Yep, just PR’ed that.

Anyhow, as I’ve gotten older and started cooking and dining out more, I’ve found that several things I would never eat as a kid are now things I really enjoy. Maybe my taste buds got a little more mature but now that I’m a more adventurous eater, I’m more open to trying new things.

Here are some of the things I would never be caught dead eating as a kid:

• Beets
• Onions
• Corn (actually, I still don’t like corn on the cob)
• Fish or sushi (minus shrimp)
• Any sort of squash
• Blueberries
• Almonds or nuts (still dislike them in brownies)
• Beans

Yeah, after reading that list again I’ll clarify, it’s not that I ate crap all of the time, I was just really specific about what I would eat and never vary from it.

So you can imagine that I never the kid-me would die at the thought of pork belly, bone marrow, etc. and the same kid-me would dry heave dramatically in response. Fortunately, it’s no longer the case.

But the two foods I still very strongly dislike: black licorice and lamb. Okay, I don’t loathe lamb but I’m not a huge fan.

What were your least favorite foods that you grew out of hating?

Except now I’m saying, holy s*t it’s November and Thanksgiving is just a week away!!

I’m extremely excited about making the meal, but also, as an anal retentive, Type-A, hyper-organized, people pleaser (which could also be hashtaged, #reasonswhyimsingle), I am nervous.

So to ease my nerves, I’m channeling my PR/Type-A-ness and moving in to an organized, Project Manager role for this meal.

That included starting an email chain with my SIL to share recipes, menu options and timing.

She also mentioned creating an “oven schedule” to ensure everything we prioritize what needs to cook and be reheated. I nearly wept in joy when I read that. She gets me.

So here is our near final menu:

• Turkey (going with pre-cooked this year)
• Stuffing
• Mashed potatoes and gravy
• Sweet potatoes
• Butternut squash soup
• Fruit salad (break up all of the veggies)
• Green bean casserole
• Corn and wild rice salad
• Dinner rolls
• Cranberry chutney (still in negotiations)

After reading over this list again, I will not need to eat for a month.

Like I said, it’s near final so there may be a few changes still but I’m very happy with this. I’m also salivating over the thought of succulent turkey.

Now, I’m off to dig up more recipe options and start building that cooking spreadsheet. You know you work in PR when…

Do you plan ahead for big meals?

Yes, after years of going without, I have slowly joined the “coffee drinking” club. Initiation wasn’t painful either!

While I was in Italy, I forced myself to drink it (since it tastes like liquid gold there) and suddenly, when I returned home, I found myself missing it.

But, learning to love coffee (for me) wasn’t easy. It required a lot of “dating around” to find what I liked and how I like it.

And one thing I love, creamer.

I don’t even know how much I regularly put in, I just know what color I like it to be (scientific right?)

And if there is no creamer available (liquid preferred to powder), I get a little fussy.

Sort of like a 5 year old child.

There have been several mornings at our office coffee machine where you can hear me have a mini or medium temper tantrum about there being no creamer.

For example, “No creamer again? WTF I cannot work like this!!”

Some variation of that sentence has been said…a few times, some with swear words.

I have become a creamer diva. I MUST have creamer for my coffee and it MUST be Half & Half. I will not drink coffee any other way. And when there is no creamer, that means no coffee for me. I want it!

I don’t know how I morphed in to this person but my morning cup of coffee at my desk is a highlight now.

I just have to make sure I drink it before it gets too cold. Still working on that.

What about you? Are you particular about your coffee?

Lately, I’ve been really digging beans. I was not a fan as a kid but now, I enjoy a nice bean salad, soup or casserole. Crazy.

And while digging around for Thanksgiving recipes, I came across one for Black Bean Mexican Salad on Tasty Kitchen. Oh Pioneer Woman, you get me again.

It’s super easy, cost efficient and actually, pretty tasty.

