Baloneys

My parents had stumbled upon this little sandwich shop in Barrington, Illinois on there way to visit us. It's located in the little downtown area in one of the historic Catlow Theater storefronts. They make the hugest sandwiches you could ever order. One of their specialties are the turkey salad and tuna salad. The other sandwich that is popular is the Reubenesque a corned beef
sandwich that is "gigantic". Maybe one day I will be brave enough, or hungry enough to order it.

Here's mine. I went with creating my own. Turkey, onions, tomato, lettuce and mustard. I keep it basic but man, I ate it all too. My belly was busting.

Last time we went we were cracking up at my aunt who just couldn't let it go to waste, so she finished it all. I couldn't believe it. When they first got their turkey salad there was no way they were going to finish it. They could have each eaten half and been full. I have no idea how she did it but in my eyes, she is a champion.http://www.boloneys.com/Boloneys/Home.html

Hot Doug's

I have always wanted to include all types of food postings on my blog. One thing I am trying to do is post about the places I eat. I know there haven't been many but I promise when I do go to interesting places I will post them for sure. We don't get out to eat much these days to real hot spots.

This one is Hot Doug's. It's an amazing "sausage superstore" in Chicago. It's a little hot dog joint with specialty sausages and other encased meats. On the weekends they serve duck fat fries. We have been there a handful of times, however never waited two hours like we did this time. It was redonculous. You know how it starts to become a game. Like, ok, I have waited this long, we are not getting out of line now. No way. You have no idea how much longer it's going to be and the game continues. The more and more you wait you just can't leave. Me and Lucy were napping in the car thankfully for most of the wait while Jason held the fort down in line.
So I literally held Lucy for about an hour to an hour and a half while we waited single file next to a brick wall with sprinkles of rain tumbling upon the Yo Gabba Gabba unbrella she held above my head. She was really good I have to say. Most kids would not have allowed that to happen. So the food was amazing of course. Lucy had a corn dog and tater tots.
I got the Dave Klingman which was an italian style chicken sausage with the works. Pickle, tomatoes, relish, sauteed onions, celery salt, mustard and sauer kraut. Heaven. I tell you heaven. Now he is really famous for really having unique sausages and other meats. This is the one Jason chose. I have to say, it was phenominal. Blue cheese, pork sausage with white peach puree, rum-infused dried fruit and roasted almonds. Other specials included antelope sausage, garlic pork sausage, smoked mole chicken sausage, foie gras and sauternes duck sausage, and more. Check out the web site for daily specials. They are only opened until 4 each day and not open sundays. I would highly highly recommend going first thing in the morning if you want to try and avoid the line. There will still probably be one though.

If you have any doubt in your mind about how good this place is check this out.
http://www.menshealth.com/bestfoods/food_features/13_Places_to_Eat_Before_You_Die.php
Need I say more. Thank you.

Lots to share with you

I am bad about getting new recipes on here. I kind of let them store up on my camera and then post them. I have some really really yummy ones to share though. I just made this one for Jason and his last school birthday celebration. It was so so easy and really turned out so well. I can't wait to see how they go over. I found it on my favorite site of course http://foodgawker.com/.
The recipe came from this blog http://honeyandjam.blogspot.com/2009/05/individual-monkey-breads.html

I made it with individual monkey breads but am going to make it again this weekend as one big bread. Didn't think the staff members at Woodstock would want to be pulling bread off after everyone else touched it. Jason loved it, Lucy loved it. It can't be bad. Butter, cinnamon, bread. I am trying to think of a way to kick it up a notch. Maybe chocolate chips. Peanut butter chips. Hmmm.
Another great great recipe from foodgawker. This is a quinoa salad. I like to make my own spin on things so I went to the deli counter and have them cut me some all natural turkey into thick slices. I then cubed it and threw it in the salad. I wanted to make it a meal rather than a side. It was so so amazing. I have been dreaming about eating it again and can't wait to today and tomorrow. Joy to leftovers. I also did add a large red pepper and skipped the red pepper flakes. I used regular sun dried tomatoes because that is what I had, rather than oil soaked ones. So I added a tablespoon of olive oil to the salad to give it some more moisture. Mine was a little dry so you could totally add more if you want. You can't go wrong really. That's why I love salads so much. Here is where you can find the recipe. http://www.culinarydisaster.com/wordpress/04/lemon-quinoa/
This one was good the first day and then as cole slaw does, got really soggy the next couple days. It was still good, the texture was just not there. We did end up adding toasted sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. That really took it up a notch I must say. Overall really really yummy and super healthy. Great one to take to a picnic or party. http://www.recipezaar.com/pineapple-jalapeno-coleslaw-367363
So these are my favorite sloppy joes ever ever ever. I make them all the time. This time I was trying to use what I had so I used a chipotle pepper in adobo sauce instead of jalapeno. I think I used two or three. Make sure you take the seeds out for sure or it will be really hot. I also used a yellow pepper because that is what I had. It was so so so so yummy. Always is. I highly recommend it. It's nice because there are a couple things in it I never used to have but now that I have them I can make them anytime, like molasses and worshestershire sauce. Huh, how do you spell that? Anyhow. Make these and I promise you will be crying with joy.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/sloppy-joes-recipe/index.html
This is the first thing I think I have made from bon appetit. It was so so so freaking good. I love it so so much. I am telling you, amazing. Please try it if you love sweet potatoes, love healthy, love good food, love simple. Great dish to take to a party, picnic, grill out. http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2009/05/roasted_sweet_potato_salad_with_red_bell_pepper

