Making an Effort

Last week we received a random magazine in the mail that was filled with fall cookie recipes. Typically, I'm not the baking type. I really enjoy cooking but baking is too exact. I'm just not a fan so I usually cheat and use mixes. I'm a little embarrassed about revealing this secret, but read on, I think I may have just redeemed myself.

I decided to make some Halloween treats for my grown up neighbors and that is exactly what I set out to do...three days ago. Yes, embarrassing confession number 2, it took me 3 days to bake cookies. I am exhausted but very proud! I gave these cookies my very best effort. They are beautiful and rather delicious! Still, I am exhausted. I don't know that there will be any home made Christmas cookies in my future, baking from scratch once a year is plenty!

Pumpkin Pecan Spice Cookies, Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Cranberry Walnut Pinwheel Cookies

I do love Fall.

Fun with the Fam

I know it might seem like all we do is ride bikes around Naperville and grow vegetables in the backyard, not true. We've been...busy....I know that sounds generic, but you'll have to trust me.

These pictures are a tad late! My dad, his new wife, and my brother came to visit us 2 weeks ago. Take a look...

The weather was little on the chilly side but that didn't stop us from seeing all the sites! Kamran had such a good time he decided to come back next week!

Kamran is interviewing for dental school at Midwestern and will be staying with us during the interview process. We are so proud of him and hope he will be staying in Illinois long term!!!!!!!!!!!

Cool as a Cucumber

I have to say the cucumbers have been the most successful product of the veggie garden thus far. I like cucumbers. A traditional persian breakfast might include cucumbers, cheese, pita bread, nuts, and fresh herbs. That was the whole purpose of growing the cucumbers, so I could occasionally make this breakfast that I enjoy so much.

Well I think I've hit my limit. After a couple weeks I was quickly over the breakfast idea. Then I moved on to cucumber salads, sandwiches, and even made cucumber soup (which Greg did not enjoy). I learned that Greg is not a fan of cold soup. I wanted to make pickles but apparently I have grown the wrong variety of cucumbers. There is a special "pickle cucumber" needed to make pickles. The skin on our cucumber is too thick. So I started handing out cucumbers to my neighbors.

Despite my efforts I can not keep up with the cucumber production...this is what I collected from the garden this morning.

If you live in the Chicago area and would like a cucumber, please don't hesitate to ask ;)

Love

My husband loves his kettle corn.

Saturdays

I spent last weekend working and Greg took a fishing trip to Wisconsin so I was really excited to visit the farmer's market this morning. We had the bikes out all ready to go but we didn't make it very far. Greg had a flat tire...boooo. Bummer, had to take the car.

So much good stuff. The fruits and veggies are great but there is also fresh bread, pasta, cheese, honey, flowers...on and on and on. Greg is showing off his freshly baked pie above! I think baked goods should be off limits at a farmer's market, how are we supposed to resist???

Eating Organic

It doesn't get any fresher!

I am really enjoying the veggie garden!!! I might have to ask Greg to help me expand the garden space so I can plant a wider variety of veggies next year!

Summer time in the city

We've been having such a fun summer! Have a mentioned how much I love summer time in Chicago???

Of course we had to make an appearance at The Taste...food was incredible!

Downtown is the place to be in the summer!

Cooling off in the fountains at Millennium/Grant Park.

Naperville has outdoor summer concerts and theater every weekend, and it's free!

Lastly, just a couple shots of my veggie garden growing out of control! I've always wanted a vegetable garden but I had no idea how fast this stuff would grow!

Sorry this is such a jumble of stuff all rolled into one post. I've been really bad about updating the blog. I'm going to try and do a better job of documenting all our summer adventures! On Saturdays we ride bikes to the Farmer's Market, this is one of my favorite weekend activities, will promise to take pictures :)