The Salt & Pepper of Life

Kitchen Yum Yum

2011-07-18T18:51:00.004-05:00

I love it when we can start to harvest the summer produce from my parents garden. It seems like everything tastes better with fresh vegetables and herbs!

Farwell, Old Friend

2011-07-18T18:49:00.003-05:00

My parents dog, Goldie, passed away right before 4th of July weekend. She lived a wonderful 16 (almost 17 years). We'll miss you girl!

Stained Glass!

2011-07-18T18:46:00.005-05:00

Dan and I had fun at our stained glass class in mid-June.

Not too shabby for a three hour class, eh?

Crazy Kiddo

2011-07-18T18:40:00.007-05:00

Adam was so excited to sport a mohawk for one day! (It was shaved after church and was going to be completey removed that night - so as not to embarass his mom when he started summer school the next day). I love that kid!

Chicken Salad a la Erin!

2011-06-13T22:13:00.004-05:00

Erin shared her recipe for Chicken Salad and it was delish! The main ingredients are chicken, red grapes, green onions, celery and water chestnuts. The dressing was made of mayo, soy sauce and curry powder. So simple and so fresh!

Awesome Weekend!

2011-06-13T22:10:00.012-05:00

The post is very old, but I wrote this right after the weekend of 6/10 - 6/12. Glad I jotted it all down then, because there were lots of great tidbits and details from the weekend. :)

This past weekend was one of those that I didn't want to end. It was a good balance of time with Dan, friends and my own time.

The big event of the weekend was Kelly & Trent's wedding, but some of the other highlights were great food, catching up with friends, watching Dirty Dancing and planting my herbs, tomatoes and flowers on the patio.

More about the food!...... Dan and I tried "Smoque" for dinner on Friday - excellent ribs, brisket and sides of mac & cheese, beans & coleslaw. On Saturday, we had lunch at "The Brown Sack", where I had the BLAST sandwich (bacon, lettuce, avacado, shrimp and tomato) and fabulous chocolate shake (although I had shake envy of Dan's peanut butter / banana combo). And, on Sunday, a group of us went to Birchwood Kitchen for brunch. To top it off, I ended my day with a Brown Sound ale & bacon fat popcorn from Revolution and pizza from the Boiler Room.

Looking forward to more weekends like this - and also looking forward to spending evenings on my patio now that it's all "jazzed up"!

Kelly & Trent Get Married!

2011-06-13T22:10:00.008-05:00

What a beautiful wedding! Congratulations to Kelly & Trent! It was great to celebrate with so many wonderful friends!

And they're off.... a day at Arlington!

2011-06-13T22:08:00.009-05:00

The weather on Memorial Day was much better than my foiled skydiving day the day before - so Dan and I headed to Arlington to check out the horse races. It was a first for both of us and a great way to spend the holiday!

Skydiving..... Fail!

2011-06-13T22:08:00.006-05:00

Leisa and I signed up to go skydiving the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately, due to the overcast and rainy weather - our adventure was delayed. We did manage to have fun during the day, though, by meeting our new friend Suzanne and chatting with the Skydive Midwest crew (as well as getting a "behind the scenes" tour of the hanger.) Our excitetment (and nerves) would have to wait until July 8th!!!

Mmm... May in the Kitchen

2011-06-13T22:07:00.005-05:00

I haven't done a lot of cooking in May - let along "photo worthy" cooking..... But, here are a few creations from the kitchen....

Panko-Crusted Tilapia with Kale Chips and Cheesy Rice

Personal Pan Pizza - made with Garlic Naan and Chicken Sausage

Napa Valley

2011-06-13T22:06:00.013-05:00

I travelled to San Francisco for work in May and was able to extend my trip over the weekend. It was great to catch up with old friends, Erika & Josh - and visiting Napa wasn't half bad, either!

We had great weather and it was a fun day of visiting various vineyards: Clos du Val, Mumm Napa, Sol Bar, and a few others!

Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay...

2011-06-13T22:06:00.009-05:00

It was a busy week in San Francisco for work..... but, I managed to find a few opportunities to enjoy the city by the bay.

On Thursday evening, John, Brenda and I went to dinner at a great authentic restaurant in Chinatown. After dinner, John and I decided to be adventerous and walk up a VERY steep hill to the Coit Tower. It was worth it! We experienced breathtaking views of Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge from the base of the tower.

And then on Friday, my fun continued by meeting up with old Kansas friends Erika and Josh. We enjoyed cocktails at The Waterfront, followed by dinner at Foreign Cinema.

Lights! Camera! Architecture!

2011-06-13T22:03:00.013-05:00

It was a beautiful day at the end of April, so I decided to take advantage of my open Saturday morning to partake in an architecture foundation tour.

