News, Quirks, Insights, and Other Odds and Ends

Watching the World from the El

Is there any part of my unconscious mind that is not being manipulated these days?  Diner Beware

No one is more ready for spring than us...ok, maybe after the snow in Boston this past winter, they also need spring.  Too bad they don't have our Chicago brand of spring fun.    

Sage advice for the career world.

We can't stop complaining about it yet we can't seem to detach.  Facebook madness.

Just goes to show that you don't have to work on Wall Street to pick stocks.  Patience, frugality, and research rule for this multimillionaire gas station attendant.

Jon Stewart on Aaron Schock's colossal fail.

Free-range parenting.  An idea whose time has come....back.

Five things to do to your home to make it home.

A cocktail to celebrate spring.

This makes me feel old.  Pretty Woman turning 25.

Chocolate on Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie

Chocolate on Chocolate on Chocolate

This is the only chocolatey chocolate chip cookie recipe you will need.  The original recipe is from the Momofuku Milk Bar book but I had to make some alterations.  Christina Tosi has an obsession with corn syrup and glucose and that is a bandwagon I refuse to join.  In my mind, those ingredients are unnecessarily sweet and a poor substitute for actual sugar.  Perhaps she uses it to cut costs in mass production or to make the cookies look shiny.  I don't know why she does it but I am out.  So, I used Pure Maple Syrup where she calls for glucose and the results were fabulous.  I also added in chocolate chips because I like to feel the chocolate melting on my tongue.

The Everything but the Kitchen Sink Cookie

Compost Cookie

I made this cookie for the first time a couple years ago and never posted it.  I have since made it several times and still, no post.  So, I finally have this up.  This, how should I describe, jacked up cookie, was adapted from the Momofuku Milk Bar cookbook.  Although I love the Momofuku recipes, I have to modify almost all of them.  I have an aversion to glucose and corn syrup and this book includes those two ingredients liberally.  Don't worry, this cookie is plenty sweet without the extra sugar nudge.

The Bourbon Trail

Catching Bourbon from the Barrel at Jim Beam

Have you ever toured the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky?  You should.  It's a mixed drink of how Bourbon is made, some American history (prohibition is a nasty word in Bourbon country), how it came to be a very American drink and the laws that make it Bourbon.  The rolling green KY hills serve as a beautiful backdrop.  P.S., The dining scene in Lousiville is top notch and obviously, their cocktails have serious bragging rights.  We were there for two days and we made it to Jim Beam, Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve and Maker's Mark.

Knob's Creek Bottling

Years of Storage in Burnt Barrels for that Distinct Taste

Belize

Belize Zoo

I just returned from a holiday in Belize and I have to say that the country is nothing short of magical.  I am still trying to decide if I loved it because of the interesting and friendly people I met from different parts of the U.S., the beauty of the oceans, reefs and endless variety of fish, the delicious food or the enchanting natives who always had smiles on their faces.  Normally sleeping in tents and sharing bathrooms with strangers would not be a desirable way to spend my time.  Yet, on this trip, it was a minor inconvenience that was worth it for the unforgettable experience.

Belize Zoo

Glover's Atoll Island

Sleeping Tent

Taiwan

Lantern in Alishan

I went on a little trip...to Taiwan with a brief stop in Hong Kong.  This was my first trip to Asia and I am so glad I went.  Taiwan is an enchanting place with lovely people that is seriously underrated by the Western world.  I would not have traveled there myself had it not been for being invited to a friend's wedding in Chiayi.  Not only was I able to experience the culture and people in a wedding setting, I was also able to travel around the country easily with their incredible high speed rail and metro system.

Headed to the Wedding Ceremony

Chiayi Night Market

Autumn in Atlanta, GA

I was out in Atlanta, GA this past weekend and was ready to move there as I headed back to Chicago.  The weather was beautiful, housing affordable, people nice and amazing parks to run and play in year around.

Ever gone to a Hibachi grill?  This was a first for me.  Lots of fun for both kids and adults.

My brother introduced me to Turducken.