Seriously, I use these long weekends to get a lot done and check things off my list so I don’t have to worry about it during the week when things are crazy.

Yeah…turns out I only got about half of the things I wanted to done because I was too busy…relaxin’ or hanging out with friends.

Doh!

But it wasn’t a total wash, I got the following things done: dust, clean the bathroom, pay bills, balance the checkbook, upgrade to iLife ’09, contemplate getting the new iPhone 4, buy Oberon, shop with TC (who is a bad influence in the best way), return items to the Gap and…BREAK IN THE ROOMBA. OMG, I can’t wait to tell you all more about that later this week.

I also saw two movies, Going the Distance (review is up!) and The Other Guys (review forthcoming). I love being back at the movies :)

What didn’t get done: Plan my trip to Denver which is NEXT WEEK OMG, actually upgrade to iPhone 4, clean the kitchen, recycle old magazines, start reading my new book, “My Hollywood.”

So…I’ll say it’s a partial win for this weekend.

I also dined out a few nights this weekend too as a little treat and of course, I have some photos to share :)

Tableside presentation of Peking duck at Sun Wah BBQ (yes, I went back for more, I’m obsessed and it was amazing)

Kamikaze roll at Sushi Toro (I LOVE sushi)

Pork belly with potato chips and sesame spinach at Chilam Balam (a new-ish Mexican restaurant that I’m in love with)

So yes, I didn’t get everything productive done that I wanted to, but it felt good to have a few days off, and well, isn’t Labor Day supposed to be a bit more relaxing? Maybe?

How about everyone else? Did you have a lazy or productive weekend? Did you get everything done you wanted to?

Well, rather than dwell on that, let’s dive into the weekend because I’m holding on to the bliss the weekend brings for a few more hours :)

Movies in the Park

One of my favorite things Chicago does in summer is Movies in the Park, a free event where old and semi-new movies are shown in parks around the city. It’s BYO…everything, from food to drink to chairs.

And when WG2 saw that Julie & Julia was playing, well with one text message, I had a tote bag packed and was on my way to meet her at the park! Sure, our park was near the freeway and didn’t have a bus that was running after the movie, but it was a gorgeous night and a ton of fun.

Here is my tote bag of goodies, yes, that is champagne, white wine, hummus and fresh veggies, which complimented her Pastoral cheese plate deliciously.

But you can see some people take it very seriously, like the group of men behind us. Nice set up.

Watching a movie outside and under the stars is a ton of fun. I cannot believe it took me so long to do this!

Pig Roast

Until this weekend, I have never been to a pig roast. Apparently, we stay true to brats in Wisconsin.

And when my boss told me she was having one at her home and that I was invited, the first thing I said was, “I’ve never been to one, so I’m going to take pictures, but don’t worry, I’m not casing your house.”

Full disclosure.

And we got there just in time to watch that piggy being cut up for the masses.

Yeah, I know, little gross.

But put that baby with some mac and cheese and cornbread (with real corn inside!) and it was a very delicious meal. Fortunately, I had some self control and did not go back for seconds. And I avoided this being an ugly eat too (mostly because co-workers were there).

Yeah the mac and cheese was orgasmic

Other random weekend highlights

I slept until 10 a.m. (NEW RECORD), read Mockingjay and started One Day, laid in bed late each day and did not clean my apartment. But that can always wait for next weekend. Also, if someone else has finished Mockingjay, please email me! I want to talk about it!

How was your weekend? Does your city have Movies in the Park?

Edited 8/30: So in a multitasking FAIL, I forgot to mention I got to FINALLY meet Alexa from Cleveland’s a Plum this weekend. Yeah, angels sang when we met, it was magical. I’ve been hugged by the Plum. We also got to see Wrigleyville’s finest out on a Saturday night, thank goodness it wasn’t game weekend!

People helped her up but I felt bad and heard the guy next to me whisper to someone on the phone, “god this woman just took an ugly fall.”

So I got to thinking about what I call, “the uglies.”

Ugly fall – See example above. When a person bites it hard on the concrete.

Ugly cry – Full out sob fest, accompanied by red eyes and nose, snot running down your face and shaking from the sobs that wrack your body. Examples: Terms of Endearment, Up and Time Traveler’s Wife

Ugly eat - When the simple task of eating becomes more of an episode of Animal Planet, causing you to own it and not hide in shame while eating in public, or causing you to hide at your desk to enjoy your ugly eat in private. Examples: Ribs, Cheetos and cupcakes

Ugly shame – Your single or “home alone” activity that you embrace but do behind closed doors, blinds or rooms. Examples: eating food that falls on your boob or cleavage

I am guilty of ALL OF THESE, sometimes doing more than one in a single day.

The only one I’m actually embarrassed by is the ugly fall. I am very self conscious in public (sometimes) and I hate, more than anything, when I fall or trip over my feet in public. I feel people staring at me, laughing and pointing, or thinking “that poor girl” as they help me off the floor of the bus.