 YUM

Ingredients:

• 1 can Black Beans, Rinsed, Drained.
• 1 can Garbanzo Beans Drained
• 2 cups Corn, Frozen Or Canned
• ½ whole Onion, Finely Diced
• 2 whole Jalapeno Peppers, Seeded, Minced Or To Taste
• 1 whole Red Bell Pepper, Diced
• 1 Tablespoon Chopped Fresh Cilantro
• ¼ cups Olive Oil
• 3 Tablespoons Fresh Lime Juice
• 1/2 Teaspoon Honey
• Salt To Taste
• 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper

Directions:

Verdict:

Very tasty! But definitely allow it to chill. I cut back on the cilantro because I max out on it easily and pared back on the salt/pepper to adjust to my taste each day. I even threw in some quinoa (originally planned for couscous but ran out) to make it a little healthier and not make the bean taste too strong. Also, I recommend using Trader Joe’s Fire Roasted Corn, which I use in my favorite Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos as well. Adds a little smokier of a flavor. I would definitely make it again!

What are you making for dinner lately?

For as long as I can remember, my grandma made the Thanksgiving meal. Turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, cranberry relish and the best mashed potatoes and gravy.

I have a lot of fond memories sitting at their house, watching football and stuffing myself until I have a three month food baby.

But now that my grandma is older, it’s a lot for her to do, and this weekend, she bittersweetly relinquished the Thanksgiving title.

And it really is bittersweet because it’s another sign of change, but one that my SIL and I gladly jumped on.

Yes, we VOLUNTEERED to cook Thanksgiving for that part of our family.

VOLUNTEERED. I’ll say that again because I had an initial moment of fear and then, excitement.

And I’m still so excited about this…and scared.

My SIL and I will be cooking family favorites, but mixing it up a bit too. So far, we’ve discussed adding a sweet potato dish, appetizers (since we’ll eat a little later) and I have made it my mission to find an amazing green bean casserole recipe.

The only big decision we still have to make is: make the turkey ourselves or purchase one premade? I won’t lie, doing a fully homemade turkey freaks me out a little bit.

But, I have plenty of time to get my questions answered and feel more secure in what we’re making.

Let’s dance b*tch

Martha Stewart and Pioneer Woman, I’ve got my eye on you women to help me through this. And I’m hoping it won’t become an episode of My Drunk Kitchen (no promises).

Who traditionally cooks your Thanksgiving meal?

 Note: Photo borrowed from Simple Bites

During my Vancouver vacation in August, I was shocked at the number of food trucks in the downtown area. It seemed like one was on every other street corner! In fact, that’s how I found the food truck I’m showcasing today. I literally ran in to it while turning a corner (likely because I was so distracted by the line of people waiting for the fresh made food.

Unlike Chicago food trucks, Vancouver (and almost all others) prepare the food on-site so it’s fresh and hot. Yes, this is a drawback for Chicago trucks, whose food sits in warmers, but it’s better than nothing. And I was MORE than happy with my first authentic food truck experience. Here’s the lowdown.

Name: Fresh Local Wild

Twitter handle: @freshlocalwild

Website: http://www.freshlocalwild.com

What is it: Started by Chef Josh Wolfe, Fresh Local Wild is a carbon negative mobile restaurant. Yes, there is SEATING! The truck operates on a high efficiency diesel generator (instead of gas) using 100% vegetable oil. This supports it’s overall message of sourcing food as much locally as possible so customers know where their food is coming from and enjoy the variety of great local seafood available to them.

What I ate: To be fair, I wasn’t looking for food when I stumbled up on this truck. I just ate lunch and another food truck (which will be featured at another time) and was full. But when I saw the awesomeness of this truck, I had a second lunch. And then I was REALLY stuffed. Although everything looked good, I kept it simple, salmon fish and chips.

It was recommended by Chef Wolfe and combined two things I love, different takes on traditional foods and memories of Friday fish fries in Wisconsin. Traditionally, the fish and chips I’ve had is white fish but with Chef Wolfe’s strong recommendation, salmon it was, with some fresh cut fries.

What else is on the menu: Because the proteins are sourced locally, the menu changes, but when I visited, there was a great variety of fried seafood, salads and sandwiches. Here’s what was on the menu when I visited.

No lie, I was really bummed I missed the oyster sandwich. I mean, come on, that sounds amazing.

Verdict: This was some of the best street food I’ve had, in any city I’ve been in (sorry Chicago). The salmon was perfectly cooked, fries were delish and it tasted amazingly fresh, just what I wanted. Now that I’ve had salmon fish and chips, I don’t think I can look at it with whitefish again. The breading wasn’t heavy but the crunch with the salmon was nice and since I was getting a little homesick, it was nice to have something that I traditionally eat at home and really enjoy.

