I have to say, my last day in Chicago was not exciting.We got up, and started moving right away. Andrew and a few of our friends got the rest of the POD packed in an hour, and I did multiple rounds around the house to throw away trash, empty our fridge, organize what goes in the car, etc.We ate lunch with some friends.We came back and folded laundry and heard about some new adventures a friend has ahead of him.We went to dinner with Mabrie, Jack, and Marelen. And of course got gelato.We visited with some friends who are also in the transition from seminary to ministry process.Now we crash and go to sleep.Yes, this is not an exciting day...we didn't do out of the ordinary, bucket list kind of stuff. Our lives carried on as normal. As if this place will remain the same when we returned as the day we left it.At the end of the day, I wouldn't have wanted my day to be excited and whirlwind. It was absolutely perfect the way it was, I couldn't have imagined it any other way. It was Us.So Chicago, what If I never I'd never met you?I wouldn't be the lady I am today. (And I'm not talking about a street savvy, foodie who knows how to use her horn in traffic).I'm talking about the lady who has bumped up against amazing people, and found family.Who has seen the need for justice, mercy and grace and responded.Who has made her faith her own.Who has felt lost along the way at time, but has discovered who she is.I recently printed off this prayer that we received as a staff at Covenant Point Bible Camp when I worked there and kept it at my desk. It stirs up so many things inside me about the work we have done here, and the work to be done in Connecticut and wherever else we find ourselves. I hope you read it, enjoy it, and take time to reflect on whatever season you find yourself in today. The Prayer of Oscar Romero It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,it is even beyond our vision.We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fractionof the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of sayingthat the kingdom always lies beyond us.No statement says all that could be said.No prayer fully expresses our faith.No confession brings perfection.No pastoral visit brings wholeness.No program accomplishes the church's mission.No set of goals and objectives includes everything.This is what we are about.We plant the seeds that one day will grow.We water seeds already planted,knowing that they hold future promise.We lay foundations that will need further development.We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberationin realizing that. This enables us to do something,and to do it very well. It may be incomplete,but it is a beginning, a step along the way,an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.We may never see the end results, but that is the differencebetween the master builder and the worker.We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.We are prophets of a future not our own.Amen.  

A big part of my Chicago experience has been Andrew.

When we first met, we were leading a missions trip together and had started spending more time together (along with our MWF classes we were in together all day, and we were in a band together). To spend time together not on campus (aka not starting the rumor mill) we use to ride the brownline from Kimball through the Loop and back home. We'd always get off in Lincoln Square to grab coffee at Starbucks. One of my corniest memories is walking across Lincoln at Wilson, and Andrew asked me if he could "please" hold me hand. So sweet, right!? I think of that every time we walk through there...a great Chicago memory.

In March 2008, I got back from getting a pedicure with friends at lunch to a mound of envelopes on my desk. Little did I know that right at that moment, Andrew was waiting on the roof of our building with my engagement ring. I ran upstairs, threw open the door and rose pedals flew up everywhere. I went around the corner and there he was...on a beautiful Chicago spring day.In October 2008, we got married and started our new life together on Christiana Avenue. We have been through a lot in this apartment...really wonderful days and really dark ones. We have had friends over, we have fallen asleep on our couch, we have cooked together. We became a family here, Andrew and I. Learning each others personalities, how each other makes the bed, brushes their teeth, decompresses, needs to be comforted, and needs to be celebrated.My Chicago would not be complete without Andrew. And I am excited to move into this next new place with him as well.

photo by Erica Rose Photography

As a girl originally from the UP...I have a strange love for large cities. I have heard many times from people who are not "city folk" that being downtown makes them feel claustrophobic...that the pace is too fast, too much.

I on the other hand, thrive off the city.

I feel like I really am alone (in a good way), decompressed, relaxed, at rest when I'm sitting on the el or a coffee shop surrounded by people.

