure you can accomplish it all.
I am so happy to see the tips on cooking squash- I love butternut squash braised in chicken stock with garlic and I picked up an acorn squash which I wasn’t quite sure what to do with yet! So, now I have an idea- thank you.
CONGRATS!!! So exciting!! I love Virginia! What a wonderful new time in your lives!!
haha I had to laugh at your review of the chocolate…it was so similar to mine. I thought the claims were quite hokey pokey
lol it was awesome though!
Congratulations on the bakery!
I had a similar dinner last week with an Acorn Squash and curried quinoa with golden raisins – SO YUMMY! It was my first acorn squash, and I ate the whole thing! Skin and all!
wahoo wa! congrats on becoming small business owners and moving to one of my all time favorite spots with some of the best coffee (shenandoah joe’s, cafe cubano) and food (arch’s, farmer’s market, c+o) in the country. (clearly jealous and reminiscing about my college days).
That is such wonderful news! I live not too far from there, and ever since coming to NYC for college, I have missed VA so much – it’s really beautiful. I think you’ll love it in Charlottesville. JMU is also a really good school, I have a lot of friends who go there.
Good luck with everything!
MMMM the chocolate looks GOOD! I can’t wait to hear about all of your planning and moving! It’s so exciting. I live very close to Charlottesville and am anxiously awaiting y’alls opening!
Congrats again! Everything sounds so exciting… good luck with everything. I know you will do great at whatever you do. I have been to Charlottesville once before… nice little area.
Congratulations! It must be kinda nice to know what’s in store for the future. I’m sure you and Matt are very excited!!
Kath + Matt,
I am just catching up on the blog and realize a CONGRATULATIONS!!! and a big WOOHOO!!! are in order! Welcome to C’ville friends, you will love it here.
Congratulations and good luck on this new venture! Charlottesville is such a great town. I am sure you’ll love it there.