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Entries Tagged as 'jessica'

5th Annual Cookie and Tree Trimming Party

December 6th, 2011 · 13 Comments

Amy, Raiden, Loden, Joanna, Kate, Abby, Jill, Kristin, Rachelle, Marlena, Stephanie, Jessica, Jen, Sara, Mom, Suzy

On Saturday I hosted my annual cookie and tree trimming party. As was the case for several of the past years, the Roundarch holiday party was the night before. Luckily, this time I really watched myself at that party to make sure I didn’t drink too much and to make sure I got some sleep. There was one disaster year, for sure, when I didn’t do these things and then hosted 20+ people the next day. Not easy!

Dallas with friends he has seen: Jen & Kristin

Dallas was not so smart and this year he didn’t make it out of the house before everyone arrived. Which, actually, was good because he got to visit with some of the ladies that he hadn’t seen for a while. Before he left, we had him take the photo of everyone. The only ones missing are Jessica, Ashley and Lisa.

Christmas decorations

Ashley & Loden

Lisa, Rachelle, Kate, Sara

This year there were several cookie party newbs, so that was fun. The people who’d been to my party several years in a row helped them along, though. Put out your cookies, label them, EAT! Also, this year only one baby: Raiden. He’s so cute!

Raiden

To counterbalance all of the sweets, I also served dill dip with vegetables, beer dip with pretzels, olives and pickles. I’ll share the beer dip recipe later. If you’re interested in the dill dip, it’s here. As always, we also had hot apple cider (spiked or not) which Stephanie made and kept stocked. Don’t you love it when they’re old enough to assign tasks? I’m still using Julene’s Chicagoist recipe for the cider!

Stephanie

Do we look taller? Older?

These were all the tasty treats we sampled:

Creme de Menthe Brownies (Jen)
Carousel Cookies with Strawberry or Apricot Preserve (Jill)
Chocolate Waffles (Stephanie & Jessica)
Chocolate “Crackers” (Abby)
Gingerbread with Brie & Cranberry (Joanna)
Fudge Mallows (Rachelle)
Apple Pie Bars (Jessica)
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies (Kate)
Raspberry Jam Bars (Kristin)
Cake Batter Truffles (Loden)
Dulce de Leche, Bacon, Coconut & Chocolate Magic Bars (Rachelle)
Poppy Raspberry Kolaches (Ashley)
Ritzy Rounds (Sara)
Drunken Balls with cocoa & Bailey’s or coconut & rum (Marlena)
Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies with chocolate kisses or chocolate caramel kisses (Amy)
White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies (Mom)
Almond Bars (Suzy)
Sugared Cranberries (Suzy)

Everything was so delicious! And a new thing this year: Several cookies had savory elements – bacon? brie? ritz crackers? Yes, please. These are right up my ally.

Cookie Party!

Sometimes the cookie parties can get crazy if there are a lot of people, but most times I get a chance to relax and realize the time. For some reason this time the party just flew by! Before I knew it, someone told me they had to leave in 15 minutes, so I better get the show on the road… meaning, it had been a few hours and we needed to do the vote. So, I handed out the voting cards.. new and improved this year. Instead of ripped up pieces of construction paper, I actually designed cards, printed, and cut them out ahead of time (see here).

Loden, Cookie Victor

And how did it all come out? Unlike some years, this year every cookie was written down at least once, which was pretty amazing and showed how people’s tastes can vary so much. Everyone likes something different and everyone brings something different, which is so great. But there were four clear winners. In fourth place were Joanna’s Gingerbread with Brie & Cranberry Cookies. Placing third was Jess’s Apple Pie Bars. The runner up was my Dulce de Leche, Bacon, Coconut & Chocolate Magic Bars. This was the highest I ever placed! Actually, I think it was the first time I ever placed. Nice! And the winner is……… Loden’s Cake Batter Truffles! Congratulations, Loden. Breaking from tradition (the last 3 years I gave away Martha Stewart’s Cookie book), Loden won Rose’s Christmas Cookies. This book got great reviews online and when I bought a copy for myself I really liked it. Hope you like it, Loden!