Last fall my girlfriends and I vacationed on the East Coast for a "get away" together, and on the front end Andrew and I took 2 days in New York. I know this sounds crazy, but our time in New Hampshire was relational refreshing...but our time in New York was physically refreshing. We felt more relaxed, more "in our element" staying in our little place on W 75th/Central Park W walking to Zabars for breakfast and Greenwich Village for dinner. I think God has used Chicago to mold me into a person who cares about urban spaces (I suppose that's why I have been working in Urban Outreach for the past 4 years!). I look forward to learning about and growing to love other cities in the years to come...but always remembering my first City love, Chicago.

Click here to listen to my chicago anthem.

Say oh, got this feeling that you can't fight
Like this city is on fire tonight
This could really be a good life
A good, good life

A look at 8 years...

June 2003-highschool graduation is over and I'm looking forward to a summer full of swimming all day with my friends at the lake, CHIC and Covenant Point back to back, and then 3 days after I return from camp I'm moving to Chicago to attend North Park.

June 2004-freshman year is over...it had it's good and bad times, it's transitions, and I came out alive and with good friends. I had just met Erikka and we just started attending Willow Creek! Off to Covenant Point I go!

June 2005- sophomore year is complete...I'm back to camp for my last summer. Sophomore year was the best year of school for me...Erikka and I had roomed together and our 7th floor girls had bonded...we had realizations that we were "half way done with college"

June 2006- junior year has come to a close and it was a rough year to be honest. andrew and i had met at the beginning of my junior year, and our relationship had been up and down (he hates to talk about this period of our life) :) I continued to be surrounded by amazing women. This was also the year I decided not to work at camp...so I was moving home to the UP to work at Hallmark and spend time in Escanaba all summer.

June 2007- these two pictures were literally the week after graduation...Carri and I were the only one of our college friends left in Chicago and Krista was hanging around to finish up a few things for University Ministries....we were college grads and JOBLESS! I was living at the Healing's and nannying. My internship at Park Community Church was just finished up, and I was on the hunt for a graphic design dream job! Esther was getting married in July, so all our college friends were looking forward to having a reunion in ca$hville.

June 2008- I had been working at Park Community Church for almost a year as the Outreach Assistant. Andrew and I were engaged (!!) and Erikka was getting ready to get hitched as well (June 7th!)...so we were all in "wedding mode". I had joined a Park small group in September 07 and was meeting weekly with these amazing women I still have in my life today!

June 2009- I started training for my first Chicago marathon...Andrew and I had been married 8 months and he had just finished his first year of seminary. I was still working at Park...life was chugging on. Both of Andrew's parents were recently diagnosed with cancer, and everyone was in the middle of treatments...so...it was an emotional summer and that wasn't the end of cancer in the lives of people we shared life with. (you can tell I didn't have my iPhone for a while here because I have NO pictures!)

June 2010- It's hard for me to remember 2009 and 2010...they kind of melted together. I trained for a second marathon, and was still working at Park. Mentally...I was preparing this to be my last summer in Chicago...and I couldn't have been more right.  Mabrie was pregnant last summer...so a new chapter was opened in the life of my friends...babies!! Another little man entered our lives...Henry Jasmer (along with his awesome mommy, Molly). 2010 was such a hard year for us...every month, something went wrong...something sucked the life out of us...so it felt like walking in mud. Also..last summer was record heat...which, was interesting.

June 2011- We are spending our last days in our apartment on an air mattress, with half of our belongings in our POD and half of them in our bedroom....as we prepare to head to Connecticut, we want to say...we love you Chicago. So we had a beautiful photoshoot in downtown with Erica Rose Photography. I think she captured our love of this city well, don't you?

