Garden

Autumn Gardens

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Fall Porch Planters

Autumn is here and the morning air is now cool and crisp. The gardeners are now out planting borders of cabbages, kales, mums and pansies. As I walk, I love to linger and take in the beauty of fall’s regal colors. The deep reds, purples and oranges paint fall gardens in such a gorgeous palette. This English styled cottage had a lovely front garden. Green boxwood topiaries line the flower beds and the planters were overflowing with kale, cabbages and pansies.

This planter was particularly pretty. I love the height and color they added by using the dried branches and berries.

It feels a bit like a story book cottage with its ivy-covered doorway and the lantern lights and wooden door.

I loved this set of stunning purple planters that brighten this front porch. Purple fountain grass is one of my favorites for creating height and adding texture to any planter or flower bed. The fountain grass is circled with New Guinea impatiens, which I have found to be more hardy in the fall than traditional impatiens.

A front walkway filled with vibrant colors and blooms. The purple cabbage and mums make a spectacular statement.

Mixing in planters, flower boxes and  pumpkins make for a pretty fall statment.

Just a touch of fall with this planter. I love how these mums and fountain grass brighten the doorway.

This cheerful apple green door is decked out for fall with flowerbeds filled with deep red mums and purple cabbages.

Even if a vibrant apple green door isn’t the right look for your home you can still add some light green touches to your garden with lettuces that create lovely contrast against fall friendly purple and white violas.

So if the fall weather has you out gardening or thinking about planting a fall pot or two, then take a little inspiration from some of these picturesque gardens. Just a few flowers can brighten your home and welcome the season.

Food

Chicken Vesuvio A Chicago Classic

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Chicago’s famous deep-dish pizza and its signature hot dogs get lots of attention, but the city has other uniquely delicious dishes like Chicken Vesuvio. This Italian inspired chicken is a beloved restaurant dish. The Chicago Tribune traces its possible origin to Nick Giannotti at Giannotti’s Steak House. They believe that they called it Vesuvio because cooking it causes the skillet to smoke like the Italian volcano.

This memorable dish features crispy pan-fried chicken and potatoes served with a garlic white wine sauce. After tasting this Chicago specialty, I knew I had to find a recipe to enjoy it at home. So, after much fun researching different versions of this dish and I have created my own that has all the flavors we have come to love.

Chicken Vesuvio – Serves 4

  • 4 boneless, skin-on chicken breasts
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 head garlic, peeled and with the cloves sliced in half
  • 3 cups small gold potatoes halved lengthwise
  • 1 1/2 cup chardonnay
  • 1 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup cooked green peas
  • 4 tablespoons chopped parsley (for garnish)

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees

Prepare your chicken breasts by removing the bone. Carefully take the tip of a sharp knife and side it between the bone and the meat to loosen it. Use your fingers to pull the bone away from the breast meat and make another cut if necessary to free the bone. Pat your chicken breast dry with a paper towel and season with the salt, pepper and dried oregano.

In a large skillet heat your olive oil and butter oven medium heat. Once your butter has melted and your pan is hot add your chicken and cook it skin side down until it is golden brown. Then flip your chicken and cook it an addition two to three minutes on the other side.

Once your chicken is browned remove it from the pan and set it aside. Then add in your potatoes to your skillet cut side down. Cook them over medium heat for about eight to ten minutes or until they are golden brown.

Remove your potatoes from the pan and set them aside with your chicken. While your pan is still hot add in your white wine and deglaze your pan over medium heat. Taking care to get all of the good little brown bits mixed in with a rubber spatula. Add in your chicken broth and remove your pan from the heat.

Next, place your potatoes and your chicken breasts in a large roasting pan with the skin of the chicken breasts and the cut side of your potatoes facing up. Add in your garlic cloves and pour in your wine from the skillet.

Place your roasting pan in the oven and cook it for about 25 minutes until your chicken is cooked through and your potatoes are soft.

Once your chicken, garlic and potatoes have roasted remove them to a serving platter and carefully pour your sauce back into your skillet. Place the sauce over medium heat to reduce it down and concentrate those flavors. Meanwhile take 8 of your roasted garlic clove halves and add them to mini food processor or blender along with one tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/2 cup of the pan sauce. Puree or blend your garlic mixture until it is well chopped. Pour the roasted garlic into your pan and whisk it until it is well incorporated and your pan sauce has reduce by half. The roasted garlic adds a depth of flavor that makes this white wine sauce especially tasty.

