Winter Parking Chicago Style

After back breaking shoveling to free your car,

you need and have the right to claim that parking spot, right?

Whether or not you agree with the long held Chicago tradition of claiming a parking space with furniture, you have to admit it's pretty darn amazing that most of these pieces don't walk away with a new "owner".

Snow Storm 2011

It started at about 3 PM on Tuesday, right in time for rush hour - not so fun - and continued until about 11 AM Wednesday - so fun.

Snow, snow, snow, peaceful wind blowing full fledged snow!

The third "worst" snow storm on record in Chicago - IT WAS WONDERFUL!!!

The next morning cars were buried . . .

and buried.

Even the beautiful beast - buried a few hours before this picture - well done Dad.

The streets were free to roam . . .

and the neighborhood was out shoveling . . .

shoveling . . .

and shoveling.

With a little surfing between.

This block of people didn't wait for the city plows, they took the bulls by the horn and shoveled it out themselves - I love that!!!!

After a building shoveling-arama, it was to the pool for margaritas and warmth.

The next day, I walked a block east to this main thoroughfare. It was like another world. Cars were in use, not buried under snow or shoveled free but for what - the side streets were still under 20 inches.

Eleanor Roosevelt

"Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these right have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world."

Eleanor Roosevelt BEAUTIFUL!!!!

A Sampling of Sarah's Art

On an earlier post for Sarah's birthday, her self-portrait was displayed.

Here is another self-portrait.

And one of her little sister.

And of a fellow art student.

I so look forward to seeing all the art that Sarah will produce throughout her life.

To see more, or buy more, check out her website, SarahKasch.com

Turkish Meatballs

During her last visit, my niece Hannah and I made Turkish Meatballs.

This is one of my favorite recipes - easy and oh so tasty.

I think of this recipe in four parts:

1. yogurt sauce
2. meatball
3. tomato sauce
4. the final product.

Part I: Yogurt Sauce

• 2 to 3 minced garlic cloves
• 2/3 of a 32 ounce container of plain yogurt (you choose the fat content)

Mince three to four cloves of garlic . . .

and then stir into about two thirds of a 32 ounce carton of plain yogurt.

I like to stir right into the carton so there's one less dish to wash.

Also, after mixing in the garlic, put the garlic yogurt into the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Part II: Meatballs (more like Meatlogs)

• 2 slices day-old white bread, crust removed, made into breadcrumbs in a food processor.
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/8 cup grated Spanish onion
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tablespoon paprika
• 1/6 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley

Hannah mincing the onion.

She doesn't even need to use the goggles. I'm impressed.

Mix all the ingredients . . .
by hand.

Cover and refrigerate for half an hour.
Then form into four logs and cook under the broiler for about 12 to 15 minutes turning once after about six minutes.

Part III: Tomato Sauce

• 3/4 tablespoon virgin olive oil
• 1 15 ounce can of diced tomatoes
• Salt and pepper

Heat the olive oil in a sauce pan over medium heat.

Pour in the can of tomatoes and smash them into a puree.

I use a potato masher.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Keep the sauce warm until ready to serve.

Part IV: The Final Product

• 4 pita breads
• 1/8 cup (1/2 a stick) of butter
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

Melt the butter and stir in the red pepper.

Then assemble.

For each plate, cut up a pita bread,

place one meatlog on it,

with a large ladle of tomato sauce,

a not so large ladle of yogurt sauce,

followed by a generous sprinkling of chopped up parsley

and a drizzle of the pepper butter.

Then dig in and enjoy.

You can also serve as a pita bread sandwich, but the way I figure it,

that sandwich will fall apart and become what is suggested above.

The chefs.

My Parents

My 72 year old parents.

I may be biased, but I think they look pretty darn good for their age.

I'm lucky to have their genes, or is that dungarees Dad?

Tea Strainer Par Excellence

For Christmas, my sister gave me a Tea forte tea strainer.

It looks like a clown hat.

It has perfectly sized holes, ones that don't let any leaves slip into the water.

Those leaves that end up on your teeth without you knowing,

making you look like a clown, no hat necessary.

Just scoop the leaves into the bottom part,

attach to the top hat part,

and there you go.

It's so easy and mess free.

Into a cup of warm water and after a few minutes, it's tea time.

When the tea is done brewing, take it out of the cup

and put it into it's little resting tray.

Thanks Teresa!