super sammich

our first home

When we first married and lived in our home on Christiana in Brighton Park, we had a ritual every Saturday morning. We fervently cleaned our cute little Georgian top to bottom while listening to classic rock tunes and the new smooth jazz station.  Bombhead (Wayne's dad) would stroll over the two blocks with their dog, Lady Gubzie, and we would shoot the breeze and enjoy each other's company.  I prepared a light lunch that included a little soup and salad and either a tuna or super sammich (must be pronounced like a south sider!)  I was a vegetarian for seven years and prepared some awesome recipes from the Fit for Life book.  Today I will share how to make this delightful meal as I finally collected all the necessary ingredients without someone eating an item on me.

SUPER SAMMICH

100% whole wheat or multi-grain bread

avocados - ripened, not mushy

dill pickles and/or cucumbers

tomatoes

alfalfa and/or gourmet sprouts

mayo and/or spicy mustard

You can toast the bread, or not.  Spread a light layer of mayo on one slice, mustard on the other.  Peel avocado and cut in slices around the pit, layering on bread. Layer pickles or cukes (or both), sliced tomatoes and top with alfalfa sprouts.  Cut in half and enjoy a healthy, tasty treat that will give your appetite satisfaction.

my alien flower finally bloomed

This is the perfect time to take advantage of all the garden goodies so try to obtain the ingredients from local markets or your own home garden for the healthiest benefits.  Make sure not to use any white flour bread - only grains.  The avocados are perfect for protein requirements.  It's a nice alternative to the fast food burgers, don't ya think?

Live life to its fullest, Laugh a lot, and Love yourself and those who need it the most.   :)

to accomplishments!

Today I was thrilled to be able to stay home and prepare a feast for the family.  We decided to celebrate all the accomplishments we made this month and the whole brood will be here this afternoon to join us.  I scored on some gorgeous porterhouse steaks at a great price so they are marinating while I prepared the rest of my love food. 

Wayne keeps saying that's a lot of beef, woman,  but we are celebrating today. I hope he's not referring to me - SCREAM!  Besides, whatever they don't eat today could be leftovers.  The dogs will be very happy with all the bones. Avocados were on sale so I decided to make guacamole and this time added orange juice just like Jamie.  One day this week I will share my recipe for super-sandwiches using avocados.  I finally bought my sprouts (not all stores carry them) and came home to find all the whole wheat bread is gone, so I'll share this recipe another time. 

My salad includes a variety of greens from the garden, spinach, bok choy, celery, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, artichokes and carrots.  Someone finished off the salad supreme so we can't embellish with this delightful spice today.  I have about eight salad dressings that I discovered so they can pick and choose their favorites.  I prefer olive oil and balsamic vinegrette, but found my champagne dressing was in stock so I'll indulge in that one.

I tend to plan my menu based on items that are on sale and this weekend they had broccoli and cauliflower - cook until tender, drain, then add a stick of butter and season with salt.  Easy, peasy.

I want to keep things simple so no mashed potatoes, just baked.  They can top them off with butter or ranch dressing if they choose.

This is the spread so far.  I went in the garden to clip some flowers for my tables.  That's the best part of the season - bringing the beauty indoors as well as adoring their beauty outside (hard to stay there very long with those darn mosquitos.)

I prepared an old favorite dessert my mom used to make.  It has to be the simplest treat in the world.  I bought four rolls of Pillsbury biscuits and after opening the containers, take each biscuit and make a hole in the middle with your thumb (after awhile I did this with one hand) and quickly fry in a skillet of oil.  I repeat quickly for they cook very fast and you don't want to burn them, especially when working with so many.  Turn them over and scoop out onto a big bowl of sugar, coating each side to your liking.  I made 20 this way and 20 with a sugar/cinnamon coating.  They are very light and hit the spot after a heavy meal (unless Wayne eats them all before dinner.) Another thing you can do is add cinnamon to your sugar bowl for coffee.  I do this for Thanksgiving and keep it ready for whenever Mike visits, as he is the only one who takes sugar in his coffee.  Just a little sweet something.

Life is like a trumpet.  If you don't put anything in, you won't get anything out.

We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle

To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun?  Katherine Graham

  If you put your mind to anything, accomplishments are always possible.  Happy days to you. xo

shoveling coal

shoveling coal

As I frequent the nearly a century-old home in Brighton Park, I often feel the energies of those who lived in this dwelling.  When I work in the hallway or the basement, I feel a strong presence of people who put a lot of effort in maintaining this home yet it is not a hard, laborous feeling, but rather one of a labor of love.  I've been told the Grandpa would take a ventilated garbage can grill and smoke the homemade sausages already stuffed in the kitchen and then they would hang them in the front hallway on strings.  I browse through the tool shed and find unique contraptions and do-dads used for various chores around the house - masculine types - and wonder what did they do with this one?  This was a true man cave. Wayne refers to the other basement room as the coal shed and when I inquired about this he explained that prior to 1973 the home was heated with a coal burner.  A truck would dump a roomful of coal to the house and the boys would painstakingly use a wheel barrel to bring it through the basement window where Uncle Steve had the task of shoveling it in piles in the coal shed room, which was always filled to the hilt.  They added the coal throughout the seasons to keep the home warm.  I was mesmerized by this story and all the work that went into it, yet, that must be what I was feeling.  I can just imagine the assembly line.

