final days of summer.

For whatever reason-- and I hate to admit it out loud-- this summer has felt like a wash. Between unexpected travel, moving, wedding decision stress, and dealing with the hottest weather ever, I feel as though summer lasted for a matter of days.

Still-- I'd like to try to cross some things off of my list of things I had hoped to do during this summer that never was:

1. Bake this peach pie

2. Go for a picnic near the lake

3. Go to a movie in the park

4. Can fruit/make some preserves/ host a canning party

Do any of you still have items on your summer list, friends?

Photo via Alyson

soup sunday.

So, I know this recipe is a wee bit similar to the one I made a couple of weeks ago, but it's definitely worth sharing, in my opinion. I'm fighting a cold, and Johnny hasn't been feeling too great, either, so I made this soup for us on Sunday night. All of the recipes on Heidi's blog are drool-worthy, and this recipe is no exception. I followed the directions exactly, but threw in a couple of whole garlic cloves for extra flavor and had to add more liquid (which she mentions might be necessary) as it started to thicken before we were able to eat. We both loved this dish, and I'll certainly be making it again. Unless you have an aversion to raw red onion, I'd follow her garnishing recommendation of red onion and olive oil--this added a great contrast of flavor. (Oh, and the cauliflower is one of the best parts. I need to start cooking with this often forgotten vegetable much, much more).

soup sunday.

In an effort to start the year off right with weekly soup making, I made this soup Sunday night. I used green lentils instead of red (it's what we had) and substituted kale for the chard (I love the crunchy texture of kale in soup). I didn't put the yogurt on top even though I had greek yogurt in the fridge, and I added pepper along with a decent amount of salt for flavor. If you don't mind your house smelling strongly of curry, I'd highly recommend. So hearty, healthy and delicious.

P.S. Johnny added lemon to brighten the flavor when I wasn't looking.

photo from Epicurious

dump truck cake.

Seriously, how awesome is Abigail? She made this cake for her sweet nephew, Declan (love that name!). Isn't he the luckiest little guy ever?

chocolate-editions.

Just like being a kid again. Who didn't love to pick the Neopolitan from the freezer at the grocery store? I remember always getting giddy for this ice cream at birthday parties. It made all the children so excited. It sure is the little things in this life, now isn't it? (Maybe a fun Valentine's idea for the chocolate loving, big kids in your life. . .)

'cause everybody else is.

Generally speaking, I'm not the hugest fan of New Years resolutions. It usually feels like a giant trap to me (when really, it should be freeing, right?), and I meet goals better when they come sporadically; however, what I do love about the New Year is that it offers a space of time to think and reflect over the past year, and always gives a little glimmer of hope toward the months ahead. So, even though I might break 'em, I'm going to make a little list to try to stick to, because some of these goals are really necessary for my overall sense of health and balance (P.S. Check out Abigail's resolution. I really adore it.)

1). Get more sleep. On a consistent basis. Seriously. This is one of my largest weaknesses, and now that I'm waking up even earlier for teaching (like 5 A.M., people), I must make it a priority to go to bed earlier.

2). Sign up for a month of yoga at a local studio (baby steps).

3). Drink more tea, and less coffee.

4). Spend less time on the internets. This is another major weakness of mine. At the same time, I want to blog more and read just as much as I do on the interwebs, but I really need to avoid internet "time suckage." It's evil and makes me turn into a crank.

5). Make soup weekly. Because nothing beats a big pot of soup on the stove in the winter.

What are some of your resolutions, friends?

Photograph by Jennifer Causey. Check out the recipe for the soup above here.

cheese plate.

When I saw this picture, I just about gasped aloud. I love the look of this cheese board with a whole piece of pomegranate, nuts and pine. I know we're nearing the end of the holidays, but this would be a nice idea for anyone throwing a New Years party. I'm filing this idea away for next year. . .

P.S. Last night at the market, my mom and I saw this beautiful wreath decorated with whole pomegranates. I love this idea and wish I had a picture to show you-- it looked delightful.

P.P.S. Avocado and pomegranate dip. Yum!

eco-friendly edition #20.

This is certainly random for an eco-friendly post, but I had to mention this yogurt that I had for breakfast this a.m.: siggi's Icelandic style yogurt. I'm sure many of you have heard of it or seen it (or tasted it!) at your local gourmet market, but, despite the hefty price, it's made with milk from grass fed cows, and boasts that it uses no aspartame, sucralose, gelatin, artificial colorings, preservatives nor any high fructose corn syrup. Well-made and delicious, my friends! I had the "Pomegranate and Passion Fruit" but I'm sure all the flavors are perfection.

P.S. With all this talk about food, you'd guess I hadn't eaten enough this Christmas. And what a big, fat lie that is. . .

creamy salsa verde.

At Johnny's family Christmas Eve party this year, there were a ton of passable Hors d'oeuvres before we sat down to dinner (gasp!). One of them was from his Aunt MaryPat-- vegetarian quesadillas with a creamy salsa verde. Knowing what a foodie Johnny is, she came right up to us and told us about this dip that they found at a local Mexican dive, and described it as "guacamole and salsa verde combined." Say whaaat? Now, we're still dreaming about it, and I'm on the lookout to find a recipe online that might come slightly close. I'm going to try this recipe at some point this week, and will let you know how it turns out.

photograph from serious eats (note: I don't know if this is a photo of what I'm describing above or not, but it's the closest I could find!)

sweet little gift #13: the most beautiful tea in the world.