The tour was called "Lights! Camera! Architecture!" The tour went through the Michigan Avenue / Wacker Drive / Chicago River area and our tour guide pointed out quite a few buildings and landmarks that played a supporting role in many well known (and not so well known) TV shows and movies.

One of the highlights was actually not part of the tour - as we were walking along the river, we got to witness some of the bridges raising for passing sail boats. In my five years in Chicago, this was the first time I've seen this! It was pretty fun to be a tourist with my camera in the moment!

April Eatings....

2011-06-13T22:03:00.011-05:00

Lots of yummy creations in the kitchen in April.....

Greek Olive Bread

Pasta Carbonara

My favorite spinach & chickpea dish with garlic naan

Vegetarian Cassoulet

Fresh, handmade pasta (courtesy of my pasta workshop at The Chopping Block)

Blueberry Muffins

Staycation

2011-06-13T22:01:00.003-05:00

My April vacation plans didn't work out - but I was still desperately longing a break from work - so I decided to take a staycation! It was a very restful week, but I also managed to play tourist in my own town.

Some fun activities included:

- Pedicure at Juko Salon
- Pasta Workshop at The Chopping Block
- Meeting up with Beth for coffee (she was back for a week from Milan)
- Million Dollar Quartet at The Apollo Theatre
- A day at The Art Institute of Chicago

And some more mundane, but restful activities such as:

- Naps with the Otis
- Catching up on my reading
- Catching up on my DVR
- And renting a ton of chick flicks from Red Box.

And the great thing was that I went back to work refreshed (which, of course, lasted about a day), but it was a nice change from past vacations where I've felt like I needed a vacation from my vacation. :)

Dinner Party for Ten!

2011-04-17T12:57:00.005-05:00

About six months ago, I bought a You Swoop for an in-home cooking lesson & dinner party with a private chef. Little did I know that I would start dating a chef of my own.....but, on Thursday, I finally took advantage of my You Swoop.

I coordinated the menu with our chef, Brian, and arranged for an intimate dinner party with some great friends. It was a wonderful evening! If only I didn't have to work the next day....

On the menu...

Starter: Crab Cake with Creole Remoloude

Main: Southern Rubbed NY Strip with Garlic Green Beans & Mash Potatoes

Dessert: Dark Chocolate Molten Cake with Triple Berry Sauce

Comfort Food

2011-04-17T12:53:00.003-05:00

Comfort food was cooking in the kitchen this week!

On Tuesday night, I made risotto with asparagus and spinach while I sipped a glass of white wine - yum! On Wednesday night, I made one of my favorite dishes from childhood - creamed chipped beef - absolutely nothing high-class or special about this dish, but it reminded me of mom in the kitchen. :)

Otis & Zegna's Playdate

2011-04-03T12:48:00.003-05:00

Otis finally got to meet my friend Cheryl's dog - a French bulldog named Zegna.

I was so proud of both of them - they hit it off and played really well together! I forsee more play dates in the future!

Kitchen Creations

2011-04-03T12:42:00.005-05:00

I love it when I have the time to cook up some good grub!

The other night, I was craving salt - so I made a pan of roasted kale chips and ate them with a both of ramen noodles. Yum!

This creation was a blend of sesame flavored chicken, wilted spinach and udon noodles.

Again, craving salt (a theme here?) and Asian flavors, I roasted some more kale chips and ate them with some pork pot stickers and a dipping sauce made of soy, sambal, hoisin and sesame seeds.

This dish was inspired by a Rachel Ray show - it's a buffalo chicken pot pie. The filling is made of poached chicken, carrots, celery, onions and a homemade buffalo sauce. It's topped with a cheesy corn bread. So good!

Ultimate Burger

2011-04-03T12:41:00.003-05:00

Dan made these amazing burgers with ground beef that we picked up at the farmer's market. We topped them off with grilled onions & spinach and morel mushroom cheese. On the side, we had roasted asparagus and tater tots. Yum!

HOT L Baltimore

2011-04-03T12:40:00.001-05:00

Dan and I went to see Hot L Baltimore at the Steppenwolf Theatre. Dan is a big fan of the playwright Lanford Wilson - so he was jazzed to get tickets to a preview showing of this play. It was an interesting show with very intriguing characters.

My Boys

2011-04-03T12:37:00.003-05:00

Caught a few pics of Dan and Otis lounging in the sunroom. :)

Belly Shack

2011-04-03T12:35:00.010-05:00

Last Saturday, Dan and I had lunch at Belly Shack (a place that I've been wanting to try for a long time!) The food was excellent! I had the Korean BBQ Beef, Dan had the Pork Meatball Sandwich and we shared the Togarashi Fries. I couldn't quite pin-point the flavors in the fries - so I looked up togarashi and it's a blend of red chili pepper, Sichuan pepper, roasted orange peel, black sesame seed, white sesame seed, ground ginger, hemp seed and nori - no wonder it had a deep, complex flavor! I will be going back to Belly Shack sometime again soon!