Maybe it’s because I like being independent and not relying on someone to help me all the time, so the thought of someone having to help me up is frustrating and socially crushing, but then again, when I bite it and do it well, someone better help me up.

What about you? Which case of the uglies do you find happens the most?

Review blog update: Hey! I’m updating this again after way too long of a delay. Today I’m talking about a facial cleanser/make up remover I love from Neutrogena.

Dramatic, I know :)

But before I move on from my birthday bliss (okay I might extend it into this weekend, sue me!), I wanted to share some highlights from the weekend, including food and presents!!!

Yes, photos from Saturday night haven’t rolled in yet (I’ll be looking into that tomorrow) but I was a good girl and behaved, so nothing scandalous.

I love good food and dining out, and Chicago is a great place to indulge in this. So I made a list of three places I wanted to dine out for my weekend: Longman & Eagle, Epic and Sunda. I wanted to go to places that have been on my “list” for a while and these won out!

And of course, the food was yummy at all three. No food porn from Longman but here is some from Epic and Sunda:

Epic’s house gnocchi with lamb sausage and swiss chard (even got dad to try and like this!)

NY strip steak

Sunda’s Lemongrass beef lollipops

And then it was dessert time!!! I LOVE cake but last year was the last time I could have my childhood birthday cake because the bakery was closing :( But this year, dad surprised me with cupcakes from Sprinkles, look how cute this is!!!

For presents, I was a little TOO good to myself this year :) I say that I was making up from last year, when I got nada because…well I don’t know why.

So here’s what I got:

• Roomba!!! She’s here!! Be on the watchout for adorable videos coming up
• Dutch oven. It’s risotto time!
• Big Buddha bag (the teal one I posted on my wish list here)
• Mac iLife 09 update. I know, functional

I’m so happy with everything. And I was very fortunate to get a HUGE surprise from my dad:

OMFG. I nearly blacked out when I saw this.

So all in all, it was a great birthday weekend.

How was everyone else’s weekend? Do you like to treat yourself when it’s your birthday?

For two years, I diligently counted my calories, which was easy because I never went out. I counted every glass of water, M&M, chip and sandwich I ate. I was obsessed with it and of course, saw the results of it (losing weight).

Then, suddenly I OD’ed on it and stopped. I wouldn’t log for a day, then two days, then a week, then a month, etc. I’m afraid to check when the last time I logged was, because I’m willing to bet, it’s been three months.

I hate doing it, but it worked.

And lately, I’ve been needing a kick in the pants to do it again. Clothes are snug, beer is delicious, I can’t say no to food or snacking (especially when I eat my feelings) and I feel fat all the time. I can barely stand to look at myself in the mirror.

Last week, I finally got that last kick. While checking Facebook, I saw a friend lost 40-60 lbs over the last six months. And she looked fantastic. I commented to her how great she looked, but staring down at my gut, I felt like a total failure.

So I took one last bite of a cookie and logged into Sparkpeople to start logging my calories again, each cookie, salad and sandwich at a time.

And the results were horrifying. I’m allowed 1,550 calories per day and it horrifies me how quickly it adds up. Turns out, reaching 1,550 calories is easy, stopping at that point isn’t.

In the last week, I stayed within my calorie goal three of the seven days. It’s a very small victory. I’m back at the gym, committed to my workouts and I’m feeling better. I still have a lot of work to do but I take it one day at a time.

While logging, I also saw how weak I am in front of food. I can’t say no, especially in an office where there are always snacks and a candy dish three feet away from me. I chew gum, drink lots of water and pinch my wrist when I feel the urge to go snack. Or, I take 1-2 small pieces of candy and cut myself off there.

Oh and logging food when you go out to eat sucks too. There is no easy way to do it except for breaking down what is in there and finding comparable items in the database. Again, it’s painful, but I am really trying not to give up.

So yes, I hate counting calories, but I hate feeling fat more.

What about you? Do you count calories? How do you handle eating well while dining out?

I’ve mentioned before that I love pasta and carbs. So much so that I might become a walking carb myself. Pasta, bread, you name it, I love it.

But in the summer, rather than bake a casserole with pasta, I’m looking to lighten up my food. Something still carby yummy but cool and easy to prepare without heating up the kitchen.

And lately, I’ve been falling in love with two things: quinoa and couscous.

These babies are my new b*tches. I love cooking with them. And after finding success with quinoa, I tried my luck with couscous this weekend. Here was the result:

Yeah, food styling fail. I know.

Couscous Chicken Salad (MyRecipes)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2  cups  fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
• 12  ounces  skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• 1  (10-ounce) package couscous
• 1  cup  chopped fresh basil
• 1/4  cup  EVOO
• 3  tablespoons  sherry vinegar
• 3/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 1  garlic clove, minced
• 1 1/2  cups  halved cherry tomatoes
• 1  cup  sliced green onions
• 1  (15 1/2-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed

Directions:

Bring broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add chicken; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove chicken using a slotted spoon; set aside. Cool slightly, and coarsely chop.