I waited it out for a seat at the small dining area too, which gives perfect view in to the kitchen. The cooks were really nice and talked to me for an hour about food, the food truck scene in Vancouver vs. Chicago and great meals that we’ve had. Chef Wolfe joined me for a bit too and talking to him about food was a lot of fun.

I’m bummed that I won’t be able to visit the truck again for a while but it recently recorded a segment for Diners, Drive Ins and Dives which may air in December. I will definitely be watching for that.

Update 10/11: I’m so daft, I completely forgot to tell everyone, check you the other Street Food Friday posts from Doni (Portland), Gretchen (Austin) and Lacey (New York).

And after seeing Naomi’s (aka Gastrognome) recent post about a pork cheek recipe she made (called Holy Sh*t Pork Cheeks), I knew I had to make it. Slow cooker and pork? BRING IT ON PIGGIES.

This is literally all you need:

• Pork cheeks
• Turkey stock/broth
• Canned chipotle peppers
• Salt
• Pepper
• Olive oil

Let this all sit in the slow cooker for 8-9 hours on low and you’re all set. Seriously, I worried that this wouldn’t turn out, I mean, cooking for that long when the meat isn’t very big or thick? This must be wrong but it wasn’t!

Verdict: A little spicy (like me) but damn tender and tasty. I can see why Naomi had to take a photo of this right away because it goes fast. I didn’t take a photo right away and, well, ate the entire thing before I realized it.

Sh*t.

So here is the photo from Naomi’s blog, which I got permission to post (credit to Gastrognome) so you can see some of the deliciousness.

Image and full post found here

Really, this meat was so tender it just fell apart on your fork or in your mouth. The chipotle peppers made it a little too spicy for me at times (or inconsistently spicy) but I would work with this in the future. Plus, with a little truffle salt, it is just SO delicious.

It was a little bit of a pilgrimage around Chicago to get the pork cheese and turkey stock/peppers, but next time I’ll plan a little better and have everything ahead of time. Oh yes, I will be making this again.

What are you cooking this fall?

Yes, an entire tent dedicated to CHEESE.

On Saturday, my Wisconsin Badgers were playing Northern Illinois University at Soldier Field and I was fortunate enough to get tickets to the game and a Badger pre-game tailgate.

The tailgate had beer, brats, sandwiches, cookies, chips and cheese. But, given that I’m from a cheese-fanatic state, a local cheese company had an entire tent dedicated to cheese, separate from the other food and beverage tents.

The minute the woman at check-in told us about it, I was off like a shot. I may be muttered, “I want to go to there,” and then quickly started scanning the crowd, full of red-dressed Badger fans.

Of course, the cheese tent was a little hidden (no doubt to control the crowds) but when I saw it, I had to photograph the awesome-ness of this moment.

If you couldn’t tell, I love cheese. LOVE IT. I’ve been known to demolish a cheese plate at a party with only carnage left behind. It happens.

Here are some photos of this mecca:

Cheese tent, I want to go to there

No surprise, Cheddar was the most popular

And of course, the best way to tailgate is a plate of cheese and a beer, clearly, I took advantage of both.

I love the Midwest

How was your weekend?

But I miss it, so this weekend, I was determined to get back in there and dust off my skillet and mixing bowls.

Here’s part of what I made:

Real Simple’s Three-Bean Salad (with couscous)

Name: The Slide Ride

Twitter handle: @theslideride

Website: http://www.theslideride.com

What is it: This food truck is all over gourmet sliders beyond the traditional burgers.

Meet the truck!

What I ate: The menu rotates but when I visited, it had four sandwiches available. I picked up the signature Ribeye and Chicken Pesto sliders with a side of sweet potato chips. The Ribeye also came with a horseradish sauce to add on top.

Pesto Chicken (seriously I had to remember to take this photo, it’s so good!)

What else is on the menu: Depending on what the truck has available that day, you can also get a Southwest Black Bean, Korean or Mini Pork Banh Mi slider. Here was the menu the day I was at the truck.

