strawberry rhubarb crumble

Even though it's all over the farmers markets in the spring here, I never bought rhubarb. We never had it growing up and I hadn't been taught how to prepare it, so cooking it didn't really occur to me. But the beau has a giant rhubarb plant in his backyard that just gives and gives and gives. So I had to take some.

And this is after harvesting a bunch.

Spoon added for scale.

 Rhubarb freezes really well--just chop it up into pieces for easy storage. But I decided I wanted to make a rhubarb-strawberry crumble. Rhubarb and strawberry is of course a classic combination, in part because the strawberry adds sweetness to balance the rhubarb's tartness. Also, the store was having a good deal on strawberries--two big packages for $5.  Just rhubarb is good too, but you have to make sure to add enough sugar.  I chose a crumble because I am too lazy to make pie crust.

I precooked the strawberries, rhubarb and sugar in a pan. Next time I probably won't do this, or I'll cook it for a much shorter time. The end product was a mite gloppy (though still tasty).

Then I made the crumble dough. I do about 1:1 butter to sugar, then about twice the amount of flour, plus a pinch of salt and a teaspoon or so of baking powder. The result should be crumbly rather than doughy.

I like to add oatmeal to the dough, but I was out, so I chopped up some almonds instead. Put the rhubarb-strawberry mixture in a greased pan or ramekins, top with the dough, and cook at 375 degrees for 30-45 minutes.

Great with ice cream! Beau said he didn't like the almonds, that they were too crunchy, but I enjoyed the added texture. I suppose this is what they mean when they say that relationships are all about compromises.

Next up, I am going to make some rhubarb-sugar syrup to add to club soda! Stay tuned!

more nice weather

We got up into the 80s this weekend--perfect for a long bike ride along Chicago's lakefront. We went all the way from the north side to a detour in downtown's Grant Park to 47th street, where there's a quiet little beach that is my boyfriend's favorite (hope I didn't ruin it for him, but no one reads this blog anyway).

My annual photo of Buckingham Fountain. It's modeled after one in Versailles but is much bigger. It's such a tourist attraction but it's still one of my favorite spots in the city because it makes me so happy. Apparently spraying water releases positive ions, so it's all just a chemical reaction. Whatever, I'll take it.

Need to do some weeding around here.

Boyfriend actually jumped into the lake. Water temperature was about 54 degrees--not quite icy enough to cause instant hypothermia but still more than just bracing. I'll wait until about July, when it's warmed up a bit.

Unfortunately I don't think there will be too much bike riding along the lake or going for a dip this Memorial Day weekend, as the temperatures are only supposed to get into the 60s. We are really getting hosed this spring. Every day that it's nice weather, I have to make sure to enjoy it fully, because who knows how long it will last?

primavera

After a very long and cool spring, it looks like warm weather is finally here to stay (fingers crossed).

Peonies are my favorite flower. Their season is too short!

Green things growing on the shores of the North Pond in Lincoln Park, Chicago.

A view across the pond to the city.

carciofo

That is not a trick of perspective--that is the true size of the artichoke I ate last night. It took up half the plate! And with some vinaigrette, it was delicious too. The beau grilled salmon and made some rice, and I brought some wine that went really well with the meal. All delicious.

Yes, spring vegetables are showing up in stores here, and spring itself has finally decided to make an appearance. It was warm this weekend, although a little chilly near the lake, where we ventured for a bike ride. A lot of ladies were rockin' the summer dresses, but it was a little early for that (brrr). Today and tomorrow it's supposed to be in the 70s, and maybe even 80 tomorrow, although it's supposed to rain. I'll be stuck inside at work, unless I decide to work at home. I think the long-awaited return of warmer temperatures should be an automatic holiday, don't you?

Colorado

I've not posted much because it's been such a depressing long spring. No sun and the temperatures have barely budged out of the 40s and low 50s, often even lower. I really would have liked to have gone somewhere warm, but a lack of funds on the part of my boyfriend dictated that we went to Colorado instead, where he has family. It actually was a lot of fun, even if we had to endure a snowstorm and some quite cold temperatures for a couple of days. Unfortunately those cold days coincided with our visit to some hot springs! Nothing like getting out of the water into some 20 degree temperatures.

I can't really compare southern Colorado to a European country I've been to (blog theme FAIL). It is its own place.

Red rocks at the Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs.

Did you know they make a fair amount of wine in Colorado? I didn't. This is the tasting room at Holy Cross Winery, which we happened across while trying to go skiing. Turned out the lifts had stopped running the previous day, so we improvised. The wine was good! I bought four bottles.