While chicken cools, add couscous to broth; stir well. Cover and let stand 10 minutes. Place couscous in a large bowl; cool completely. Fluff with a fork. Stir in basil and next 5 ingredients (basil through garlic). Add chopped chicken, tomatoes, onions, and chickpeas; toss gently to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight (not necessary but good to enhance the flavor).

Verdict: Yummy, yummy, yummy

Okay, I’m still mastering how long to cook this because I overdid the poached chicken and couscous, but it still worked! I also skipped the chickpeas because I only like them in hummus and I still loved this dish.

It was light, super fast to prepare and had a nice sweet flavor without overdoing it. The tomatoes are key to include and really, I could have used a bit more basil. It added such a nice flavor. Feel free to cut back on the EVOO too though, it’s easy to overdo it.

I can’t wait to cook with couscous again.

What do you like to make in the summer to keep the kitchen and house cool? Are you a pasta lover?

Anyhow, this weekend was a busy and fun one. Friday I went out with a friend and bar crawled around the Loop. It was an impromptu crawl that had one goal: Patron.

Yes, I have never had Patron tequila, likely because I don’t really care for tequila unless it’s in a margarita. Let’s just say…the taste brings up bad memories. But my friend, who loves it, told me it tastes like liquid gold. So with an endorsement like that, I HAD to try it. And at $10/shot, it better also cure any germs I have in my body too.

So I tried it, lost my Patron virginity, and immediately chased it with Oberon beer. I can’t be classy ALL the time.

I don’t know if it’s real liquid gold but I will say, it was tasty. Here comes trouble!

Then Saturday, Jamie and Stacey invited me to a book club-themed Nintendo DS party at Pops for Champagne downtown. If I could live there, I would.

Look at the deliciousness we got to indulge in while discussing Pride & Prejudice?

That was some of the best cheese ever.

I also got to catch up with a ton of my Chicago bloggy peeps who I really don’t see regularly enough. And, WG2 and I tried to peer pressure Nic into reading Twilight and the Hunger Games series. I am a teen fiction pusher, I love that stuff.

Finally, I got my pre-birthday hair cut/color and I have a crush on a new hair product: Moroccan Oil. My stylist used it on me to add some shine and strengthen my hair. Color really damages your hair if you don’t take care of it.

I was a little skeptical of it at first, but now I’m really loving it and cannot stop touching my hair. It’s so soft and when the sun hits it, I swear you could land a plane because of the shine. I love it. But it’s a little pricy ($42 for 3.4 ounces) so I’ll have to hold off in buying it for now. I love girly stuff but I just cannot stand spending a lot of money on hair products. Sure, I use Bumble & Bumble shampoo but it lasts for a year, so I’m not rebuying it all the time. I spend a ton on make up, clothing and accessories but my hair is regulated to the drug store aisle. That’s just me.

Oh and since I never change up my haircut, you can see pictures of what it looks like from past ones I put on Flickr here and here.

How was everyone else’s weekend? Do you spend a lot on haircare products? Or are you a big tequila drinker or cheese addict?

I’ve mentioned before that Nordstrom is my happy place, especially during sale time. So before the Anniversary Sale ended this weekend, my friend Liz and I went to check it out one more time…and I was a bad girl.

Being practical, I got a gorgeous deep purple cardigan and a pearl/gold necklace. Be honest, is the necklace too granny? I saw it in the older adult section on a model and now that’s all I can think about.

Being impractical, I found these adorable fingerless long gloves (cashmere, woo!) for fall and a matching cowl scarf. I cannot wait to wear them!

I fully intend on rocking the 80s that day, complete with Rick Springfield, WHAM and a little Tiffany. If only there were matching legwarmers!

And then I flashed back to another practical purchase I made with TC at the sale last weekend. I found this sweater in the teen section (I have no idea how this could fit me).

No joke, the teen section clothing is not very flattering in the boob area…for obvious reasons

Then some co-workers and I met up Saturday for lunch at Sun Wah BBQ in Uptown, where you can get peking duck and pig and it’s done with tableside presentation. Oh my god this food was incredible. Look at the ducks we got!

Yeah, I had a moment where I felt guilty eating them, but I got over it as soon as I tasted the deliciousness.

Add in some fried rice, bok choy, broccoli, homemade bao, plum sauce and noodles and it was a feast in every since. I needed a nap after.

Finally, after a nice workout today, I decided to hit up Sprinkles Cupcakes downtown because the curiosity to try it was killing me. And when I got there, I was shocked to see a line outside the door and almost wrapped around the block. So after a long wait, I got two cupcakes to bring home and a frosting shot. I’ll likely be awake until I have to go to work tomorrow. But in all seriousness, yeah, Sprinkles Cupcakes are really good. I won’t lie.

How was everyone else’s weekend?

I have an addictive personality and I can get fixated on stuff and then I cannot stop gushing about it. No, that is not meant to sound creepy OR stalkerish.

