Upon Request

My dear friend Abby has requested two things:

Write a blog post.

And share some recipes.

So here I am.

These recipes are easy and seriously delicious.

Ina Garten's Potato Basil Frittata: I love all things basil in the summer. Especially since I get to go outside and pick my own; I feel just like Ina. Then spinkle a little--ok, a lot--of gruyere. And, voila, you have a winner. So yummy.

And Sugar Donut Muffins. How could they not be good? And, even if they only ate the sparkly part, the kids loved them too.

Best of all was spending time with my sweet friends and their little ones. Life is flying by but isn't it wonderful when you can take a moment to be and laugh with people you love? And eat yummy food, of course.

the taste of fall...

This recipe is a must try: fun to make and delicious. There is something precisely fall about the amber, gooey, sweet and salty goodness of this homemade caramel. Perfect on its own, drizzled over 

icecream or apples...or anything, really.

Dan and I have been enjoying it drizzled over kettle cooked popcorn.  

And as he would say, "It's too good."

I think it has made the roster for our home date tonight too. I am thinking fire in the back, boggle (yes boggle...trust me, it is more fun then you remember) and salted caramel popcorn.

loc.al.ert / Train Restaurant

Two Toots Train Whistle Grill

As you may have already figured, this is a good one if you have kids (between 1 and 10) and live in the Wheaton/Glen Ellyn Area.  I mean really good. The first time we went here was the first (and only) time we have seen Levi (2) cry for joy. Literally (He LOVES all things train).  We were sitting on the stools that are strategically placed in front of a train that circles a track to bring your food as its freight.  As he was watching the small train carry baskets of fries and burgers to the customers, a real train stopped on the tracks just outside the restaurant window--too good to be true and the excitement levels were rising. Suddenly, Levi realized that Thomas the Tank Engine was playing on TV in the restaurant, and well, it was too much. He started to screech and shake a little, and tears welled up in his eyes. Dan and I were rolling and could not hold our excitement in either :)

The food is just right for kids too; burgers, hotdogs, fries, etc.  Not the healthiest menu options but at least they are trying: 100% grass fed, 100% prairie raised beef even for their hot dogs.

Try it!

You had me at hello...

Not surprising, really. Who wouldn't be had by this cake?

I found the recipe on pintrest a while back and knew I had to try it. Not only does is look scrumptious, but my mom made a similar cake growing up and I can't seem to get her recipe right. My family calls it hot milk cake.

This recipe is not for the faint-of-baking-heart though--there are a few steps the require TLC. Every once and a while I get the urge for a finicky recipe--one that calls for things like sifting cake flour, or a candy thermometer, or lots of steps...or all three, like this one (though I am sure you could make it without using a sifter or thermometer) :) Maybe it taps into my slight "type A-ness" which occasionally emerges from layers and layers of "type b-ness." The preciseness of measuring, the smells, watching chemistry unfold...I am beginning to sound like Alton Brown.

If none of that draws you in, the glaze alone makes this cake it worth it! We all had a few spoonfuls before it made its way onto the cake.

um...yum.

Inspired to cook lately, and these have to be the next recipe I try:





Who can resist warm gruyere pastry puffs (gougeres) with a glass of red wine?

The recipe is here.

Milk...

Chicken? I know, two words that don't necessarily go together. But upon Claire's lavish praise we made this chicken and loved this chicken. Kudos to Jamie Oliver for putting it all together.

One Pot Wonder.

This soup is so delicious. It too is perfect for fall. But the best part is that its a one pot meal. So simple and easy--here is the recipe.

The bread was also delic. If I could capture the smell in a picture, your mouth would be watering. I will be making this again. The recipe is from The Joy of Cooking--Milk Bread.