Monthly Archives: September 2010

Tomato Tartine Recipe

A magnificent harvest moon ushered in autumn last night. Though, with today's 93-degree weather forecast, you'd hardly know it. I'm still reveling in late summer produce and sunny afternoons. The Urbana farmers market is one of the great benefits to my new town. It feels like more of a community event than the hurried Chicago […]

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heather - open-face fresh tomato and mayo sandwiches are certainly a summer standby. never eaten one with a green tomato — is that a green zebra? i have another variation that i like: toasted bread, ricotta cheese, thick tomato slices, salt and za’atar. both are delicious!
cheers,
*heather*

Erin O'Brien - I’m not quite the foodie that you are, but I can appreciate a good sandwich when I see one.
Lovely photo. <3

Lisa - I just spent the morning at our lovely farmer’s market here in Oak Park. Along with the produce they have a local folk instrument group that plays and invites anyone to join, and fresh homemade donuts as part of a weekly fundraiser for non-profits. It’s the perfect reprieve to a week full of studying and lectures.
Now I know exactly what to do with my heirloom tomatoes! Thank you.

Nishta - I have been eating a lot of a similar kind of sandwich lately–usually with goat cheese or really good butter instead of mayo. it’s the breakfast of champions!

Caroline - Those green tomatoes are gorgeous!

Gemma - Heather, yes it is a green zebra. The farmers market near my house has an amazing array of tomatoes. It has been fun to try different varieties over the last several weeks.
Thanks Erin! I have to say, your photos are always impressive as well.
Lisa, I’ve heard the Oak Park market is wonderful, but I have never made it out to visit. One day!
Nishta, I have been snacking on these sandwiches with goat cheese instead of mayo at you suggestion. Delicious!
Thank you Caroline, the last few sighs of summer!

Pumpkin Spice Granola Recipe

It's been nearly three weeks, and I am slowly adjusting to my new life as a graduate student in Champaign, Illinois. As I write this, a magnificent Midwestern thunderstorm is rolling over the prairie and into town, reminding me that there is much more to this great state than I often acknowledge, and that I […]

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irene - i love the photos in this post!

irene - i love the photos in this post!

Amanda B - I’m so glad that you are getting settled in. I just started classes this week and to say I feel a little out of my league is an understatement. I forgot what its like to get jitters about assignments and papers. But I will hopefully get used to it with time. I’m incredibly jealous that you have a whole house and a fully functional kitchen! What I would give for a stove/oven!!

Amanda B - I’m so glad that you are getting settled in. I just started classes this week and to say I feel a little out of my league is an understatement. I forgot what its like to get jitters about assignments and papers. But I will hopefully get used to it with time. I’m incredibly jealous that you have a whole house and a fully functional kitchen! What I would give for a stove/oven!!

heather - granola got me through many rough times during graduate school as well. i like the maple-pumpkin spice idea, and will have to try as soon as the current coconut-honey version is eaten!
and it looks like you’re already following this advice, but definitely get out to explore. you’ll be glad you did, especially when something totally unexpected presents itself.
cheers,
*heather*

heather - granola got me through many rough times during graduate school as well. i like the maple-pumpkin spice idea, and will have to try as soon as the current coconut-honey version is eaten!
and it looks like you’re already following this advice, but definitely get out to explore. you’ll be glad you did, especially when something totally unexpected presents itself.
cheers,
*heather*

Erin O'Brien - Looks like the perfect pre-autumn treat. :) Thanks for sharing.
Oh! And I love a good farmers market. You best hit it up before summer winds down and the cool air has moved in. Farmers market season never lasts long enough in the Midwest!

Erin O'Brien - Looks like the perfect pre-autumn treat. :) Thanks for sharing.
Oh! And I love a good farmers market. You best hit it up before summer winds down and the cool air has moved in. Farmers market season never lasts long enough in the Midwest!