The Royal Gorge on the Arkansas River. We would have gone over the bridge, but it was 26 bucks each and we are way too cheap for that.

There is a big naturally heated pool near the Great Sand Dunes National Park where you can stay overnight. This was our little modular home, obviously brand new and filled with Ikea furniture. Powerful winds had kicked up so much dust we couldn't see the mountains (this picture was taken when they finally died down the next day), but this sturdy little unit barely creaked.

Big Colorado sky.

We stayed at another hot springs resort where the mule deer were relatively mellow about humans.

One of the hot springs pools. I couldn't take too many pictures as the resort was clothing-optional, yikes! Fortunately it was very cold when we were there, so other than in the pools people were pretty covered up. I preferred to keep my bathing suit on, especially since we were there with some of my boyfriend's family members. Yes, I'm uptight and I'm fine with it!

More mountains. I tried to take some panoramic shots but most of them didn't turn out for some reason.

Margaritas on our last night. This was at Jorge's Sombrero in Pueblo. President Obama stopped there in 2008 and had the fish tacos, which I can report are excellent.

My boyfriend actually has a house in Pueblo that is currently gutted--he's trying to sell it but he also talks about fixing it up and staying out there for a couple months at a time during the miserable Chicago winters. I was not impressed by Pueblo on first glance. The poor parts (where the house is) are kind of like the more ramshackle parts of New Orleans without the music or culture. But I have to admit it grew on me a little bit by the end of our trip. We did drive through some nicer areas, which is where I told my boyfriend he should buy a place if he wants me to join him out there, heh.

Now I have to go back to work tomorrow at my ugly office in the boring suburbs, where I'm going to be slammed with work. I am not looking forward to the artificial nature of corporate America after a week in the mountains. I still have four weeks of paid time off to use, so I guess I'll survive by planning our next vacation!

2012 in review

It has been a great year--not something I can say often, and in no small part because I spent it with a wonderful boyfriend. I've never been afraid to be single, but after so very many years it's nice to finally connect with someone.

I also got two new nephews in 2012, one close to home here in Chicago! On a more bittersweet note, one of my dearest friends moved away, but it was for a terrific job, the kind of position that she'd been working toward for years. Best of all, it's in Boston, convenient for lots of visits as that is where my brother and his family live.

I set aside my freelance writing career for the most part and stopped blogging about fashion for a local publication because I felt I had nothing more to say about it. I also decided to stop working as a personal stylist. With my day job, plus a relationship, it just got to be too much (I need my relaxation time, y'all) and while I enjoyed it to a point--especially the feeling I got from helping people--I realized it didn't really make me happy. I still enjoy fashion and I still think it is an important part of life for many people, but it's not a really important part of my life anymore. I still dress like it is, but that's as far as it goes.

So this year, I made a conscious decision to just work at my regular job and enjoy my life as a regular working stiff without worrying what I am "meant" to do or fretting about how to become a rock-star writer or impressing others with my creative status and output. I need to develop the confidence and courage to tackle more personal writing. That is my goal for 2013.

Some photos from the last few months of the year.

Downtown Chicago at night from the lakefront.

Lobstah in Bahstahn.

Wall mural detail from the Boston Public Library.

Yes please. (In Boston, surprise.)

There they are. Slurp.

Cape Codding.

My Christmas tradition.

I got crabs. (Are you sensing a theme here?)

Wishing you and yours the very best for the New Year.

summer's over

There's not much happening around here. I did get an iPhone 5, but I can't fully use it until I upgrade my old Mac's operating system--d'oh!

Anyway, here are some random photos from the last few weeks of summer.

A sand castle on Montrose Beach.

Squash blossoms ready for stuffing and frying. These are from an accidental squash plant in the beau's backyard--"accidental" because he threw out some seeds last year for compost.

The Great Western Trail between Sycamore and Saint Charles, Illinois--built on an old railroad track. Great ride, except we weren't very smart about preparing. We left at 11 AM on what turned out to be a 90-degree day for a 30-mile ride. I started to get a headache and chills when we were almost home--beau went and got the car for me. I think he was a little worried he was going to find a limp corpse when he got back, but I was fine. It's always smart to listen to your body though!

Montrose Harbor at sunset.

 

Impulse purchase! It's a hunter green vintage Raleigh. It's beautiful but so heavy--not really practical for someone who likes to ride fast. Also it's got an old bike license on the back fender from my hometown, so I had to have it.

And how was YOUR summer?