Blue Ridge

Some pictures from Fall break in Georgia

We ate extremely healthy

Humongous butternut squash

My  very first taste of a fried green tomato...not impressed! Need to make one on my own.

Love the color of the leaves

The best falafel sandwich I've ever tried. We went to a restaurant called "The Highlander" in Atlanta which was featured on Diner's Drive-In's and Dives!

Corn fritters with remoulade sauce. I'm hooked!

YHL's Pinterest Challenge...Bring it.

This week has been so extremely exhausting. My body became accustomed to relaxation since I went on vacation last weekend (pictures coming soon). I feel like all of my classes have gone into work overload mode and my body just cannot adjust or keep up. I slept in for my 8:15 class this morning, which is so unlike me since I am usually a morning person and never skip class. Dear weekend, please hurry!
Anyway, I was happy to see Young House Love's Pinterest Challenge (especially because I missed the last one) on my blog feed the other morning and was especially excited when I found out that I only have to work one day this weekend. To me, that's like a second mini-vacation! Especially because this weekend will be filled with lots of Halloween festivities. And extra especially because now I can participate in the Pinterest Challenge. (Sorry for my excessive use of the word "especially"). So for those of you who don't know, it is basically a challenge to create or "DIY" something that you've pinned on Pinterest. And let's be honest, I would never have the motivation to make any of the things that I pin unless there was some type of challenge.
Here are some things I've pinned that seem do-able:

Polaroid Coasters

These would make really cute gifts

Map hearts

Obsessed with this bracelet

For my Mom

Obsessed with these too

I can imagine making tons of these, the smell that would fill my tiny apartment!

I have this Ikea table. This would be so easy!

Love this

If you want to find links to any of these, you can find them on my pinterest here under "DIY". Can't wait to see what everyone else makes!

Persian Potato Pancakes

Persian food is [hands down] my favorite food in the world. There is never a moment that I would turn down a Persian meal. Fortunately, I get to enjoy delicious Iranian meals made from ingredients from Iran, prepared by the best! My step-Mom is Iranian and so is my Dad. My Dad is an amazing cook but my step-Mom is phenomenal when it comes to cooking middle-eastern dishes. I've learned a few tips and tricks from her, but I've never learned to prepare the meals she makes because they usually take all day. The other week, she taught me to make these potato pancakes because they are fairly quick to make and, not to mention, incredibly delicious! They literally melt in your mouth. And you can eat them with anything! Personally, I like them in whole wheat pita bread with tomatoes and spicy pickles or just simply with feta and honey.

Persian Potato Pancakes
Serves: 2
What you need:
1 medium potato
1/2 small onion
1 medium egg
1/4 tsp tumeric
1/4 tsp salt
2-3 tbspl oil

1. Grate both the potato and onion with the smaller side of your grater. [Basically, you don't want your potatoes the size of hash browns]
2. Mix in the egg, salt, and tumeric
3. Heat 2 tblsp oil on high heat in a large saute pan.
4. Once the oil is heated and slightly "popping", add the whole mixture to the pan and even out so that you have a very thin layer and it covers the whole pan.
5. Leave on high heat for 1 minute and then turn the heat all the way to low.
6. Break up the pancake into 4 sections (so that it is easier to flip).

7. Cook on low for about 10 minutes and then flip over.
8. Add more oil as necessary and turn back on high for one minute.
9. After one minute turn back on low and cook for another 10 minutes.
10. Serve with whatever you like. Enjoy! =)