I cannot express how much we have appreciated the dinners out, cards (with cash!) from Mom + Grandmother for quick dinners, meals from (and with!) Karen and invitations over to houses.
Opening a business (especially one that starts its day at 3AM!), I imagine, isn’t all that different from having a new baby, and working long days means that we really (really!) appreciate a good meal (with vegetables!) wherever we can get it. I’m sure we’ll get back into our lifestyle groove soon, but we’re still ever-so-thankful for any help we can get putting dinner on the table (otherwise we might only be eating bread!)
So when Faith invited us over for dinner this morning, you can bet my response was “HELL YEAH!”
We’re excited to have Karen’s leftover meatloaf tomorrow night 🙂
We wrapped up work at the bakery around 7PM (finally all caught up and organized in Quickbooks! Also, Emily Eating Chalk came by today!!) and biked over to Faith + Tate’s!
Citronella candles were lit, and vegetables from the garden were picked
Some wine was poured
And we feasted!
Dinner at F+T’s is always outstanding, but Matt and I couldn’t stop raving about how much this dinner was exactly what we were craving.
Faith made mini pizzas with some fermented spelt dough and homemade mozzarella, nonetheless
Plus smoky grilled squash
And a big salad with spouted things, edamame, more spouts and an amazingly delicious cinnamon-spiced salad dressing that you’ll have to visit Gracefulfitness to find out.
It all tasted so good!
We had to wrap up in towels to keep the bugs away – but I still love outdoor dining! [Note my new bike shirt from GoodJoe.com!]
Dessert was a fresh pear and Bread Pudding Bar from the bakery!
We biked home in the dark and I can’t wait to crawl into bed for some reading! I’m still reading Redeeming Love [there hasn’t been too much free reading time in the past 3 weeks!] and am in the part of the book were I can’t wait to pick it up again.
Thanks for dinner Faith+Tate, and g’night to you all!
Oh oh those mini pizzas look so good!
Have a good night!
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers? that book is AMAZING. Anything by her is really good. I wont ruin it for you 🙂 I would really suggust Mark of the Lion Series by her (so addictive).
The Mark of the Lion series is so good! I think I’ve read it about 3-4 times. 🙂 So interesting.
Mark of the Lion series is one of my favorites. LOVE all things Francine Rivers!!!
GH franchise office should send a personal chef for the first month of business! 🙂
You’re so welcome!
I know I’m risking sounding really vain but your camera hates me!! You take great pictures and I can be photogenic sometimes but never, never on your camera! Oh well…
The salad, on the other hand, looks beautiful!
First of all, you look great!! Photogenic indeed. 🙂 I also like your star tattoo. Secondly, Kaci and I were the ones to visit Kath from Oak Ridge, TN, and we chose to dine at Rapture on Saturday night. We recognized you and Tate out eating on the patio, but since you were both enjoying your dinner, we didn’t want to interrupt. You both left right as it began to sprinkle, so unfortunately, we weren’t able to say “hello”. But it was exciting to see you both, and I just wanted to say hey now. 🙂
Small town! I wish you would have said “hi”!
Thanks for the compliment, I’m not really that bothered by it but there really is something about me and Kath’s camera. 🙁
We actually had a really bad experience with a Groupon at Rapture that night! The manager was awful to us but Groupon gave us a refund and rectified the whole situation.
Awww. I will try to get a good one next time I see you!
Hush, Faith! you always look good!! 🙂
I concur! Faith, you always look wonderful. 🙂
Aw, what a nice night 🙂
It’s so sweet of everyone to help you guys out while you find your groove (especially Karen with those amazing dinners she’s been making!). Must feel so good to know that you have all that support – hang in there, you guys are doing something incredible and all this hard work now is going to pay off in the end when you’re so established, you can hire people to take the 3am shift for ya 😉
Thanks for sharing the crazy ride on your blog!
Yum I love mini pizzas. I also want to take a ridiculous sized bite out of those bread pudding bars. Mmhhhhhh.
I want to go to dinner at their house. Mini pizzas are so cute 🙂
Oh I love the idea of mini pizzas! They look super delish too 🙂
Love this post, Kath. It’s so important to be appreciative during times of change and growth. 🙂 Enjoy your evening and rock that towel woman! Ow oww!
Homemade mozzarella? wow! Looks delicious. And, I LOVE that shirt, so funny!
Dinner outside in the summer is perfect. As is a night with Redeeming Love. I need to find my copy and re-read that book. I think I read it in two straight days when I read it!
I’m so glad you are eating well despite all the business stuff! I’m sure it’s a lot like having a baby. I hope you two get a great nights sleep tonight though!
Okay, I know I am totally sounding like a mom here but be careful riding home in the dark! I hope you have lots of reflectors on your bike! 🙂
I agree!
I have reflectors AND lights!
F + T are such great friends to you two!! Hope all is well in C’ville!