forest green color

The basement was so spotless you could eat on the floor and I found out they often ate in this room because it was much cooler down there.  We picked Uncle Steve's brain about how things were done in the old days and he was very informative.  They all loved that home and I feel those strong vibes even today as I hang around it. When Wayne was a few years old, he remembers his Grandpa had pulleys and cranes in the front of the home to lift it back into shape when it began to cave in.  He filled the underneath with stones and cement and it is still in perfect condition.  Can you imagine that?  What a production it must have been.  It gives me greater appreciation of the efforts made in the past and when I painted the front stairs an inviting forest green, I noticed it had been that same color green a few coats ago.

magnolia for front door

clouds for basement

Today Mercury turns retrograde, which means the universe will give us pause for reflections on people, places and things of our past.  I usually notice the effects a week early and that must be what I was feeling all week.  My new learning projects include installing a broken window pane with wood putty after scraping out the broken glass and applying Artscape window appliques.  The latter is not exactly a new endeavor, for I did this to a couple bedroom windows; however, this time I have a dozen individual panes to decorate. 

peace and tranquility

I have been giving massage more often lately and still enjoy it.  This has been a bustling summer, filled with vacations, visits and various projects.  I can feel the shift in the season, especially when I organize the schedules, pay tuition and order books for the boys.  This is my cue to get ready for change.  My garden is still growing so there is still time to enjoy its beauty and the weather is still hot. I know how quickly time can pass and will pay attention to the days a little more closely as I realize another season is just around the corner.   We must make an effort to sit still a little more often now that the hustle and bustle is waning. 

If I love with my spirit, I don't have to think so hard with my head.

Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality.

Don't say "but."  That little word is the difference between success and failure.  Henry Ford said "I'm going to invent the automobile," and Arthur T. Flanken said, "But..."

Warm wishes for a happy weekend. xo

lush and lovely

apricot roses

This is a lovely time for gardeners when all the flowers and crops are in full bloom and produce their fruits.  As I strolled with my pups this morning I took note of how beautiful all the gardens were in the neighborhood.  The colors are so vibrant and fill my heart with all their beauty.

newbie rose from seeds

I discovered this newbie rose planted from seeds of another rose.  Steve diligently took a lot of time to collect seeds last year in the hopes something would grow and sure enough it did! 

stevie's sunflowers

The dwarf honey bear sunflowers have burst into bloom and the bigger plants will do so in a few weeks.  Last year they started showing their sunshine the beginning of September. 

dahlias ~ sunflowers ~ zucchini

This area of our garden does the best for showing off and this is the best year yet.  The dahlias have close to 100 blooms between the pink and yellow, the strawberries are ripening and the little purple things are so cute.  The yellow flowers to the right are going to be zucchini so I am excited to make zucchini breads.  Better get the flour, sugar and walnuts ready!  Recipe forthcoming in the very near future.

cactus ready to bloom

This cactus amazes me.  She was in a pot given as a gift from Janet and Sarah and I transplanted her into the ground for she looked all dilapidated and wilty.  Lo and behold, she loves her new digs and was informed that is how cacti get in certain seasons, then they sprout back to life in the warm weather.  This summer was perfect for her.  She has at least four blooms ready to burst.

spider plant with babies

This is my spider plant given by Janet and Sarah about 10 years ago and look at her grow.  She has so many babies and I have given many plants to others in years past.  I think I will name her Meerkat after the matriarch Flower who had the biggest family in the meerkat world.

mandevilla

I must share this new plant for she has constantly bloomed and brought so much beauty to our home entrance.  I placed finch food to attract the little critters but have not seen them around yet.  If nothing happens by next week, I'll move it somewhere else and see if that works.  Our birds do not visit us that often anymore.  Maybe they are visiting Bourbonnais for a while, for the folks there have a lush and lovely garden that I would want to hang out at.

infertile clematis

Last but not least, I am sharing my extremely lush clematis.  She has an enormous amount of foilage and is about 15 - 20 years old, but does not bloom any flowers for me.  I was told not to trim the branches after the season, nor in the spring, so I will try one more approach to encourage her blooming.  If not, I thank her for gracing my home just as she is. 