holy crap, day 5. it's getting real in here.for day 5 I was going to write about something else...but then in bed this morning I just kept thinking about all the little things I've picked up in Chicago over the years that had made living here easier. I kept thinking I hope I meet those people in other cities who know all the little "secrets" of New York and Boston and wherever-else I might land.I keep thinking that I need to download all my Chicago thoughts someplace for someone to read, and benefit from. Some of these are really silly...but I don't care.You can find "evening special" parking downtown for $10 (Van Buren/Wabash) or that there is a lot across the street that is $12 or $14 for the whole day on the weekends.That you can park in the 900 N Michigan Ave building in the evening for $6 if you make a purchase in the mall (hello, this is why I have so many wonderful William Sonoma kitchen towels)That you can find free neighborhood parking just about anywhere as long as you read signs and know what time it is.That Sprinkles cupcakes does a "secret word" of the day that if you whisper it to the cashier they'll give you free cupcakes...and you can go everyday but it's only for the first x amount of people.That the best all you can eat sushi place is "Sushi Para II" on Clark/Webster...$18.99 a person.That you can get free museum passes from the library and go even if you don't have kids.If you are craving a slice of Chicago style pizza but don't want to order a whole one, Art of Pizza in Lincoln Park sells Chicago Style by the slice for $3.That the best Chicago Style Hotdog is "George's" in BucktownThat you can furnish an entire apartment (including your mattress if you're brave) on chicago.craigslist.orgThat IKEA is NOT really that far!The best place to go sit by yourself with coffee and toast is Julius Meinl on Southport.That George's ice cream has the best Rocky Road I've ever had.That you only need to get the 2 eggs special at Ann Sathers because it comes with ALL the sides you'll need (including cinnamon rolls!) and it's super cheap.Hunan Wok is the best Chinese you'll ever taste (Get the General Tso's Chicken and you'll see...)That Lawrence Fish market may not be the nicest storefront but you'll go back there for sushi when you're broke and craving it.There is a food court in Whole Foods on Kingsbury that you can eat on their beautiful outdoor deck.Take a food tour in Wicker Park!Go to iCream in Wicker Park.The best falafel is Sultan's Market, and remember the one in Wicker Park is cash only.The best time to go to a "nice" restaurant is lunch if they are open: my favorites is Blackbird or Province in the West Loop.Go to Mindy's Hot Chocolate in Bucktown...and skip the hot chocolate. Get any of their appetizers (I love the mini pretzels and the cheeseboard) and get a dessert. Go with a Restaurant.com certificate.Order Ala Cart from Mayan Palace...the Quesadilla+$4 margarita's on Tuesday/Thursday.Garcia's in Lincoln Square have the best Fajita's (yes, the chicken is orange, but that makes it better)Frasca Pizza is buy one get one free pizza's on Wednesdays.DMK is known for their burgers, but when we go we get ONE burger to split, and order half orders of all the different kinds of french fries on the menu.Big and Littles on Orleans/Oak. Just go and get one shrimp taco, one tilapia taco, and an order of truffle fries....! Don't be scared of the neighborhood.Pretty much any Bikram Yoga studio in the city has a $29/$30 special for the first month...so go try it.The best way to find an apartment here is padmapper.com.The best view of Chicago is from the Ladies Bathroom in the Hancock building.Ride the brownline from Kimball to the Loop and back...it's the best tour of the most neighborhoods in Chicago and it's only $2.25.Do not fear the Tamale Man...he has frequented the Maproom in Logan Square the few times we've been there...and yes he is selling Tamale's out of a cooler.My favorite Chicago beer is Half Acre Gossamer Ale.Best quick bite downtown right of Michigan Ave is M Burger on Huron right behind the Apple Store. It has a window inside that looks into the kitchen of Tru.The only place to get Stumptown Coffee in Chicago is Bagel on Damen (cash only!)I'm sure I'll think of more during the day...check back for updates.

This post will be short, and sweet.On Driving:While driving the other day, I honestly had this thought:"Thank you Mike Hanson, for teaching me how to parallel park in the parking lot of Holy Name."I'm glad Chicago has made me the driver I am, honking and all.The El:I commuted via the el and bus for 2 years. I have seen the weirdest things on CTA. But I have also had the sweetest moments on their, riding back with friends, having quite time, reading the news paper, listening for my iPod for the first time on the el felt magical (everyone does it!)Andrew and I had our first "dates" on the el. We would ride the brownline at night from Kimball down to the Loop and back. We'd always stop at the Starbucks in Lincoln Square and run back to the train to make our transfer for free. See told you short and sweet :)