That us so cool that emily came to visit you guys cause she is from my city! Glad to see Buffalo gettin’ a little representation in Cville 🙂
Is it just me or is it weird that there is a “real” dining set outside? Is this normal in other places and I am the weird one? Ok, don’t answer the second question 😉
Well it’s an outdoor dining set – made of glass. Most people have some kind of picnic table or outdoor table outside here.
OK the chairs threw me! They look like indoor chairs to me. The table though it does look very similar to my patio set, my chairs just look different, I guess. 🙂
Oh SORRY!! The chairs ARE indoor chairs!! The table isn’t. My bad!
Those mini-pizzas look so good! And homemade mozzarella makes me daydream of owning a goat so I could make goat cheese crumbles daily…
Hahaha- love your shirt. Must get my cycling brother one!
I started reading Redeeming Love a few months ago and was about 3/4 of the way through the book, but never finished it. I need to pick up where I left off.
um, not sure that t-shirt’s the best idea…. “ride me” splayed across your boobs?! sorry, but that’s going to get some catcalls, lol
Hah, I thought the same thing when I saw it said “ride me” and was right across the chest!
I thought that was the entire joke of the t-shirt, yeah.
It’s definitely meant to be a play on words, and I think it’s cute! 🙂
Yes, it’s a joke!! Double meaning.
LOL. I didn’t even catch on to that. Ha!
Ha ha, I love the title of your post 😀
Those mini pizzas look so GOOD! Homemade mozzarella?!?! I’ve always wanted to learn how to make homemade cheese!
The Bugs ALWAYS eat me alive, I’ve been told its because I’m so sweet 😉
That meal sounds amazing!
And, I love Redeeming Love! I read it in March and COULDN’T stop reading!
Looks like the perfect summer dinner! Homemade mozzarella on spelt pizza sounds AMAZING. I’m actually making pizza tomorrow night, but I’ve never made it with spelt!
That meal sounds phenomenallll. Homemade mozz?? Props to Faith!
I love summer dinners when you get to sit outside and light candles.
I am still drooling over that bread pudding. Like it’s the best thing I’ve seen in the sphere in days and I read LOTS of blogs..:) I know you cant divulge GH recipes but omg I wish you could!
The towel as bug prevention. Good thinking.
Oh and that shirt is CLASSIC! Love it.
As well as the grillled veggies…nice!
Looks delicious! Glad you guys got a relaxing evening, certainly looks like you deserve it!
I’ve been wanting to tell you, a few weeks ago I had to drive down to Bellingham WA, from Vancouver BC, for work, and a quick Google search told me there was a Great Harvest there, I stopped in, was given a piece of bread to sample!!! and left with a loaf of honey whole wheat and dakota. Lets just say it didn’t last long in our home. SO DELICIOUS!!! I envy your unrestricted access to amazing bread and baked goods. Now I just need a GH to open up in Vancouver….. Or start making the drive down to Bellingham every week.
🙂
The BF made some homemade mozzarella tonight. I ate it with some basil leaves and it was so good.
Haha! I love the towel.
That t-shirt made me choke on my drink–awesome 🙂
HOLY cow that bread pudding looks amazing!
So much gorgeous green, in the garden and on the plate!
Nothing beats a home-cooked meal after a long day at work! Faith seems like a wonderful cook!…and a fantastic friend 🙂
It is like having a new baby! Wow. Thank goodness for good friends! Faith is a true gourmet making her own cheese! 🙂
If you have time to read then I have absolutely no excuses. Good for you!
That Faith– one kind and compassionate friend indeed! Everything she makes looks SO good and I would a friend like her! 🙂
That meal looks awesome!
I can’t believe you’re reading Redeeming Love! Seriously one of my favorite books. I made my boyfriend start it too because I’m just dying to talk about it with someone. Let us know when you finish!
Aww, that’s so awesome that you are surrounded by friends and family that are helping you with your new “baby.” 🙂 A strong, reliable support system is all anyone can ask for when faced with new challenges. Very nice to hear about!! More people need to be there for others in this way; it really does make life better for everyone involved.
any time of transition can be really hard on the food situation. it’s great to have friends and family that understand this! (but i’d still be eating bread all the time)
That’s so funny that you guys had to wrap up in towels to keep the bugs away! That’s one of my pet peeves…bugs flying around while i’m enjoying the outside.
Dinner looks fantastic & those mini pizzas sound amazing!
Could you please ship some of those bars over to California? My brain hurts from too much science. 🙁
I should make a trip over to a local bakery soon and see if there is any pudding related goods!
I love grilled squash, it is my fave grilled veggie.
Redeeming love is an awesome book! You’ll love it! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it.
Wonderful looking meal! Faith can invite me over for dinner anytime 🙂 Everything looks delicious!
You are lucky to have such a good support system, especially in a town you are fairly new to!
oh what a fabulous dinner – I love how fresh everything is!