Let’s take a closer look at what I’m currently obsessed with:

• Longchamp Le Pilage tote – I have this in the medium and large size and LOVE IT. I had to replace my medium one lately because I literally wore it out after three years. They are perfect for travel and everyday
• Red wine – Yes, Napa has made me fall in love with it. I have started enjoying a glass more regularly at dinner (on the weekends for now) and it’s just so…yummy
• Kiehl’s Acai Berry Cleanser - This was an impulse buy and I love it. The foam feels like kisses on your face. KISSES
• Bethenny Getting Married – I love this show, so much that I will rewatch reruns! I would love to go get coffee with her one day, I think we would both have a good laugh
• Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer – I wore this to Pitchfork in 90+ degree weather and it didn’t run down my face while sweating. Obsessed!
• Homemade pizza – I made one this weekend with Mexican Jack cheese, ricotta and sweet onions. OMG it was SO unhealthy but delicious. Isn’t that how it always works?
• Ice cream – Yep, still obsessed with this one. I have a tub of French Silk ice cream in my fridge and I have no idea how I will be able to resist it
• Red velvet cupcakes - My coworker brought some in from Sugar Bliss today and I immediately dove for one of the two available Red Velvets. Yes, I love them that much

Yes, clearly I always have skincare, makeup, food and TV on the brain. That’s normal right?

What are you loving lately? Any big weekend plans?

Movie review: That’s right, another one. This time I’m keeping it lighter with Despicable Me!

But I’m rallying because tonight is MAD MEN’s premiere. YES! I have wine on standby, ready to go.

Before I get sidetracked on that, let’s talk about the weekend. It’s still hot in Chicago, so nothing is new there.

Raise your hand if you’re a Top Chef fan? *raises hand* I love that show.

And last week, Top Chef Chicago’s winner Stephanie Izard opened her new place, The Girl and the Goat. And despite the 105 heat index and evening thunderstorms, my friend Liz and I went for a dinner and had a really great meal.

For example:

Soft shell crab with corn (my favorite dish of the night)

Goat pizzette with black kale and ricotta

Ham frites with tomato aioli and Swiss cheese dip (the fries were booked in ham fat)

The food was awesome. And paired with a nice Shiraz, I was one happy girl. I even threw caution to the wind and talked Liz into a margarita at De Cero across the street. All that and I was home by 11, I am a wild woman.

I mentioned Friday that I was finally able to pick up my wine after UPS held it hostage (slightly). And everything arrived safely and in perfect condition. That is a HUGE load off my mind.

Now finally, here’s a photo of my haul:

It’s SO GOOD to see this stuff again :)

12 bottles of wine and my votive holder made out of a wine barrel, the red underneath is a stain from the red wine that was in there. Love, love, love!

Finally, feet. I think my feet are adorable, minus the bent toes (genetic), and this summer I have finally been on a good streak with getting pedicures. The foot massage is so worth it.

So I treated and got a mani/pedi this weekend and I love the pedi so much, I cannot stop staring at it. Yoga helped me really enjoy the view this morning thanks to all the bending.

Gratuitous toe shot.

I always get OPI’s Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot on my toes. It’s the perfect coral/hot pink that looks good with every color. One day I’ll need to be more adventurous but for now, I’m sticking with my favorite :)

How was everyone else’s weekend? Do you like your feet? Do you always get the same mani/pedi polish color?

But tomorrow is FRIDAY and I’m wicked excited about it. Let’s get started:

• Is anyone else excited it’s almost Friday? Seriously, these weeks feel so long lately
• I love Top Chef. Really, I’m obsessed, but I’m not feeling this season. Something feels…off. And Padma’s boobs make me scared of having my own kids. Those babies are HUGE
• Why are all my celeb fantasy men getting married? First John Krasinski and now Orlando Bloom? I need to start preparing to be wife #2 because you KNOW they’ll be waiting for me in a year :)
• Britney has frightened me away from ever having hair extensions thanks to this photo. I am disgusted and frightened *frantically pets my hair*
• Mad Men is BACK on Sunday and I feel the urge to buy cigarettes and stock up the bar in anticipation. I am OBSESSED with this show and I cannot wait for it to be back
• I really wish my landlord would get back to me about lease renewal. I hate waiting and I have no idea if I’m staying in my apartment or not. CALL ME
• Is it healthy to be a 30-year-old woman and stalking Josh Duhamel in downtown Chicago during Transformers’ filming? I’ll say…yes?
• The hot weather makes me want ice cream all the time. Is it possible to be addicted?
• It is normal to go through a stage where you want a baby or puppy every time you see a cute one? Why won’t people let you randomly cuddle with their children or animals?
• My new approach toward shopping is to ask myself “do I really need this?” before buying. So far, so good!

Also, I’ll close by saying that MY NAPA WINE IS HERE AND IN MY HOUSE. I am SO HAPPY and excited to see it again. I’ll post pictures of my wine bounty on Sunday. I am digging into it later tonight!

Thank you for visiting my brain. I am now back to counting down to the weekend.

Does anyone have fun weekend plans? What are you thinking about?