Saturday in Lincoln Park

2011-04-03T12:35:00.009-05:00

Last Saturday, Dan and I ventured to Lincoln Park to sample the produce, fresh baked goods and other yummy goodies at the Green City Market. We picked up a lot of great stuff - including some pretzel bread, crackers, apples, cheese, ground beef and apple cider donuts (those didn't make it home).

Since we were already in Lincoln Park, we took a leisurely stroll through the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Conservatory. Dan had his camera with him (as did I), so we spent some time taking pictures of all the beautiful flowers in the conservatory.

Motor City

2011-03-23T13:11:00.002-05:00

Dan and I traveled to Detroit this past weekend to celebrate his mom's 74th birthday and to meet his family.

It was a fun trip - one of the highlights being our visit to the Motown Museum. After that, we stopped at American Coney Island to get one of their famous coney dogs. It was delicious!

Hey Good Lookin', Whatcha Got Cookin'

2011-03-14T12:54:00.010-05:00

Some yummy creations over the past month...

Lamb Chop & Sauteed Spinach with Caramelized Onions

Mac 'n Cheese with Peppers & Broccoli

Fritatta with Potatoes, Mushrooms and Spinach

Pasta with Almonds & Parsely

Shrimp 'n Grits

Poached Eggs and Shrimp Sauce Hollandaise

A Walk Through Time

2011-03-14T12:54:00.009-05:00

Dan and I put our Chicago Architecture Foundation memberships to use the other weekend and went on one of their downtown tours - "A Walk Through Time."

The tour was an hour long and guided us through the evolution of the skyscraper in downtown Chicago - starting with the six-story Berghoff building from 1898. We saw quite a few buildings - some of my favorites being the Marquette building (with beautiful mosaics inside), the Harold Washington Library, the Sears Tower and the Trump Tower.

Fun time in the city!

Kiss Me, I'm Irish!

2011-03-14T12:53:00.003-05:00

Dan and I enjoyed watching the river being dyed green.... Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Eight is Great!

2011-03-14T12:51:00.014-05:00

We had a fun day celebrating Jenna turning eight! Matt, Katie, Jenna and Adam came down to the city to enjoy lunch at Dunlay's, a trip to the Museum of Science and Industry and a dinner of Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. This was also Dan's introduction to the family -- he passed the Jenna and Adam test. :)

Cooking at Kendall

2011-03-14T12:51:00.007-05:00

Ursula and I had a great time at our "Meats" cooking class at Kendall College. We were paired up with two fun guys to make a stuffed pork roast, tenderloin steaks and rack of lamb.

Be My Valentine

2011-03-14T12:48:00.005-05:00

Dan surprised me with a nice dinner & flowers for Valentine's Day. I was supposed to go to guitar class that night - so it was a pleasant surprise to walk in to music by Ray LaMontagne and dinner by my fabulous chef!

Vermilion

2011-03-14T12:45:00.004-05:00

Ursula and I shared a fabulous five-course tasting menu at Vermilion back in February.

Thanks Groupon!

Snow Day!

2011-02-02T20:29:00.004-06:00

What do you do when you're stuck inside all day long due to 20+ inches of snow?

Well, since I was technically working from home, I did some work - but I also took a break to work on a jigsaw puzzle that Dan and I started the other night. And, I made a batch of Italian Bread Soup - yummy!

Snowmageddon 2011

2011-02-02T20:06:00.008-06:00

Chicago got hit with 20.2 inches of snow on Feb 1st - 2nd. I have never seen this much snow in my life. It was absolutely amazing to see the snow drifts and coverage of cars stranded on the highway (especially Lake Shore Drive).

Another funny thing about the storm was all of the nicknames that cropped up - here are a few:

“Snowmageddon”, “Snopocalypse”,”The Great Groundhog Day Blizzard”, “The Snowtorious B.I.G.”, “Snolocaust”, “Snowlapalooza”, “Fiascsnow”, “Blizzaster”, “Snownami”, "Blizzardpalooza”, “The Great White Heap”, “Thundersnow”, "Look out for “snowrnadoes”, “Anglelina Snowlie”, “Snowger field”, “Snowbook – the Snowcial Network” and "SnOMG".

The facebook era also made this storm interesting - everyone was posting their snow pics. While they all looked different, they all looked the same. Here are some of mine....

Top Chef

2011-02-02T20:00:00.002-06:00

Dan has been cooking & baking!

