December trip to Austin

Allison and Ethan

This month I went to Austin and spent a few days with my sisters. Funny thing about my trips to Austin - our activities so often center around food. Maybe it's because Austin has about a bazillion awesome and unique restaurants. Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for a cool food truck. Or maybe it's because we just love to eat. This trip took my palate to many new and different places.

Eating with my sister Allison and her family: We made pumpkin spice cupcakes as the finale for a delicious home cooked pot roast she prepared in the slow cooker.

Ethan using the mixer

I spent the next day with Danielle, who showed me how to make pizza. We looked up a pizza dough recipe on YouTube I've been wanting to try, and used her Kitchenaid Mixer which definitely made the work easier, as well has her pizza stone which I'm sure made the crust tastier. The result was delicious - we enjoyed a traditional (Italian-style, not CPK-style) Margherita and a fig, caramelized onion, Gorgonzola and arugula pizza. Both were excellent, and I've been inspired to make my own at home.

While the dough was rising, we took a break and went to a nearby dog park with Stella. Sadly, these were the best shots I got from that event, partly because I apparently haven't mastered the autofocus on my camera yet and partly because of the lighting conditions at dusk.

Danielle and Stella

Stella the moving target. I have about a dozen photos of this area 'empty' because
she and her friend were like lightning bolts dashing around the area.

Danielle, Allison and me

Me, Allison, Danielle and Al's friend Brenda

The next day we went ATVing with a Groupon I found (don't you just LOVE Groupon?). None of us had ever been before, and it turned out to be a great time. I did hit a tree (just a little bit on the bottom) but none of us managed to fall off (though Allison almost lost it once).

Allison, me, Danielle at the Grist Mill, Gruene, TX

After that adventure (which was a blast) we went to nearby Gruene where we enjoyed lunch at the Grist Mill and walked around in some little shops.

Gruene's water tower

One of our mornings was spent at the Austin Farmer's Market - I saw a comment on Foursquare that said "This market has more meat than produce - Texas." I think that's probably accurate. It was kind of chilly that morning so we were bundled up - Allison brought the kids and Ethan burned his tongue on some hot chocolate (which explains some of these photos).

Danielle and Stella at the Farmer's Market

Ethan at the Farmer's Market

Lucy in Disguise costume shop

No trip to Austin is complete without going to Big Top Candy Shop

Big Top Candy Shop: Avery, Allison, Ethan and Caleb

Danielle in Big Top. Yes please, I will have the sensory overload
to go with my sugar high.

Food Truck site near Big Top

Stella meets a mule

Ethan and Danielle in front of
Wurst Tex Food Truck 

Avery and Danielle

We also went to lunch at a place called Bacon. As you might guess, everything on the menu has bacon. They have breakfast food, sandwiches and desserts. My favorite dish was the Bacon fries. YUM!

French fries + sour cream + melted cheddar + bacon + chives = Bacon Fries!

Bacon!

Where else but Austin would you find a VW Bug with a mustache?

Hi, how are you? Near UT

One other awesome thing we did which wasn't documented with photos was going to the Alamo Draft House - a movie theater with tables and complete dinner service. Food was good and it was fun! We saw New Year's Eve which was predictable and so-so, but the best part was spending time with my sisters.

Overall a fantastic trip - and I get to go again in February! Wonder what sort of fun things we can look forward to then?