That’s right, it’s my favorite, solid late dinner option. And yes, this post is a tad random.

Some nights, I come home, kick off my gym shoes, change into my PJs and curl up on the couch with a bowl (or two) of cereal.

Breakfast for dinner is great because it’s a) low maintenance b) in season all year and c) easy to clean up.

And after a long day, those are qualities I really like in a meal.

I think I love breakfast for dinner because I don’t always make or enjoy a formal breakfast. During the week, it’s a granola bar eaten at my desk and on the weekends, it’s usually a container of yogurt. On the very rare occasion, I will make eggs or splurge and buy the Trader Joe’s chocolate croissants because OMG they are amazing.

I also don’t go out to brunch regularly because that requires me to leave the house early and/or shower and look presentable. That’s a big ask on a Sunday morning.

So if breakfast isn’t my biggest meal of the morning (I know, bad), I definitely indulge in it more for dinner. Eggs, toast, PB&J English Muffin and the ultimate: cereal.

Oh cereal, I love you. I used to be obsessed with sugar cereal, Golden Grahams was my crack, but now that I’m an adult, I’ve gravitated back to Cheerios.

In fact, I just finished up a bowl now and might go back for another.

But the key with breakfast for dinner is that you can only have it once a week, if you do it more than two days, especially in a row, it gets old. And I can’t let that happen!

What about you? Do you like to have breakfast for dinner sometimes? What do you like to make?

I had a busy weekend but the best kind, filled with friend dates, aka “freights.” Friend dates are the best because you get to go out, do date-like things, such as dinner or drinks, but it’s with your friends. No pressure, just fun. I love them.

I also paid off my Napa trip so I was ready for a glass of wine and friend dates so I can get back out there and be social.

Here’s a summary of my fun friend dates:

Friday – movie/dinner:

After a long week, I was ready for a movie/dinner date with my friend Robin. We went to see Inception (see full review here) on Friday at a pimped out theater downtown. Seriously, this theater had a bar, VIP seating, where you can bring food and liquor into the theater, extended concession stand with tart yogurt and sandwiches. And the best part? You can reserve your seats before you arrive so you can arrive just before showtime and know you have seats.

And the food you can get there is very good too. We got a prosciutto panini, martini with champagne (which made me buzzed after one drink) and BACON POPCORN. Yes, you heard me right. Check it out.

Hmm, bacon

The mix of bacon, popcorn and butter was delish. I’m a fan.

After the movie, we super sized our friend date by going to Chinatown for dinner. Robin took me to an authentic Chinatown restaurant that makes awesome bubble tea and dishes. Our waiter gave me weird looks when I ordered salted fish and pork in a hot bowl but it was tasty, even if it doesn’t look appetizing. I hope he gave me that look because I didn’t just order fried rice. Maybe.

I know, it looks gross, but mixed up, it’s very good

All in all, I saw a great movie, caught up with a good friend and tried new things. Win, win, win.

Saturday – Brunch/shopping and sushi:

That’s right, despite the downtown Transformers craziness, TC and I hit up Xoco for brunch and indulged in our mutual love of Rick Bayless’ churros and even sampled the new Mexican soft serve. Yeah, I was so hungry, I didn’t take pictures, even of the suckling pig torta. But here is a past picture of the Churros, which I could eat an entire plate of. I have no idea why they’re so good, but I want them all.the.time.

Then, with my shopping list in tact, we hit the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I behaved, but TC learned how bad my enabling ways can be. My bad.

After burning calories shopping, Mega and I met up for a sushi dinner in Bucktown where I had the best soft shell crab roll ever. I also meant to only have one drink and somehow had a total of five by the end of the night. Oops. Does that happen to anyone else?

Sunday – Sweating it out at Pitchfork:

Yes, I hate the current heat wave here, but that didn’t stop me from going to the Pitchfork Music Festival with Nic. I got to girl talk, craft shop, listen to some great music and drink 24 ounces of water, promptly sweating it all out. I was disappointed that my only ice cream option was dairy-free, but the pulled pork tacos were tasty.

How was everyone else’s weekend? Do you go on friend dates?

But now I’m back in the kitchen and focusing on my favorite thing: utilizing what’s in my pantry.

Sure, I love buying new groceries all the time, but sometimes I want to utilize what I have leftover from other recipes first so I’m being efficient with my budget.

I know, I’m such an adult. So I decided to utilize my leftover pork tenderloin from this recipe by making a spicy-sweet pork tenderloin so it didn’t go to waste. And then to keep me out of the chips, I made a quinoa salad with sugar snap peas.

Here’s how it turned out!

Come to Butthead

Ingredients:

• 1  tablespoon  low-sodium soy sauce
• 1  teaspoon  bottled minced fresh ginger
• 1  teaspoon  bottled minced garlic
• 1  teaspoon  canola oil
• 1  (1-pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut crosswise into 12 (3/4-inch-thick) slices
• 1/3  cup  bottled salsa
• 1  tablespoon  seedless raspberry preserves
• 2  tablespoons  chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation:

Combine first 3 ingredients in a bowl.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Flatten each pork piece to 1/2-inch thickness using your fingertips. Add pork to pan; spoon soy sauce mixture evenly over pork slices. Cook 3 minutes or until browned. Turn pork over; cook 3 minutes or until done. Remove from pan.