The menu on my truck visit day

Verdict: I have to say, the Chicken Pesto slider was amazing. AMAZING. I thought I would love the signature ribeye more (especially with the horseradish) but the chicken blew me away. So good. To be fair, it could have been the prosciutto and cheese on top that put me over the edge, since I’m not much of a pesto fan, but with the bun, everything came together really well. The ribeye was tasty and well cooked but the horseradish wasn’t very strong and, personally, I like spicier horseradish when I have it. That said, it still had a great smokey steak flavor so I would order it again.

Want more Street Food Friday? Check out Lacey, Gretchen and Doni’s latest posts! No kidding, Lacey’s is about a truck called Feed Your Hole. LOVE IT.

What would be on your dream sandwich?

Anyhow, after my recent success of Chickpea Salad (albeit lazy), my recipe supergoddess friend Liz emailed me another one to try from Everyday Food and Martha Stewart. It sounded easy and delicious and with her to vouch for it, that’s all I need to hear. Let’s check it out.

Oh yeah, no picture this week. Sorry! But you can see a picture here at the blog Deglazing.

Ingredients:

2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes (4 cups), any color  

2 small red, yellow or orange bell peppers, diced medium

¼ cup EVOO

2 TBLspoons red-wine vinegar

1 garlic clove, minced

Salt and Pepper

¾ pound medium pasta shells

½ cup fresh basil leaves, torn if large

½ cup ricotta, for serving

Preparation:

1.        In a large bowl, toss together tomatoes, bell peppers, oil, vinegar, and garlic; season with salt and pepper.  Let sit at room temperature, 20 minutes

2.       Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta.  Drain and add pasta to sauce, tossing to combine.  Add basil and toss.  Divide among four bowls and top each with ricotta.

Verdict:

Good but needs some zing. For me, it was just a little…bland. To be fair, I did not include basil (since I have no plant to rob from) so I would absolutely make it again and it will likely taste better with it. I would also add a bit more pepper too for a some kick, but the no cook tomato sauce was surprisingly really good and didn’t get too sweet. I even really liked having a light tomato sauce and it was really easy to make (and refrigerated well). Another winner!

What is your favorite pasta dish to cook up?

This summer, I’m spending a lot of time on the West Coast. First, it was Los Angeles, then Salt Lake City, then San Diego, my most recent travel adventure. I was there for the BlogHer conference and not only was reunited with some of my blogging loves, but also, had some damn good food and fun.

So while I’m recovering from a few days in the whale’s vagina (see Anchorman reference), I’m also preparing for Seattle coming up! Time to put away the carry-on suitcase and prepare for the one I always bag-check. Crazy, but I’m excited.

Below are some pictures from the weekend. Sadly, I didn’t take a ton of food porn photos (bad, I know), but I think you’ll see the right amount of fun with the debauchery stories kept to those that were present :)

How was your weekend?

Movie Review: Friends with Benefits, which does include gratuitous JT ab shots and music.

Anyhow, this weekend, I closed out July by doing not a lot, which is good because August is going to be BUSY for me, so I’ll take my rest where I can.

It started off with drinks near Marilyn Monroe from Some Like it Hot (no I’m not making that up) and ended at Wrigley Field for the Paul McCartney concert! Yes, it was hotter than sin in that stadium (like, no air circulation) but it was worth it. Let’s take a look.

View from our seats!

Pre-concert photo montage

Paul McCartney rocking out!

The concert in a word: AWESOME. As a raging Beatles fan, it was heaven, hearing songs I listen to on my iPod and on record live was just amazing. And sitting with the person I went with, both of us singing “Yesterday” is a moment I won’t ever forget. Really, it brings a tear to my eye thinking about it.

I also got a little pre-concert gift from my guest too. Yeah, he gets me.

But as amazing as last night was, it’s on to August! I don’t know about you but this month is cray cray for me and there is lots to look forward to, such as:

• BlogHer in San Diego! I must brush up on Anchorman lingo
• Seattle and Vancouver – time to hike, drink wine and stuff my face (sexy!)
• Birthday – Yeah I’ll work on getting more excited for this
• Next! Yes, that’s right, I’m going back for Thai cuisine. Very excited

Yeah, that’s all that’s coming up for me, not much at all :)

Do you have any big August plans? How was your weekend?

Anyhow, I’m finally back with a Street Food Friday post (just before I hit the road again) and this time, we’re covering empanadas, the hot little pockets of deliciousness making their way around Chicago in the 5411 Empanada truck.