That pizza looks so good! It’s so nice to be surrounded by supportive and loving people during the times of complete exciting chaos! 🙂
Grilled vegetables is always a good idea…and so is bread pudding!
Does Matt dream of drinking a beer by the end of his bakery day? I would be with all of that work!
that dinner looks superb! i need to get my hands on the recipe for that cinnamon spiced salad dressing, it sounds so delicious… is it posted on her site? didn’t see it but i could be overlooking…
She’s usually a day or so behind me 🙂
Check my response to Carol’s comment under “Recipes”!
That looks delicious! I’m sure it’s nice to have friends to do that for you guys! I can’t imagine how busy you are.
What great friends to have nearby! Dinner looks delicious. Cheers to finding your groove and balance soon. 🙂
i had to comment – love the name of the post!!! how true!!! and how much further from wanting something that ACTUALLY sleeps…poops…and cries are you at this very moment? don’t get me wrong – i cant wait – but viva being young and still having time to do things like this! great work so far 🙂
Are you asking when we’re going to start having kids? Probably in the next year or so – not sure quite yet!
Sweet shirt 🙂 Love all the grilled veggies! Looks awesome.
Good friends -with good taste 🙂 I like the idea of grilling the zucchini strips whole- I always cut it up small, but that looks more “hearty” and fun.
I used to always cut small strips too but halves are SO much easier! I also always used to marinate squash before grilling but found that it’s just as yummy to spray it with olive oil and sprinkle salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
Dinner looks delicious! I can’t believe she made homemade mozzarella! All the grilled food pictures make me wish I had a grill. The George Foreman isn’t quite the same.
Nice thing about starting with a bakery instead of a baby is that the day does eventually end and you can lock the door for the night!And you have Sundays off! Parenthood is similar,but with less sleep and less free time!
You guys are so lucky you have so many friends and family who are helping you out. I can’t even imagine how tiring your new lifestyle must be. I’m sure you’ll find your groove soon though!
Hi Kath,
I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now (and catching up on old posts too) & just wanted to come out of lurkdom to say how much I like it. Your approach to life & food is really inspiring.
One question: do you take any vitamin supplements in addition to your balanced daily diet?
Cheers from England & happy first (official) day of summer!!
Sara
THanks Sara!
I take a multivitamin about 4 nights a week – I aim to take it every other day. That’s cheaper AND because I eat well I feel getting every other day is probably sufficient to cover gaps
Terrific idea, Kath. I supplement with the couple of vits/mins. that I know are minimal in my diet and/or address my health specific health vulnerabilities, but I’m constantly waivering on the multi-vitamin issue. I think I’ll borrow your solution 🙂
Wow! What an incredible looking dinner! 🙂 The mini pizzas and the squash look amazing! You are so lucky to have such great friends and family who can help you out during this busy time. I am so jealous of that Bread Pudding Bar! 😉
Nothing better than great food and great friends! What a wonderful break from all your busyness.
I love your new shirt! 🙂 What a blessing to have so many great friends in your life!
Your new bike shirt made me LOL.
Go Kath!
Man, those greens look awesome. I’m the same way – I crave lettuce/spinach/greens if I don’t get ’em daily. Funny how our bodies get used to and crave these things! Nothing like some greens to help the digestion too.
Have a great day!
wow, Faith has a such a gift with food! she should be a caterer!!
This post made me realize that I really need both a big bowl of greens and a big slice of a bready dessert in my life. Right now, lol.
I feel for you! When my husband and I opened our first restaurant (Mellow Mushroom) 11 years ago, we sometimes took a quick nap in the car in the parking lot and then went back to work. Your bakery is beautiful and our lunch today was great! My daughter especially liked the cinnamon bread so I hope to swing back in soon for a loaf. Your staff is wonderful and it was great to meet you in person after reading your blog all these months!
Thanks so much for coming in! And thanks for the envelope gift 😉 We’ll be in soon!
Love love love the shirt! Thanks for posting the link to the store.
You’re so right–having a business is like having a baby in a lot of ways. I have both, and its proving to be quite a challenge! No more homemade mozzarella at my house, that’s for sure 🙂
i think i should start a savings project of some sort to get my behind to that side of the world ….just to come and taste good quality baked goodies ….. and get Faith to cook me up a storm 🙂
We are complete opposites – I can’t stand outdoor dining!!
How do you read without disturbing Matt’s sleep? I find that when I try and read before bed, my boyfriend complains about the light. Any tips?
I HAVE to get that shirt! My husband is an avid cycler and he would get a great kick out of it. 🙂
Oh, and I never thought to mention this before but if you have any leftover bread (aside from donating it) have you ever thought about making bread crumbs or croutons for great harvest? I know I do that with leftover bread ends and the crust my children don’t eat. =)
We did croutons!! They turned out just ok – lost their crunch in the bag 🙁
Oh, that’s too bad. I bet they would taste great. 🙁