Add salsa and preserves to pan; increase heat to medium-high. Cook 30 seconds or until slightly thick, stirring constantly. Serve pork with salsa mixture, and sprinkle with cilantro.

Verdict: Not so spicy but still tasty

Yep, this girl gets a pat on the back. I cooked that pork perfectly. It was tender without being too raw and juicy without being too soft. Win.

The sauce was sweet and tasty but definitely not spicy. The recipe didn’t specify a level of hotness in the salsa so I went conservative with mild and wish I would have gone hotter. I plan to make this again and kick the spice up a bit. Not to make it flaming hot, but just a little kick.

Now, the quinoa was really tasty and easy to make. The peas added a nice sweetness and crunch but I would also reduce the amount of EVOO I toss with it because it was a little…heavy. But for a first venture, it wasn’t bad. Oh, I’m added to quinoa now too. Could be worse, it could be frosting :)

What about you? Do you raid the pantry first before making a meal?

First, it’s still warm in Chicago but it’s been better the last few days Of course, now that I’ve said that, it’s getting back up to the 90s and humid this week. I may have to break down and put the AC on…I’m so cheap, I hate to do it.

There are a couple of things I want to cover from my short week and weekend, the first, is food love. Yes, I posted a little lot of food porn last week and now I have a little more.

First, are two of my favorite food loves with a little twist.

Mac and cheese is my ultimate comfort food and Friday night at Fountainhead, platonic manfriend #2 pointed out a gourmet mac and cheese on the menu: with duck confit and sundried tomatoes. I want to go there…and I did!

Yeah, this is a bad picture, but doesn’t it look tasty? It tasted great too.

Prosciutto is also my latest food love. Especially after that delicious tart I made a few weeks ago. So when Mega and I grabbed dinner at Frasca to catch up, I found a prosciutto with arugula and provolone pizza and I was in heaven. Look how much prosciutto is on there. That’s insane…and delicious.

This weekend was also my friend Cassie’s baby shower. Her family threw her a gorgeous shower on Saturday and the condo had a KILLER view of downtown. I didn’t want to look like I was casing the place but it was amazing and I had to sneak a few pictures. Check out the view of the skyline and beach!

The food was delish and there was a waiter to handle passed appetizers and drinks. It was so nice and fancy! And per usual, I did not dress appropriately. Seriously, I need to ask dress code before I go to these things.

Plus, the shower let me indulge in my love of sniffing babies’ heads. Don’t worry, the moms knew about it and didn’t seem to mind. Plus, the newborns didn’t exactly fight back :) My reign as the baby whisperer continues. WIN!

How was everyone else’s weekend? What are your favorite foods lately?

New movie review: The Kids Are All Right. And Mark Ruffalo is smoking hot.

This is rated XXX for the food porn you’re about to see, so let’s get to it!

Along with a lot of great wine, I had some amazing food in Napa and while I got odd looks for taking photos of my food, I could not wait to share it with everyone!

Here’s a closer look:

Chez Panisse

Back when I was a non-learning foodie, I read about Alice Waters and Chez Panisse in a magazine and said, wow, one I day I want to go there. Well, fast forward several years and I finally got to go after looking up Berkeley on a map and seeing how convenient it was on my drive. And I’ll say this. It was really amazing food. Imagine the freshest ingredients you’ve ever purchased and consumed…now dial it up to 11. That’s how good this stuff was. Service, could have been better, but for the experience, it was worth it.

Peach and frise salad

Casarecci pasta with pork and lamb ragu

Fresh raspberry sorbet with strawberries

Rutherford Grill

Great patio and great food. It specializes in rotisserie chicken (which is like crack for me) so I had a lovely rotisserie chicken enchilada and this coconut lime rice which was beyond delicious. Two thumbs up!

Rotisserie chicken enchilada

Norman Rose Tavern

Post wine tasting and pre-Eclipse stop with Amy and my wine tour group. Sadly, no pictures, but this tavern was clean, had great food and a good atmosphere. Plus, they have Parmesan truffle fries, yeah, they’re delicious.

Bottega

When I die, I want beignets from Cafe du Monde and food from here as my final meal. This place reminds me so much of Piccolo Sogno in Chicago and while the food was just as delicious as Piccolo’s, something pushed this over the edge. This was, my favorite, most decadent meal of the trip. The pasta melts in your mouth, service was top notch and everything just complimented each other so well. Plus, I got to say hi and shake Michael Chiraello’s hand after. Seriously, it was a Top Chef geek out moment.

