What do penicillin, post-it notes, and champagne have in common? According to legend, they were all invented by accident.
I debated whether or not to write about my sugar cookie experience, because it certainly fell under the category of “accident.” I goofed up the recipe… and in my opinion, ruined the cookies. But as they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Continue reading 'Think all flours are created equal? Think again.'»
My lunch usually (okay, always) consists of the following items:
- yogurt
- an apple
- a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Sometimes I’ll throw in some variables, like a granola bar, or string cheese.
Boring, right? I know. I can offer no excuse, except for the fact that I usually pack my lunch around 10:00PM. At 10:00, creativity is not a priority.
Since my New Year’s Resolution is to spend my time more wisely, I’m hoping that it will eventually trickle down to packing my lunches at a more reasonable hour. Maybe then, I’ll be more inclined to make healthier, more creative sandwiches.
Speaking of great sandwiches - About a month ago, Brian and I checked out Jerry’s, a sandwich shop in the West Loop – not too far from my beloved Whitney Young.
Continue reading 'It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time!'»
To understand my love of Halloween candy, you must first understand what my parents used to give to trick-or-treaters:
My mom used to work at a toothbrush company. So one Halloween, she decided it would be a good idea to give out INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED TOOTHBRUSHES.
But that was just one time, so I’ll let it slide. My dad, however, is a repeat offender. Year after year, he gives out nickels.
sigh.
Continue reading 'What’s better than candy? Candy with candy on top!'»
Since I like to bake, you might assume that I like to bake cupcakes. But I don’t. My cupcake tin has sat, neglected, at the bottom of my oven storage drawer for the past 3 years.
The reason cupcakes are absent from my baking repertoire is the same reason you’ll never find leggings in my closet: I don’t like trends. Cupcakes have become too trendy for their own good. I think it’s incogitable that people will pay $22 for a dozen cupcakes, when the ingredients cost a grand total of $6 (Yes, Molly’s Cupcakes, I’m looking at you. You too, Sweet Mandy B’s).
Continue reading 'My first attempt at cupcakes since 2006!'»
The challenge: Create desserts for my sister-in-law’s bridal shower, that fit the theme of “Black and White.”
The real challenge: Create desserts that don’t cost a fortune, will feed 30 people, and survive the hour long drive to Lindenhurst without breaking. Or melting.
The results:
Chocolate Bark:
Bark is one of those desserts that only looks difficult. For all of you musicians out there, making chocolate bark is like playing a power chord on an electric guitar. It’s not difficult, but it looks so cool.
Continue reading 'The Ins and Outs of Black and White'»
Labor Day weekend is finally here. Finally.
This year, all I’ve wanted was for the summer to run its course as quickly as possible, in anticipation of the fall. Almost every weekend between now and January will be full of celebrations, get-togethers, and of course, opportunities to bake.
But for those of you who want to squeeze the last few drops out of summer, you will appreciate the very first installment of The Daily V – In Season.
Continue reading 'The Daily V – In Season: Figs'»
I’d like to begin this post with a quick music lesson:
Brian Epstein managed The Beatles throughout the early ’60s, and is often credited as “The Fifth Beatle.” He was responsible for the behind-the-scenes work that made the band successful.
The same can be said for your freezer. You can think of your freezer as the “Fifth Beatle” of pie crust. Can pie crust exist without your freezer? Of course. But it won’t be nearly as good.
When it comes to pie crust, let this be your mantra: Move quickly, and keep the ingredients cold. If you remember that, everything else will fall into place.
Let’s get started!
Continue reading 'All we are saying, is give crust a chance!'»
Do you know how to make a sandwich? Do you have a giant knife? Can you re-arrange your freezer?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, then congratulations! You are officially qualified to make Ice Cream Cake.
For the longest time, I thought ice cream cake was a speciality best left to the pros at Oberweis. But you see, when it comes to baking, I walk a fine line between arrogance and fortitude. So, for the sake of my ego (and my Mother-In-Law’s birthday), I decided to give ice cream cake a shot.
Continue reading 'The ice cream headache was totally worth it.'»
If you could grade how people spend their summers, I would get an F.
You know those people who get an A+ in summer : catching fireflies, sitting on the porch at dusk, going to the beach, wearing flip-flops, etc. I regard these folks with equal parts bewilderment and jealousy. I truly don’t understand what they love about summer, yet I wish I could enjoy it like they do.
The reason I fail summer so miserably is because I don’t particularly like it. Don’t get me wrong, I love things associated with summer – long sunny days, fresh vegetables, etc. But the reality of summer (for me, at least) is more like this:
- sit in a freezing cold office
- burn myself with the seatbelt in my 100-degree car
- go jogging on the lakefront and dodge slow-moving tourists
- get an ice cream cone at Oberweis, only to have it look like this 5 minutes later:
Continue reading 'Summer is just Autumn’s opening act'»
Those of you who live in Chicago are probably wondering where Spring has been hiding lately. It has been unseasonably cool around here. But no matter how much the weather report will have us believe otherwise, Spring really is here.
Evidence:
1) I’ve bought my Chicago City Sticker. Ever since I was 17, this has been a rite of passage of spring.
2) I’ve had my annual bout of spring allergies
3) Grocery stores are so full of rhubarb, they’re practically giving it away!
There is something special about rhubarb. Something that evokes nostalgic memories in people. Seriously. When people saw me with a few stalks of rhubarb, this was the response I got:
- The elderly man bagging my groceries asked if I was making pie. When I said yes, his face broke into a smile, and the checkout line was held up as he stopped to tell me about the last time his wife made him rhubarb pie.
- My dad went on and on about how my grandparents used to grow rhubarb in their backyard, and how he hasn’t had rhubarb pie in decades.
Continue reading 'Rhubarb – your reputation precedes you!!'»
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