We had a yummy dinner of chicken paprikash, spaetzle and Brussels sprouts before an evening out celebrating Tara's birthday.

And the following day, we enjoyed some crispy oatmeal cookies while we watched the Packers wallop the Bears!

Wicked Good Time

2011-02-02T19:54:00.003-06:00

Leisa and I went to see Wicked at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in December.

It was AMAZING!

Museum Day

2011-01-19T12:36:00.011-06:00

Dan and I visited the Museum of Science & Industry last Monday. Fun times were had.

Yum!

2011-01-19T12:36:00.007-06:00

Have I mentioned how wonderful it is to date a chef? We have so much fun together thinking up what to make, what to pair it with, etc. And, of course, the eating part isn't so bad either.

Everything pictured below was created by chefs Dan and Katie - with the exception of photo #1 which was a solo creation of my own and photo #6 that was a "Dan creation".

Warm Weather Getaway

2011-01-19T12:35:00.010-06:00

Suzanne and I traveled to Phoenix, AZ in mid-January. It was a wonderful getaway and a nice break from the winter weather (although I could probably use another break sometime soon!)

Some of the highlights of the trip were the Musical Instrument Museum, Taliesin West, a special artists' exhibit in Scottsdale, the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive, the Rock 'n Roll Marathon, and the Desert Botanical Gardens.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-29T13:06:00.012-06:00

It was a fun Christmas for the Lois family! We celebrated with Matt, Katie, Jenna and Adam on the 23rd - and then mom, dad and I celebrated with each other on the 24th/25th. Still one more big family party to go on the 1st!

Dog Days...

2010-12-29T13:06:00.008-06:00

Otis had a fabulous time with his new Christmas gifts....

... and during and after it all, he rested! :)

In the Kitchen...

2010-12-29T13:05:00.005-06:00

Since I've started dating Dan, I've been cooking a little bit less for a few reasons - 1) we've been going out to eat, 2) he's been cooking for me and 3) it's the holidays and mom & dad have been cooking.

But, I got back to sweet old Chicago the other day and had the opportunity to cook a few meals for myself! The yummy creations below are....

Southwest Rice & Beans

Ham, Spinach & Egg Scramble

Public Radio Love

2010-12-19T20:41:00.004-06:00

Love, love, love NPR - and I love my membership gift even more!

Can't wait to listen to my This American Life jump drive during the long commute!

It's Christmastime in the City....

2010-12-19T20:39:00.003-06:00

Good Christian Kids Rejoice!

2010-12-19T19:51:00.013-06:00

Good Christian Kids Rejoice - With Hearts and Hands and Voice!!

Jenna and Adam's Christmas recitals were a hit!

Zoo Lights

2010-12-19T19:51:00.008-06:00

A perfect date night....

Kitchen Adventures

2010-12-19T19:50:00.007-06:00

Some yummy creations from my kitchen.....

Polenta with Sauteed Swiss Chard & Caramelized Onions

Potato, Spinach, Tomato & Onion Skillet with Scrambled Eggs

Polenta with Spinach and Garbanzo Beans

Veronika & Peter's Engagement Party

2010-12-19T19:50:00.005-06:00

Congratulations to Peter and Veronika!

It was wonderful to celebrate your engagement and looking forward to the wedding next year!

Taking out the chill....

2010-12-19T19:49:00.009-06:00

Sometimes a good cocktail and a bowl of chili

are all it takes to take out the chill from the cold winter air.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-12-19T19:49:00.006-06:00

Thanksgiving weekend was filled with food, family & fun! And a few naps, too. :)

Flavors of Fall

2010-11-21T19:40:00.004-06:00

I love it when I have some free time on the weekends to try out new recipes. Today was one of those excellent days!

I tried out a recipe for Pretzel Rolls - they turned out amazing! They look a little more "rustic" than I would like, but that just means that I need to keep on practicing (good thing - or maybe bad thing - that I could live off pretzel rolls alone!)

Another recipe that I tried out was a Roasted Squash & Lentil Salad. The squash is roasted with a little oil, cumin, paprika, cayenne and salt. It is then combined with lentils, (I also added black beans), a little more oil and red wine vinegar. This flavorful combo is served over a bed of arugula, and then garnished with mint, toasted squash seeds and goat cheese. The dish was the perfect combo of sweet, savory, salty, spicy, soft and crunchy!

Finally, I tried out a recipe for kale chips. I love the earthy, nutty flavor of kale when I simply braise it - so was curious to try out the method of making "chips". It was so simple - you just tear the kale in bite size pieces, toss with oil and your choice of seasonings (I used a mixture of sea salt, cumin and red pepper flakes for a little heat). Roast in the oven at 300 for 30 minutes - and you have crispy-salty-spicy-nutty deliciousness!