Green-egg and ham appetizer

Hand-cut Taglerini with mushrooms

Ad Hoc

This was my second favorite meal of the trip. Thomas Keller may have made French Laundry my pipe dream but Ad Hoc’s food is just as fresh and creative and changes daily. Food wise, I was very happy here, service wise, I was not. The waiter and I had a disagreement over some bone marrow (making me feel fat in the process) but it was resolved and my joy over the food was not diminished.

Romaine lettuce with bacon bits, hard boiled egg and red onion

Bone marrow!!!

Beef steak, onion rings, potatoes and beets

Homemade meringue with peaches and sorbet

Mustard’s

Gourmet truck stop? Um, sign me up! The place is adorable and it has great daily specials in meat, fish, pasta and burgers. All of the food looks amazing and I had to fight to narrow it down.

Penne with truffle butter, asparagus and zucchini

Chicken and biscuits with mushrooms and prosciutto

What kind of places do you like to go to when you travel?

The first time I went to San Fran was in college. And I wasn’t a fan. It was cold and the layout of the city just threw me off. The second time I went was two years ago for BlogHer and I liked it a little more but damn it was STILL cold!

This is the third time I’ve been to San Fran and my experience was completely different. I developed a huge crush on the city and felt bittersweet leaving it to head up to Napa. I think I view the city differently because I’m older and have lived in a big city for several years. You learn things in that time to help you acclimate in similar surroundings. I walked with confidence and knew the layout a little bit, which helped me keep the number of times I was lost down to two!

Over my two days there, four people asked how long I lived in the city. They thought I was a LOCAL and I took some pride in that.

And as per usual for me, I crammed a lot in the two days I was there, focusing on doing things I’ve wanted to do in my previous visits and didn’t.

So here’s a quick photo summary!

Alcatraz – I was REALLY excited about this and it didn’t disappoint. Amazing weather made for a great tour and fascinating history (nerd!) It requires a lot of walking and a chunk of your day but it’s totes worth it. Plus, you get a great view of San Fran from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate. Check me out!

Seriously, it was freezing cold and obviously windy on this side of the island. Crazy!

I’m on a boat!!

De Young Museum – Two years ago, Sarah and I ran into this in the park and I knew I wanted to go inside next time. And it had an amazing exhibit of the Birth of Impressionism, which sold it for me. It’s a gorgeous building with an amazing view from the tower. And, I kid you not, I ran into Nicole completely by accident as I walked out of an elevator. I love how small the world can be.

View of the Museum and observation tower

Birth of Impressionism exhibit at the Museum. Amazing

Golden Gate Bridge - The original plan was to walk this, but after abusing my feet for two days, I called Uncle and just took some pictures from the park. It was foggy (shock) but if you waited long enough, you could get a great shot. I like this one :)

Me and that d*mn foggy bridge

Food! – Now that I’m more adventurous with food, I was all over picking some cool places to visit. I got to go to Absinthe (yay! Jamie from Top Chef) and had a Michael Mina night of RN74 and Clock Bar. Overall, there was a lot of great food in San Fran, but the two items that stood out for me were these:

Bone Marrow with Bacon Marmalade. I kid you not, this was incredible. Best bone marrow I’ve ever had

YUM! This sounds gross but was really good

Come to mama!

Turkey Croque Monsieur with Lemon Tart. This literally knocked me on my a** it was so good. I savored every bite and honestly, it was just amazing food and dessert from Tartine. I cannot say enough positive stuff about this meal.

Yes, it tastes as amazing as it looks

So cute! Now get in mah belly!!

Honorable mention also goes to Super Duper Burger in Castro. It was a great meal done quick and at a great price. I love all those things.

More photos are up on my Flickr page too if you want to see more San Fran fun!

Have you been to San Fran before? If so, what do you like the most about it?

Movie review: I know, I’m behind on movies, but I had to see Eclipse while I was gone, here is a spoiler-free review!! Did you like it? Let’s discuss!

I have a tendency to make a big production about things. From travel to errands to recipes. I want it to be perfect and precise and, well a production.

So this week, I decided to keep it simple, finally!

Just because I’m cooking, that doesn’t mean I have to go crazy with recipes because having a good foundation is the best way to not only learn, but also move on to the next step.

So I decided to give it a try with a recipe from Maris, Asparagus tart with prosciutto and Parmesan. I love prosciutto (a lot) and asparagus’ season is coming to a close to this is timely and seasonal!

Close up – Food photography WIN!

Full pan – still delicious looking

Ingredients:

• 1 sheet puff pastry
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 4 ounces prosciutto
• 16 asparagus spears (about a pound; you can use more or less if desired), rinsed and thick stems removed
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• pinch of sea salt and cracked black pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (if using a different brand of puff pastry, preheat according to directions on box). Thaw the puff pastry according to package directions (usually 40 minutes)

2. Once thawed, place the puff pastry on a floured surface and roll to fit the cookie sheet (traditionally 15″ long) and transfer the puff pastry to the sheet

3. Slice prosciutto into thin strips or lay full pieces and arrange on pastry. Line the asparagus on top of the prosciutto. Scatter the Parmesan cheese on top of the asparagus and drizzle with the olive oil and a pinch of sea salt and pepper

4. Bake for about 20 minutes until the pastry dough has puffed and brown and asparagus is roasted and cooked through

Verdict: There was a party in my mouth and the soundtrack was Gaga

Holy sh*tballs this was amazing. After last week’s disappointment, I was really nervous but this was so insanely delicious and easy to make. I am so glad I scattered the cheese the way I did because I got a variety of flavors in each bite. Some had Parmesan, some had prosciutto, Parmesan and asparagus and some just had prosciutto and asparagus and each bite was delicious. The salt added a lot but can be easily overdone so watch how much you put on.

