Under the Tulip Tree

Chicken Rollatini Stuffed with Zucchini and Mozzarella

It was a week after Perry was born. My friends put together the obligatory meal-making schedule that is required of all friends of a new mom. A woman I didn't know very well generously offered to be a part of the schedule and called me one afternoon...

 

Her: "Hi. I'm making you guys dinner tonight. What's your favorite meal?"
Me: "Hi. Oh...umm...hmm...I don't think I have one."
Her: "Come on, what is it?"
Me: "Umm...(I was thinking Chicken Cordon Bleu)...well, I don't think it's possible to make it from scratch. I think it's only possible to get it at a restaurant or something."
Her: "Shut up. What is it?"
Me: "No, seriously. It's too hard to make."
Her: "Oh my god, just tell me what it is!"
Me: "Okay! Chicken Cordon Bleu."
Her: "Done. What else?"
Me: "Done?"
Her: "Yep. Done. What else?"
Me: "Okay...umm...twice-baked potatoes?" (This will push her over the edge.)
Her: "Done. How about a salad?"
Me: "A salad on top of all that? Wow. Sure."
Her: "Uh-huh. And for dessert?"
Me: "Dessert? That's enough, really, we don't need dessert."
Her: "Shut up. How about cherry pie?"
Me: "You're my new best friend."

 

Needless to say, the Chicken Cordon Bleu and the twice-baked potatoes and the salad and the cherry pie were completely awesome. It was one of the best meals I've ever had in my whole life. And she seemed to think nothing of it. As I was scrolling through the Internet looking for something to make for dinner last night, I happened upon this recipe from skinnytaste and I was like, I'm totally making this tonight because it totally reminds me of that time my friend made me Chicken Cordon Bleu after I had Perry.

Chicken Rollatini Stuffed with Zucchini and Mozzarella isn't exactly Chicken Cordon Bleu but it's no slacker either. It's rolled-up chicken yumminess and sometimes that's all you need. Just some minor tweaks to the recipe: I made my own breadcrumbs by toasting spelt bread and grinding it up in my little mini-food processor, then adding about 3/4 tsp. of Italian seasoning. And, I salted things to taste as I went. And, I didn't use chicken cutlets but used two large chicken breasts and split them through the middle for four flat pieces. And, I baked them in the lower half of the oven so the breadcrumbs didn't burn.

And, it's now one of my favorite meals.

 

It's A Proven Fact

Nuts are a little crunchier

Crackers are a little savorier

Wine is a little smoother

Food is a little tastier

And life is a little sweeter, with friends.

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Contributing to Houzz

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of touring the delightful home of two of my favorite people for an article on Houzz.com. Have you seen Houzz yet? You probably have but if you haven't, it's a huge home design site with tons of decorating tips, remodeling ideas, and home tours from all over the world.

I was so excited to take pictures and write about the lovely bungalow of our friends, Joseph and LeeAnna, and introduce them to the readers of Houzz.

While we were there, they cooked us an incredible brunch of baked eggs with sauteed vegetables and millet bread, which was totally unnecessary but also totally thoughtful and yummy. (They are totally thoughtful and yummy that way.)

If you get a second, give the article a read and check out the site. Maybe I'll even see you around there sometime!

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Some Mornings

Things can look so different, depending on the day.

On a cold, gray day, you might not even know where the sun is. On a clear frosty one, you'll see that the sun has been right there in front of you the whole time.

Some mornings are muddy and wet; some mornings are crisp and crackly - outlining the leaves in white.

(Or covering them in white depending on where you're standing.)

Wait! That's not frost!

Oh, it's Maggie! My friend's St. Bernard puppy! Now that's something you don't see every day.

Surprisingly, this same, crazy, ill-trimmed tree that I do see every day looks rather magnificent up close. And when I look even more closely, I see who's been making that rat-tat-tat-tat-tat sound this morning.

Some mornings, my home welcomes me back more than others.

I suppose little lights and Christmas decorations can do that.

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Halloweens Past

Every year on Halloween, I make yummy treats for the neighbors. Well, for our sweet, older neighbors who live on their own and are so kind and good to us. They've lived here for decades and have seen lots of families come and go. It reminds me of growing up on my old street in River Forest, and how some of our older neighbors watched us grow up, just the way these folks are watching my own kids. I appreciate that now so much more than I ever did (of course) and while I was baking, I got to thinking about Halloweens past…

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— My first Halloween memory was from when I was four. I went as Little Red Riding Hood in a costume my mom made. I remember she let me wear light blue eye shadow. My sister Alicia was a gypsy and I wanted to go trick-or-treating with her and the big kids but I couldn't keep up so I cried.

— In first grade, I loved Wonder Woman. I loved Wonder Woman (because, I mean, look at her!) and that was a problem because Alicia liked The Osmond's and both shows were on at the same time on the same night. I remember fighting over that a lot. My mom made me the most excellent Wonder Woman costume, though, complete with a satin body suit, crown, stars, cape, belt, and gold cuffs. I was bummed that I had to wear knee-high brown leather boots instead of Wonder Woman's super cool red ones but I drew the line at wearing at a jacket. There was absolutely no way I was going to hide one single inch of that awesomeness. Hands down my favorite costume ever.

— At school, we dressed up in our costumes and paraded around the neighborhood with our teachers. Our neighbors would come out of their houses and watch us and wave. Our moms took pictures. Those were the good old days…

— My sisters and I used to have Halloween parties in our old, creepy, spidery, cinder block basement. We cut out little paper pumpkins and taped them to the walls. They stayed there for years and years. My dad once told me that the hardest thing he had to do when they sold our old house was take down those paper pumpkins. That makes me sad to think about.

— When I was in fifth grade, I thought I was too old to trick-or-treat. My best friend didn't think so. She walked to my house in her Jiminy Cricket costume and when I told her I didn't want to go, her excited smile turned into the most heartbreaking tears I'd ever seen. As she started to walk away without me, I felt a lead weight in my stomach. "Wait!" I yelled, and ran back inside to get the rest of my White Rabbit costume on. Needless to say, the White Rabbit and Jiminy Cricket had one of the most wonderful Halloweens of their lives.

— My family went to Amling's on North Avenue for our pumpkins and to visit the haunted house every Halloween. One year we heard about a super scary haunted house that was being held at someone's home. I decided to have a Halloween party with all of my friends and bring them to the haunted house. I remember everyone hanging on me and screaming and I only made it ten feet before I freaked out and collapsed on a couch. One of the ghouls felt really bad for me and walked me through the rest of the house by hand.

— When I was in college and way, way too old to trick-or-treat, an old friend of mine had a costume party and I went as the yodel guy from the Cliff Hangers game on the Price is Right. I remember that one of my guy friends dressed up like one of my girl friends and it made her very, very upset. I still feel bad that we all laughed very, very hard.

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It's funny, the things we remember, while making Whoopie Pies, which were awesome, by the way, and tasted like Suzy-Q's only much better.

And with that, I wish you a wonderful, happy, and delightful Halloween!

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A June Day About Town

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A visit from one of my favorite people in the whole world.

Lunch outside.

A dog (and pony) parade.

Sunshine and warmth.

Sweets and treats.

Pretty buildings.

Pretty bird.

Pretty day.

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The Day Called For...

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Root beer floats and raspberry lemonade.

Chocolate covered strawberries dusted with sugar.

Cold beer and a table of yummy BBQ.

Picnicking in the garden.

Little kids playing in the grass.

Runaway babies.

Flowers and sunshine.

A bright, sunny afternoon spent with lovely friends.

ANY