Making Room

With all the cooking going on in our kitchen these days, we needed to get a little more organized. Two cheap stainless steel Ikea shelves and a couple utility hooks later, we finally have a decent makeshift broom closet and a spot for odds and ends that were crowding up the countertop. Glad to make good use of a wasted kitchen corner.

Blending Pure Bliss

Chicago is all about food. On our block alone, there are two mexican restaurants, two italian restaurants, a pita shop, a crepe place, a bar & grill, a thai spot, a late-night sushi joint, a mexican bakery and a hot dog stand. It can be tempting. Both to save dollars and to eat better, we've been committed to cooking at home more this summer. We really have no excuse not to, since we both have a pretty leisurely schedule at the moment. The only way we were going to avoid temptation was to mix in some new recipes.

Pure bliss in a glass

The best part of trying new recipes is how often you find new favorites. We make smoothies a lot around here anyways, adding a couple scoops of flax seed for a boost. This one uses my favorite fruit--fresh pineapple--and coconut milk, which we keep stockpiled for curry. I like mine with double the yogurt, but this can't be beat. We're going to try freezing it into popsicles for an even more refreshing treat.

Scrambling

It could use a little graffiti... 

One of the best parts about Chicago is that it's a big city next to a big beautiful lake. Would I swim in Lake Michigan? no, but it makes for a lovely bit of scenery for biking, jogging, picnicking and sailing. My activity of choice (given that I don't have a boat) is scrambling along the rocks. At least, I think that's what you call it. There are large boulders along the water's edge in certain areas, and it's a blast to climb, jump and crawl across the shoreline. It's a great way to get some exercise against a picturesque backdrop, but it also involves balance and a little problem solving, which keeps it from getting dull. My lower body is still a little sore from all the lunging and leaping yesterday, but a pristine afternoon on the lakefront was just what I needed after a couple dreary days of rain. We followed up our scramble with homemade strawberry-banana-mango smoothies when we got home. Game on, summer! 

This little guy popped out right beside us,
and we looked like paparazzi
 trying to get a good shot of him. 

Swinging From Umbrellas is Strictly Prohibited

Mango Salsa-ing

We made this yummy recipe served with El Milagro Chips for brunch yesterday. We added tomato and the optional avocado, and used my homegrown cilantro. It was taaasty. I think it would be even better after the flavors are left to blend overnight. I can't say for sure because we devoured it immediately.

Joe insisted that we flavor it with our "dinosaur salt" (or Himalayan salt, as real grown ups call it). We refer to it as such because it pre-dates the dinosaurs. It is mined by hand and is supposedly purer than other salts. We got it at a Christmas party, we don't actually buy into it, but the idea of eating ancient minerals is appealing. Also it is pretty and pink.