So it turns out that me trying to keep it simple gave me a great recipe for this week and the urge to make it again when I have guests. I wonder when company is coming over? :)

Are you able to keep it simple in the kitchen? Do you love prosciutto or asparagus?

So when I found a recipe for stir-fried eggplant and tofu on Myrecipes.com, I jumped at it. I’ve never cooked with eggplant or tofu before but after some of my recent accomplishments, what could go wrong? Despite possible food poisoning.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love meat but sometimes it’s good to try something lighter, especially in summer. Plus, the few times I’ve had tofu, I didn’t hate it. That’s a positive!

And here’s how the recipe for Stir-fried eggplant and tofu turned out!

Ingredients:

• 3  tablespoons  vegetable oil
• 1  package (18 oz.) firm tofu, drained, cut into 1 1/2- by 2-in. chunks
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 1  pound  eggplant, cut into 1- by 3-in. strips
• 1  small red or green bell pepper, cut into 1-in. pieces
• 1/3  cup  reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2  tablespoons  sugar
• 2  tablespoons  oyster sauce
• 1/4  cup  fresh basil leaves

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick frying pan over high heat, add tofu, and gently cook, turning tofu occasionally, until browned slightly, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer tofu to a plate.

2. Cook garlic, eggplant, and bell pepper in pan until softened, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Add soy sauce, sugar, and oyster sauce and cook until heated through, another 2 minutes. Return tofu to pan and gently stir to coat. Remove from heat and stir in basil leaves. Serve over rice.

Verdict: Um, okay.

This proved to be a little more challenging than I thought. I got a steam  burn from the stove (fun!), nearly lost a finger cutting eggplant and almost set off the smoke alarm. All in a day’s work. I was a little disappointed that the recipe didn’t require a wok, but it still turned out okay (thank god).

I had some trouble cooking the tofu because I didn’t know when it was done and the eggplant was a little challenging. I should have Googled more how to prepare that. The skin fell off in cooking and it tasted funny when I ate it as part of the meal. But the tofu, peppers and soy sauce made a nice combo. I even cut the amount of sugar in half because…well it was a lot. I’m glad I tried it but hopefully the next adventure goes better.

What about you? Are you a picky eater? Or do you like to be adventurous with food in the kitchen?

Spring haircut

I love my long hair but in the summer, it’s kind of  a pain. It morphs into a frizz ball in humidity and feels like an animal laying on my neck/shoulders in the heat.

So when I got my hair cut this weekend, I was bold and went a bit shorter than normal. I do love it but I’m having a hard time adjusting. I just have to keep chanting “it’s only hair, it will grow back…..”

You may not notice a difference but I’m nitpicking on it right now

Pretty wine labels

No joke, when I look for wine, I usually buy what looks the cutest. I know what types of wine I like but when I have to narrow it down, the label can easily sway me.

So to celebrate pretty wine labels, several awesome, hilarious Chicago blogger ladies got together again to indulge in cupcakes, snacks and, well lots of wine. Seriously, lots of wine.

Last year it got pretty of control (in an awesome way) and this year was no different, including wine shots, dancing to 1990s music and screaming along to it. It was epically fun. My modesty will not allow me to post some of the things we talked about (or witty comments I made) but for me, the best part of the night was talking on hostess’ porch with the gals, laughing, screaming, drinking wine and eating custom cupcakes, check these out:

And then it turned into a dance party. I don’t remember a lot from the later parts of the night but I do vaguely remember faux riding a pony to Ginuine, doing the Single Ladies dance and making a horrified face with TC when someone halted the audio on Lady Gaga/Beyonce’s Telephone mid-song.

Oh and I woke up this morning with a massive headache and spent most of the day on the couch or in bed. I am a baller.

Hawks on parade

Finally, in case you didn’t know, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. I’m not a hockey fan but it as really exciting to watch and see the city completely come together and celebrate. And what better way than with beer a ticker tape parade downtown!

Here are a few photos and more are on my Flickr page too but I will just say, it was INSANE. The fans filling downtown and Michigan Avenue was unbelievable. I had Obama rally flashbacks and couldn’t believe how many people were there. Amazing. Another reason why I love this city.

Crowd at 8:30 a.m. (Rally began at this spot at 11:30)

The Cup was in the last bus and behind the cops are PEOPLE following the parade

How was everyone else’s weekend?