Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

Coffee mug chilaquiles. Other than the extremely important watchdog role the Chicago Tribune plays in my community, the reason I keep my print subscription is the weekly Good Eating section. It pays off most weeks with new ideas for recipes, nutrition news and cooking techniques. That said, I’ve not been paying much attention to theContinue reading “Chilaquiles & Coffee Cake…Mixed, Baked, & Served in a Coffee Mug”

OK. These haven’t exactly made my children jump for joy. But my son doesn’t hate them and my guests pop them in their mouths like candy. I’m starting to think I could serve these up as appetizers. They’re so easy to make, I just had to share the recipe from Simply Recipes via Pinterest. IContinue reading “Make Brussels Sprouts a Family Favorite”

We didn’t really have plans this holiday. If not for Nana, the kids wouldn’t have special Easter outfits and I probably wouldn’t have been motivated to even put a ham in the oven. And if it wasn’t for Pinterest, I’d never have discovered instructions on how to make these beautiful marbled eggs. This seemed likeContinue reading “Marbled Deviled Eggs”

I first learned how to make chilaquiles when I was looking for ways to use up turkey after Thanksgiving. My SoCal sister (soon to be my Hang Loose sister) later taught me how to make a quick and spicy version using El Pato. As much as I’ve enjoyed my previous attempts, the combo tonight isContinue reading “Chicken Chilaquiles”

Sim calls this a ‘Farmgirl car wash.’ Today we made the shortest visit to The Farm. Shortest visit ever. We were only there about three hours to drop the kids off for their spring break, rural adventure. Yet, even with a limited visit, we still managed to: Hunt for arrowheads (and find a scraper andContinue reading “Quicky Farm Visit”

Gray composting bin to the left. A few years ago, my municipality decided to trim its trash by charging residents more for larger waste receptacles, but slightly less if you opted for a larger recycling container. Even with two kids, one still in pull ups, this was an easy call for us. If we couldn’tContinue reading “Oak Park Tests Municipal Compost Waters with Yard Waste Pilot”

I’m pretty sure I’ve broken some sort of law for not ever once taking my children to Hole in the Wall. One of my Facebook friends called it the “‘If you live in south OP, you must take your kids to the Hole in the Wall’ law.” Hole in the Wall is what I’ve comeContinue reading “On Our Neighborhood 'To Do' List: Hole in the Wall Custard”

Since fully embracing Pinterest a few weeks ago, I’ve been collecting string — noting ideas for possible craft projects, creative activities I can try with the kids, and recipes. Oh, the recipes. It’s safe to say that Pinterest has almost completely replaced the Food Network for me. I get hungry every time I load myContinue reading “Shamrock Shake Knock Off Is a Winner”

Tonight I had a chance to learn more about a fledgling effort to plant a food co-op in what is essentially a food desert in northeast Oak Park and the nearby Austin neighborhood in Chicago. Having grown up shopping at food co-ops that offered affordable, healthy, locally sourced foods, often in bulk, I’m already aContinue reading “An Oasis in a Food Desert?”

I have a feeling that someday Top Chef Masters competitor Suvir Saran will say something that I disagree with or causes me pause. But last night, when another Oak Parker and I had the pleasure of meeting him in person at a friend’s house, wasn’t one of those days. Saran tells it like he seesContinue reading “My Celebrity Chef Encounter”