I think one of the simple, great joys in life is a homemade hot lunch. There is something so quietly indulgent about carving out a few minutes in the middle of an otherwise busy day to prepare a healthy meal from scratch. I don’t do it everyday, but that’s what makes it so special, right? […]

It might be the dead of winter, but I’m still determined to use as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible in our meals. Sometimes I have to remind myself just how lucky I am to live in a time and place where weather does not have to dictate what and how I eat. There […]

Like most of the country, Chicago is shivering through bitter, bitter cold. Today we set a record for this date when we passed -15 degrees. Yikes! School was cancelled today, so the kids and I enjoyed an extension to the two week Christmas break that started back in December.  Evie invited a friend over, and […]

The weather has turned decidedly fall-like.  There’s a briskness in the air, and even when its warm the tinge of cooler temperatures looms.  So, I can’t say I was surprised when my husband requested soups for lunch again.  Its been a summer of salads for him, but heartier fare seems more appropriate now that its […]

I am always trying to come up with recipes that use the standard ingredients I always keep in the house.  Keeping a stash of regular and reliable items in the pantry and fridge ensure that a healthy, simple and economical meal is never far off. For lunch yesterday I came up with a delicious meal […]

At the start of the fall season my mom gave my sisters and I each a lovely pumpkin cast iron pot.  We had been admiring the one she puts on display every year, so her thoughtful gesture really means a lot. Every time I look at my new pot I think of my mom and […]

With the sun rising off Lake Michigan pretty early these days, the kids can’t sleep much past 6:15 am.  Fortunately, our usual Blueberry Spinach Smoothie is an easy and healthy way to start the day.  It is a nice energy boost for all of us. This morning we were out of frozen blueberries – yikes!  […]

When I was growing up my mom always prepared healthy and hearty homemade dinner.  All seven of us would gather together in the dining room to discuss our days and enjoy the meal.  It was a normal part of our daily routine. My mom never shied away from turning a regular weeknight dinner into a […]