If you want to serve your chicken Vesuvio the traditional way then add some peas to your dish and you are ready to serve. Make sure when you serve it to be generous with the sauce, because it’s what makes this chicken so delicious. Add some chopped parsley on top to finish your dish.

 

There is a reason that Chicken Vesuvio is so loved. The flavorful sauce begs you to serve it with some good Italian bread to make sure that you can enjoy every bit of it. It will also have your house smelling amazing.

Add a glass of white wine and you have a wonderful meal.  So, even if you can’t make it out for a night in the Windy City give this Chicago classic a try at home.

Garden

How Does Your Garden Grow?

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Do you have a television show that you love, but have to watch all on your own? That program that none of your family members can stand. I must confess that I love British gardening shows. My family on the other hand finds these programs to be too much of a snore for their tastes. Nevertheless, if I can find time, I love watching a few of these programs on Netflix.

I was watching one of my gardening shows when the host and garden expert Monty Don was talking to an overwhelmed homeowner about their garden plans when he asked a simple and yet insightful question: what is it that you grow that has you wanting to be outdoors? What plant or flower would have you out working in the cold or watering and weeding in the heat?

Plan a garden around the flowers or plants you love and suddenly it doesn’t feel like work. I have two types of flowers that I grow in my garden that are for me pure joy. One are tulips, but the others are Dahlias. Their late summer blooms are at their peak in my garden each September. When summer flowers begin to fade Dahlias will keep blooming until the frost comes. This year I decided to turn an empty, but sunny spot where we had lost a tree into something new. Instead of planting a  tree I made a  flower bed for Dahlias. I planted my bulbs this May and now they have grown into something beautiful.

Lavender Perfection Dahlia

Lavender Perfection is probably my favorite their large purple blooms are gorgeous.  I have planted these for the last two years and I have been impressed by how easy they were to grow from a bulb. They can get a bit top heavy and might need support from a garden steak but their repeat blooms are worth the effort.

Hawaii Dahlia Bulb

This Hawaii Dahlia is a new variety that I tried some of the blooms were more yellow and fuchsia while others of the same variety were white and pink. They are a bit smaller, but I love their vibrant colors.

Hawaii Dahlia

The Lake Tahoe dahlia has an amazing coral color with just a touch of yellow. It reminds me of a pretty sunrise.

Lake Tahoe Dahlia

I also planted these little orange beauties called Noordwijk’s Glorie.

Noordwijk’s Glorie Dahlia

Finally, more fuchsia with these Le Baron Dahlias. I love that bit of chartreuse green at their center.

Le Baron Dahlia

The very best part of having a small garden bed filled with these gorgeous blooms is the bouquets you can make to enjoy indoors as well.

So what do you love to grow? I would love to know. Is there something that brings you joy? Plant a garden or just fill a window box or a pot or two. Because as Don wisely noted “A garden is not a place. It’s a journey.” So find a way to surround yourself with something absolutely beautiful. Gardening has a way of keeping me grateful. Because as I marvel at natures awesome beauty its hard not to smile.

Want more gorgeous dahlia’s then check out English designer Ben Pentreath and his garden designer husband Charlie McCormick’s picturesque autumn garden.

Home

Living Colorfully

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Benjamin Moore Exotic Red

Our house was for a moment so clean that she must have done a little happy dance. There was of course that last minute blue marker coloring disaster in my daughters room, but Bissell oxi clean came to my carpet’s rescue. Since it isn’t everyday that our home is styled and ready for a photographer, I just had to take a picture or two of my own to celebrate the occasion.

I also took time to sit down and answer a few questions about our home. The one question from the magazine interview that caused me to think a minute was “What is unique about your house?”  As I reflect, I believe my home’s uniqueness is in the colorful stories it has to tell. My home is a 1960s colonial revival. It doesn’t have high ceilings, marble countertops, custom cabinetry or architecturally amazing features, yet it’s home. Its beauty is the way it reflects who we are as a family and what we truly love.

The bright red dining room is the first room you see when you walk through the double blue doors. I love the vibrance and glow of a red dining room. I know this bright shade isn’t for most people, but I love how it feels when the table is set and the candles are lit. The Matisse print in the corner is a museum print from our honeymoon in New York. The vivid colors and stars make me smile and remember the fun.

Our house is bright and happy. It is filled with color from red, pink, orange, yellow, turquoise, indigo and green. I have always been drawn to color and its power to change how you feel.

 

Blue and white is everywhere in our home, but the shade changes from room to room.
Robin’s egg blue with colorful and playful accents. The quirky yellow pencil I made from an old wrapping paper tube and a couch full of pillows that are perfect for building play forts.

