Today is my brother’s 23rd birthday. He just started a new job here in the city, so I delivered a homemade batch of brownies as a special birthday treat. As an added bonus, the note on the jar let him know that he should return the jar whenever he’s ready for a refill. Its a […]

Last night Chris watched the Bears game over at a friend’s house. So, once Evie went to bed I had a rare few hours to myself. What to do?! First on my list was making a batch of homemade laundry detergent. While I normally use Ivory soap, this time I tried half a bar of […]

My strawberry jam recipe was featured on a great website called BudgetSmartGirl.com. I feel so honored! http://budgetsmartgirl.com/2009/08/13/preserving-summer-produce%E2%80%A6without-canning/ Just in case you find yourself drawn to the amazing deals on strawberries right now, here’s my recipe: 6 oz organic strawberries 3/4 cup sugar juice from 1/2 lemon Mash strawberries with a potato masher in a saucepan. […]

While grocery shopping yesterday I scored a five pound bag of fresh organic carrots for $1.49 at Stanley’s, my favorite neighborhood produce market. I knew they would make for a delicious batch of homemade carrot soup, so I happily scooped up a bag. I am always on the look out for last minute inspiration while […]

I went to lunch last week with my mom and her friends. I forgot to pack Evie’s baby food, but since she is 13 months old its fine to give her small bites of big people food. So, I ordered her a grilled cheese. It was her first one and she LOVED it. However, I […]

I love summer. Especially the food that accompanies this time of the year! I found this recipe in the Williams Sonoma catalog, and any time a recipe has in-season, local ingredients I tend to get pretty excited. I found the corn at our neighborhood farmer’s market, and everything else was waiting in my pantry. Easy […]

I am a big fan of the new wave of frozen yogurts. Pinkberry, Red Mango and BerryChill are just a few of the brand names associated with real frozen yogurt. The tart and tangy flavor isn’t overly sweet or saccharine. It tastes like real yogurt…just frozen! The part I don’t like about the yogurt at […]

One of my husband’s favorite treats is ice cream. While I could take it or leave it, he really seems to enjoy it. So, I decided it was time to start making it at home. Ice cream from the grocery store has two problems: 1) its kinda pricey and 2) it is loaded with garbage. […]

We took Evelyn to her first concert the other night! The show was at an outdoor venue that encourages concertgoers to bring along picnics. I asked my mom and sisters for some picnic menu ideas, and my mom’s suggestion was the winner. It all came together and we had a great time! Fried Chicken I […]

Evelyn and I ran to a nearby farmers market yesterday. During the summer months, Chicago has farmers markets everyday of the week, so there’s never a shortage of tasty produce. The colorful displays of fresh vegetables inspired last night’s meal. This recipe started with something I saw in this month’s issue of Martha Stewart Living […]