Hot dogs and Apple Dip

It was cleanup weekend at the cabin this weekend. Summoning all our military tactics, Kevin, his sister Karla, his mom and I managed to rope Miss Chocoholic and Kevin's niece and nephew into helping pick up sticks along the shoreline. Meanwhile, I had a makeout session with Joe, the tree.
This physical activity worked up an appetite with the kids who had to ask when it was lunchtime every five minutes. Finally we gave in, built a fire and let them roast hot dogs. I have to say that was one of the best hot dogs I ever had, probably due to the crisp, autumn air and the smell of falling leaves.
Karla had an amazing apple dip she made and it was perfect for the mood of the afternoon. The recipe is a block of softened cream cheese, a half cup of brown sugar, a fourth cup of white sugar, butter brickle chips, and a teaspoon of vanilla. The dip almost tasted like it had some cinnamon in it, it was perfect to dip apples into.This was also my birthday weekend. (Those that know me know I love to drag my birthday on and on and milk it for all its worth.) Kevin's mom gave me this really cool wine stand. Yes, it is a piece of wood and the wine bottle balances it! Kevin was playing photographer in the afternoon and every picture he took he called "Wine bottle on a fall day," "Boat on a fall day," "Leaves on a fall day," etc.What a beautiful weekend!

High Tea at the Ritz Carlton

I got two great birthday presents this year so far, probably because my family feels sorry for me because I am turning 35. Kevin gave me an amazing, beautiful set of pearls that I want to wear every day and my mom made a reservation in Chicago to have high tea at the Ritz Carlton.

So off my mom and I went to Chicago to pretend we are rich and fit into the Michigan Avenue crowd. The second night we were there, I met a girl at the hotel bar who was a boutique manager and explained the illusion of Michigan Avenue. I asked her if people really shop in five inch heels and if they can really afford to wear Chanel every day to work. "Oh, no, let me tell you a story!" she says with an accent that reminded me of Boston. The girls who work in the high-end stores get a clothing allowance and they are able to buy about three outfits that they wear day in and day out. When it is quiet, the managers send them to walk up the avenue in their stilettos and their $1500 designer outfit. It's all about marketing. After she told me that, the illusion was over and when I pointed out to my mom a blond girl in heels that were thinner than a pencil and about the same height carrying a baby blue $10,000 Birkin, it was satisfying to realize that she probably didn't own that bag because it should actually be mine. Maybe in another lifetime.But it's always fun to pretend that we are classy and ritzy and high tea was a unique experience. I had English breakfast tea and my mom had Earl Gray. The tea came with a three-tiered tray of goodies.Little finger sandwiches, clotted cream, scones, cookies. My favorite thing on the tray was the little chicken rosemary sandwiches. The cookies were buttery, the strawberry jam was right up there with my own jam and the bread was soft and flavorful.The best thing about the tea was my mom paying the bill at the end. Just kidding, Mom! Thanks for a fun birthday present!

Giordano's Deep Dish Pizza

My mom and I went to Chicago last weekend for a girly shopping weekend and I always have to try the local food. What is more local in Chicago than Chicago deep dish pizza? We were headed over to Uno's, the home of the deep dish pizza and I stopped and asked a guy selling brochures how to get there. He suggested instead of waiting an hour for a table at Uno's to just go up a block and go to Giordanos instead. Just as good, he said and less of a wait. Apprehensively, I decided to take my chances, knowing that I would kick myself if the pizza wasn't delicious. We got a table right away. The atmosphere was laid back and casual with red and white checkered tableclothes. We ordered a small pizza with cheese, olives, pepperoni, sausage and garlic. The waitress brought us our drinks and warned us that it would be about 45 minutes. It was the longest, hungriest 45 minutes of my life. My mom wasn't feeling good and we hadn't eaten since early morning so we were both slightly cranky and starving. I thought several times about tripping the waitresses and grabbing the pizzas they were carrying but since the closest I have come to playing football is staring mindlessly at the TV screen when the Vikings play, I decide I probably wouldn't be able to pull that one off. I can honestly say that was probably the best pizza I have ever had in my life and you know me, the ultimate food critic. The crust had the consistency of a biscuit and you could taste the warm yeast in the crust. I had read on the back of the menu how the guy that owned the place thought he had the perfect amount of garlic on the pizza but he realized that his customers thought it was too garlicy and he reduced the garlic. I thought, why mess with perfection if he thought it was perfect and since my mom and I both love garlic and because Kevin was in Minnesota and I wouldn't be kissing him that night, I ordered it with the extra garlic. And I think that made all the difference on that pizza.We were only able to eat two pieces apiece. Wonderful experiece and worth every calorie!