 

Turquoise and white are calming at the end of the day. It makes me think of a bright blue summer sky.

I have always been one to color with the full box of crayons. So its been fun to color with my girls and let them show me their favorite things. My youngest daughter loves pink and orange. They fit her happy and outgoing personality. The dust ruffle is an old quilt filled with all the bright colors she loves. The pillows, bunny and bird details add a little whimsy that is just right for my five year old.

Finally, my oldest daughter loves flowers and fairytales. The soft pink walls and mix of florals and ruffles give it a dreamy cottage garden feel. Perfect for my creative girl who is always drawing and dreaming up her own tales of fairies and princesses.

In the end, I believe that great houses come in all shapes and sizes. However, the memorable ones are the homes that tell the story of the families and people who have lived there. Ours just happens to be a more colorful tale. So let the people and things you love inspire your own home design.

Family

The Beauty of Change

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“Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.”

Coco Chanel

Pumpkin spice lattes may not be available yet, but that hasn’t stopped me from decorating for fall a little early this year. It’s August and I have been out looking for pumpkins. Usually, I don’t start pull out the fall decorations until at least September, but I have a good reason to decorate sooner. A local magazine is going to be featuring our home for their October issue. So, I have been busy cleaning and trying to touch up a few of the more lived in spots in our home. Two little girls and a puppy create lots of messes along the way. Along with it comes a few other exciting projects. I am going to be a columnist for our local paper The Hinsdalean and I will also be writing a monthly food and garden column for a local magazine called Life in the Woodlands. I am excited about the possibilities and a chance to write and share more.

 

Things are also changing as the new school year starts tomorrow. My oldest daughter will now be in school for a full day. When we first moved to my girls were little and now they are more independent. I now have a little time to take on a few more projects of my own.

I began writing this blog when we moved to Chicago as a creative outlet. I had left my career as an attorney to spend more time with my daughters. Overwhelmed by change, I found joy in writing. I always loved to write, but before I began blogging, most of my writing had been for work or school. Moving as hard as it was, gave me a gift, the opportunity to see things differently. In ways I hadn’t realized, I had allowed my job to define who I was. Suddenly at home with my two girls I began to pour myself into what I really love. What would you do for the pure joy of it? I have always loved cooking, but what that took me be surprise was how much I enjoyed writing about it. I will admit that writing my first post was scary, but once I began to write and share more my worries began to fade.

Never underestimate the power of kind words. I want to thank all of my readers who have encouraged me along the way. It’s given me the strength I needed to write and share more. There is great beauty in owning who you are and doing what you truly love.  So thank you for being a part of that!

I’ve been busy creating a fall look with some faux pumpkins. On the upside the squirrels seem to not be as temped as they are with the real ones.

 

Food

Pulled Chicken Sandwich with Southwestern Carrot Slaw

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Chicken Sandwich with Carrot Slaw

I cook with a sense of adventure and fun. Never one to make just the same rotation of dishes I am always trying to push the flavor boundaries and create something different. Sometimes I never know where my inspiration will come from. I was sitting in a waiting room looking at a magazine when I saw a picture of a pulled chicken sandwich. Inspired, my mind began to swirl with ideas about creating my own ultimate version, a pulled chicken sandwich with a Southwestern carrot slaw. My recipe is a twist on your traditional roasted chicken with a lime and smoky cumin flavored slaw.

These sandwiches are the perfect Sunday night dinner. Roasting chicken takes just under an hour; however, the hands on cooking time isn’t much. If you take a little help from the store by buying shredded carrots and barbecue sauce, then it makes a fun and easy dinner. Add a side of macaroni and cheese or, a pasta or potato salad and you have a delicious meal.

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches -Serves 4

  • 3 bone in skin on chicken breasts
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temp
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce (I use a brand called Head Country)
  • 4 brioche or bakery quality burger buns, toasted

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Next make your flavored butter for roasting your chicken. In a small bowl add the softened butter, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin and chili powder. Evenly mix the spices into your butter using a rubber spatula or spoon.

Line a roast or sheet pan with aluminum foil, for easy clean up. Then place your chicken breasts on the pan. Take your flavored butter and place one third of the mixture under the skin of each chicken breast. To do this you need to carefully lift up the skin and create a little pocket to spoon in your flavored butter. You want to avoid making a whole on the bottom or sides.

Roast your chicken for 45 to 50 minutes depending on the size of your chicken breasts. A very large chicken breast could take up to 55 minutes.