Let’s take a closer look!

Name: 5411 Empanadas

Twitter handle: @5411empanadas

Website: http://5411empanadas.com

What is it: Gourmet empanadas, baked, not fried and just perfect little pockets of deliciousness. Founded by three Argentine friends, the empanadas bring this dish’s Buenos Aires’ popularity to Chicago (via catering and truck) with bites that can be served for lunch or at a party.

Love the color of this truck :)

What I ate: I’ve tried all of the empanadas on the truck and definitely have my favorites. Usually 2-3 fill you up (I once bought 4 and had a wicked stomach ache from deliciousness) so I rotate between the spinach and cheese, ham and cheese and caramelized onion. There recent addition of a Nutella and banana empanada will now work its way in to rotation too!

Cute little ham and cheese!

Mr. Beef

What else is on the menu: The truck also has beef (which is tasty), barbecue chicken (which is okay) and sweet corn (which is also good but a little bland). Really, you cannot go wrong with anything.

Verdict: Clearly by my language in this post, I’m a fan. And this is the ONLY truck I’ve seen yet in Chicago with a standing line about 20 people long waiting for the truck before it shows up. Sure, the trucks in Chicago still get a crowd but this one, you have to get out there early. I’ve learned the hard way.

Check out the other recent Street Food Friday posts on Doni, Gretchen and Lacey’s blogs. You can learn more about Portland’s 5th and Stark, New York’s Big D’s Grub Truck and Austin’s Torchy Tacos.

Are you a big empanada fan? Or do you have anything fun planned this weekend? TGIF!

So in reality, it is a lazy salad and the only Greek ingredient is the Feta. #semirecipefail. Here’s a peek.

I got the original recipe from my super recipe goddess friend Liz, who I shamelessly ask for recipes because she always makes good stuff. Yeah, I’m giving my usual recipe sites a rest this week, and my oven because it’s hot enough already here.

So here is the recipe Liz gave me, which sounds delish. I’ve noted in italics where I substituted or added items.

Greek Chickpea Salad

• 1/2 small red onion sliced (No onion for me but I think this would be a really tasty addition)
• 2 TBL spoons lemon juice
• 2 TBL spoons extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices ( I used sugar snap peas)
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup feta
• 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, roughly chopped (Did not include this)
• 1/2 cup lightly packed fresh parsley (Did not use, still mourning the loss of my Basil plant)
• Added 1/3 cup couscous (makes 1 cup cooked)
  

In a large bowl, combine onion, lemon juice & olive oil, season w salt and pepper.  Toss well and let sit 5 minutes.  Add cucumber, tomatoes, feta, chickpeas, & parsley, and season w salt and pepper. Toss to combine.

Verdict

SO GOOD. I have to admit, I didn’t know what to expect. I’m not a big bean fan but since I like hummus, I figured chickpeas were safe and now, I’m a fan. The combo of lemon juice, EVOO and Feta worked really well together and it tasted light and refreshing, which was exactly what I wanted. The chickpeas were tender too, and a friend said that steaming them is another great prep tip, I’ll try that next time. I do wish I would have added the onion but the sugar snap peas were really tasty and added a nice sweetness to the dish too. I will absolutely make this again and try to a) follow the original recipe and b) experiment with some other ingredients and beans too!

What are your favorite recipes to make when it’s hot out?

This may be silly but I’ve never been a regular. I don’t frequent the same coffee shop, bakery, grocery store or bar enough where people “know” me. I tend to move around too much, or sneak in and out of places.

Well, it appears as though that situation has changed.

I am now a regular at…the local frozen yogurt shop in my neighborhood.

Yes, bring on the shame.

A few months ago, about three blocks from me,  a self-serve frozen yogurt place opened, where you take as much fro yo as you want, pick your own toppings and pay based on what you weigh.

Stores like this are popping up all over Chicago and by the grace of something bigger than me, one went in by my house. And let’s just say that I go there…a lot.

I went three days in a row one weekend and demanded a cab take me there when I was going home post-bar (after said declaration, I fell asleep in that cab and STILL made it for fro yo). When I meet up with Nic for ladies night out, I usually end up dragging her there and have run in to coworkers and other neighborhood friends there too.

Clearly, frozen yogurt brings people together.