Jessica

Oh, also, Amanda couldn’t make it to the party this year (bummer!!), but she was the big winner last year. She won the Martha book and Jess and Steph made their chocolate waffles from that book for this year. Maybe a new tradition? Person who wins has to bring something from the book they win the following year?

Taking cookies to go! Sara, Marlena, Amy

I’m declaring the party a success again this year! I’ll post the recipes for the cookies soon!

Me & Mom

Oh, and P.S. one final note: My mom didn’t think she’d be able to make it to the cookie party for the first time ever. The weather forecast was terrible for Saturday and her car was getting repaired (she hit a deer). But on Friday, she got her car back and the weather was perfect, so she drove to my brother’s house that day and then drove down to Chicago on Saturday. The weather down here was not so bad. Some rain, that’s about it. I’m so glad that she was able to make it, since she’s such a big help at the parties! Handing out parking permits and getting everyone situated, not to mention leading the cleaning crew (of me and my nieces). She deserves a big shout out for making the the party a success every year!

Jessica

Text much, Steph?

And I was so glad that even though Amanda had to work (bummer!!), my mom was still able to bring my nieces, Jessica and Stephanie, because it wouldn’t be the same without them! And who would decorate my Christmas tree if Jess wasn’t there?

Mom & Steph, and the decorated Christmas tree

Totally worth the sugar crash at the end of the day. Meanwhile, Jess was filling my camera with photos like this:

EXTREME CLOSEUP

That kid has a lot of energy.

4th Annual Cookie and Tree Trimming Party
3rd Annual Cookie and Tree Trimming Party
2nd Annual Cookie and Tree Trimming Party
1st Annual Cookie and Tree Trimming Party

CHIRP Presents The First Time: First Date

November 23rd, 2011 · No Comments

Jocelyn of CHIRP (and formerly of Chicagoist)

Jason Crock of CHIRP

Jackie Schimmel of Not Ready for Naptime Players

Tony Breed of Finn & Charlie are Hitched

Kyra Kyles of Kyles Files

Georg Coleman of Worst Cook in America

Megan Stielstra of 2nd Story and Everyone Remain Calm

Kevin Robinson of Chicagoist

Kevin Robinson

Jocelyn

Last Wednesday, Jess and I went to an event at Beat Kitchen called The First Time: First Date. It was part of a reading series with a “First Time” theme. There previously was First High, First Car and First Job. It was $10 and all the proceeds benefitted the Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP).

I always had friends reading and attending these events, but I hadn’t ever been able to go to go in the past. This time I knew Kevin, who read, and Jocelyn, who coordinated the event for CHIRP. I also saw Chuck there. All of these people I know from my Chicagoist days.

The event was really fun. Each person wrote an essay based on the theme “The First Time: First Date” and could interpret it however they wanted. Each reading was so thoughtful and funny. At then end of each essay a live band played a song the reader chose to accompany their piece. And so it went reading, song, reading, song, etc. Loved the format. The songs were so great. Many times hilarious, what each reader chose to go with their reading. The band was called The First Time and consisted of Steve Frisbie, Liam Davis, and Gerald Dowd. I thought these guys were familiar then I realized that Jocelyn interviewed them for Chicagoist way back in 2005 (Part 1, Part 2)!

The next event is scheduled for Wedsnesday, January 25 an I’m really going to try to go again because I had so much fun. Also, for all my years I lived in Roscoe Village, I never once went to Beat Kitchen. I don’t know how that could be. It’s only a block or two from where Jen & Chad live. In fact, I was hanging out with Jen and Limey and Quinn there before heading over to the event.

