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exploring chicago
Marc and I have lived in Chicago for five years now and have really loved it here. Lately we’ve realized that no matter how big (or small) a place may seem or how well you think you know it, there is always more to see and do and learn. So we’ve been spending a lot of time lately seeking out the new and soaking up our old favorites.
We had coffee from Big Shoulders and breakfast sandwiches from Windy City Cafe. We spent an afternoon walking around the Chicago History Museum and had drinks at Matchbox. We tried checking out the new exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center but it was closed so we went and saw Laura Berger’s mural instead. We went shopping on State Street and heard stories told at Powell’s North Bookstore. We had pies from Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder, tacos at Big Star and BBQ sandwiches from Smoke Daddy – everything lived up to the hype. We strolled around Wicker Park and Bucktown and stopped in some of my favorite shops – Brooklyn Industries and Stitch. There really are so many cool parts of this city, and I recommend checking out some of these places if you’re ever in Chicago.
photo credit kate zitzer
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Who doesn’t love pizza night? Especially when you’re making one for yourself with all of your favorite toppings! Making homemade pizzas has become one of our favorite meals. Over the last couple of years we’ve experimented with a bunch of different combinations and really mastered our pizza making technique and tonight we’re hosting a fun make your own pizza party for a small group of friends.
Here are some tips for hosting your own pizza party –
- Plan as much as you can in advance. This morning I set out all the bowls, plates, glassware, flatware and napkins. At our house pizza nights can be messy so I covered the table with a long sheet of kraft paper for easy clean up. I doodled some recipes on the paper but I also think it will be fun to jot down the ingredients to everyone’s pies. No need for a centerpiece, the spread of meats, cheeses and veggies in pretty little bowls will do the trick.
- Cut and prep all the pizza toppings before your guests arrive. Have everything chopped, measured or mixed together if necessary. Tonight we have roasted tomatoes, green peppers, pepperoni, fresh thyme, onions, italian sausage, diced chicken, basil, olive oil and fresh mozzarella. One of the best things about a pizza party is that the possibilities are endless!
- Lay everything out in separate bowls on a large table and mark each ingredient. It’s nice to let everyone know what’s available so they can build their own favorite combos.
- Plan for a few different flavors. Marc will be making a barbecue chicken pizza and I’ll be trying one with hot italian sausage and fresh thyme. If you want to do something crazy like pineapple and anchovies that you’re not sure everyone will like, I suggest sending it our first and then following up with a classic margherita or something simple.
- Cooking one pie (or two small ones) at a time is hard when you’re feeding a crowd so I recommend using a quick cooking recipe. We plan on making 6-8 personal sized pizzas (at least one per person) and popping them in the oven as soon as they are prepped. I bought the crust pre made but if you want to get fancy you can make your own dough. Small pizzas cook for 7-10 minutes. So by the time we get one pizza sliced and served the next one will almost be ready. Keep in mind that even a few extra minutes in the oven can make a big difference between soft crust and crunchy crust.
- Have something for guests to munch on while the pizzas bake. Toss together a simple salad or set out a cheese plate and some olives.
- Have a rimless sheet pan ready. We cook our pizzas right on the rack so the rimless cookie sheet makes it easy to slide the pizzas in and out of the oven. Serve pizzas on oversized wooden cutting boards right on the table so guests can dig in.
Have any other good tips for a make your own pizza party?
photo credit kate zitzer
starved rock
On Sunday we escaped the city for the day. We walked and wandered for hours and hours in awe of such natural beauty. We snacked on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and got a little lost. It was quiet and calming. I needed this day.
photo credit kate zitzer
apple picking
A few photos from last weekend when Marc and I spent Saturday afternoon apple picking with four of our friends – there were endless rows of apple trees and the sweetest tasting fruit, apple spiced doughnuts and homemade pies, creamy fudge, caramel apples and freshly pressed apple cider. There was a teeny tiny glimpse of blue sky, and there was a storm that rolled in and almost caught us. We had to pack up and run, narrowly missing the downpour.
For Chicago folks who want to visit, it’s called Kuipers Family Farm and is located on 1N318 Watson Road in Maple Park. It’s about an hour outside of Chicago, a few miles west of Geneva, and it’s right off the road with a big sign so you can’t miss it.
photo credit kate zitzer
fall preview
Even though I’m going to miss the long sunny days and the hot steamy temps, the trips to the lake and the big family BBQs, I’m ready to say so long summer. Fall in the midwest is a really wonderful time of year – the morning air is cooler, the nights cozier and the leaves begin to change colors, it’s time for tea and hot soup, thick sweaters and warm scarves and an extra blanket on your bed. I was looking at our calendar and we have so much going on that I thought I’d make a list of all the things I’m looking forward to this season – my sister’s birthday this weekend, the ARTober sale, apple picking, small gatherings with friends, DIY projects and new paintings, pumpkin carving, Halloween parties and my dear friend’s baby shower! What sorts of things are you looking forward to?
And just a reminder that today is the last day to enter the giveaway (now closed)! You have a chance to win one of the 8×10 prints in my Etsy shop – all the details are here. The giveaway closes at midnight tonight, and I will announce the winner next week. Good luck!
photo credit kate zitzer
