Cookies, Baking, Cooking and Some Shopping

Last week I had one cookie order for Pirate Cookies. I have done these once before and they were much easier this go around...although the skull/bones is the hardest for me.

Thursday night we went to Stein Mart and I found the most unbelievable deal! These shoes were 75% off and they ended up being a total of $20.00. Can you believe that?? I can't wait to wear them. They are flats which I am not a huge fan of...but they are too cute.


Friday night we went to dinner at Mellow Mushroom...one of my favorite places to eat. Next door is a little cupcake shop called Cami Cakes .The shop is just adorable!!! I prefer her cupcakes cold, so I pop them in the fridge until I am ready to eat them.


Last week at work, the girls were telling me about the Fresh Market. I had never been and they were telling me I had to go because I would love it. Saturday...we made a trip. They were right...I instantly fell in love. I was in aww....the produce was beautiful; the meat selection was amazing...I have never seen such gorgeous meats before; the desserts - yumm; and everything else was unbelievable! The prices are a little higher than regular grocery stores, but it is worth a trip every so often. When I watch Food Network and see Ina Garten grocery shopping I always wonder what kind of grocery store she was in because it looked so fancy. The stores never look like a Publix. Now I know...grocery stores like that really do exist!

We did pick up a couple of things while we were there. I couldn't resist the bread that had just come out of the oven! We were very excited that they carry celery soda. We picked up a couple for Jeff's dad.

I ordered two new cookbooks that arrived last week. The cookbooks replicate restaurant dishes. I immediately flagged all the recipes that I want to make and was able to make two of them this weekend.

For dinner Saturday night, I made Zuppa Tuscana soup from Olive Garden. It tastes exactly like the real thing!!!! Next time I make this I am going to double the liquids. I felt like the kale, sausage and potatoes needed more broth.


Sunday for lunch I made one of my most favorite sandwiches - a BLT. I used the yummy bread from the Fresh Market and on the side we had the chips we bought there too. Oh my...those chips were delicious!

Sunday night, I made another recipe from the restaurant cookbooks. This recipe is for Lemon Pepper Shrimp from P.F. Changs. This is one of our favorite dishes when we go there. And guess what....it tasted just like the real thing. I also made white rice to go with it. P.S. I love cooking with a wok...it's so much fun!

One of the blogs that I read posted a recipe they found on Martha Stewart's web page called Pumpkin Whoopie Pies. I had to try this recipe. They looked so yummy and fun. Needless to say, mine turned out nothing like the picture....and my frosting was runny. I am pretty disappointed because although they are delicious, they are messy to eat. I'm not sure where I went wrong...