Another for you mother because she always advocates for peace not war, and calms you down when you call her freaking out, and, when you're home, she greets you with a cup of tea in the morning even when you tell her she doesn't need to make any.

$14 plus shipping, Kyoto Tea from Tay Tea

sweet little gift #7: a rockin' wine tote.

For your friend whom with you can rock the best life chat, and who always brought wine to your dinner parties when she lived down the block, and now when you cook, you still sometimes think you can call and invite her over even though you live 1,000s of miles apart.

$12 plus shipping, Map Tote, from Velocity Art and Design

(found via Design Sponge)

Giving Thanks.

A few weeks ago, Johnny and I were walking home from grabbing dinner, and as we walked by Wicker Park, we noticed a few circles of homeless people near the entry way. We also noticed a young couple our age walking up to them--delivering a huge pot of food. Completely unprompted and under the name of no organization, this sweet couple simply got in their car on a cold November evening, and delivered some hot food to those in need. It was lovely. It was more than lovely, though. It kind of felt like yes, right, why didn't I think of that? I did feel stupid. And was guilt-ridden, too.

Right then and there, I told Johnny I wanted to go home and take a batch of cookies that we had waiting in our kitchen and bring them to the park. . . lo and behold, that never happened. This couple had beat us-- they had better hearts than we. I know that's silly to say, but it's how I felt. Regardless, this powerful gesture from this unknown couple is one I keep thinking about.

I was once again reminded that it doesn't take signing up for an event (while that is of course awesome), or even volunteering in a soup kitchen. For those of us who live in big cities, there are people around the corner, down the street, and in our parks. Of course, I'm no one to talk because I've had yet to make the move, but I guess I'm wondering in what ways I can share this holiday season (and not just on the actual holiday, itself)-- either through delivering a batch of leftovers that will likely go to waste in the fridge, or making a little extra to spread beyond the home.

And, in the spirit of giving, tell me, dear friends, what are some items on your list that you're thankful for this year? I'm thankful for. . .

*Chicago beginning to feel like home

*friends that live far away to madly miss & friends that live near

*the kindness of strangers

*living closer to family (and having family far away to madly miss, too)

*food to cook

*an awesome man friend to cook with

*my health

and

YOU, my small, lovely, faithful group of readers. Thank you so much for reading while I traverse through this wild world of blogville.

I wish you such a fantastic Thanksgiving, and will see you on Monday.

(photo of Julia Child, source unknown)

cookbook love.

few things make me happier thank cookbooks. i love flipping through them and finding inspiration in the photographs and recipes. the new cookbook, salt to taste: the keys to confident, delicious cooking, by marco canora, looks great. it's focus is on the simple, fresh and seasonal, and is primarily inspired by canora's work at his own restaurant, hearth. the NY times says he features dishes such as "cauliflower roasted with fresh rosemary and fish fillets infused with lemon peel, thyme and olive oil." yum.

discovered via the NY times

mornings.

lately, i've been either skipping breakfast or eating something processed and on the go (gross). i'm vowing to wake up early enough to eat greek yogurt with honey every day this week. the stunning blog, simply breakfast, really does make breakfast seem like the most important part of the day.

photograph by jennifer causey

milk and cookies.

chocolate chip cookies + milk shooters at a party = genius.

found via you are my fave via lake jane

halloween caramels.

halloween caramels and carrot cake caramels, oh my. . .

also, olive oil truffles? hmmm.

found via foodzie

yummy vegetarian.

i recently discovered heidi swanson's amazing website, 101 cookbooks, through my friend emilie. ever since, i've been drooling over each delicious picture. i'm planning to attempt many of these soups this winter. these pictures and recipes really make me believe that i could go vegetarian. . .

gourmet magazine closing.

i found out this morning at a very busy day of work that gourmet magazine is folding. johnny called me to let me know (and wrote a post about it today). i would go buy every magazine right now at the market across the street, and subscribe for life, if it meant stopping the beautiful publication from going under. one would think that with such radical food movements happening all around us, this would've been one of the last to go. it's by far the best food magazine out there.

when i was home visiting my mom a couple weeks ago in michigan, i sat in our living room flipping through her many issues of gourmet sitting on the coffee table. few things make me happier than gleaning through recipes and stories and photos of food. gourmet did so with a rich aesthetic and a more tasteful eye than most. sad, sad day, my friends. what can we do to reverse this devastating decision?

flickr crush.

here are some radiant food photos to start off your friday, my friends. i wish you some good eats during your three-day weekend. xo.

photos by danske.

for the love.

of homemade bolognese sauce made by johnny inspired by what he learned at the amazing italian restaurant he worked at in boston. i'm not one who likes to eat a ton of meat, but the skirt steak, pancetta, pork, and braised short rib made this dish a plate from heaven.