Let you chicken cool in the pan for about 5 minutes until it is cool enough to handle. Next peel off your skin and while holding your chicken over a medium sized bowl to catch all the flavorful drippings. Then discard the skin and shred your chicken off the bone using a fork. Once you have shredded all of your chicken take about 1/4 cup of the pan drippings and mix it into your chicken along with 1 cup of barbecue sauce. (The chicken pan gravy is what makes this chicken so delicious.)

Southwestern Carrot Slaw

  • 3 cups of shredded carrots (You can save some time by using a bag of pre-shredded carrots from the store)
  • 1 cup shredded red cabbage
  • 3 green onion sliced on the diagonal
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
  • 1 lime zested
  • 1 tablespoon of lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

In a medium sized bowl mix together your carrots, red cabbage, green onions and cilantro.

In a small mixing bowl whisk together the lime zest and juice. Add in the apple cider vinegar, honey, cumin and salt. Whisk until it is well combined. Then add your dressing to your carrot slaw and toss to combined.

To assemble your sandwiches spoon some shredded barbecue chicken on the bottom of each bun and top with a spoonful of the Southwestern Slaw.

Outrageously delicious these big mouth sandwiches were a hit in our house. They would be a great dish to share with friends because you can make the pulled chicken ahead of time, even the day before. They would also work well as sliders for a tailgating party. The big flavors and crunchy slaw make theses a swoon-worthy sandwich and supper.

Food

Greek Chicken Skewers

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Chicken Souvlaki Recipe

Late summer is a fabulous time to cook. So many vegetables and fruits are in season and the flavors are amazing. I love making big salads that use all of the gorgeous summer tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, berries and peaches. Although salad might be enough for me my family loves a little protein. So these greek inspired lemon chicken skewers are one of my summertime favorites.

Skewers or kebabs are a great way to cook chicken on the grill because they cook quickly and evenly. The lemon garlic marinade is a fast way to add flavor. These skewers have become a favorite in our house. Serve them with a large side salad like my Chopped Greek Salad and add some hummus with good pita bread or naan and you have a quick and delicious dinner.

 

Greek Chicken Skewers – Serves 4

  • 1 1/3 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (2 large chicken breasts)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice (about 1/2 large lemon)
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper

First get your grilled prepared and ready to cook the chicken on direct medium high heat

Then prepare your chicken by cutting it into one inch pieces. A quick tip, if your chicken breasts are large then I like to cut mine in half horizontally and then cut them into pieces.

Next make your marinade. In a medium sized bowl whisk together your lemon juice, zest, garlic, oregano, olive oil, salt and pepper. Then place your chicken and the marinade in a large gallon sized ziplock bag. Let your chicken marinade in your fridge for at least 10 to 15 minutes. You can let them marinade a bit longer, but I wouldn’t let it sit longer than an hour because of the acidity from the lemon juice.

Next thread your chicken onto your skewers. you can use metal or wooden skewers, but if you are using wooden skewers let them soak in some water while you are marinating your chicken. It will keep the wood from getting charred on the grill.

Then grill your chicken for 4 to 5 minute on one side and then flip them and cook them for an additional 4 to 5 minutes on the other side until they are cooked through. If you don’t have an outdoor grill you could also use an indoor grilling pan.

These Greek chicken skewers are an easy and healthy dinner that are perfect for those summer nights when you want to eat well but not spend all of your time in the kitchen. Hope you enjoy this summer grilling favorite.

Baking/Family

Celebrating Every Day

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Purple Birthday Cake

The moment I take my red mixer out of the top cabinet, my girls come running. “What are you making?” We love to bake together, but mention the word cake and and they begin shouting with joy. They are running to pull chairs up to reach the counter and help.

Birthday cakes are a fun tradition in our house. I let everyone pick their own flavor and theme. This year my daughter decided that she wanted a Princess Sofia cake with flowers. She helped pick out all the little details. When you are five, the more purple icing and sprinkles, the better the cake. So we had fun decorating and planning a small family celebration.

This week we have had more than just a birthday to celebrate. My daughter also completed her physical and occupational therapy which has been a part of her life since she was two months old. She was born with torticollis and muscle weakness  that made reaching basic physical milestones like rolling over, crawling, walking, seeing a ball and even swallowing a challenge. She has worked hard to build strength and learn how to do all the basics that I certainly took for granted. Watching and helping her has given me a deep appreciation for all of the small things.

Working at physical therapy when she was three months old.

