Ever since I taught myself how to preserve fresh foods the old-fashioned way last summer, I’ve been obsessed.  It is such a rewarding way to spend a quiet summer afternoon.  I swear my heart skips a beat when I hear the tops of the jars “pop!”, signaling that the food within is now safe and […]

Lately I’ve been hearing a lot about garlic scapes, the curly tops of garlic plants.  Bright green in color, they are entirely edible and loaded with garlic flavor.  Because they are only available for a few short weeks every year, devotees make a mad dash for local sources before the season passes. Having no clue […]

While we were at my parents’ house last weekend for a little staycation, I had a lot of fun making homemade meals using the season’s freshest fruits and vegetables.  Blueberry pancakes for breakfast and BBQ chicken with tomato salad, grilled corn and green beans for dinner.  I love summer! We had two ears of corn […]

I made such a pretty lunch today, so I thought I’d share it.  A salad full of bright colors and generous flavors is the perfect way to load up on more than a few of my daily vegetable servings.  And, the homemade lime dressing took about 32 seconds to make – waaaay healthier (and cheaper!) […]

After spending an afternoon canning homemade blueberry jam and blueberry syrup, I still had a few pints of organic blueberries remaining.  While I love snacking on blueberries in their natural state, I thought it would be fun to sweeten them up a bit.  We had a bag of leftover Easter chocolate hiding in the pantry, […]

My husband called me from work yesterday with a very urgent message: “Organic blueberries are on sale at Whole Foods for $1.99 a pint! Go there. Now. Before they’re gone!!” He knows me so well.  A deal like this would be hard for most moms to pass up, but since I am a total organic […]

One of the best parts about living in a big city is appreciating just how small this town can be.  We live in a bustling neighborhood in the heart of downtown Chicago, but I feel like I know my neighbors and the people who work in our favorite shops. Just the other day I ran […]

Our friends Laura and Dan came over for dinner the other night. They have two little ones the same ages as Mack and Evie, so we all agreed that it would be easier to do dinner at our place rather than braving a restaurant with four rambunctious kids. The day of the dinner party Evie […]

I found my new favorite summer drink!  Last summer I couldn’t get enough of my Pimm’s Cup, but the summer of 2011 might turn out to be the season of the Moscow Mule.  Like a Pimm’s Cup, the Moscow Mule is made with a generous pour of Ginger Beer, a non-alcoholic brew that is strong […]

The 28 Day Healthy Eating Challenge I’m doing for Whole Foods is coming to an end. When I first started it nearly a month ago I had a hard time shifting gears on my already healthy eating habits.   I always strive to make smart choices when it comes to the food I serve myself and […]