Reuniting with Ashley and Davide

Among our recent visitors are Ashley and Davide, Joe's sister and brother-in-law. They live in Milan, and it's been over a year since they were stateside to visit. Davide arrived first for work training, staying for the weekend before the conference began. Joe's been enjoying a little time alone with him while I've been working like a crazy. It's really the first time they've been able to hang out on their own, since travel circumstances usually have them together in a group. One of the first steps was food, naturally. I managed to join them at Garcia's for burritos before my bar shift. When his massive roll of meat and tortilla arrived, Davide's eyes lit up. “I forgot I was in America! I love this country!”

I first met Davide a couple years ago when Joe and I went to Italy for their wedding. He grew up in Turin, making him an amazing tour guide for our caravan of family and friends. We spent a few weeks touring the country, staying with Davide's family before the wedding which took place in an incredible castle-turned-hotel overlooking the countryside. The highlight of my trip (I think) was the rehearsal dinner. Avid diners that we are (as you might have noticed), Joe and I were thrilled to learn it would be at an agriturismo, a completely self-sustained restaurant. Everything served was raised on the premises, from the risotto to the lamb to the wine. While this was impressive enough a fact, it was compounded by the fact that it was probably the best meal of my life. It took hours (as did most of our meals), but it was such a sublime experience, with amazing food and love in the air.

 When Ashley finally arrived this past weekend, I was working again, but managed to join them for brunch the following morning before they left for southern Illinois to meet with Ashley's parents. We went back to Lulu Belle's so Joe could finally give it a try (he tried to stay cynical about it, but couldn't deny the appeal of his fluffy omelet and perfectly seasoned hash browns). We didn't notice until we reached the restaurant, but the guys were perfectly matched in yellow, while we were in pale pink. We looked very precious on our double date. The guys didn't care, but I broke up the party by changing before Ashley and I went for pedicures. While our visit was short before they left to spend time with Ashley's parents, we'll be reunited next week when I join them in Michigan for a week at the lake.

Saying bye bye

This week I had my last day taking care of the twins. I've been with them a few hours a week for nearly two years, since they were chubby faced toddlers. It's always sad to say goodbye to the little ones I spend so much time with. It's an occupational hazard. But, inevitably, they grow up and start their school life. These boys are particularly amazing. Their curiosity is insatiable, and it's been a pleasure to teach them pretty much everything I can think of. Many an afternoon is spent asking for the make and model of the cars we pass on our walks. They can point to nearly any country on the globe. They know the planets and their moons. Did I mention they're 3? They're also tender little sweethearts who notice when I get a new scarf and compliment my pedicure.


Last week, they came to our place for the first time. After a little mac and cheese on the balcony, we took a walk down to the harbor to feed the ducks while we checked out the boats and lighthouses. They'd never been before, so they had all sorts of questions about it. "Is a goose a duck?" "Why does Joe have to work to earn money?" "Is this dock our boat?" I'm going to miss these guys a little extra.

Braving It

My sister Mo and I went to see Brave the other day. For some reason, animated films are the only kind we see together in theater. While we enjoyed it, I have to agree with the critics--for being Pixar's first female protagonist out of 17 films, they sure don't break any ground with her. Spirited princess? Check. Marriage dilemma? Check. Conflict with mother? Check. Magic gone wrong? Check. I guess a female archaeologist isn't as marketable in Barbie form. But hey, she has great hair.

Tossing Up Lunch

It may not be ground-breaking, but this hearty salad rocks. It's packed with healthy fat, vitamins, and protein, but you wouldn't know it because it tastes amazing. This ain't no side dish--it's a filling meal that satisfies even the hungriest boyfriend.

-fresh spinach
-sliced strawberries (also yummy with blueberries)
-crumbled goat cheese (or feta)
-crushed almonds (or your favorite nut)
-cubed avocado
-sliced onion
-grilled or sauteed chicken (I like to almond-crust it for extra crunch)
-your favorite dressing (if you need it--it's pretty flavorful on its own)

Visiting with Dad

We've been experiencing a gush of visitors these days. Most recently, Dad and his girlfriend Jaynie came out to celebrate her daughter Lauren's graduation from DePaul. Joe and I had belated birthday jibaritos with them at Borinquen Lounge (the food's amazing, the service...not so much). They gave us our belated birthday gift as well--a Soda Stream soda maker! It's a completely unnecessary but completely awesome gadget (I think that's called a luxury?) for making homemade carbonated drinks. Monique, Dad and I had planned to go for a nice bike ride by the lake, but dad had to head back home a little earlier than planned. Instead we met for brunch at Lulu Belle's Pancake House in the Southport Corridor. It was a really lovely visit. Friendly, helpful service, warm vibe, delicious food, and some quality family time. Joe and I had been meaning to try this new spot for a while--in fact, Joe grumbled that I beat him to it after he had discovered it. But what can I say? It was the perfect place for some much needed father-daughter catching up. Don't worry,  Joe, you'll have no trouble getting me back there for some complimentary iced biscuits and another veggie eggs benedict (or maybe a bacon-stuffed waffle).

Celebrating Joe

Since the drive-in movie parties of my childhood, summer has always meant birthday to me. With our birthdays just one month apart, Joe and I really get to make a season out of celebrating. I had to work on his birthday this year, so we celebrated together the day before. I got up early to run up to El Norte in Edgewater for chilaquiles and surprised him with breakfast in bed. Though they serve it all day, it's the morning cook that has the dish perfected. A single order is enough for two, plus leftovers. We had planned a long bike ride by the lake, but Joe decided we should blow it off, instead napping and relaxing until we left for a late lunch at Maggiano's. After a heavy breakfast, a chopped salad really hit the spot. We snapped photos downtown until it was time to head towards Navy Pier to see the Dark Knight Rises at Imax. Navy Pier is pretty much tourist hell on earth, but there's no better way to see a big budget action flick. It was basically a day of Joe's favorites.


But his birthday didn't end there. The following evening, we met friends at Pizza Rustica for some delicious buttery crust pizza and a blueberry gin fizz or two. In true italian form, the meal took ages, but no one seemed to mind much as the drinks kept flowing. The pizza was spectacular. We followed dinner with wine and a few rounds of Cards Against Humanity at our place. Joe was more than happy to debut his homemade set. The night was topped off with delicious cupcakes provided by Becky and Cheryl. If there's a better way to enjoy a birthday than with good friends and great food, we have yet to discover it.

Cold Brewing Iced Coffee

Coffee. If it weren't for that magic elixir, I might never progress past the zombie trance I wake up in. We gave up our leaky coffee maker a couple years ago in favor of a french press, and never looked back. It always makes a smooth, scorch-free brew, and it's so yummy, I now drink it black. But zombies aren't always the best at hand-pouring a pot, and I catch myself skipping the process in favor of a effort-and-sugar-free Redbull when I'm at my sleepiest. This summer, I have found the solution - cold-brewed iced coffee. Not only is it a cool, refreshing drink in the morning, but I can make a big pitcher of it in advanced, making it completely zombie-proof. By cold-brewing it, the coffee is lower in acidity, making it easier on an empty tummy. It's so rich and creamy, never bitter and watery like hot brewed-poured-over-ice.

Here's how to do it:
Add roughly 1/4 cup finely ground coffee to 4 cups cold water. Leave at room temperature 8-12 hours. Strain through cheese cloth or a couple layers of paper towels. Refrigerate.

There you are! I serve it on ice cubes made of the leftover cold brew, ensuring that it never gets watered down. Add cream/milk if you like, or dilute it with water if it's too concentrated. You could even blend it, adding your favorite syrup for a frothy icy treat.