Lisa - I came across your blog searching for Chicago food bloggers. I just moved to Chicago to start medical school, so I guess that in some ways we may be sharing some new experiences with new schools – maybe we will share the same appetite, too :)
I almost always have a jar full of homemade granola around for breakfast or a snack. This was probably the best I have every made. Thanks for the recipe!

Lisa - I came across your blog searching for Chicago food bloggers. I just moved to Chicago to start medical school, so I guess that in some ways we may be sharing some new experiences with new schools – maybe we will share the same appetite, too :)
I almost always have a jar full of homemade granola around for breakfast or a snack. This was probably the best I have every made. Thanks for the recipe!

Tania - you make granola, go to the berkeley bowl, have a blog, and are a grad student in champaign?
um, want to be friends?
i grew up in berkeley (raised on granola, of course) and am a grad student in english at the u of i. and incidentally, i also have a blog (definitely not as cool, nor as scrumptious). i don’t want to be a creepster, but if you ever need the company of a coffee date, shoot me an email!

Tania - you make granola, go to the berkeley bowl, have a blog, and are a grad student in champaign?
um, want to be friends?
i grew up in berkeley (raised on granola, of course) and am a grad student in english at the u of i. and incidentally, i also have a blog (definitely not as cool, nor as scrumptious). i don’t want to be a creepster, but if you ever need the company of a coffee date, shoot me an email!

Nishta - so glad you’re back–I missed you!

Nishta - so glad you’re back–I missed you!

Jessica - I love granola. Your recipe looks pretty easy.
I was wondering, is the background for your jar your countertop? It looks really neat.

Jessica - I love granola. Your recipe looks pretty easy.
I was wondering, is the background for your jar your countertop? It looks really neat.

christine - Lovely post. I used to play with Granola when I was a teenager, tried different recipes with it. Thanks for sharing this one. If you wont mind I’d love to guide Foodista readers to your post. Just add the foodista widget to the end of this post so it will appear in the Foodista pages and it’s all set, Thanks!

christine - Lovely post. I used to play with Granola when I was a teenager, tried different recipes with it. Thanks for sharing this one. If you wont mind I’d love to guide Foodista readers to your post. Just add the foodista widget to the end of this post so it will appear in the Foodista pages and it’s all set, Thanks!

Gemma - Thank you Irene! Very flattering coming from someone with truly wonderful photos.
Amanda, I hope things are getting of to a great start for you. I admit, I love having a full kitchen, but I bet there are more reasons to leave the house where you are!
Thanks Heather! I have been enjoying roaming around. New things are always exciting, if a bit scary.
You’re right Erin, I’m already fretting about the arrival of November 6th when the market shuts down. Jealous of your year-round produce!
Hello Lisa, that is very flattering, I am so glad you enjoyed it! Best of luck to you in Chicago and with medical school. It is a wonderful town and I hope you enjoy it!
Hello Tania, that is fantastic! I would love to get coffee. I will email you.
Thanks Nistha!
Hello Jessica. I love the pattern too. It is actually the floor in the breezeway between our garage and the main house. I thought it looked so lovely in the sunshine.
Thanks Christine. I’ll look into this when I have a moment.

Gemma - Thank you Irene! Very flattering coming from someone with truly wonderful photos.
Amanda, I hope things are getting of to a great start for you. I admit, I love having a full kitchen, but I bet there are more reasons to leave the house where you are!
Thanks Heather! I have been enjoying roaming around. New things are always exciting, if a bit scary.
You’re right Erin, I’m already fretting about the arrival of November 6th when the market shuts down. Jealous of your year-round produce!
Hello Lisa, that is very flattering, I am so glad you enjoyed it! Best of luck to you in Chicago and with medical school. It is a wonderful town and I hope you enjoy it!
Hello Tania, that is fantastic! I would love to get coffee. I will email you.
Thanks Nistha!
Hello Jessica. I love the pattern too. It is actually the floor in the breezeway between our garage and the main house. I thought it looked so lovely in the sunshine.
Thanks Christine. I’ll look into this when I have a moment.