Wildberry Cafe

Today I found myself outside shoveling a foot of snow.  I get excited about 1 inch of snow, so you could imagine how overjoyed I was about 12.

I’ll try to add some pictures later, but everything looks washed out.  That’s why I need a new camera.  Feel free to buy me one if you have some extra cash.

So after a long 1 hour of shoveling and snow blowing, we cleared our driveway and our neighbor’s too.  We worked up quite the appetite.  My uncle suggested one of his favorite little places for breakfast.  We arrive at Wildberry Cafe, and I just know I’ll love it.  There’s snow all around and employees are clearing the parking lot as we enter.

There’s a bakery and coffee bar on the right as you enter.  We wait for the hostess to seat us and I ordered a hazelnut latte with soymilk.  Excellent choice – it was tasty.  My uncle orders the Pecan Belgian Waffles, and Tee (our neighbor) get a custom creation omlette.  There were so many things I wanted to try, but I settled on the Mexicana Sizzlin’ Skillet.  I have hashbrowns with cheddar and monterey jack cheese topped with chorizo, cilantro, jalapenos, onions, advacado, and two scrambled eggs.  I had the option of pancakes or toast.  Who can eat pancakes with that much as the main entree?  Plus, I was swayed to order the toast so  I could taste the homemade wildberry preserves.  I must say, there was a generous amount of food.  I’ve been known to tuck food into the unknown, but I could not finish my meal!  The Wildberry preserves were so tasty – definitely worthy of the restaurants name.

I forgot to take photos, but if we go back to Libertyville, I’ll try to get a shot of the outside.

Cold Turkey.

So maybe the title is a little misleading.  I’m in Chicago, and it’s freezing.  Take me back to the South.  I left home this morning with a t-shirt and cotton jacket; I was perfectly fine – cozy & warm.  I arrived in Milwaukee, greeted by a brisk 21 degree farenheit wind.  My oh my, what a change.

I have neglected my blog for a while.  But my cold turkey vacation will give me the chance to cook up all kinds of things.  I’ll wake up early (I hope – considering it’s almost 1 am now) and shovel some snow.  I hope to get some good photos.  I’m no [insert famous photographer here], but I do what I can.

See you back here tomorrow!

Macaroons

I’ve never had macaroons.  Does that make me a bad person?  They kind of look like easter eggs to me.  All pastel-colored and yummy looking.  I have no desire to try them.  I can’t even begin to tell you what flavors a macroon may even taste like.

A quick google search tells me that my recollection of macaroons is the Parisian macaroon.  Some of my favorite food bloggers have offered recipes, but I just skip over them.  Maybe I’ll challenge myself to the macaroon over the holiday break.

The snow is falling down like crazy now.  The forecast is for up to 10 inches tonight.  Excitement!

Falling into Fall

My oh my… fall already.  It’s cool all day and the seasons transitioned so quickly.  I didn’t really have a chance to think about it. …not that they wait for my approval or anything.

I’m super excited about all the pumpkin and squash recipes.  I tried butternut squash last night.  I wasn’t too impressed.  I’m convinced that something went wrong.  Probably the part when I got lazy and put them in the microwave – yeah I’m pretty sure.

I can’t wait to make this recipe that I saw at Smitten Kitchen via Nicole at Baking Bites (she’s my hero).  Check the picture below.  You can check out the recipe by clicking on the photo.

Smitten Kitchen

I mean really… how can I not make this? Absolutely have to.

Then I stumbled across another interesting recipe… Wacky Cake. What the crap? Wacky cake!  It sounds like something that should be at the State Fair (which I haven’t had the chance to attend and is causing my soul to weep on the inside). I found the Wacky Cake recipe over at Homesick Texan.  Dear HT, I don’t know who you are but I officially swear by your recipe for authentic queso.  Thank you and goodnight.

Wacky Cake from Homesick Texan

more ALEX.

So, last week Alex reminded me that I hadn’t kept my promise to help her improve her cooking skills.  I will actively do my best to get at least one cooking lesson in within the next two weeks.  Sorry, Alex!

What should our first meal be?  Any suggestions? If so, leave them in the comments.

Just Words…

Is a Rastafarian really to be likened to a beggar? I usually enjoy my fellow cooking blogs, but… 

Get a grip.

Apparently, MTBT thinks so… check out #28 on the MEME.

Chocolate Raspberry Cake

I am so behind on this post.  There’s no excuse for this.

Actually there is – I am addicted to the Olympics.  They only come once every four years (2 if you include the Winter Olympics).  How can I not tune in?  

I was following James Blake.  Oh, Fernando Rodriguez, how you disappoint me.  Maybe Blake can grab the bronze.  Michael Phelps is a merman – the end.  Women’s Volleyball?  Love it!!  I have a couple favorites, but I’m proud of all of them!  The game against China was intense – I was sweating bullets!

My Baby

So the recipe for this cake is from Nicole over at Baking Bites.  I loved the recipe, it was really easy.  However, I didn’t add as much water as the recipe calls for.  My batter started looking way too runny.  I used frozen raspberries, and per her advice I didn’t let them thaw.  Let me say – the cake was awesome.  Everyone loved it.  And we made a raspberry sauce of frozen raspberries, sugar, a little water to thin it out, and Grand Marnier.  Yum!

All the photos were taken by Morgan.  She has lots more photos on her page, so check them out!

Wax On, Wax Off.

Today my friend Alex came by my lab, where I was busy looking busy after a way too heavy lunch.  She told me about her birthday (Happy Belated!) and then we started talking about what she had for dinner last night.

Turkey deli meat, turkey stuffing, and instant mashed potatoes. ::Insert jaw drop::

Alex immediately made my heart cry when she replied, “It was all microwaveable.”  So I asked her if she liked to cook? Did she know my heart’s passion was cooking?  She says she figured as much, and afterall she can cook macaroni and cheese.  I leaned in for her version of macaroni and cheese when she dropped the bomb – “from the box.”

::Blank stare:: ::Samurai style death::

WHAT?!

Needless to say, I now have a new category. Alex.  Tune in for my cooking updates.  We will transform Alex in the kitchen.

"But I know how to cook"

Summer Rolls

A couple of days ago I picked up some Egg Roll Wrappers at the grocery store. I thought, “meh…I can probably make my own eggrolls.” So, today I grated/shredded some red cabbage, red onion, and carrots. I mixed it with some ground turkey which was nice and spicy – I cooked it to make some queso, but I was invited to dinner before I could complete the meal. Either way, I mixed those ingredients with a dash of soy sauce, a sprinkle of ginger, and a smidgen of garlic powder. Whala! The filling for my eggrolls.

 

Then I had another novel idea. What about a summer roll? You know how eggrolls without meat are spring rolls? Well, I would make summer rolls. I allowed a brick of cream cheese to soften, added 1/2 cup of sugar and some vanilla extract. Maybe the sliced strawberries from earlier and a peach I picked up at the farmer’s market this morning? Sprinkle some ground cinnamon and nutmeg? Excellent! Cream cheese + diced fruit? Tasty filling for my summer rolls! Check the pictures if you don’t believe me. Also, nevermind my crazy chipped fingernail polish. I promise there is no polish in the Summer Rolls.

 

 

Red onion, Red cabbage, ground turkey, shredded carrot

 

Summer Roll

Red Velvet Cupcakes!

I believe this recipe came from Simply Recipes?…  Anyway I’ll add the link in after I’m done with this MaxiPrep.  Loved the cupcakes though!