Today was our major beginning of packing. My awesome Mommy is here, and she has taken on the kitchen as her target. We were in there ALL DAY (Mom started at 9am or so...we went to bed at MIDNIGHT). I cannot believe this! Note to self: when you live with 3 other women, you only own a 1/3 of the stuff...so you only pack that much. We own EVERYTHING in this apartment...and it ALL has to go!For my 7 day mark, I decided to reflect on something that has dominated most of my freetime the past two summers: The Chicago Marathon.Training for the marathon starts in June and concludes in October...which means you are running all over Chicago during the BEST months. This is good and bad...good because it's beautiful here during the summer...bad because it's beautiful here during the summer and you'd rather be at the beach than RUNNING for 4 hours.My favorite street to run down the first year I trained for the marathon was Damen. From Foster to Chicago, Damen cuts through Ravenswood, Lincoln Square, North Center, Roscoe Village, Bucktown, Wicker Park, and West Town. It's one of those streets that can be quiet and residential and then all of a sudden can be bustling with restaurants, boutiques, and people.Last year when I ran the marathon, I spent a lot of time on Lake Shore Drive. I love running from Foster Beach down to Navy Pier...closing in on the city until you get to the Oak Street curve where you're right in the middle of it.I also enjoyed running after work a lot, leaving my office in Cabrini and running down the Chicago River...and I always take a moment and stop on the Franklin Street bridge. It is one of my favorite views of Chicago.Now, the marathon itself is the best tour you could take of Chicago. I love that it's a loop all around the city, I love that I can see random people I know throughout the route...I love that it's like the biggest holiday in Chicago, I love that last year when it was 90 degrees that people were outside with their yard hoses spraying it onto the runners to cool them down, handing out homemade ice packs, or even getting buckets of ice from Seven Eleven to hand out. The marathon really brings our city together...from the beginning of training when you see other marathoners on Lake Shore Drive chugging out the first weekend 7miler, to the day of celebrating in the park. The marathon makes me love Chicago more.

If it wouldn't have been for Chicago, I...wouldn't have learned how glorious food is.I also wouldn't be contently running marathons to burn it all off, but that's not important in this moment.Can I tell you a little story?I am 18 years old, the freshest you can get as a freshman, and I am downtown at Billy Goats Tavern with a group of friends. If you have watched this SNL skit...this is the "Cheezbourger Cheezbourger Cheezbourger" place..."Chips, no fries."My friends are telling me they've been to this place before, and you cannot order anything else but a cheeseburger (I have learned this is not quite true depending on who's working). Do not ask for any substitutions. No questions. Just a double cheeseburger.I. Am. Horrified.I have never had a cheeseburger!! (Dun dun dunnn)So I suck it up (being the naive 18 year old Yooper I am) and order a Double Cheeseburger, Vitners Chips and a Root beer. No hesitation, no questions. I sit down with my meal and confess to my friends I've never had a cheeseburger. I take a bite. It is GLORIOUS. Who would have thought that cheese on a hamburger could be such a great idea!?Flash forward today: my meals today consisted of Salmon Dill Quiche from Tre Kroner for breakfast and Crunch Shrimp, Crunchy Spicy Tuna, and Cucumber Salad from my favorite sushi place, Dib. Things that I have tried that I hadn't tried then are: mustard, peanut butter and jelly, and pretty much any Mexican food.If you were to tell anyone these days that I use to be the pickiest eater on the planet, I doubt they'd believe you.Heck, I use to eat plain spaghetti noodles with salt on them for dinner because I was "tired" of spaghetti sauce.Chicago, if it wasn't for you...this blog wouldn't exist. I wouldn't be so eager to try to recreate my favorite dishes in my kitchen. Hummus, Falafel, Sushi, Vegan dishes, homemade pizzas, cookies, cupcakes, pastas, sushi, even Chicagostyle Hotdogs wouldn't be on my personal menu of creations if it wasn't for Chicago. I wouldn't know what a Sprinkles cupcake tastes like, I wouldn't know what it's like to dine in a four star restaurant. I wouldn't know what GOOD food tastes like. I wouldln't know how to appreciate exploring other cities for tiny "special" places like the ones I have found here.Chicago--thank you for your restaurants. Echoing my post from yesterday, if it wasn't for the variety and bounty of eateries in this city, I wouldn't know half the people I'm friends with. I wouldn't share meals with them at our favorite places. I wouldn't have dared try anything new if it wasn't for the people I've eaten out with in the years.A toast to you, Chicago. I promise I will bring my "foodiness" to the East Coast to teach it a thing or two.*Also, please check out my 'Chicago' page for a small portion of my "Favorite Restaurants in Chicago" list!