** Note: I didn’t get any photos of the band performing because my camera battery was about to die any second and I was trying to save it to take photos of Kevin, the last reader! And at least one photo of every other reader. I put my backup battery in and guess what? Dead. The band are the guys sitting in the background of each photo. I felt kind of bad for them because everyone was staring at them the whole time whether they were performing or not. Ha! Anyway, I didn’t think the photos came out half bad, given that I was just quick snapping one off then turning my camera off. And also because we were at a weird angle, front row seating.

Fish Bar

November 11th, 2011 · No Comments

Fish Bar :: Lakeview, Chicago

Condiments

All drinks are in jars

Calamari – “Federal Hill” style

Tuna Salad/Avocado – Celery, capers, etc.

Tater Tots with crack in them to make you want to eat more and more.

Oyster Po’Boy – Remoulade, spicy slaw. Favorite!

Scallops were on special. It was fall. I think that might be some kind of squash sauce.

Eastern Belly Clams – Tarter sauce.

Sara somehow had a bunch of free oyster shooter vouchers. Couldn’t let those go to waste!

Oyster shooters

Mindy Segal’s Key Lime Pie

A couple months ago Sara and Jessica introduced me to Fish Bar, a place where Sara is a bonafied regular. And. I loved it! It’s this tiny little place and the inside reminds me of something I’ve seen on The Cape. Or somewhere in Boston. Some old place that’s been there for a million years serving fresh seafood. And not fancying it up. Just serving it simple, how it should be. I know they’re doing this on purpose, manufacturing this look on the inside, but I didn’t care. I loved it. Maybe that is just a hint that I’m due for an East Coast visit, but I was all for it. Not to mention that the food was fantastic. I especially loved the fried oyster po’boy. Jess, Sara and I split everything, so I only had a third of it, but I swear, I could have eaten two full ones. It was so delicious. Also, where else in Chicago can you get clam strips WITH the bellies? Nowhere, I think. This is something I really only associate with Mass. and there it was on the menu! The desserts are done by Mindy Segal, so you know they’re good. They change regularly, according to Sara, the regular. We tried a slice of key lime pie. Not totally “my thing” but very tasty. Can’t wait to go back to Fish Bar… at least until my next trip to the East Coast!

Midwest is Best Wine Tasting

November 7th, 2011 · 2 Comments

Earlier this year I noticed that I’d somehow acquired wines from Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin. I had this idea to have a local wine party, so I saved these bottles and added wines from from Illinois and Michigan. I’ve been trying to figure out how to schedule this party all summer, but it just got away on me. Finally, I figured out a day that several friends could get together and we did it. I got some cheese and snacks and we made a whole night of it.

For fun I also made up some wine tasting note sheets for each wine and had people fill in how the wine looked, smelled, tasted, and then an area to rate each wine.

Here’s what we thought of each of the wines:

Winery: Good Harbor Vineyards, Leeanau Peninsula, MI
Wine Name: Trillium Semi Dry White Table Wine
Variety: Reisling, Vignoles, Seyval Blanc
Story: I got this wine at Whole Foods to round out my collection of midwestern wines
Look: Pale; Smell: Fruity, Flowery; Taste: Fruity, Flowery, Light, Crisp, Floral;
Overall Rating: Most people seemed to like this wine, rating it between a 6-8 on a scale of 1-10. A solid white wine.

Winery: Oliver Winery, Bloomington, IN
Wine Name: Soft Red Wine
Variety: Concord
Story: Our upstairs neighbors who are from Indiana gave us this bottle a few years ago when their dogs jumped on Dallas. Dallas didn’t really care, their dogs are harmless little dachshunds. It was a nice gesture, though.
Look: Ruby, Rose; Smell: Fruity; Taste: Sweet, Grapey
Overall Rating: Just about everyone thought this wine was too sweet to drink. The overall rating was between 1-3 on a scale of 1-10. One noted “tastes like grape juice.” Several people poured this out and didn’t finish their serving.

