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 […]

My grandparents recently gave us the most wonderful gift: three pounds of wild Alaskan salmon! With our tight grocery budget, a treat like fresh salmon is usually only a twice-a-month thing for us. Thanks to Grandma and Papa’s generosity, we’ll enjoy three extra special meals. I came up with this recipe the other night. I […]

I love summer! After a morning spent at the park, I took Evelyn and Mack to the local farmer’s market. Chicago has a farmer’s market every day from May-October, so I know I can always find fresh produce and meet the people who grow it all. Today’s market was near the Museum of Contemporary Art, […]

As I wrote about last week, we’re on a pretty strict budget. When we go over in one area, we have to take out of another. Usually the first thing I trim is the grocery bill. Last week I managed on just $20, and this week we’re getting by on $70 (this includes breakfasts, lunches […]