"If I wouldn't have lived in Chicago..."I wouldn't have any of these amazing people in my life!I just have a few memories I'd like to post-I can't post them all for everyone...but these are the ones on my heart right now.I wouldn't have my sweet MTOS friends.I wouldn't have eaten breakfast with these women every Monday morning my last semester of college.Had pillow talk with Erikka at night.Been roommates with Carri, Suz, and Krista.I wouldn't know what Evergreen Saturday is.I wouldn't be so close with Carri if we both hadn't stayed in Chicago after graduation.I wouldn't have any friends on the East Coast if Erikka didn't live there.Would know I share the same birthday with someone like Suz.Would have had totally different friends in college if I wouldn't have known Krista.Would have commuted home in silence if I didn't have Esther to call.I wouldn't know the Jasmers.Would have never had endless Facebook messages with Molly through out the day at work.I would have never watched half the movies I've watched if it wasn't for Ben.I wouldn't know one of my husbands best friends.I wouldn't have gotten to know Molly via a 12 hour car ride from Minneapolis to Chicago.I wouldn't have gotten to be in Henry's life every day.I wouldn't know Mabrie & Jason.I would have never eaten sushi.I wouldn't know all the cool funny things on SNL and YouTube.I wouldn't eat as much Mexican food as I do.I would have never known fake mustaches could be so fun.I would have never watched Star Wars Episode IV.I would have never eaten at half the restaurants in Chicago that I have.I wouldn't have met Rachael Judd.I wouldn't have had anyone to go to spin class with (You're freaking out right now).I wouldn't have spent 40 hours a week for the past 4 1/2 years with Mabs.I wouldn't have anybody to celebrate with after Andrew proposed if she wasn't hiding on the roof taking pictures.I have so many things I wouldn't have done if it wasn't for all of you, my friends. Thank you for being in my life, being my friend, and loving me.

Well...technically day 10 of my countdown would be Sunday, May 29th. But it's 12:19am on Monday, May 30th...but whatever. It's still Sunday in my book.The weather here the past few days has been all over the place. If it's not beautiful sunshine, it's down pouring rain and flash flood warnings.Saturday night I was driving down the 90/94 to meet some girlfriends at The Boundary, and it was one of those "Gotham City" nights in Chicago. If you live here, you know what I'm talking about. The clouds are low and grey, but the lights from the city still seem to shine bright through the fog..it's eerie, creepy, and beautiful.It got me thinking about the first time I'd ever really noticed the skyline like that. Grey & intriguing.It was the night my sophomore year of college when we had a brilliant idea to pitch a tent on the roof of our dorm and sleep out there for the evening. Our version of "urban camping".I woke up early before everyone...which is really weird because I can't even wake up early enough to get to work on time but I managed to get up before dawn. I crawled out of the tent and sat facing the lake, waiting for the sun to come up.This sunrise was gorgeous. Orange, pink, yellow....warm. The clouds and colors changed every minute.But there was the city off in the distance, feeling totally separate from the gorgeous sunrise happening right next to it. And all I could think of was how dirty it looked. How quiet it felt. I was intrigued. It felt like nobody else was awake...just me and the Hancock building. I felt like Chicago belonged to me. This was my city. Where I was growing up in that season of my life.I just sat there for a long time taking it in. I took pictures of the sun coming up--I don't know why I didn't take any of the skyline. I actually think I might have, but then deleted them because it was one of those beautiful things in your mind but is a terrible picture...a picture wouldn't do it justice for my memories and feelings. Then I crawled back into the tent and went back to sleep.I'm pretty sure that's the only sunrise I've watched in years-and that moment by myself is so special to me.

