Carter, Eli and Lilli's Day in Chicago!

Cater, Eli and Lilli each did their own thing.Carter got lego starwars the droid ship,Eli got lego Indiana Jones, chase for the Ark, Lilli got Bitty Baby clothes.It was a fun day.Carter,Eli and Lilli had a fun day in Chicago!

Aunt Susan finally got to go to More cupcakes....everyone will have a cupcake for dessert.

Vosges Naga Cookie

Ever since moving back to Chicago, I have been IN LOVE with Vosges Haute Chocolate. A truffle here, a exotic chocolate bar there....I can't seem to restrain myself. I have now officially taken it to the next level....I am baking with Vosges!

I have always brushed by the baking chips at Vosges, but something told me to pick up a bag of the Naga Chips last week. The Naga Bar is exceptional....sweet curry, toasted coconut all in a deep milk chocolate. I figured that the warm spice of the Naga Bar would complement autumn and in a cookie...who could ask for more?

Much to my husbands dismay....I tried to "healthify" the cookie. Now the curry itself has healing properties (it tonifies the stomach and aids in digestion), so I am halfway there. I figured that making the cookie "wheat-free" and cutting the sugar would excellent modifications. Well, at least I thought so.

The cookies were very good....and my husband did eat them all. But no doubt they would of been just a bit better if I didn't fuss with the recipe. I'll make them again and next time I'll be more indulgent.

Pasta Free Lasagna.

At this point it is a well known fact that carbohydrates that come from vegetables and fruits are inherently better than the refined carbohydrates we find in breads, pastas ect. In light of this fact, whenever I can make an easy substitution and eliminate the pasta, I do so. In this case...lasagna.

Instead of making a lasagna with layered pasta, I substitute grill slices of eggplant. The eggplant adds a nice mild flavor, minimal calories and some nutritional value to the dish.

Eggplant does have a reputation for having a bitter taste. So in the preparation of the eggplant, I first slice 1/4" slices with a mandolin and then sprinkle the slices with sea salt to help "sweat" out the bitter juices that hide in the eggplant...usually takes about 30 minutes.

Once "sweated" simply rinse the eggplant, coat lightly with some olive oil (I prefer the spray) and then grill about 3-4 minutes each side for some nice grill marks. Once this step is complete you can use the eggplant slices just as you would use lasagna noodles in your dish.

Because eggplant does not have a remarkable strong flavor, you want to make sure the sauce you use in your dish is rich in spices and taste. I prefer a good Bolognese Ragu...my favorite is by Emeri Lagasse. Not only does it have excellent tomato flavor(I use San Marzano tomatos..they are the best!), but has hints of cinnamon and nutmeg which is ideal for this time of year. You can also easily substitute ground turkey instead of beef for a healthier version.

To assemble the lasagna I place some sauce on the bottom of my dish, layer some eggplant slices and top with a ricotta-spinach mixture and some skim mozzarella cheese. You repeat the layering process 2-3 times, topping the dish with some mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

A Busy Bee in the Kitchen...

I don't know what got into me...it may the the arrival of Autumn and my desire for more comfort foods...I spent the entire day Friday in the kitchen. Starting with Beef Bourguignon and moving onto homemade S'mores (and by "homemade" I mean homemade marshmallows and homemade graham crackers) .

Indeed, the day nearly wiped me out...I was exhausted, but there was also something so satisfactory about the foods I made.

The Beef Bourguignon was an Ina Garten recipe. I did make a few substitutions:

1. Omitted Pearl Onions (didn't have any on hand)

2. Merlot instead of Pinot (again...didn't have any on hand)

3. I also cooked a bit longer....1 hour longer to be exact (I like my beef to be so tender it melts)

It was an entirely satisfying dish with layers of flavors....I had made it before, but today it came out exceptionally well.

Next, we have my adventures with homemade marshmallows. Now, I have heard that there is nothing better than a homemade marshmallow...and I am now a believer. But even better than the marshmallow it the graham cracker! I will never eat a boxed cracker again! The crackers were buttery, flaky and had just the right hint of honey and cinnamon. They were almost like the lovechild of a shortbread and a graham cracker.

The recipe for the S'mores (including marshmallow and the graham crackers) is from the French Laundry. I simply used a home torch to toast the marshmallow, added some organic dark chocolate , topped with graham cracker and the s'mores were ready for a cool Autumn evening. Nick and I did bring them up to Wisconsin where we had a bonfire Saturday Night at his Dad's.....my favorite!

Wheat-Free Banana Bread

Gluten sensitivity and allergy are more and more common place these days. Many of us are gluten sensitive or wheat sensitive and don't even know it. Vague symtoms like bloating, indigestion, headache and fatigue may often times be overlooked or even diagnosed as something else. I myself am not allergic to gluten (Celiac Disease) but I am sensitive, particularly to wheat. I try to avoid it the best I can and often substitute wheat-free flours in my recipies.

Today, I made a Wheat-free Spelt Banana Bread using whole grain spelt flour. For those unfamiliar with spelt it is a wonderfully nutritious and ancient grain with a deep nutlike flavor. Spelt is a cousin to wheat that traces its heritage back long before many wheat hybrids. Many of its benefits come from the fact that it offers a broader spectrum of nutrients compared to many of its more inbred cousins in the wheat family. It can be used in many of the same ways as wheat including bread and pasta making. Spelt does not seem to cause sensitivities in many people who are intolerant of wheat. And even though spelt still contain some gluten, it seems that those allergic to gluten or sensitive to gluten seem to tolerate it well and without symptoms.