Holiday Cheer (via Cocktails!)

2010-11-21T19:37:00.003-06:00

I'm getting ready to enjoy some holiday cheer! Thanks to the great staff at Lincolnwood Wine & Spirits for recommending some pretty tasty libations!

Sugar Bliss!

2010-11-14T19:58:00.003-06:00

Thanks, Erin for introducing me to Sugar Bliss! The Carrot Cake cupcake was a "blissful" ending to my dinner tonight - looking forward to trying the other goodies in the coming days!

My Kind of Town

2010-11-14T19:57:00.007-06:00

One of my goals this year was to become a tourist in my own town and learn more about Chicago - with my new membership to the Chicago Architecture Foundation - this should be very achievable! I hope to grow this wall-collage with photos of some of my Chi-town excursions!

Chicago Humanities Festival

2010-11-14T19:57:00.005-06:00

I hadn't attended the Chicago Humanities Festival before; but, when I got a mailing from WBEZ earlier this fall I was intrigued to check it out! I attended three different events - which were all very unique & interesting in their own ways: Jane Austen and the Body, Dan Savage and "The Perfect Meal". Looking forward to next year's festival!

Festival of Wood & Barrel Aged Beers

2010-11-14T19:56:00.008-06:00

It was another fun year of beer tasting at the Festival of Wood & Barrel Aged Beers. I tried so many beers, that I honestly can't remember all of them - a few favorites were the Red Poppy, Black Xantus and Imperial Coffee Stout. A highlight of this year was making it into the VIP area - thanks Puccini!

What's Cookin'?

2010-11-14T19:56:00.006-06:00

I love cooking in the fall season as it gives me a chance to prepare lots of savory and comforting dishes. Here's a few things that I've made so far this month......

Sauteed Spinach & Pan-Fried Tilapia

Baked Sweet Potato

Breakfast Hash of Potato, Onion, Tomato & Spinach with a Sunny-side Up Egg & Wheat Toast

Sauteed Spinach with Sambal Olek

Tuna & White Bean Salad

Spicy Lentil Stew (Lentils, Carrots, Celery, Onion, Tomatoes, Spinach & lots of good spices!)

Lentils & Bacon (to be used as a side dish - but made in bulk)

Grilled Pork, Sauteed Kale & Caramelized Onions served on a bed of Lentils

Lentil Stew with the perfect complement - Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale (thanks Louie!)

Couscous & Vegetable Salad

Bonsoiree

2010-10-31T20:38:00.005-05:00

Ursula and I enjoyed a fantastic dinner at Bonsoiree on Sunday evening! The food and wine were excellent and I was so glad that I tried this local neighborhood gem!

First course: Salad of baked fish, radish, beet, chard and all kind of other goodies. :)

Second course: Porcini mushroom soup with a foie gras dumpling, thai basil oil, shaved truffle and crispy cauliflower. This was my favorite dish of the night - the soup was so rich & savory.

Main course: Braised short rib, lamb meat ball, parsnips with black sea salt, crispy potato shoe strings, sugar snap peas, crispy kale and a wasabi-apple sauce. Yum!

Dessert course: Pink peppercorn pound cake with a creme anglaise, huckleberry ice cream, raspberry sauce, caramel drizzle and chocolate fudge mounds. The perfect ending to a satisfying meal!

Graceland Cemetery

2010-10-31T20:37:00.011-05:00

I recently became a member of the Chicago Architecture Foundation - and could not think of any better way to spend my Halloween afternoon than on a tour of Graceland Cemetery. The cemetery is beautiful and very well kept - and it was a beautiful, sunny and crisp fall day. Aside from the occasional rumbling of the train - it was an oasis from the hustle and bustle of the city.

We saw the graves of many distinguished Chicagoans - ranging from Marshall Field to Louis Sullivan to Daniel Burnham to the Pullmans, the Palmers, the Kinzies, the Kimballs, the Carsons, the Piries and the Scotts. There was even a headstone for a Whipple.

Moroccan Vegetarian Stew

2010-10-31T20:37:00.006-05:00

I tried a new recipe for a Moroccan Vegetarian Stew. I love all of the colorful ingredients and spices - it just *looks* like fall - and tastes like it, too!

The veggies consist of sweet potato, butternut squash, zucchini, onion, carrot, tomato and chickpeas.

The spices range from sweet to savory - something that I love about Moroccan dishes - a deep smoky flavor of cumin and spice of cayenne pepper that is delicately contrasted with warmth and sweetness of cinnamon, allspice and cardamom.

Yum yum!

Cocktail Anyone?