For my last 10 days in Chicago, I have decided to do quick blog posts of my favorite memories in Chicago.Everything that I have done in the past few weeks have brought on thoughts like, "if it wouldn't have been for chicago, i would have never ____" or "____ was one of my favorite moments in Chicago"No recipes. No food. No cooking for almost the past two weeks. All I have is this for right now. Until I have a kitchen of my own, until I start waking up that part of my creativity again...I need space to reflect on an amazing 8 years here. So here it is.

i fell off the wagon this weekend.well...i think the wagon pushed me.I read an article the other day about how eating out and take out affect our lives and it got me thinking:

"For better or worse, we live in an age of multitasking, and being so busy means that many of us take shortcuts when it comes to food. According to the National Restaurant Association, nearly a third of adults say that take-out food is essential to the way they live. Not just helpful — essential."  -Article By: Amanda Genge

So why do I say the wagon pushed me? My wagon is my day to day life I think...life here for me is full of commuting, quick decisions & distractions and just plain busy. We are always going from this meeting to work to this lunch to running to the grocery store, and finally home; exhausted, hungry, and unwilling to leave the couch+netflix/magazine/iphone/computer(whatever is my newest distraction at home).Is this a city-dwellers problem, or just a plain old human kind problem? I think a little of both.Ok so I got my fill of DELICIOUS food that I didn't make this weekend...but here is what I did make last night. And I want to tell you now, O_M_G the old bay season is the secret trick ingredient.

Skillet Shrimp with Orzo

Weight Watchers Points+ 6 servings: 3 points

adapted from Martha Stewart

A few months ago I was walking down Michigan Ave with my sister, and Giada De Laurentiis was doing a demo in front of the Wrigley Building and was passing out boxes and boxes of orzo. Ever since then I have been trying to find ways to use it, and I think I found the perfect place for this pasta to play a leading role.

1 tbs olive oil1 tbs chili infused olive oil (if you don't want to buy it or use it...just use another tbs of regular olive oil)12 oz medium cooked/frozen shrimp1 tsp mustard seeds1 cup shredded carrots2 leeks, sliced into half-moons4 cloves of garlic sliced1/4 tsp old bay seasoning1/4 tsp red pepper flakes1 cup orzo1 1/2  cup chicken broth

1. In a 12-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Toss shrimp with salt and pepper. Saute, tossing, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Remove.2. Add remaining tablespoon olive oil to pan; stir in mustard seeds. Cook until seeds begin to pop, about 30 seconds. Add leeks, carrots, and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until leeks are tender, about 5 minutes.3. Add red pepper flakes and old bay.4. Boil the chicken stock5. Stir in orzo, peas, and the boiling chicken stock; season with salt and pepper.6. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand 5 minutes.7. Add shrimp; stir gently.My lesson learned was two fold this week: I can make delicious food at home that is just as good as take out, but sometimes when I'm short on time...it's okay to cheat a little. To make eating out about soaking in time with friends or a breather to my busy day. For me to make take-out food helpful in my life... not essential.Also, check out my new and ever changing list of my favorite places to eat out in Chicago...refinedsugar.wordpress.com/chicago/

"So the eating in is going well!"*Blank Stare* or a well meaning "Oh, not you?!" is the reaction I get from most of my friends and coworkers who find that this foodie has taken a hiatius from my (sometimes almost) daily trips to Whole Foods, Butterfly, Sultans...I could go on.Although I have to say it's been hard that most of our lunch conversation this week has been "Let's go around and share your favorite coffee shop in Chicago" or favorite bar, favorite thai, favorite burger joint...ah!!! Temptation!!So yes, it's going well. I have officially lost 1.2 lbs so far (hey...it's something!) so the scale is being nice to me again. Phew.The first 11 days of 2011 have brought us a few delicious recipes.Carrot Ginger SoupFajita'sOrange ChickenRoasted Vegetables with Maple Brussels Sproutsand our favorite Pizza RecipeI'm going to share the Carrot Ginger Soup recipe today, because I brought it to our staff potluck and it was a hit!But not before I tell you about how important this week is.If you didn't know, my husband is a Graduate Student at North Park Theological Seminary where he is pursuing his Masters in Christian Formation. Fancy, eh? He's graduating in May, so this week is what I like to call "the beginning of the end". We will be working for the Evangelical Covenant Church, and this is the week we start interviewing with the Superintendents of each conference in the country.Our theme for this year is "No Expectations" (I don't know how many times I've said that to myself and others these past two weeks...lots!) so of course...we are not expecting to stay here in our beloved Chicago, or even the midwest (scary!!).So if you make this soup, and while you're eating it and thinking about how great you think this blog is and the joy this soup brought into your life (hehe too much?) think of us, send us your good thoughts and prayers.Also, my lovely husband got me an immersion blender. Yay. I think he was just sick of washing the blender and everywhere I dripped after making soup.

