Weekend Recap

Well we're officially less than 6 months away until the big day, and we spent the weekend enjoying every minute. Mr. B and I started off the weekend with a celebratory homemade cocktail and Mr. B's famous grilled steaks. It was the perfect end to a very long week!

Blanca Julep
courtesy of Food & Wine

8 mint leaves
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
2 1/2 oz favorite bourbon
1 oz club soda

Muddle mint, lime and simple syrup together. Add bourbon and club soda, then fill with ice. Garnish with mint sprigs and lime wedge. Enjoy! Makes 1 cocktail.

Saturday morning we got up early and headed to our favorite coffee shop and the farmer's market for our first visit of the season. I was on a mission for herbs, and I didn't leave empty handed. I love planting herbs every season, and I'm much better at keeping them alive then flowers. Herbs are easy for me... they are either very clearly alive or dead. I left with a ton of basil, rosemary, garlic chives, cilantro, parsley and oregano. I see lots of great meals in our future! 

Just half of our urban garden... look at that basil!

After we got our plants situated, we cleaned up and headed out for a day date. We ended up at Weathervane and Southern Season in Chapel Hill. Mr. B and I love a good gourmet store, and could seriously spend hours looking at everything! We couldn't help ourselves and left with some goodies including Vivian Howard's Blueberry BBQ Sauce. We used it on grilled pork chops and grilled green beans for dinner and it did not disappoint! 

After Southern Season, we treated ourselves to a couple beers at Carolina Brewery and ended our date back in Raleigh at our favorite watering hole, House of Hops. There isn't much of an outdoor ambiance at House of Hops, but Mr. B is enjoying himself while showing off what he likes to call "engagement beer".

Sunday was just as fun and relaxing. We really caught spring fever, and enjoyed planting our new herbs so much Saturday that we ended up at Lowe's and left with tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, banana peppers and cucumber plants. I'm hoping we can keep those alive, and we'll have a small stash later in the season!

Every weekend after grabbing coffee at our favorite coffee shop, Mr. B and I pass the same little sub shop, SubConscious, and comment every time about how it must be good if it's still standing. If you're from the area you've probably seen it before and thought the same thing. The parking lot is always empty, but in a weird way the building seems very inviting. So, today was the day! We decided after our coffee that we'd come back for lunch. Let me tell you. We are way behind on what was a great sub! 

The rest of the day was spent relaxing and enjoying the last few hours of what was a fantastic weekend, and a great start to spring here in the City of Oaks!

Happy Monday, ya'll!