We are grateful for all of the therapists who have worked with her along this journey. We are also thankful for our family who have supported us with all of the challenges along the way. There were days where I know it was painful and tough, but throughout it all she has had the best attitude. Even when something doesn’t go her way, she is quick to smile and say “I will try again.” She is not one to let anything stop her and I know that smile and attitude will take her far.

So this year I am reminded that we are celebrating more than just a birthday. It’s a time to look back and be grateful for all the days that have gotten us here. Our little five year old is now running and jumping with joy and watching that is truly amazing.

Food

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

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Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

Summer days as a kid were made for swimming, playing outside and eating ice cream. I remember going to visit my Dad’s parents every summer. I used to look forward to helping my granddad with his garden. We would pick fresh tomatoes, green beans and cucumbers for dinner. Then we would head out on the back porch to make homemade ice cream. We would help him layer the ice and rock salt and watch as the ice cream churned. The the best part, getting a taste.

I got an ice cream maker for my birthday last year. All those memories of summer ice cream as a kid made me want to share the tradition with my girls. Ice cream machines may have changed a bit, but the joy and excitement of making your own ice cream is as great as I remembered.

This week my youngest daughter and I went to the farmers market to buy strawberries, her favorite. Then we came home and my girls pushed their chairs up to the counter to help me measure and mix it all together. They eagerly watched and waited for a first taste. The cold, sweet strawberry ice cream was a wonderful treat on a hot summer day. So here is the recipe that had us all smiling and thinking about seconds.

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream – Serves 8  (makes about 2 quarts)

  • 3 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1 cup sugar, divided
  • 1 1/2 cup whole milk or half and half
  • 2 cups whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

First prepare your ice cream maker according to the manufacture. Make sure that if your are using a newer electric model that you have chilled the bowl ahead of time.

In a medium sized bowl mix together your strawberries and 1/2 cup of sugar. Cover your bowl and let your berries and sugar sit in the fridge for 30 minute to 1 hour to allow the berries to macerate or form their own syrup.

Then in a food processor or blender puree you berries until they are chopped into small pieces.

In a large bowl mix together the strawberry puree, milk, cream, the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla and salt.

Pour your strawberry mixture in your ice cream maker and allow it run until your ice cream is frozen. The ice cream setting on my Cuisinart is 25 minutes.

Spoon your ice cream into a freezer safe container and allow it to freeze and firm up for an additional 2 hours.

So scoop up some summer fun with homemade strawberry ice cream. This delicious treat is still fun to make on a hot summer day.

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

Home

Colorful Summer Doors

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White House with Yellow Door

It’s hard to think about Chicago summers and not talk about color. The winter snow is now a distant memory and the trees and grass are all a deep summer green. Doors and walkways are adorned with colorful pots and the window boxes are overflowing with flowers. Summer is here and I have been out taking in the view and photographing some of my favorites.

I love photographing doors. I have shared a few posts on the subject before. Whether I am on vacation or just out walking I like to linger a moment to admire  the architectural details or an interesting color that makes certain doors and homes stand out.

This little garden cottage has a cheerful touches of yellow against the crisp black and white exterior.  The woven letter box and those wicker chairs look like a lovely place to sit and enjoy a view. I like the colorful window boxes and all the neatly trimmed boxwoods.

The contrast of this light pink door against the deep navy siding is eye catching. The brass light fixtures and lanterns add a polished finish that ties in the colors from stone stairs. Then little bird house detail adds just the right touch of fun.

This stately colonial looks fresh and up to date with this Tiffany blue door. The bright color draws the eye in and makes you notice the transom window and columns.

This coastal inspired home is one of my favorites. The contrast between the soft gray shingles and a robin’s egg blue door is so pretty. I like the weathered metal planters and the boxwood. It’s a city home that make you feel like you might be on the beach.

This tangerine door is something I saw while on vacation in Michigan. The preppy orange against the turquoise haint ceiling made this small home feel like it had a larger than life personality.

This classic victorian had me stopping to enjoy the view.  The gorgeous coral door with the brass hardware makes you take notice of the leaded window sidelights and the detailed trim work. The metal urns of coral geraniums and ivy add a touch of color to the yard.

Finally, a craftsman styled home with a welcoming tomato red. The lighting and house numbers add a finished feel to the craftsmen look. I love the metal barn star. It adds a patriotic touch that feels like summer in Chicago.

Sometimes it’s fun to just stop and take in the beauty of a summer garden and a doorway or two. The bright colors and landscaping details add character and charm to all of these memorable homes.

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