2010-10-31T07:42:00.004-05:00

A cocktail is not a "cure all" - but it certainly helps at the end of a rough day!

Halloween Pub Crawl

2010-10-31T07:41:00.014-05:00

A "super" time was had by all on the Halloween Pub Crawl...

All Things Halloween....

2010-10-31T07:41:00.010-05:00

Potato & Onion Hash

2010-10-31T07:41:00.008-05:00

This dish made a yummy breakfast - crispy potatoes & onions mixed with some scrambled eggs.

Wright Again.....

2010-10-24T18:50:00.008-05:00

I traveled to Wisconsin this past Friday to visit mom & dad (it was their 34th wedding anniversary) and to drop off Otis (I'm traveling to San Fran for work this next week and mom & dad are playing dog-sitters).

Since I was already going to be in Wisconsin, I decided to turn it into a fun day trip. So, Saturday morning, I drove two hours to southwestern WI - the town of Spring Green - to see Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin estate and Hillside School & Theatre.

It was a beautiful fall day and I took a ton of pictures of the beautiful landscape and architecture - but pictures don't come close to showing how amazing it was. The Taliesin home has 37,000 square feet of interior space - that's like 25 times the size of my condo. :) The name "Taliesin" is a Welsh word for "shining brow" - which is significant because the estate was built into the brow of the hilltop. Wright built the home into the hill rather on top of it - his philosophy, "why ruin the best part of nature by building on top of it?"

After seeing the home & studio, I drove over to Unity Chapel, which is the Lloyd-Jones family church and the site of Wright's first grave. It is also where his mistress, Martha Borthwick Cheney was buried after the fire at Taliesin. When she died, Wright planted a white pine tree in her honor - the pine has lasted the test of time - growing to over 100 feet tall.

Apple-licious!

2010-10-24T18:40:00.003-05:00

Before heading back to Chicago, I stopped at a cute little country store in Spring Green, WI. There were so many wonderful things to choose from - I came home with apple cider, a half peck of Macintosh apples, caramel apple dip, kettle corn, apple cider donuts and pumpkin butter! Yum! I also purchased a pumpkin - which I am looking forward to carving (and roasting it's seeds) tomorrow night. I love fall!

Wright This Way....

2010-10-24T17:48:00.016-05:00

Can't believe that it's taken 4+ years of living in Chicago for me to pay a visit to the Frank Lloyd homes in Oak Park.

It was a lovely Sunday for a walking tour of some of his early architecture projects. Veronika and Peter joined me for the home & studio tour of Wright's first Oak Park home.

Japtaliano

2010-10-24T17:48:00.010-05:00

Leisa, Lisa and I enjoyed a fantastic Japanese-Italian fusion dinner put on by Xmarx! Can't wait for our next culinary adventure!

Chicago River Cruise

2010-10-24T17:47:00.011-05:00

It was a chilly September day - but we still had a wonderful time on the Chicago River Architecture Tour. Quote of the day from my grandma - "If I knew that I was going to have such an exciting day, I wouldn't have slept at all last night". I love that woman and I hope I have as much spunk as her when I'm eighty-eight years old. :)

Women of Faith Weekend

2010-10-24T17:47:00.009-05:00

In early October, I spent the weekend in Milwaukee and attended the "Women of Faith" conference. While some of the convention was a bit "over the top" for me, it was actually a great experience - a much needed break from the stress of work. In addition to attending the conference, I got to spend some time with my favorite kiddos!

Anna & Joe Get Married!

2010-10-24T17:47:00.007-05:00

A beautiful wedding and a wonderful couple! Congrats!

Month 'O Meals

2010-10-24T17:46:00.009-05:00

Lots of good things have been cookin' in my kitchen this past month......

Curry-Roasted Cauliflower

BLT on a Pretzel Roll - why didn't I think of this sooner?

Homemade Pasta Sauce with Golden Tomatoes & Eggplant

Oven-Roasted Naan, Indian Curry Dip and Hummus (and a tasty glass of wine & great book!)

Couscous & Sesame Broccoli

Spicy Eggplant Stew

Pumpkin Polenta and Spicy Black Beans & Chorizo

Espinaca con Garbanzos (it never gets old!)

Sausage (made by dad), cheese, apples & crackers. Simple, but yummy after a long day!

Couscous - Tabbouleah-Style

Foccacia with Oven Roasted Tomatoes

Tomato Rainbow

2010-10-24T17:46:00.005-05:00

Love, love, love fresh tomatoes from Mom & Dad's garden!

I'm in Love with My Car!

2010-09-06T20:51:00.003-05:00

I bought a new car on Friday - hooray! As much as I loved the Malibu, it was time to retire her and move on to something better. I ended up getting a Nissan Altima - very similar in shape and size to the Malibu - so I feel comfortable driving it.