Winery: Door Peninsula Winery, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Wine Name: Peninsula Red
Variety: Cherries, Grapes
Story: My cousin Kelly, who lives in Wisconsin, gave me this bottle of wine last year on my bachelorette weekend.
Look: Garnet, Ruby; Smell: Fruity, Spicy, Woodsy, Cherry; Taste: Spice, Complex, Sweet, Dry
Overall Rating: Everyone seemed to like this wine and were surprised that they liked it. I think everyone was suspicious that it was a cherry wine mixed with a grape wine. They thought it would be too sweet, but it was not. The overall rating was between 5-9 on a scale of 1-10.

Winery: Prairie State Winery, Genoa, IL
Wine Name: Recession Noir
Variety: Red Blend
Story: I had time to kill when the Jeep broke down between Chicago and Milwaukee over the summer. Luckily a Whole Foods was nearby. I bought this Illinois wine there.
Look: Garnet, Ruby, Rose; Smell: Fruity, Barnyard, Woodsy; Taste: Sweet, Light, Spice, Crisp, Dry
Overall Rating: This wine was universally disliked. Most did not finish their glass. The overall rating was between 1-4 on a scale of 1-10.

Winery: Wide River Winery, Clinton, IA
Wine Name: Dry Red Wine
Variety: Red Blend
Story: This guy Matt sat in the desk next to mine for a while. A family member or friend of his was involved with this winery in Iowa. His stint at my company was brief, but long enough for him to gift this bottle of wine to me!
Look: Garnet, Ruby; Smell: Woodsy, Spicy, Barnyard, Baby Diaper, Pigpen, Chocolate, Poo; Taste: Wood, Spice, Complex, Sweet, Velvety, Smoke, Heavy, World of Warcraft
Overall Rating: The things people were tasting and smelling in this wine varied greatly, but most people seemed to like it. Ratings came in between 6-8 on a scale of 1-10, with one lowball of a 4 rating.

Winery: Something in Holland?
Wine Name: Choco Vine Espresso
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Dutch Chocolate
Story: This is not local, but I kept seeing it in the store and got really interested in trying it, so this was a surprise tasting.
Look: Brown, How Now Brown Cow, Milky, Chocolate Milk; Smell: Chocolate, Coffee, White Russian; Taste: Sweet, Heavy, Velvety, Complex, Ovaltine,
Overall Rating: People really liked the Choco Vine. It must be served over ice or it’s too thick. Ratings came in between 8-9 on a scale of 1-10. One person wrote in 100!

After tasting the midwestern wines and the Choco Vine, I still had about 12 bottles of wine left in my case so we busted out a few of them. I had some generic wine tasting note sheets and as you can see, people were getting very… creative… filling them out:

The damage the next morning:

Only 8 bottles. I thought it would be worse, actually. Thanks to Emily, Jen, Jess, Jill, Kate, Loden, Sara and Stacy for coming over and drinking wine with me! I’m already thinking about how we can try to make this happen again!

House Party: Cocktails and Art Auction to Benefit Association House

November 3rd, 2011 · No Comments

Last week Association House had an art auction fundraiser at Aeree Loft. Thirty smackeroos got you into this pretty venue where you had all the drinks and appetizers that you wanted (provided by Pure Kitchen Catering). There was a lot of art to bid on, everything from paintings to pottery to jewelry, and all of the proceeds benefitted Association House.

Association House is based in Humboldt Park and helps more than 20,000 participants each year through programs in community services, child welfare, behavioral health, out of school programs for kids and teens and El Cuarto Ano, an alternative high school. Jess is on the associate board for Association House so I always try to go to the fundraisers to help out a bit.

Afterwards we went to Cobra Lounge, which was nearby. I somehow missed all the times that our FeedBurner crew used to go there. Nice to finally check it out, even if it is just a dive.

See you in my nightmares, Chris!

Entries Tagged as 'jessica'