My Aunt Diane and Uncle Bill are celebrating their 49th wedding anniversary today.  They just recently planted two clematis and they seem to like their new home, so whenever I visit I will greet the clematis with my nicknames for them ~ Bill and Diane.

flowers from our garden

These are just a few photo shares of my happy garden this year.  Have fun today and try to enjoy the glorious weather.  It won't be long and we'll be bundling up and sitting in front of our fireplaces.  xo

home sweet home

this is me

I am paying homage to butterflies because on our road trip a tremendous amount kept flying into the Jeep and met their maker.  We finalized all our whirlwind endeavors and are embracing the comforts of our home, sweet home.  The traffic flowed smoothly but the miles were rough.  The last time we drove to Quincy we came home to a flood and the interim three weeks were spent restoring all the damage from same.  We had a few hours sleep in the last two days. This trip sealed the efforts, bringing us full circle and we completed all our current tasks, enabling a little respite tonight.  We had such a wonderful visit with our Uncle Steve and he is nicely settled in his new home.  Everyone in Quincy waved and greeted us - everywhere - so much so that Wayne asked if we have friendly written on our foreheads.  I firmly believe if love is in the heart and a mission is meant to be, the universe will make it flow.  This proved that theory.  It is a wonderful feeling to accomplish all our tasks at hand and even better when we know the universe has our backs.  Thanks!  Tomorrow I will smile knowing everything we set out to do is done.  Then I will go and get a 90 minute massage and let my body heal. xo

eat pray love

Went to see the new movie, Eat Pray Love starring Julia Roberts.  She is absolutely perfect for this role.  I read the book a few years back and was enamored with the idea of eating as fuel for the soul.  Liz Gilbert did this on her journey to feed her knowledge of the beautiful Italian language, which was created by Dante with a mix of Latin and Spanish.  I have been trying to learn Italian since I discovered Andea Bocelli a decade ago and deciphered his lyrics which are given in both Italian and English.  My ears thirst to hear the sounds. All the characters in this flick delivered a great performance.  The book and movie are loaded with quaint quotes that we can carry with us on our journey to find the light within ourselves.  I frequent the theatre at Seven Bridges during the day and sit with the geriatrics. It is my escape to relax on my own.  Wouldn't you know I ran into one of my co-workers from Smith, Bucklin from back in the day.  

My day began by running errands and visiting Pops in the city.  I was watering his flowers when he pulled up with this cute smile on his face, knowing he will get his weekly massage.  I brought a batch of my nesting soup for him and brother Bo.  Steve's honey bear sunflowers have bloomed in their garden and look so cute.  I stopped in Brighton Park to check in with Wayne's brother, Bob.  Tomorrow we will finish our window washing project and that house will be ready to roll.  We'll stop by Oak Lawn to visit Wayne's cousin afterward.  We're all excited to have Uncle Steve closer to us.  That major trip will happen Sunday and Monday.  After that we are good to go on all fronts.

Wayne and I stopped by to visit with Danny at Dao and were pleasantly surprised by the dinner we received.  The owner made a new dish not even on the menu yet called Burning Tongue and it was so delicious.  Other patrons kept asking what it was.  Wayne tried a new Thai dish and keeps raving about it.  My pallate is still drooling over the seaweed salad and delicious drinks Dan kept coming my way.  The best was a cucumber, citron, triple sec and vodka concoction, so light, yet potent. 

The skies were extremely dark as we made our way back home to our puppies.  Sure enough, the rains pleasantly poured down, drenching our gardens.  We need this after the heat wave for the last few weeks.  Mother Nature always knows what's best.  Today is Friday, the 13th, the only one in 2010.  Typically, these days have been pleasant for me and today is no exception.  Today I ate, I prayed and I loved.  Try it, you'll like it! xo

nesting soup

produce ingredients

Whenever I spend enormous amounts of time away from my humble abode, I need to reconnect by nesting.  The best way I know is to dust and sweep a bit, but Steve has been covering that base for me.  The only thing for me to do is create a meal for the ones I love.  Today I am making a potpourri version of minestrone soup with a variety of ingredients.  You can pick and choose what you like to your taste.  I am just dabbling bits of items in season.  

canned stuff

1 lb. chuck tender steak,cubed

beef bone

leftover beef au jus; beef stock

home grown green beans

garlic

onion

3 variety zucchini

red pepper

habanero pepper

pea pods

mustard greens

bok choy

celery

 Italian plum tomatoes

pidgeon peas

chick peas

navy beans

white beans

lentil beans

black beans

mushrooms

tomato paste

fire roasted chiles

adobe seasoning

salt and pepper

I just browsed through the isles at my favorite grocery store in Darien, Brookhaven Marketplace, and grabbed whatever I thought might make a delightful concoction.  Use your imagination to create your own.

Cut steaks into cubes and brown with the beef bone in a dab of au jus.  Add chopped onion, celery, red pepper, zucchini, habanero and garlic. Simmer until tender.  Chop mustard greens and bok choy, set aside.  Prepare green beans and pea pods by snipping off the ends.  Add tomatoes and paste, stirring frequently.  Add chiles, mushrooms, chopped bok choy and mustard greens.  If you need more water, add to cover all ingredients and simmer in a crock pot.  Add salt, pepper and seasonings to your taste. I used canned beans as a time saver, for authentic beans take all day and I am a little lazy today.  Play happy tunes while preparing and offer lots of love.  Enjoy!