But, I must say, things have changed in the eight years since I've had a new car - this car features XM Radio, a port for my iPod, six-disc changer, the ability to sync with my garage door opener and blue-tooth, a moon roof, a video screen that turns on when the car is in reverse (very helpful for when I have to back into my teensy-tiny garage), leather seats, etc, etc, etc.

If all these features didn't make me fall in love - one of the first songs that played on my XM Radio was "For the Summer" by Ray LaMontagne - if that's not a good sign, I don't know what is. I've only had this car for four days - but so far, I'm in love with it!

Who's the Fair-est of them All?

2010-09-06T20:09:00.006-05:00

Who (or what's) the fairest of them all -

Cotton Candy?

Cheese Curds and Mozzarella Sticks?

Blooming Onion?

Ice Cream Cones?

Lindsay, Chad and I tried them all at the Walworth County Fair. Oh, and we also saw the Beach Boys and rode a few carnival rides.

Good times had by all.

Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-06T20:08:00.014-05:00

On Saturday, Otis and I took the Altima out for our maiden voyage - a trip to Wisconsin to see the fam for Labor Day weekend. I spent some quality time with Jenna & Adam (and Matt & Katie) - as well as time with Mom, Dad and Grandma.

Amazing how much stuff you need to pack just for two nights.....

Otis is excited for his first ride in the new car!

The kiddos in their tree house

Test driving.... (I told Jenna that maybe this could be her car in eight years!)

Adam's turn!

Monkey on the monkey bars!

Monkey number two!

On to being a peacock!

The kiddos liked their masks from New Orleans!

Cilantro Shrimp Dinner

2010-09-06T20:08:00.007-05:00

I found a recipe for Spicy Cilantro Shrimp in one of my cooking magazines - I just had to try it! The dish started by stir-frying green onions, garlic and ginger in sesame oil. Then, I added shrimp and a mixture of soy sauce and sambal olek. Finally, this mixture was added to a generous portion of chopped cilantro. It was a wonderful combination of spice and fresh flavors.

I complimented this dish with Bell's Oberon (a summer ale) and a side salad of butter lettuce, figs, almonds and feta cheese.

Guilty Pleasure

2010-09-06T20:07:00.003-05:00

As much as I love to cook meals from scratch - there is something wonderful, to me, about the flavors that come together when you mix dehydrated potato flakes, milk, water and butter.

ComaToast

2010-08-30T12:24:00.008-05:00

Leisa, Jen, Lisa and I attended an underground dining event put on by Xmarx on Sunday. I'm intrigued by the whole underground dining / supper club scene and was excited to try it out. Our event was a "ComaToast" brunch - a play on the word comatose, which, I was by the end of this amazing five-course meal!

First course was a Foie Gras filled Wonton in a Maple & Sage Broth.

Second course was a BLT of Farm Bacon, Sprouts, Heirloom Tomato, Avocado Mayo on an Old Fashioned Doughnut Roll

Third course was a Thai-inspired Cereal. It was a base of Peanut Butter Captain Crunch with Diced Apple, Jicama, Boiled Peanuts, Thai Basil and some other "flavor bombs" - served with a generous pour of Coconut Milk.

Fourth course was Steak 'n Eggs: Grilled Sirloin with an Hour-long Poached Organic Egg and Bearnaise Sauce served over a Gnocchi Potato Pancake with Corn Salsa and Chimichurri. This was my favorite course, and also when my food coma started to set in. :)

Final course was a Toaster Strudel of Prune Plums and Goat Cheese Glaze.

Ray Lay!

2010-08-30T12:01:00.006-05:00

Ray Lay is the nickname that Dave has given my favorite singer - Ray LaMontagne. :) I saw Ray in concert this past Wednesday at the Pritzker Pavilion (Millennium Park). Oh, and David Gray played, too. I was surprisingly pleased with his performance - but nothing can beat my man, Ray. What a wonderful night!