Carrot Ginger Soup

Weight Watchers Points+ 6 servings: 3 pointsadapted from Food Network & Maxine Bonneau

I swapped out heavy cream for evaporated milk to lighten up on the calories. Also, I love serving this dish with baked polenta cakes (the polenta in a tube just sliced and baked) and edemame.

2 tbs sweet cream butter (look for lite butter)1 large white or spanish onion peeled & rough chopped or 2 medium onions2 pounds carrots, peeled and sliced6 cups fat free/low sodium chicken or vegetable stock (if you want the recipe to be vegetarian)2 tbs grated ginger (or 1/4 tsp ground powder ginger)1 cup fat free evaporated milksalt and pepperSour CreamParsley for garnish

1. Heat butter in 6-quart pan (or I use my large Le Crueset french oven)2. Rough chop onions and add to butter (don't worry about chopping perfect...you're going to be pureeing this all in the end). I also like to throw about a teaspoon of salt on the onions to get them good and tasty.3. Peel your carrots and again, just roughly slice them into similar size pieces. Grate your ginger now too.4. When the onions have gotten limp or softened (I found with the spanish onion they just got soft and sweet and smelled like onion rings...yum) add the 6 cups of stock, sliced carrots, and the ginger. Stir together.5. Cover and bring to a boil.6. Lower the heat and simmer until the carrots are soft. Remove from heat.If you do not have an immersion blender, read 7. If you do own one, read 7.1 7. If you have a regular blender, carefully transfer soup to the blender only filling it up half way. Take the little cap out of the lid to vent and put a towel over the hole so you don't have an orange kitchen. Blend away my friend. Repeat in batches if necessary.7.1 If you have an immersion blender, CAREFULLY blend until soup is pureed and smooth. Try not to splash yourself with this molten hot concoction like I did. Ouchie.8. Add 1 cup evaporated milk so it's nice and creamy.9. Season with pepper if you'd like, and 2 tsp+ kosher salt.I really like to put a dab of sour cream in my bowl and pour the soup over, remember to add in the additional points.

it's 2011 it's 2011 it's 2011!!!!!!!!!!!! i want to scream it from the roof tops! this year has seemed so far off in my mind for so long, and it's finally here, and for some weird reason it feels so good.one of our new resolutions was to majorly cut back on our eating out expense. Hence, the restart of my food blog...with a twist. I am currently on the Weight Watchers program, so no more Julia Child butter fests or quarts of heavy cream. Hopefully I'll be able to post my recipes and my results.Now for the eating out bit: we haven't eaten out since December 30th, 2009 and it was at one of our favorite restaurants. Boy...we did ourselves in. Then of course we had to top the end of the year off with fried wings (they had buffalo wild wings sauce on them!!!), homemade french onion dip, and an assortment of cocktails and my favorite Chicago's own Goose Island Matilda....with fun friends and a nice round of Wits and Wagers before midnight. Ya. Total that all up to a nice 8 pound weight gain (don't forget to add in all the caramel, truffles, and toffee I made as gifts aka snacked on while making for Christmas).My experience so far this year (5 days in!) has consisted of Garlicky White Bean dip, Potato Leek soup, Mushroom Parmesian Crostini's, General Tso's chicken, and more. Tonight was Taco Wednesday, but unfortunatly Andrew had to work last minute, so the fiesta has just been for uno, me plus my Ina Garten cookbook I just picked up from the library.Tacos I made were pretty standard....hard shell, grassfed ground beef, topped with the food equivalent of GOLD (corn salsa from Trader Joes...run don't walk to one right now and purchase).But my new go to sweet treat is Black Bean Brownies. Now, I used a regular size cake pan, so they are really thick this time = more points+ used. But usually I use the biggest size pyrex I have and they are about 2-3 points+.Get ready here is the recipe. Lots of ingredients.

