Our friends shared some of their homegrown Melrose peppers with us. I cut into one of them to spice up the summer squash pickles and was greeted with a smiley face.
Author: Jacky Hackett
Family Time In Demand
We canceled a few plans Saturday for some much needed family time. Family time has been in short supply this summer and things are only getting busier. We headed to the Oak Park Farmer’s Market for the first time this year. The donuts were worth the wait in the long line (best in Chicago), the…
A Budding Artist
The three year-old was pretty bummed last night that his big brother was back and school “and never coming back”. Time is a difficult concept when you are three. I suggested that later this weekend he could draw him a picture and mail it to him. He stayed up late and worked on this in…
Fruits of My Labor
The first harvest from the garden this season. OK, it is only 1 cherry tomato, but exciting just the same. It is a black cherry tomato, an heirloom cherry tomato that resembles cherry fruit. The skin is a dark purple with a hint of brown. At first bite it was very sweet, with a…
Guest Who?
Did I tell you who I saw eating lunch at Petterino’s? Scottie Pippen. I caught a glimpse of someone from the corner of my eye and knew it had to be someone famous. They had the beautiful person look going. Then I realized it was Scottie Pippen. Did I just say Scottie Pippen was beautiful? …
Laugh it Off {Pickled Summer Squash}
Were the hell did June go? We have been so busy it seems to have passed me by. Weekends have been jam packed, our next free weekend is Labor Day. Our plans always involve fun, but it still wears me down. Busy weekends also mean less cooking and eating at home. This makes it hard…
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
At this rate, I will never get through my summer reading list… The Year of Magical Thinking By Joan Didion Completed! I could have read this in one sitting. It is a story of the the author’s mourning. “You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends.” Not a fluffy beach read,…
The Real Slim Shady
Just so you know, I am not the only Eminem fan in the house. Here my oldest back in 2000 when he dressed as Eminem, dyed hair and all, for Halloween.
Favorite Summer Recipes
Better Homes And Garden Photo I went to the farmer’s market this morning on my way to work. No strawberries. Did I miss them? I hope not because I was planning on making strawberry bruschetta this weekend. Fresh strawberries in summer are so delicious. Paired with goat cheese (I will order anything on a menu…
Portrait Party
Summer birthdays are the pits for kids. No celebration at school. Attendance is slim at your party due to summer travel. For mom though, it is not so bad. No icing and transporting 50 cupcakes. Smaller party, smaller headache. My daughter turned 10 over the weekend and had a small party to celebrate. Only a…