Calling all "Cook's"

Last night, my mom and I went to a book signing/talk of the executive editor of Cook's Illustrated, Jack Bishop.

You've probably seen this magazine at the check-out line of Whole Foods; it's the one with no photos in it, the one that looks like it's made for people who really want to learn how to cook. My mom's a subscriber, and one of their gazillion "real-people" testers**, so we had to go see him. I, of course, have no idea who he is, but I like Barbara's Bookstore and my mom needed a driver, so I was recruited.

Actually, it was fun and he gave some great anecdotes about recipe testing, the rigueur it goes through before it makes it into the magazine (or on the TV show). One of the funniest things was when he read reviews of recipes from some "real-people" testers. Everyone knows that cook's change recipes, or use different ingredients, so he read these comment cards where someone changed almost everything about the recipe and then declares, "It was delicious!"

**real-people testers – you can sign up on their website to test recipes. When they have a recipe to test (after it's gone through all their shenanigans), they email it out to 2,000 people looking for feedback. Sound like fun?

Unforgetable quotes

"What are you? Half man half woman?"
--my dad, when I was at their house helping mulch leaves yesterday with the blower.

A year ago today

I found out I was pregnant for the first time. It was Matt's birthday gift. His parents were visiting us that weekend so we were sneaking around taking the pregnancy test, sleeping in the spare bedroom, whispering about the house, smiling whenever we looked at each other. It was all very funny and endearing as I look back on it. The due date would have been this past July ... I hated July this year.

A Birthday for Matt

Matt's 36!!Hiya Sexy!

We did everything Matt wanted to do ... Friday night we had dinner at his favorite restaurant Adelle's. Saturday morning, we woke up at 7 a.m. and went for a 3 mile power walk (Matt had a hard time keeping up with my Olympic speed walking), followed by breakfast at his favorite b-fast spot Honey. After that, Matt balanced our very overdue checkbook (5 months worth - and yes, this was something he wanted to do on his birthday!). Then we went to see Paranormal Activity at the York, before heading to my mom's for my brother's birthday party. (note: my brother, my dad and my husband are all born on practically the same date!)

Birthday Party pictures: click here.

Matt and my brother both got cake and presents last night.

Uncomfortable on the Train

Last night on the way home from work, I unintentionally sat next to a very pregnant woman on the train. When I looked over and saw her protruding belly, my heart sank. Are pregnant people coming out of the woodwork on purpose to taunt me? As I was trying to concentrate on my book, she kept rubbing her belly.

I realized then and there that I could go on hating all people who are fertile, or I can (as Matt and I have discussed) paint a different picture. Maybe that person is pregnant after years of trying, after many miscarriages, after medical assistance. I have no idea what their story is, and maybe it's one of hope.

So as I watched her rub her belly because she had no where else to put her arm, shift her weight forwards and back trying to get in a comfortable position, legs looking somewhat swollen, I wasn't too sure if I was envious of her.

Churrrrros! @ Xoco

Last Saturday we woke up and decided we needed to grab breakfast in the not-so-usual spot (our favorite cafe a stone's throw from our house where they all know us).

We decided on Nola's Cup, an Oak Park corner joint that we've gone to a few times (but would be there constantly if we lived in the area). We love their beignets and pain perdu, and they always made excellent coffee. As we approached the corner, the place was closed, a for sale sign in front (I found out they closed over the summer). What could wipe the frown off our faces?

We jumped back on the expressway and headed downtown to Xoco -- Rick Bayless' new place (yes, we did just go to Topolobampo a week before, but who could resist more Mexican food... for breakfast). There was no traffic there and we lucked out with parking a block away -- so we decided we need to come here every Saturday! There was also no line, and a few open places to sit (we arrived about 9:30 a.m.); we sat a long the wall at the high bar.



Matt and I have different styles when we go to a new place. I like to order a lot (to try everything in case we can't go back or it closes), Matt likes to wait for me to order something for myself and then says, "Let's split that." It drives me up a wall (in that "good, we've been married for 6 years" way) so then I counter-act it with, "Let's try this too." And what we end up ordering is just the perfect amount. (We balance each other out).

So when I ordered my poblano empanada and he wanted to split it -- I added in the breakfast torta (and good thing because they were on the smaller side). In the end we ordered: poblano empanada, breakfast torta, churros, and 2 Aztec hot chocolates.
The churros came out first, along with the hot chocolate. The HC was spicy at first but then mellowed, and the churros were fried perfection, sweet and cinnamon-y. I dipped them in the HC and the crispy outside sucked in the HC as if they were meant to be together. We went back for another order to-go.


Then came the savories. The empanada filling and pastry was delicious ( I haven't had an empanada since I was in Buenos Aires in 2000). Savory and spicy all together in a cute package that was easy to eat. The torta was a little less successful to eat, only because it was on this huge piece of bread, covered with jalapeno (hot!), salsa, beans, and a poached egg. When the egg broke, it was really delicious but messy; we didn't realize there were utensils on the counter, so we tried to eat this with our hands. The very refined gentleman to my right probably thought we were crazy slobs.



Neither item was very large, and while Matt and I left happy (with our to-go of churros), I could have eaten more (like I want my own empanada next time, Matt, no more splitting). Next time I also want to try the almond hot chocolate and go for lunch to try and soups and sandwiches.

Anyone want to join us?

Bathroom countertop ordered

UPDATE: This never gets easier does it? My dad came over this morning to check the plumbing (before we install countertop). He wants to A) remove the wall to check out the insulation (we had these pipes freeze last year), and B) put in a new floor. This can't all happen before Friday morning, so we'll have to make the counter people do a semi-install, so we can remove the cabinet to put in a new floor... sigh.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Next March, we will celebrate 5 years in our home. When we first moved in, I secretly had my 5-year plan for the house, hoping to get all the interior remodeled in 5 years. We're almost there!

Back in the upstairs bathroom, we were still in need of a countertop. We were going to make do with the existing one but ... we already bought a new sink and the counter looks bad since we never covered it during any of the remodel.

So we found a local place that sells remnants for not just granite, but also quartz and we selected our bathroom countertop for $400 cheaper than our original quote for non-remnant. It should get installed next weekend around Matt's birthday! The only goofy thing with remnants is that you have to go looking through pieces for the right size and color, and then tagging it with your name (and they are big and can't really be moved).

Bathroom so far

In the meanwhile, we got a new shower curtain and rod (a curved one like at the Westin Hotels I used to stay at when traveling, it gives you like 6 inches more room, it feels so spacious), a new towel holder, and I got some photos of mine framed and hung.

While we're waiting for the counter, I'm hoping we can get our new doors and trim, and then we'll be D-O-N-E.