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I have been dying to bake lately!

September 1st marks fall for me but the weather didn't get the message! It has been hot here still. I'm still wearing shorts, flip flops and running the air conditioning. Which means I am still avoiding turning my oven on.

I can't wait until we hit highs of only 85 because then I should be able to bake everything up!

I'm talking bagel bombs, sourdough bread, foccacia, pumpkin bread, cookies. Really everything!

What should I bake first?

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Cheers to a new brewery & beer garden opening up in Concord! Side Gate Brewing

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Happy Labor Day!

If you are firing up the grill today I have a new treat for you to try!

After you slice up your watermelon into triangles, add them to the grill! Cook each side over direct heat for 30 seconds to a minute until you get those grill marks.

After you've grilled the watermelon sprinkle over a little bit of Olivelle Fine Foods lime fresco salt and enjoy!

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It's #nationalbaconday! A whole day dedicated to bacon! As there should be! So we are celebrating with BLT'S!⁠

Did I mention its with homegrown tomatoes??⁠

BLT's are one of my favorite go to summer meals! Tomatoes are at their peak flavor season and bacon

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It's the first day of September which many consider the start of fall!

It also happens to be the coolest and windiest day of the week for us!

Coincidence? I think not!

Do you start fall on September 1st or the first true day of fall September 22nd?

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Its Sunday Funday which normally means a garden day for me!⁠

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I work from home currently but I can get so busy during the week that I might not even make it out to my garden. So Sunday's are reserved for any big projects in the garden. Today's is fertilizing!⁠

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What do you typically do on Sunday's?⁠

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I have a new recipe for your next boujee brunch—Zucchini and Goat Cheese Quiche with a Truffle Crust!

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup butter

2 teaspoons @sabatinotruffles truffle zest seasoning

1 medium sized zucchini

4 ounces goat cheese

4 eggs

3/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon rosemary

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon salt

In a food processor add the flour, cubed cold butter and truffle zest together. Blend until all of the ingredients just come together. Remove the dough from the food processor and form it into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and pop it into the fridge for about 30 minutes to firm up.

While you are waiting for the truffle crust to set up in the fridge, grate the zucchini. Add the grated zucchini to a cheesecloth lined colander and sprinkle a 1/2 teaspoon of salt over top. Set this aside to pull the moisture out from the zucchini.

When the dough is set pull it out from the fridge and transfer the ball to a lightly floured work surface. Evenly roll out the truffle pie crust to fully line a 9 inch pie tin.

Set the tin aside and get to work on the mixture. Start by squeezing out the extra water from the zucchini. Add the zucchini to a bowl along with the milk, eggs, and the rest of the seasonings. Gently mix it all together and pour it into your truffle pie crust. Pop this into an oven preheated to 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes. You can enjoy the quiche hot fresh out of the oven or cold the next morning

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It's taco Tuesday!⁠

Arguably the best day of the week but you know I could eat them everyday for every meal!⁠

I tried making carne asada street tacos the other day and they came out amazing! Topped them with onions, cilantro and some tapatio

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I love a good sandwich year round but one of my go to sandwiches in the summer is a BLAT! Avocados and tomatoes just taste their best during the summer time! The avocados are creamy and the fresh tomatoes come straight out of my garden! Plus BLATs are easy to make! The hardest part is waiting for the tomatoes to ripen on the vine! #blat #sandwich #blt #bacon #avocado #sourdough #sandwichporn #foodporn #baconsandwich #lunch #bltsandwich #foodphotography #tomatoseason #lunchtime https://www.instagram.com/p/CSXpYqwhu6E/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I haven't posted a massive cheeseboard in a while which just so happened to be the perfect reason to create this board! I mean do you really need a reason to make a cheese board? The answer is no. Any day you are hungry is reason enough to eat cheese! I had fun building this cheese board and the best part is that I used items that I already had in my fridge or panty. Granted I love cheese boards so I always make sure to keep different board items on hand at all times. But really you can make them with anything on hand! This board cheese features; @laurachenel dill goat cheese @castellousa smoked gouda @somerdalecheese Wensleydale with lemon and honey @tillamook cheddar What is a must have on cheeseboards for you? #cheeseboard #cheese #grazingboard #cheeseporn #goatcheese #prosciutto #cheeseplate #smokedgouda #justaddlaurachenel #wensleydale #grazeboard #cheddar #gouda #snacktime https://www.instagram.com/p/CSUgzf3l6VG/?utm_medium=tumblr

