Feeling the Monkey off my Back

As Crazy as it sounds, getting married way ahead of the date we originally chose (summer 2013) has given me a sense of relief. Yes, the heat is on for February 14th, but the fact is I have so much more time to plan a wonderful reception and simple, but more elegant ceremony for the fall. The fall...my time of year, the colors I love and a time to celebrate our love as much as our beautiful families and friends.

So as our date closes in, I'm more focused on the main event that is months away. I know the jitters will settle in soon, but I can't wait to marry the love of my life and my soul mate. We will be married when we marry again. It will be relaxed and even more enjoyable to become one (again) with our friends and family at our sides. I'm giving everyone a sneak peak...so far we have chosen one thing and locked it in. Caz does not want a grooms cake. We want ONE cake. Our cake~ Here it is. Some of the purple will be replaced with crimson orange florals and some deeper browns. I love this cake!

Dried tomatoes, The Dooby Brothers and then there was two...

It hasn't been much of a winter here in East Texas, but nevertheless, it's been cold enough to keep us living the indoor life for a few weeks. I've been inside so much lately that I've noticed all the cleaning and flaws that need urgent care along with the fact that I feel the need to nest. Everything from freezing herbs to oven drying tomatoes and stocking up on the stock up! Okay, a lot of it has to do with our upcoming nuptials. I know this, but at the same time it's somehow comforting to get back into the swing of home life for two. Today, I realized I had missed this so much...planning and cooking and thinking for a couple. It's been absent over the past several years and I'm just enjoying the fact that Caz and I constitute a family again. I like that. I liked that I spent the day totally captivated with the little things in life, like listening to the Dooby Brothers and oven drying tomatoes. Yeah, I know it's pretty boring and a little crazy, but there's something about knowing he's coming home and he'll love and appreciate everything I'm doing. It's nice to be whole again...to be two,  and very soon, we'll become one...even better : )

By the way...the recipe is awesome and totally effortless. Enjoy!

You'll need:
10 Roma tomatoes
kosher salt or sea salt
Italian herbs or your favorite
olive oil pack the dried tomatoes in jars

Do this:
Set your oven to 325 while you prepare the tomatoes, then lower the temperature to 200 degrees F. or the lowest setting.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Wash, dry and slice the tomatoes thick into 4 to 5 slices. Be sure to make the slices as uniform in thickness as possible otherwise some will burn while others are still cooking. 

Place the tomato slices on the lined baking sheets and sprinkle with salt and the herbs. The drying time will vary. It should take between 4 to 8 hours. Be sure the temperature is set to the lowest or 200 degrees F. You are drying the tomatoes. So look for them to be somewhat moist still in the middle but seemingly dry for the most part to the touch. If your slices are thicker, you will need to dry them longer. If they are thinner, then it will take less time. Just set a timer for 20 minutes at a time and keep an eye out on them. Beware towards the end they go fast.

When tomatoes are dry, allow them to cool a bit. Add them to a dry and clean jar. Fill with olive oil and a sprig of fresh herbs. Refrigerate. The tomatoes will keep for a month or a little longer. Use in everything from soup to sandwiches to pasta. 

Enjoy!