locally grown

So, I have finally started taking advantage of this Locally Grown Market I am a member of.  See if there is one near you!  I prefer this to a CSA because you get what you order, not what is available.  I know we are at the mercy of the farmers, weather, etc but I am pretty picky and don't know how much I would eat out of the weekly CSA bucket.  So, I ordered eggplant and spaghetti squash and cooked up some marvelous dishes with them. 

Eggplant Parm

Spaghetti Squash Salad with tarragon and pine nuts

Up next is this Butternut Squash Bisque from Hugh Acheson...

Have a great Thanksgiving!!

thanksgiving list

So, we are heading to Hilton Head with the Shinglers for Thanksgiving weekend.  Brad and I are preparing brunch on Saturday for the whole crew.  Here are the dishes I am taking/making:

1. cheesy potato casserole
2. strawberry cream cheese coffee cake
3. fruit salad
4. curried chicken salad 

Also, fun snacks and desserts:

1. taco dip
2. ranch oyster crackers
3. sugar-crusted meltaways
4. white chocolate chex mix (AKA crack due to its addictiveness)

We are also taking:

1. bocce (we are right on the beach and though we might not be sunbathing, we will bocce!)
2. swimsuit (we do have a hot tub!)

So, it should be a great time!  We are having dinner with my family for Thanksgiving and Levi's birthday on Wednesday and heading down on Thursday morning.  On Sunday, we will leave pretty early to get back here in time for Mom and I to go to the Nutcracker.  I haven't seen it at the Imperial since I played an angel one year.  Ha!

chicago

 Ok, finally getting to the Chicago recap!!  These pictures are way out of order but it's the best I can do.

On Friday night, we went to the John Hancock Signature Lounge on the 96th floor for some drinks before dinner.  It was really cool!

 Saturday night we enjoyed some blues at Kingston Mines.  I have been to Chicago's House of Blues before but this was the real deal.

 Friday night we had dinner at Carnivale.  This place was amazing - really great atmosphere, fun menu and amaxing food.  I could eat there every weekend but my checking account couldn't handle that.  :)

This is Brad's braised short ribs with grits/polenta.  It was like butter...

 Byther Smith at the Blues bar.  He was really good I thought!

 The Chick-fil-A cow walked up while we were taking pictures and we couldn't resist.  They are finally getting some in Chicago and they are so popular!!!  As you can imagine...

 Megan's exam room!  Her chair has massage.  I might have to go up there every six months for my exams.  :)

 Drinks at the Signature Lounge.  I had a Godiva martini.  And Adi's scotch was infused with peanuts.  Weird...

Brad getting ready for his exam.  Ha.  I don't think he trusts Megan to work on his teeth.  Only because she has a lot of revenge she can exact on him.  :)

Megan's vegetable empanadas at Carnivale. 

 My flank steak.  It was fantabulous!!!  I got a cheese platter too - of course!

 Another view from the John Hancock Building.

 

 

View of the Navy Pier from John Hancock. See the ferris wheel? I have 'been there, done that' so this is as close as we got.

  Megan and Adi at the Lounge.

 Adi's pork chop at Carnivale. 

 Friday walking to dinner, on the Chicago River at the DuSable Bridge.  I stayed at the Sheraton in the background a few years ago. 

 Eric 'the guitar' Smith at Kingston Mines.  He played a lot of cover songs which was actually kind of cool. 

 On Saturday, we visited the free (!) Lincoln Park Zoo in their neighborhood and then headed to Wrigleyville.  We got to see the stadium and went barhopping to catch all the football games.  We went to Goose Island (local beer that is fab), Vines on Clark, John Barleycorn's, and others.

We were right at the famous io theatre as well.  We thought about going to see an improv show but hit the Blues bar instead. 

Pizza at Pizano's was delish!  I do have to say it was more deep cheese than deep dish (crust) though.  Wow...

Thursday we went straight to this little pizza place.  I have been to Gino's before but this place was very quaint and authentic.  Yummy!

The outside of Carnivale.  It reminded me of a Brazilian steakhouse without the overabundance of food.

blog title

For all of you that read the blog regularly (ha), you will notice I have updated the title.  'Jami' was very boring so we are mixing things up.  I guess 'Shinglers' List' would have made more sense but this is my blog and Brad doesn't have many lists.  So, I will start listing items here periodically.  Whether it is good books, recipes, things I am looking forward to or errands to run, they will be posted for all to see.  Exciting huh?  J/K.  I am a huge list person so I thought this was appropriate!

Chicago teaser

Brad had to get a blue drink to start the trip off.