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This year I am trying out a new type of cucumber plant—Japanese long cucumbers! This variety is similar to beloved Persian cucumbers but longer!They tend to be light and fruity with a thinner skin. They will be great fresh in salads, sushi or on sandwiches. Or I can also pickle them! #japaneselongcucumber #cucumber #fruit #homegrown #vegetablegarden #cucumberplant #ediblegarden #vegetableplants #grownathome #picklingcucumbers #freshcucumber #foodismedicine #growwhatyoueat #canninggarden https://www.instagram.com/p/CSDzvYkLN_-/?utm_medium=tumblr

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It's #nationalwineandcheeseday Dare I say the best day of the year?! I mean you already know I love cheese. Give it to me in a cake or on a board just whatever you do make sure it has cheese! And of course I want to wash it down with a nice glass of wine! How are you celebrating today? #salami #cheese #cheeseboard #brie #cheeseporn #charcuterie #groundmustard #vinetomatoes #foodporn #bestdayoftheyear #cheeseplate #meatandcheese #foodphotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CRxnCqulcJd/?utm_medium=tumblr

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This weekend I tried my hand at homemade butternut squash tortellini! The filling was super simple made with butternut squash, ricotta, and parmesan. Plus the pasta is pretty simple with my handy dandy pasta attachment! It makes rolling out pasta sheets a breeze! Lastly thanks to @countrytradingco who sent me ravioli cutters that made cutting the pasta rounds easy peasy! #tortellini #pastamaking #pasta #madefromscratch #butternutsquash #italianfood #foodporn #foodblogger #homemadepasta #butternutsquashtortellini #vegetarian #foodphotography #raviolicutter #freshpasta https://www.instagram.com/p/CRkR1ialJUH/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I am all about crazy burger toppings but sometimes a classic burger is what you need to hit the spot! Smash burger patty seasoned with salt and pepper Ooey gooey melted cheddar cheese Loads of dill pickles Crisp lettuce Juicy tomato On a toasted bun slathered in special sauce What does your perfect burger look like? #smashburger #burger #hamburger #cheeseburger #cheese #pickles #foodporn #specialsauce #comfortfood #burgerporn #comfortfood #foodphotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CRZoKgbFdG2/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Now that I have my vegetable garden bursting at the seams I want to tackle my herb and tea garden aspirations! Dried herbs from the store are great but they can be pricey and some herbs I think just taste better fresh! Here is what I would like to accomplish in the next year! *learn how to utilize my current plants better *plant more perennial herbs so that I am overflowing *learn how to grow seasonal herbs better so that I can actually cook with them *learn how to make tea with my current herbs and flowers *plant more tea flowers and herbs Any and all tips, recommendations and thoughts are appreciated! Any good blogs or books to get inspiration from? What are your must grow herbs or flowers? Let me know! #chamomile #herbgarden #teagarden #teaandspice #tea #herbaltea #apothecary #plantmedicine #herbs #herbalism #chamomiletea #driedflowers #ediblegarden #edibleflowers https://www.instagram.com/p/CRPBk66l-6B/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I made some amazing spaghetti and meatballs the other day! I'm talking happy dance good meatballs! I simmered them for 6 hours in the sauce before finally chowing down. And let me tell you, the meal was worth the wait! I always make extra meatballs and sauce because they get better as they sit in the fridge! Everyone gets to know eachother in the fridge. Dare I say that 2nd day meatballs are better than night 1?! One of my favorite ways to use up the leftovers is to make meatball subs! A toasty bun with lots of melty mozzarella topped with meatballs swimming in delicious sauce! #meatballsub #sandwich #meatballs #leftovers #spaghettiandmeatballs #homemademeatballs #leftovermeal #italianfood #sandwichporn #homecooking #foodporn #mozzarella #foodphotography #cookingforleftovers https://www.instagram.com/p/CRJxegbFQDC/?utm_medium=tumblr