Hey everybody!
It is an unbelievable day out today! Picture 70 degrees, a gentle breeze and stunning autumn foliage. 
I was just looking around in amazement driving home from work. The leaves have been changing for the past couple of weeks, but they REALLY came out this weekend!
Check out our neighborhood trees – gorgeous!
By the way, thanks neighbors for the great views – all Ben and I have is a little pine tree in our front yard. So random!
Making my smile stretch even FARTHER was receiving a visit from the pumpkin fairy this afternoon – I came home to find these little gems on my front porch!
This summer my Mom’s friend gave her and me pounds and pounds of fresh zucchini, squash, tomatoes and cucumber – and it looks like the Fall harvest is in. Pumpkins straight from the homegrown patch – so cool!
This actually makes me very happy because Ben and I hadn’t gotten around to picking up some pumpkins yet…mission accomplished now. Thanks Mom & co.!
Even when it was time to go inside I still had incredible, scenic views from my laptop station at the kitchen table.
Closer…
I love Fall 
Ok, I’m seriously goobery over the weather today – it’s amazing what some nice weather and pretty leaves can do for a gal, eh?
So. This morning I mentioned looking forward to some fabulous dinners this week, made by someone very special. Any guesses as to who it could be?
It’s Ben!
Yes it’s true, this weeks’ dinners have been planned by, shopped for and will be cooked by Iowa Boy Eats – isn’t that great?! He was SO excited and is taking his duties very seriously. He wants his dishes to be something new for us to try, new for you to see and of course, insanely delish. I am 100% confident that he will pull through on all aspects.
Up first: Vegetable Beef Lo Mein!
Ingredients for the Lo Mein:
- Broccoli
- Green onions
- Carrots
- Cabbage
- Sirloin steak
- Egg
- Whole wheat spaghetti
Ingredients for sauce:
- Soy sauce
- Fresh ginger
- Fresh garlic
- Beef broth
YUM!
I will admit, it’s was tough to sit back and watch someone else make dinner for me. I love to cook and furthermore, I love to make meals for Ben and me. It’s rewarding, you know? I had to tuck my micro managing self away in a corner while he cooked everything…but I did sneak a few shots.
Isn’t he great?
Oh actually he did let me chop up some ginger – boo yah!
Seriously – I am a lucky lady. My husband can COOK his little buns off – this was sooooo tasty!
SO tasty! I’m not even saying that just because he’s my husband – Ben can really cook! He’s into healthy meals also, so he went light on the soy sauce and oil
Filling yet light, salty and savory, with tons of veggies
Day 1 = success! Thanks honey buns!! I am told that tomorrow’s dinner will, and I quote, knock my socks off. I.am.excited.!!
On the agenda for this evening: Gossip Girl!
Have a great night everyone
Thanks for the lovely photos Kristin. Sitting here in the bay area, its difficult to see ‘actual fall’ but you gave me a feel for it, beautiful. It is so sweet of Ben to cook for the two of you. The dish looks good. Enjoy!
Ah, this is sooo friggin cute! I told my man i think he needed to make me dinner sometime soon. He’s like “ooookay.” I asked why he didn’t want to and he admitted that he’s not so confident with his cooking skills. I think, you’re not gonna learn until you try! Can’t wait to find out what tomorrow’s meal is!
Love it when the guy takes the reins in kitchen once-in-a-while. So cute.
GORGEOUS photos!!! The fiance can cook if it means warming something up
I’m loving the gorgeous midwestern fall weather, too! The kids and I took advantage this afternoon by spending some time cleaning up the garden.
“IBE” is so sweet for taking care of dinners for the week! Can’t wait to see what else he comes up with!
Pretty pics! Your dinner looks delish!
Looking forward to seeing what your hubby cooks for the week!
Great Pics
What a great guy! You two are adorable!
Aw, that’s so cute! I love a man who cooks! And dinner looks sooo yummy!
Wow! Looks like he did a great job. I love all of the fall pictures. I live in California and unfortunately fall is just not the same here. I wish the leaves would change color like that!
does the egg to something special in the recipe? how do you make it? thanks!!!!!
Helloooooo…I have been gone in Texas for a week and it’s seeming to take me forever to catch up with everyone! Yay for Ben being MR Iowa Eats. Awesome!! Dan LOVES to cook and is easily, far and away much better at it than me…which I am totally okay with. We cook together pretty much every single night – it’s fun!!
Can’t wait to see what your kitchen connoisseur whisks up next!
p.s. please check my description of the weather on my latest post…I’m wondering if we were actually word for word the same!!
BEAUTIFUL!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the gorgeous fall colours! They are especially beautiful where you live!
Yay for men cooking!!
ahhhh soooo gorgeous! it was BEEYOUTIFUL here in madison today too, and i hated being stuck inside
I have that same inner turmoil of wanting to micromanage when Hunni cooks. But I usually try to find something else to do around the house. He’s made some great stuff so far.
Looks like Ben know’s what he’s doing
Hmmm Can I hire Ben to come cook for me too?
Oooooh! that lo mein loooks really good! What kind of pasta did he used?
so jealous!!!! fiancé just made dinner for me on the night he proposed. Other than that, he doesn’t cook! the dinner ben made looks amazing! i just might have to try that!
lucky girl with mr iowa girl eats cooking for you! I came home from class today to find the boyfriend had cooked me dinner. Score! So nice to have a night off from the kitchen sometimes! Also love the teeny little pumpkins, saw them in the supermarket the other day and they are called munchkin pumpkins which I thought was the cutest name ever.
Loving the fall colors! Hoping this sunshine sticks around a while – we’ll need it for the corn maze this weekend!
I make a very similar recipe that I love. Good job, Ben! But your wine rack is looking a little empty. ; )
I love love love the beautiful changing of color on the leaves. It is such a rare sighting here where I live where we have no seasons whatsoever. Fall is so beautiful. I think it is my favorite season.
Yummy! This sounds and looks great! I typically resort to take out… my Lo Mein never turns out!