"& keep your feet on the ground"

the pass week has been a whirlwind of craziness. my emotions couldn't be any more heighten & i guess i don't really know how to explain it. i know this is rather vague but for the time being it will have to do. (for those that know & read this little space of mine on the interwebs, thank you for all the love & prayers)

but! mixed in with all that life had to throw at me i still managed to get some cooking done! as i type this my index finger is sore because i touched the top of my breakfast apple granola crisp & it burned it slightly. i guess that's what i get for touching it right out of the oven. (i'll share the crisp tomorrow) the week before last i made some amazing chili (pete even said so!). now, i've never followed a chili recipe, partly because you can put in whatever you want, and i love that fact. chili is always a good, cheap and easy meal for me to make for my work lunches. i make a big batch & then divided it up & i'm good for the rest of the week. so i don't have a chili recipe to share, but rather a grand side dish for your own amazing chili. cornbread! since i'm from the south i can't help but love cornbread, especially when it's paired with a nice bowl of chili. but some of the down falls of cornbread is that it can be dry, bland, & flat. well i can tell you my cornbread was anything but. it was light, fluffy, moist, and anything but bland! i found this recipe for cheddar cornbread on smitten kitchen (who just had the most adorable baby, besides zane of course ;) ), and i couldn't wait to try it. the recipe includes cheddar (obviously), cream corn, chili powder, buttermilk and was a cinch to make. (i've officially said my goodbyes to jiffy) i may even alter my mama's cornbread stuffing recipe for thanksgiving because yes, it was that good!

(all packed up & ready for work)

i can't tell you how easy & delicious this cornbread was. there are so many other things you can add to make it your own & taste just the way you like it. so get cracking & make some chili & cornbread!

i'm loving that it is october & the apartment has a chill to it so i can wear my hoodies all day long. i'm hoping to make it to the pumpkin patch & maybe even pick my own apples! the air this time of year is so fresh & amazing. i can honestly say i love living in new jersey for that reason alone. it's nice to have seasons!

--------------
Now Playing: Brand New - "The Quiet Things No One Ever Knows"