Purple haze all around

Last night I made an eggplant pizza.

Mmmm.

{Here is a nice recipe from Epicurious.}

I varied the recipe a bit, but that is what I love about pizzas.

You can do whatever you want and it usually tastes delish!

The eggplant and basil were fresh from my garden. I bought a little Japanese Eggplant this spring from the Green City Market and it has produced lovely.

Another recipe I plan on trying comes from my friend and Chef Efrain Cuevas.

On Monday he had an amazing feast at his new loft for his closest friend.

I died when I tried the roasted eggplant and goat cheese spread.

He used several types of eggplant, garlic and a shit ton of goat cheese.

Put it in the oven and magic happens.

Oh, and I was lusting over his tomatoes and peppers he had just picked from his farm earlier in the day. Just look at those pear tomatoes!

Baker Baker, make me a cake, make me whole again

my life is officially complete.

pudding cupcakes in peanut butter chocolate cups.
done and done.

Summertime and the living is easy

Just in time for Memorial Day

time for a new grill? yes please {drool}

a new dress.

Yum!

a new memorial day treat? done + done.

mmmmm..... Roasted Vegetables in a Cheddar Crust

and... Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins for dessert.

i think i have my saturday planned.
sounds delish!

Falling...

First it was denial, then anger, but, I've accepted that it is fall.

And this weekend my bestie, Owen, is having his b-day celebration at a farm in the middle of nowhere.

(note: another attempt to recreate childhood memories.

last year it was at a roller rink, and, it was amazing.)

We are going to pick pumpkins, roll in the hay, get lost running in a corn maze, laugh (hysterically), love, and eat apple pie.

This got me thinking about all the things I do enjoy about fall.

apple cider (hard)

sweaters

cuddling closer for warmth

fireplaces

Halloween anticipation

pumpkins

apple orchards

hot apple pie

adding layers to favorite summer clothes

seasonal eats like pumpkin waffles,

Chinese-style jasmine rice+chicken soup, + squash risotto

I can't wait for the weekend!!

{image via Audrey Hepburn Complex}

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am fat. Perhaps not fat in fat's standards, but I'm fat.

I need to detox.

I'm going to start {for one week} a juice detox. Gwyneth Paltrow recently did a Cleanse, although it must be so darned easy for her. {sigh}

There is this great little deli by my work called Brian's Deli and Juice Bar where I can get freshly squeezed vegetable juices. The only problem... they serve some very distracting falafel. And we all know I love me some Middle Eastern {wink}. ehem, back to food.

The plan is to have two juices a day and one salad {ingredients from my garden} for one week.

Can I do it? I don't know? I am beyond weak.

Will you help me?... Please?

{image via beauty in everything}

This weekend I battled the unseasonable cold and scooted to the Green City Market in Lincoln Park where I picked up some lettuce for my backyard garden.

I'm super excited about my little lettuce and I'm really hoping that it takes off and I can munch on it all summer long. This is my first time with lettuce so I've been reading up over at You Grow Girl. My landlord and I also have cilantro, basil, sage, parsley, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

I'm a little worried because my landlord only planted one tomato plant this year! This might be cause for some tow-mater drama later in the season. We also have had chili peppers and bell peppers as well. wtf, I have to talk to my landlord about her lackadaisical attitude!!

Don't have a garden? You can plant most veggies in containers.

Tomatoes in containers

Mint in vintage Baby Buggy

Strawberries

Container growing is very easy and a great way to get started if you are a beginner. And remember, the name of the game is, Be Creative with your Containers!

summer picnics + music = happy time

I am so excited that summer is on its way. That means one thing....outdoor concerts at Ravinia and Millennium Park. Ravinia is like a dream to me. It's such a beautiful place to escape the city for an evening. Hopping the metra up to Ravinia is a cinch. And what is even easier is walking a few short blocks from my office to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park, for a night of free music and fun.

Oh! I am so excited that I have already started planning my menu for my first concert at Ravinia.

I'm thinking the following:

Salmon Pate on Melba toast

Caprese

A little Brie with a baguette

Hot and Spicy Shrimp and Avocado Salad

Lemon poppy seed Cake or Apricot Bread

Perhaps a Rose or Sauvignon Blanc

Mexican St. Pattie's Day

I hope you enjoyed Cinco de Mayo.

I had my obligatory margarita, fish taco's, and free shots of tequila at my favorite neighborhood Mexican joint, El Cid.

It's the Mexican St. Pattie's Day, no? Think about it.

I know I said I wasn't going to get all earth day on you but seriously people, watch this and do your part.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-CVRFzLoEY

The largest trash dump is not on land but in the Ocean.

I'm going to once again link you to the Environmental Defense Fund were you can print out a pocket size seafood selector.

It is imperative that you are choosing the correct fish, not only for the environment but for your health as well. I print out and carry several seafood selectors b/c I am always giving them away to friends, family, and strangers.

or if you love Oprah

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/23/oprah-shines-light-on-gre_n_190552.html

Be Responsible people. Clean up after yourselves. Recycle. And make the right choices.

Bye Bye Birdie

LC is signing off for the long weekend.

But, while I'm gone, do yourself a favor and make these Bird's Nest Cookies.

Enjoy!

Somethin' Smells Fishy

I have been craving herb stuffed Red Snapper baked in sea salt for a while.

This weekend my boyfriend and I are headed home for the holiday and decided to make this for my parents and grandparents.

We will be picking the snapper up at my favorite Chicago Fish Market, Isaacson & Stein.

Ever the enviro-hipster that I am, I checked the Environmental Defense Fund website and, to my dismay, Red Snapper is on the eco-worst list. Nooo!

What am I going to do? I'm going to have to rethink the whole menu.

OMG. Yes Please!

Blueberry Kuchen!

MUST.MAKE.THIS.NOW

Family Style

In college all of my friends would gather at Efrain's house every Sunday for a Family Style dinner. It was a highlight of my week and a great way to unwind, listen to music, and share stories of dear friends.

Well, that said friend, my dearest Efrain, is all grown up. He now runs an underground community supper club called Clandestino. He was recently ranked Top 10 best secret supper clubs in the world by Travel+Leisure.

You can find his link on the right hand margin under Small World Enterprises.

Clandestino has a sold out dinner this weekend, and, thinking about it made me long for the simpler days of heading over to E's house for a little grub and good company. I miss the family dinners, the potlucks my college roommate and I would regularly have and the general camaraderie of dining together.

In this economy, I'm not alone in putting restaurants aside for a moment

and remembering what it is like to have dinner at home.

So, I here by vow

To have more potlucks in my life

To have more fine company over to my house

To enjoy the fruits of community dining

Soy, Rice or Almond?

Trouble choosing a dairy alternative? Here is a good reference.

I'm particularly fond of the raw almond milk.

Oh, Yummy!

I was over at Apartment Therapy's sister, The Kitchn, and saw this great post on DIY Girl Scout cookies. How marvelous! No hydrogenated oils, no trans fat, no rising cookie costs! Now I can eat Thin Mints all year long. Thanks Baking Bites.

French Delight

Oh, how I long for a decadent dessert on this eve of Friday.

Some great Chicago places to indulge are:

Hot Chocolate, Vanille Patisserie, Sweet Collective

No-Bake Strawberry Pie

Speaking of a Raw Food diet. I think I shall make this for myself this weekend.
The recipe is courtesy of Crazy Sexy Life