But my “regular” status was cemented Sunday when I stopped in for a cool treat, the cashier said hi, grabbed two taster cups for me and a pink spoon (which I always ask for), then she asked if I worked out today (I usually go in post-workout) and told me there was a new flavor that day to try.

Okay, this isn’t exactly “regular” like starting my order before I arrive, but this is a sign, I go there way too much.

Could be worse…could be a crack habit.

Are you a regular?

This weekend, I took part in one of Chicago’s favorite spring/summer time activities: street festivals. After Memorial Day, there is a new street or music festival every weekend throughout the city, ranging from art shows to block parties.

Festivals and food!

And this weekend, I hit up two: Old Town Art Fair and one that made my heart race faster with excitement: Ribfest. That’s right, a festival of ribs. I love street fair food and this weekend, I indulged.

Even though the Art Fair had gorgeous gardens, million dollar homes and beautiful art (all at a prices I absolutely cannot afford) and I cannot buy anything, I still love walking around this Fair. And this year, Liz and I accidentally wandered in to a private party in a New Orleans-style garden. Oops.

After perusing some handmade jewelry and art (where I fell in love with one Chicago print that I could not justify), it was time for lunch, where I devoured these delicious chicken tamales from Adobo Grill. I barely took this photo before I mowed down on them, a sign I was starving :)

Sunday, Mananya and I hit up Ribfest (thank goodness I worked out first) and it was a gorgeous day for some damn sexy ribs and the smell of barbecue. I think my hair still smells like it now.

We got food from three places: Corner 41 (five-time Ribfest winner) for a full slab, Smoke Daddy for a pulled pork sandwich (sadly, sans cole slaw) and The Piggery (awesome name) for a half slab. Yes, I went in to a rib coma after that. Here’s a little food porn.

Time to get some meat!

First rack of ribs (Corner 41) – Photo courtesy of Mananya

The Piggery ribs – Photo courtesy of Mananya

For the record, The Piggery was my favorite. The meat was fuller and the sauce was sweet and had molasses. OMG good.

Sending out good karma

Then, Saturday night, TC and I hit up Super 8 downtown (see review here!) and while walking to the bus, noticed a wallet sitting in the middle of the road. We picked it up and saw it was full of cash (about $10), debit and credit cards and the man’s driver’s license. We looked for any information or phone number to reach him, but sadly, we only found a business card, which didn’t list a cell phone. After trying to see if we could reach him, we dropped it off at a hotel across the street from where we found it. Rationale being that if I lost my wallet, I would check all surrounding businesses to see if someone turned it in. And a message from a hotel that his wallet had been located sounds better than a call from two women.

So after my good karma payback a few weeks ago, I put the good karma back out there myself.

How was your weekend? Do you hit the local festivals in your city?

Name: Haute Sausage

Twitter handle: @hautesausage

Website: http://www.hautesausage.com

What is it: Growing up in Wisconsin and the Midwest, sausage (especially brats) is a standard summer dish. Personally, I’ve never been a brat fan (shameful!) but when I heard about a sausage food truck starting in Chicago, I was willing to give it a try. Rich Levy is the man behind the wheel and the entire menu are sausages with a variety of global flavors. You can learn more about the truck’s history here.

Meet the truck!! (and ignore the unfortunately placed pole)

What I ate: I won’t lie, at first glance, I wasn’t sure if the sausage truck was for me. There was a lot of lamb sausage on the menu (I don’t normally eat lamb), but then something caught my eye: Campfire Bison (Bison sausage with blackened corn, grilled onions, baked beans and BBQ sauce). So much yes.

Good lord that’s a tasty lookin’ sausage

What else is on the menu: The menu varies a bit on what is available, but here was the menu when I hit up the truck.

I have my eye on the Sheboygan Brat and Chicken Masala next.

Verdict: REALLY GOOD. My friend declared the Sheboygan Brat the best food truck item she’s had to date and I was not far behind in my positive sentiments. At first glance, the sausage seemed a little…small (maybe it was in cold water?) but it was so flavorful and satisfying that it was filling without being too heavy. The bison was smoky and great without being gamey and the addition of onions, corn and beans were really nice too. Also, the bun was insanely delicious and not at all dry, which I loved. The one item I didn’t get and wish I would have were the homemade salt and vinegar chips. Normally, I’m not a fan because the vinegar is overpowering but these were really delicate and tasty. I will definitely get those next time and I will be hitting up this truck again too. Plus, I tweeted the truck to ask them to save me a Bison sausage and they did!! That is excellent service.