Dark Chocolate Black Bean Brownies

Weight Watchers Points+ in a 9x13 cake pan: 5 points

What you get is really nice cakey but still fudgey brownies with no fat or oil added. Try mixing in some espresso powder or a Starbucks Via for a flavor enhancer!

1 family size box Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix1 can black beans

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.2. Puree black beans in a food processor until smooth (dump the whole can in there...do not drain!)3. Combine dry mix and beans in a kitchenaid or by hand until smooth.4. Spray pan with cooking spray (I used 9x13).5. Put mixture in pan.6. Bake for 35 minutes, checking at 30mins to see if they're done depending on your oven.

So after a long weekend of tramping around town with mom+little sis, 1 chicago style hotdog, a trip to Rosebud (where I got the inspiration for this recipe), the Art Institute and many delicious breakfasts later: I'm back, Wustof in hand, Canon Rebel back in biz to document my fun. I do have to admit though, I love the iPhone pictures, but we'll see how this goes.As I said before, my mom and sister where in town this past weekend for their spring break. On Saturday night, we went from restaurant to restaurant, trying to get a quick table for dinner sans reservations. Finally after walking in circles around River North, we ended up at the doorstep of Rosebud. After shopping and going to museums all afternoon, we were ready for a meal: and boy did we get a treat! I ordered the Fettuccine Boscaiola, which is Mushrooms, Spinach, Garlic in a White Sauce with Toasted Breadcrumbs and White Truffle Oil.  Each bite was divine.  The mushrooms where cooked perfectly to my taste (I like a little bit of cooked crunch...nothing limp when it comes to mushrooms, that's boring!), and the breadcrumbs where a perfect surprise on top. We also had a traditional Spaghetti, and topped our meal off with a giant slice of the Canolli cake. We waddled our way back to the hotel room, and promised that this would be our new dinner place in town.So since I was so inspired, I can't seem to get away from Martha lately, I had to try this. Plus my favorite part is I had all these things in my pantry which makes it all the better. This dish is a carbonara like pasta, quick, easy, ready in 25 minutes.  I opted for turkey bacon instead of pancetta: although next time I may use a high quality bacon. Turkey bacon doesn't give you those delicious crumblies...it was more like bacon chips. I also used about a 1/2 tbs of black truffle oil to give it a little bit of a flourishing aroma and taste.

Fresh Linguine Pasta with Bacon and Peas by Martha Stewart

Ingredients

Serves 4 to 6

• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 4 slices turkey bacon, sliced crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 shallots, halved and thinly sliced OR 1 medium onion+2cloves minced garlic
• 1 box (10 ounces) frozen peas, thawed
• 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream or half and half
• 2/3 cup chicken broth
• 18 ounces fresh linguine pasta or any type of fresh cut pasta

Directions

1. Set a large pot of salted water to boil. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain (leave fat in skillet).
2. Add shallots/onions+garlic to skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften, 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Reserve 2/3 cup of pasta water to make chicken broth (if using a boullion cube**).
4. Add peas, chicken broth and whipping cream; season with salt and pepper. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
5. While simmering, drizzle oil over mixture. Toss while continuing to simmer.
6. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 2/3 cup pasta water**; drain pasta, and return to pot. Pour sauce over pasta; toss to combine. Sprinkle with bacon, and serve

**I used a bullion cube instead of canned/boxed chicken broth because that's what I had in my cupboard. I made the broth using the water from the pasta so it was more starchy and able to thicken a little better with the peas and onions.  If you don't use a bouillon cube, just reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water and slowly add while tossing with sauce.