French Dip

I am not one to use a crock pot for cooking. In fact, my husband was surprised that I used one and my daughter actually complimented my husband on the meal since he uses one!!!! Grrrrr......

But I decided to try this recipe when I stumbled upon "Our Best Bites" blog which had this to say about the following recipe---"This is the single most-requested, best-loved, raved-about recipe on my personal blog." Rarely do I see recipes with such glowing reviews, so I thought I would try it. This comment made me reflect on my "single most-requested, best-loved, raved about recipe on my personal blog. I am not sure what it would be,??????.... so I will let you decide!!!! I think I have many!!!. But this recipe was good and better than that, it was easy to make! And lately, when it seems like I have less and less time to spend in the kitchen, a good and easy recipe is a winner!

1 2.5-3 lb. beef roast
2 Tbsp. olive oil
salt and pepper
2 1-ounce packages dry onion soup mix
2 c. water
2 cans beef broth
6 large buns
Swiss, provolone, or mozzarella cheese, shredded or sliced.

Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and rub roast with salt and pepper.

How I spent my summer vacation...

This the view from our summer home and one of my favorite pictures. I can't take credit for this picture, my father-in-law actually snapped it and it even won first place in a photo contest!


A teacher find of mind says she still asks this question!!! So...

Tennis, Trivia, Tasting and Travel!

Yep, that sums up my summer!

I hadn't played tennis in years, when my daughter INSISTED (very persistently, I may add) that I play with her and her boyfriend. I played my first game on the lakefront in Milwaukee. To my surprise, I was not horrible, and it has become one of my favorite activities (it doesn't feel like exercise, it just feels fun!). So my husband and I played my daughter and her boyfriend two or three times a week.

We also discovered Trivia. Again, at the INSISTENCE of my daughter, that we go to Wrigleyville to play trivia which has turned into us playing at two local restaurants/bars twice a week. We actually are not bad! It is amazing the useless information that hangs somewhere in our brains!

And then there is wine tasting, which has always been a favorite (and requires no skills on our behalf), but is even nicer that our daughter is old enough to join us! Nothing is more relaxing than sipping a glass a wine while overlooking the rolling hills of the vineyards.

And my favorite activity of all is travel We have ventured to some new spots this summer and revisited some favorites!

And I guess I have to add "TRYING" new things to this list as I jet skied for the first time!!! 40 MPH, yeah, now that's fun!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Cubs Go!

Jeff Samardzija
(former Notre Dame football player)

A perfect day....club seats, 70 degree weather and a Cubs win against the Brewers!


The dugout

The day before the game, we took a tour of Wrigley Field, the oldest ballpark in the National League, which is filled with rich history. My favorite views were from the dugout and the press box.

Strawberry Granita

The perfect ending to a perfect night!

This was a refreshing dessert for our recent end of summer get together with friends!

I bought an ice cream maker on an impulse buy, rarely do I impulse buy, but this was calling me to take it home. Perhaps it was all those 95 degree days we had this summer! My intention is not to make ice cream ( just like the popover pans that I bought to make fancy mini chocolate cakes!), but to make healthy sorbets and frozen yogurt!

This recipe is a taste of summer!

2 quarts fresh strawberries
1 cup sugar (scant)
2 tablespoons lemon (fresh squeezed)
2 cups water

Follow directions of your ice cream maker.

MY TIP: This is the perfect make ahead recipe!

Marilyn

You can't miss it! A 26 foot sculpture of Marilyn Monroe right on Michigan Avenue in Chicago! It's funny watching tourist standing under Marilyn trying to get a subway-grate view of her skirt in the same pose that she appeared in the movie "The seven year itch".

This is from the same artist, Seward Johnson who created the American Gothic farmer and daughter of Grant Wood's "American Gothic" fame. Visit soon as this will only be here until next spring!

Pica with Shrimp

When I want my pica to be a little more sophisticated and impressive, I add a cup of bay shrimp to the basic mixture. I love this recipe because it always tastes so fresh and is a great way to use up the tomatoes from the garden (ok...container garden...we live in a subdivision with lots of rules including no garden!)

3 large vine ripe tomatoes, chopped
1/2 large white onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, pressed
1 jalapeno pepper, very finely chopped
1 cup bay shrimp
salt to taste

Serve with tortilla chips.

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for 1 hour or longer. Serve with tortilla chips.

Air and Water Show

Our favorite spot to watch the Blue Angels during the Air and Water Show used to be at Oak Street Beach in Chicago until our daughter moved to Milwaukee. It is now on her rooftop deck of her condo on the lakefront that offers spectacular and thrilling views!