So I know there are about 10 TWSS moments in this post so I saved you all from listing them. You can visit Lacey, Gretchen and Doni’s blogs too for more Street Food Friday posts.

What is your favorite summer dish?

So now that I’m helping Chicago’s economy by doing a little spending, I’m making a little list of things I’m loving right now.

Target’s Grocery - Okay this is a little lame but I’m obsessed with the grocery section of Target. City grocery stores (even chains) are expensive but this is SO NOT. I love it.

Chobani Blueberry Yogurt – I was not a Greek yogurt fan at first, but now I’m loving this. It’s a little pricey but a nice treat

Nordstrom-brand necklaces – I bought one about a year ago and I wear it all the time. Affordable and the metal doesn’t fade after multiple wears. I just picked up the Etched Link one this weekend. LIKE!

Kiehl’s Acne Blemish Control Daily Skin-Clearing Treatment – My pale skin shows scars pretty well but this has helped soften the scars I do have on my face and neck. LIKE!

Truffle Salt - I brought a LOT of this back with me from Italy and it’s so tasty. Adds so much to regular pasta dishes, popcorn, etc. LIKE!

Sequin enamel bracelets (Brights and Ikat) – Found them at Nordstrom and fell in love! Stackable and bright, two things I love in bracelets

Moleskine notebooks – My stationary-savvy friend introduced me to Moleskine and I picked up an adorable red journal for Italy. A) I never lose it and b) the bookmark and elastic closure keeps it from getting damaged

Summer nail polish colors! – My go-to colors are OPI’s Feelin’ Hot Hot Hot for my toes and Essie’s Guchi Muchi Puchi for my fingernails. Time to get back in the mani/pedi routine!

What are some of the products or foods you love right now?

Let’s start with Glee. On Friday, TC and I embarked on a magical journey to the suburbs to see Glee in concert again. Last year, we had an awesome time dancing, screaming/singing and going bananas in the crowd. How could we say no to a repeat performance?

This time, Glee was at a bigger stadium in the suburbs, allowing for more screaming pre-teen fans and overzealous moms and less dance room. Not a fan, these hips and arms need to move!

But we made it work, kicking off the night by being the oldest non-parent people at the local Steak n’ Shake (first timer!) where you can get a meal for under $6, wow.

Then it was over to the Arena and to our seats with beers in hands to get our dance on. Best pre-show moment: watching a 10 year old boy lip synch along passionately to “Grenade” by Bruno Mars. A…dorable.

The main show was pretty good, a rotating mix from the New Directions and eventually the Warblers with a good mix of songs from this year and some from season one.

Little number from season one

A little blurry photo of the Warblers. Love.

And TC and I may or may not have starts screaming, jumping up and down while holding hands during Teenage Dream. Seriously, we were 14 years old (just like the people behind us). Fortunately, I could log “dancing” as my cardio for the evening.

After the show, we tried again for autographs and while Chord Overstreet (Sam) denied me an autograph in favor of an elbowing mom ahead of me, TC did get some sweet pictures, see one below.

Taken by TC who made magic with her iPhone

Dear Glee, we’ll see you next summer in concert. Moms, watch out.

Saturday, after some post-Glee-gasm rest, I had a Thai cooking class with the lovely Mananya. And this was serious. We started at the Asian markets in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, collecting ingredients for my dishes and talking through tips on what to look for and what can be substituted.

Then it was home and in to the kitchen with my wok and rice maker. The longest part of the session was just prepping the ingredients, such as water spinach, Thai chilis, garlic and Thai eggplant. Making our three dishes in the wok took less than 30 minutes. Amazing. Also, my grocery bill was only $20 for protein and ingredients and I now have enough food to last the week. More amazing.

Here is a picture of my post-cooking class plate:

Left to right: Pad Boong, Pad Prik with beef and Thai Basil Chicken with jasmine rice.

I learned a lot from the class and had a great time. I cannot wait to try next weekend’s planned dish, chicken curry with rice.

If you’re in Chicago and interested in cooking classes with Mananya, give her a shout on Twitter!

How was your weekend?