Ray's Set List:

For the Summer

New York City's Killing Me

Trouble

Let It Be Me

Beg Steal Or Borrow

This Love Is Over

Repo Man

Hold You In My Arms

Old Before Your Time

Henry Nearly Killed Me (It's A Shame)

Like Rock & Roll and Radio

You Are the Best Thing

Encore: Jolene

With David Gray Dig A Pony (The Beatles cover)

David Gray's Set List:
Fugitive
Draw the Line
The One I Love
(Not sure how much is missing here)
Harder
This Year's Love
Jackdaw
Babylon
Please Forgive Me
Encore:
Say Hello Wave Goodbye. (Soft Cell cover)
Sail Away
Dig A Pony (w/ Ray LaMontagne) (The Beatles cover)

It's a Dog's Life

2010-08-22T22:14:00.007-05:00

I walked in to the sun room yesterday to this sight - Otis perched on the windowsill. He certainly does lead the charmed life. :)

Eggplant, Zucchini and Tomato Tian

2010-08-22T22:14:00.005-05:00

Last night I made this wonderful dish - an "Eggplant, Zucchini and Tomato Tian" - basically a gratin dish of these fabulous vegetables. The dish begins by roasting eggplant and zucchini with salt, pepper and olive oil. Then you layer a dish with these veggies (plus a layer of tomatoes). Top them with a blend of bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic, oregano and parsley - and repeat with another layer. Finally, you pour a bit of chicken stock on top for moisture. I could barely wait the hour that this cooked in the oven because it smelled so good!!

Gearing up for Wednesday!

2010-08-22T22:13:00.003-05:00

I downloaded the new Ray LaMontagne album yesterday - and am loving it! I cannot wait until Wednesday's concert. I love this man!

A Little Sodom for your Gomorah

2010-08-22T22:12:00.019-05:00

Went to Revolution Brewery the other night to try out their new Russian Imperial Stout - Sodom. It had a deep flavor and was very smooth. And it was a perfect compliment to it's partner in crime - Gomorrah - a small batch, dry stout.

Squash Soup Duo

2010-08-22T22:12:00.016-05:00

Mom & Dad gave me a lot of summer squash and zucchini from their garden - so on Saturday I tried out two new recipes for squash soups. The first was a "Spicy Zucchini Soup" - made with a base of chicken stock, squash and jalapeno peppers. The second was a "Summer Squash & Corn Chowder' - made with summer squash, zucchini (I added this b/c I had so much), corn, and milk - and then topped off with bacon and cheese. Yum!

Cubs Fest

2010-08-22T22:12:00.014-05:00

Larry and Leia arranged for a group of 50 to cheer on the Cubs this past Friday (an annual tradition, aptly named Cubs Fest). While the game was a bit disappointing (Braves beat the Cubs, 5-3) - there was some excitement in the fifth inning. Congratulations, Larry & Leia!

Rick's Garden

2010-08-22T22:12:00.012-05:00

Tara arranged for a group of us to go on a guided tour of Rick Bayless' garden last week. The produce section of the garden was actually much smaller than I imagined it would be - but it was still amazing - and it yields over $25,000 in produce annually!

I think I took over 50 pictures - here a few of my favorites. The third to last picture is a humongous, lush basil bush - this makes me sad that I can't even keep alive a pot of basil! But, the tour did inspire me to continue cooking - and perhaps try gardening some day (need to turn that black thumb into a green thumb)!

Garden Pasta

2010-08-22T22:11:00.007-05:00

Fresh zucchini and peppers served as a base for this pasta dish - I added in some onion, garlic, and tomato sauce to round it out.

Fall Fashions

2010-08-22T22:11:00.006-05:00

My work friend, Cheryl, bequeathed some of her old doggie outfits to Otis. He will be stylin' this fall! I especially love the middle outfit - in which I think he looks like a gay lumberjack (and I say that in the most loving way!!)

Mexican BLT Breakfast

2010-08-22T22:10:00.010-05:00

This breakfast wrap was a perfect combination of a BLT and guacamole - two of my favorite dishes. I took a tortilla and filled it with avocado, tomato, bacon, cilantro, sour cream and hot sauce. So good!

Fabulous at Forty!

2010-08-22T22:10:00.009-05:00

Suzanne turned forty last week - all I can say is that I look as good as her in ten years!

BLT

2010-08-21T21:27:00.004-05:00

I love BLTs in the summer time - especially when the tomatoes are straight from Mom & Dad's garden. Rather than using normal sliced bread, this time I tried out my 'wich with a whole grain sandwich round.

Caprese Salad

2010-08-21T21:26:00.008-05:00

There is almost nothing better on a warm summer night than a blend of fresh tomato, mozzarella, basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Favorite Dish

2010-08-21T21:26:00.007-05:00

This dish never gets old - Espinacas y Garbanzos - a wonderful blend of spinach, chickpeas, tomato sauce and spices. And I'm even more excited because my recent issue of Cooking Light has a Spanish chickpea soup recipe which sounds very familiar to this dish. Yum-o!

Guac a la Rick Bayless

2010-08-21T21:08:00.004-05:00

Tried out Rick Bayless' guacamole mix - and honestly was a bit disappointed - probably because it was a tomatillo base, which is not how I would normally make guac. I think I'll stick with my recipe, which is a simple blend of avocado, onion, tomato, cilantro and lime juice.