Dinner - Beef and vegetable soup

This was a great supper!!!  I used top sirloin for the beef and cut it into small pieces.  I browned them first.  Then added the cartons of no salt beef stock (always have at least one half a carton left over in case you need to add more liquid as the soup condenses), frozen lima beans, frozen cut green beans, 1 can of dark kidney beans and carrots.  To this I added burgundy wine (2 gluggs - professional cooking term), 5 cloves of garlic, chipolte pepper powder and salt. I left it on the lowest setting on the stove and stirred it occasionally for about 2 hours.  It was very rich and full of flavor and little fat.

Restaurant Review - Kitsch'n on Roscoe, Chicago, IL

We found a great place for breakfast.  Kitsch'n on Roscoe - 2005 West Roscoe Street, Chicago. We were sat in the back porch area.  What was nice about it is that you felt like you were outside, with just a tarp between the sky and you.  But with the heaters, it was nice and toasty.  The best of both worlds.....outside and warm.  The service was friendly and attentive. Great place we will be going back to for sure.

If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you know my affinity for eggs benedict.  Here is their version - Bayou Crab Cakes Benedict.

 These are crab cakes with poached eggs, habanero corn bread hash, bayou hollandaise sauce (I had it on the side) and a green salad.

It was great with everything all smashed together.  The hash was delicious.  It was made with grated potatoes.   And the texture and slight sweetness of the corn bread hash was so great with the smooth, rich yolk and crab-full cakes.

My favorite cookie

I have found it....my favorite cookie in the whole, wide world.  Doesn't it seem like we are always looking for that elusive "best cookie ever"??  I have found it.

 Here it is...the Ranger Cookie.  Chocolate chips, coconut, rice krispies, and oats.  The perfect combo with the perfect texture.  Crunchy on edge, soft in the center.

 Look at this perfect cookie.....I will never eat another cookie again, except if it is a Ranger Cookie from Sweet Mandy B's.

Sweet Mandy B's in Chicago - 

1208 W Webster Ave

Chicago, IL 60614

T: (773) 244-1174

Conversion chart

This is a great thing to have on hand.  When I find charts like this in magazines, I take a picture of it with my phone, so I always have it on hand.  I have also been doing this with passages in articles I like.  There is so much good information out there. I hate to read something only to lose it in my head (and I think a lot of you understand that statement all too well!).

From Real Simple magazine November, 2012.

At the dollar store

Look at what I found at the dollar store....what is this world coming to??

ONE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I HAVE BEEN WRITING MY BLOG FOR EXACTLY ONE YEAR!!

MY HOPES OF WHAT THIS BLOG BRINGS TO YOU:
1)YOU FIND THE JOY IN SHARING MEALS WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY 
2)YOU EAT HEALTHIER 
3)YOU TRY NEW FOODS 
4)YOU EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT CULTURES THROUGH THEIR FOOD


I LOVE WRITING IT AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY READING IT JUST AS MUCH!!

I CANNOT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT!  

I love roasted vegis!!!!

I made a huge platter of roasted sweet potatoes, yukon gold potatoes and brussel sprouts.  Look how pretty these are!!!

I like to line a baking sheet with non-stick tin foil.  Cut up your vegis (try to make them all around the same size), toss with olive oil, and put them in a 450 degree oven.  Keep an eye on them.  You will need to toss them around 8 minutes into them cooking, to try to get multiple sides brown = crunchy and yummy.  Finish with a toss of kosher salt or sea salt.

Healthy, pretty and yummy.....who could ask for anything more?!?!?