Sarah and the Second City

My conference was pretty interesting. I learned a fair amount of information and made some good contacts. More importantly, check out the view from my hotel window.

While in the city I got to do some touristy things too. Monday night I met my grandparents for dinner. It had been a long while since we had last visited. I'm not admitting how long because I don't want to convict myself of the crime that it should be. We ate at Pettrino's, a wonderful Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. It is located next to the Goodman Theatre. Monday is open mic night, and was the night after the Tony's, so we got to see some quality talent perform. The food was fabulous. I enjoyed the tomato bisque and the potato crusted tilapia.

I visited Millenium Park for the first time. When I last spent time downtown it was under construction. One day I would like to go skating there! It was pretty cool.

Tuesday night was the conference dinner - at the Shedd Aquarium. That was absolutely awesome!!! I highly reccomend renting it out for anyone who is interested. The dolphins were out and about in the The dinner tables were set up around the central tank with buffet stations in the wings. It was really cool because during dinner they had a diver in the tank feeding the fish. It was absolutely awesome!!!

Finally, Wednesday night I treated myself to a trip up the river. I've always wanted to do the Architectural Tours. Instead we went on a boat trip up the river and out into the lake. We went up and down the lakefront. The end of the trip included a view of the Navy Pier fireworks.

The conference was great, but it was even better to get home and sleep in my own bed. I missed hearing my crickets out back - and the spoiled furry babies were missing me. As I write this I sit with them at my feet, snoring quite loudly

Happy Fathers Day Dad

This year I got to spend part of my Father's day with my dear old dad! I was in Chicago for a conference this week. It started Sunday morning so I slid into town Saturday afternoon. I enjoyed a nice evening with the parents - and a yummy dinner at Jimmy's Char House in Libertyville. I highly reccomend it if you are in the area. Afterwords we swung by Kohls to check in with Matthew for a few moments. Then, Sunday, as his gift, dad got to drive me downtown so I could make it to the conference. Thanks Dad!!!!

The good news, the fat cat is losing a little weight. It is hard to tell from this picture - but she is starting look like a normal cat after getting kitty wieght watchers.

Congrats Smarty Pants

For those who have forgotten, I took a little 8 hour exam about two months ago. It was the Professional Engineering Licensure Exam. I've been patiently awaiting the results -- knowing that it takes about 3 months to get the results! Guess what! They are in! As of yesterday, I'm a PE!!!! I'm patting myself on the back. Here is a fuzzy picture of me pretending to be a professional!

Turkey Kabobs!

Tried some new yummy stuff today out of this months Everyday with Rachel Ray. Big Kudos go out to Matthew for getting me a subscription for Christmas. It has paid for itself in entertainment alone. PLus, I've gotten to try some cool new stuff. The recipe was so easy, and absoultely delish! It was fun to do soemthing a little different on the grill. I hightly reccomend.

• 1 lb. ground turkey
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1 bunch green onions - half chopped finely half cut into 1 in. pieces
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1/3 cup lemon lime soda
• 1 tbl. sesame oil
• 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 Asian Pear cored and cut into 8 wedges

1. Combine turkey, bread crumbs, chopped scallions, and 1 tbl of soy sauce. Mix and form about 16 meatballs. Place on a plate and sprinkle sesame seeds on meatballs.
2. Whisk remaining soy sauce (3 tbl), lemon lime soda, oil, ginger, and garlic. Seperate half of sauce mix for use as a dipping sauce.
3. Thread turkey, scallions, and pears on skewers. Grill basting with sauce and turning occaisionally.
4. Enjoy!

Veggie Heaven

I was on one of my health/wellness websites earlier today. Their wellness item for the day was "What are your 5 favorite vegetbales?" They then encouraged readers to list their faves and look for one or more new recipes or ways to incoproate these veggies into their diet. In this spirit, my five are:
1. yellow squash
2. zuchini
3. peas
4. sweet onions
5. cucumbers
Some other thoughts: do mushrooms count as veggies? Or are they a fungus? Do we actually admit to eating fungi? Too bad tomatoes are a fruit or I would have them on the list.

What are your favorite veggies? Or at least your favorite veggie recipes.

This isn't a new recipe, but one of my favorite things to do is to buy a refrigerated pizza dough. Then i roll it out on a cookie sheet and spray with olive oil. i bake it for about 7-12 minutes. Meanwhile I chop up some roma tomatoes, slice some mushrooms, and coarsely chop some baby spinach. Then i toss them with a little balsamic vinegar. I put the veggies on the cooked dough and sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan cheeses and sprinkle with italian seasonings. I cook the pizza long enough for the cheese to melt and gooey. It is nutrish and delish!!! I could eat it all day long

Turkey Pasta Salad

Tonight I threw some stuff together for dinner, and it turned out pretty good. I cooked up some turkey breast fillets with garlic and rosemary earlier in the week. I took the two leftover fillets and chopped them up. Then I sauteed up a couple of zuchini and yellow squash until it was warm and a little browned, but still firm. I chopped some grape tomatoes in half. I tossed the aforementioned items with whole wheat tortellini. FInally I added a little extra olive oil, a little white wine vinegar, basil, oregano, pepper, and garlic powder. It was pretty yummy for dinner warm, and I imagine the leftovers will be good as a cold salad tomorrow. I sort of stole the idea from a recipe I had, but then I totally modified it tastes.

Driving with Daddy

I'm preparing to head to Chicago for work in a couple of weeks. When I get there my parents are going to pick me up and we'll spend Saturday together before I have my conference Sunday through Wednesday. They don't know it, but after they pick me up from the airport I'm planning to make them do something cultural or fun with me in the city, then we can do dinner and they can call it a night and head back to the 'burbs.

I had the CRAZIEST dream last night. In my dream my parents ahd picked me up and we were heading downtown. I hadn't printed out a map to the hotel because I sort of know where it is and I thought my dad knew. In my dream we were driving around and he was telling me how it wasn't in the greatest neighborhood. Meanwhile I'm thinking to myself Dad I think we just drove by it, it is in a great neighborhood - it is downtown silly! So, in said dream he kept going and took me to the ghetto but couldn't find the hotel. OF course in my dream the ghetto was a disaster zone - the interstate was covered in papers.

I'm not sure what my dream means - maybe the fast lane in life is coverd with papers and junk? But, I do know that whenever my dad goes somewhere he CAN find the ghetto. Hello, memories of Chinatown in Philly and Who knew there was a maximum security prison in Amish Country - Dad found it!!!