For some reason I thought I had a picture of these bars but I guess I don't. Oh, well. Super super yummy and so healthy. It's so wrong that they are healthy. I got this recipe from a book about grains called Whole Grains Every Day, Every Way. Great book with really great recipes. If you don't already have a rice cooker I would highly recommend it. Truly. We use ours all the time. This recipe doesn't use one but I am just saying. These bars are called fruit and nut oatmeal bars. So so amazing. Email if you would like the recipe. I will hook you up. Due to copyright laws. I don't believe I can post this. Lots of dried fruit, whole grains, no refined sugars, nuts, orange zest. How can you go wrong.
http://www.amazon.com/Whole-Grains-Every-Day-Way/dp/0307336727/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244488250&sr=1-1

So I know, I really posted a lot. I feel like there should be more but I guess there isn't. I am making some cupcakes this week for Lucy's second birthday so I will post those after I make them. They come from a recipe from my favorite bakery in the world Sweet Mandy B's in Chicago. Best bakery I have ever been to and I have been to a lot. I have been to them all in New York and this one still takes the cake. No pun intended. Best baked goods I have ever had. Cute shop. I would highly recommend finding it if you are ever in the city. It's sort of tucked away but I am excited to see how the cupcakes come out. Yeah Lucy. You are gonna be two!

food thoughts

I am reading a book right now called In the Defense of Food An Eater's Manifesto by Michal Pollan. It's ok. I have to say I skipped a lot of it to a section about how to eat now. It really goes along with another book I read called Food Matters by Mark Bittman. Amazing amazing book. Only book I have ever really wanted to read again. So anyhow. The basic concept is that we should really eat food. Not all of this garbage that is being put on the shelves at the supermarket. Shop the perimeters and eat the foods only your great grandmother would have eaten. I don't want to get on my soap box but truly, what is so hard about eating like this? Since the fall I have stopped eating most processed foods. I eat fruits, nuts and vegetables for snacks. I know, it may seem boring to some who just love these boxed snacks they sell out there. I don't know how long I will eat this way. Is it just a kick I am on, or have I changed my way of eating. I feel like it's going to be a lifestyle change for me really. I have never felt healthier in my life. I have never been more fit in my life. I have lost weight, although sometimes I feel too thin. It just makes sense to eat this way to me. I love fruits and vegetables so I don't feel deprived when I want a snack and have a bowl of grapes and some almonds. Yeah, sometimes I have felt like having things, but you know what, you make them then. Make some granola bars, bake some cookies, make some brownies. Why does every snack have to come in a box? When you make these things yourself you know what is in them. You know what you are eating. Why would you eat a food with ingredients listed that you can't even pronounce? When would you eat something that has a huge long list of ingredients? Again, like I said, I am not trying to preach. I may one day fall back into this depressing way of eating, but for now, I am happy with the foods I am eating. I feel really really good. I love to cook and I love to bake, so it brings me joy to eat these foods and to eat this way. For some, it may not be so easy but I would hope and I would love to inspire you to. Even if you just change a few things at a time. Or eating one vegetarian meal a day or even a week. I feel so strongly about this way of eating. There always all of these diets out there, people looking for the healthy way to eat, the best way to lose weight. It's been here all along right in front of our faces. The simplest way to eat, yet we are blind to see it. Blah blah blah. I won't keep going on and on. Just read Food Matters and you will see what I am talking about.