Bringing the Blog Back to Kick off Fall

Hellloooo! So it's been a while, but I'm giving this blog thing yet another go round. I've made it through another hellish summer at work and with the impending fall season, I plan on spending much more of my free time baking rather than working.

I'm a little ashamed that my last post was in March, just after starting my 29th year. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't insanely pleased with how my last year in my 20s is going. There have been a ton of life changes, but it's made for a very exciting year. Before diving back into the recipe business, here's short photo recap, and a couple recipe links to hold you over a little longer, of all that's gone on since March. Hold onto your hat, it's going to be a wild ride:

 

I chopped my hair off [and donated it]

Hosted a birthday dinner at my new abode and Bax learned to make new friends

Welcomed the return of O's baseball and enjoyed being able to walk to games

Discovered one of the best hidden gems of Fed Hill (Spencer the Magician)

You should go immediately: http://illusionsmagicbar.com/

Made this Death by Chocolate cake for Mother's Day

Expanded my food repertoire by cooking with fennel

 

Memorial Day was celebrated by introducing my favorite summertime cookies to some new palettes

Culminated my return to meat with a return to the thing I missed most during my time as a vegetarian: smoked beef. It was so good I almost cried

Finally had a burger from Five Guys. It did not disappoint either

 

I made the prettiest homemade cupcakes using my favorite cake recipe

 

I made and gifted these little bunches of cake batter goodness 

Spent lots of time running around my beloved city thanks to the unusually mild summer temps

Took the plunge and signed up for my first marathon

[it was my goal to do one before turning 30]

Took a mini-weekend trip to upstate NY and secretly wished I attended the Culinary Institute

We celebrated Papa's birthday at Camden Yards

I spent lots of times eating crabs this summer and loved every minute of it

 

Worked every weekend in August and it was awful. Baxter stayed by my side for moral support. She's an amazing friend.

To relax, I finally finished paintings for my entry hall

 

So, that was the last six months in an instagram-fueled nutshell. Despite all the long hours the last couple months, I didn't let September arrive without breaking out my first pumpkin recipe of the season. It was an oldie but goodie that I blogged about here, but made for my new favorite taste tester for the first time. I think it's a toss up who's going to enjoy the next three months more. I cannot even begin to express how excited I am to finally be dating a pumpkin lover. It's going to be a great fall.