Hello!
Thanks for sharing your book recommendations this morning as well as your goals of the week.
Hope your week started off great! My day has been intense, but I ploughed through over 11 orders so I feel really good about that! The only downer to the day was that we found out our treadmill needs the engine replaced. The treadmill repairman has already replaced the two rollers (1st outing), the belt (2nd outing), and now it is still ticking so he wants to replace the entire engine! Luckily the parts are covered with Landice treadmills (for life), but the labour is not (only up to 1 year)…and boy is the labour bill racking up! I swear I should have gone to school to be a repair woman. Or an electrician…we were once charged $200 for an electrician to spend 5 mins. putting in a circuit breaker…
The theme of this week is all about the checklist. If I can complete my checklist this week, I will be one happy camper! I love having something physical on paper to look at. I haven’t done a checklist in a while so it feels good to have one in front of me.
The theme of dinner tonight was to ‘cross off’ a bunch of veggies lurking deep in our crisper…
We now begin the countdown until the next CSA box. We have just 2 days left until our next one!
We had a huge bunch of asparagus to use up.
My absolute favourite way to eat asparagus is roasted with sea salt, oil, and black pepper. Classic simplicity.
Easy Roasted Asparagus:
- 1 bunch of asparagus, rinsed and broken at ends
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Sprinkle or two of Sea salt
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil or oil of your choice
Directions: Rinse asparagus and break off the ends (they will naturally snap at the weak part). Place asparagus onto a baking sheet and drizzle oil over top. Move asparagus all around baking sheet until coated with oil. Sprinkle on sea salt and ground pepper. Roast in the oven at 400F for about 15-20 minutes, flipping once half way through.
I also used up a bunch of red potatoes, green onions, and zucchini in another pan roast!
Maple Infused Red potato, Zucchini, and Green Onion Roast
Ingredients:
- 4-5 small red potatoes
- 2 zucchini
- 5 green onion stalks
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp sunflower oil or oil of choice
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
Directions: Preheat oven to 400F. Chop veggies and place on a baking sheet. Drizzle oil and maple syrup over top and massage the oil/syrup into the veggies making sure they are all coated. Sprinkle on sea salt and black pepper. Place in oven at 400F for around 1 hour, flipping once half way through. Potatoes should be crisp when ready and green onions will have a crunchy consistency like kale chips!
I put the red potatoes, zucchini, and onion mixture into the oven first (for 45 mins), then during the last 15 minutes of cooking I popped in the asparagus. Timing worked out perfectly!
However I was ROASTING myself while the oven was blasting for an hour! The kitchen got so hot I felt like I was having hot flashes.
This was my first time having maple syrup on roasted veggies and it was killer!!! The hint of sweetness tasted amazing. Try it out you will love it!
With a side of tomato paste, although I didn’t use much of it because I loved the maple flavour of the veggie roast!
The green onions got so crispy and reminded me so much of kale chips!
I love the crispy tops when asparagus are roasted…
I don’t know if I have ever had roasted zucchini before but it tasted incredible. I think the key here was slicing the zucchini very THICK. It shrinks in the oven, so if you leave it on the thick side it will remain a good size and very juicy! I wished I had more of it when I was finished!
Dessert, a Dark Chocolate Coffee Mararoon…
Eric and I are going to go on a relaxing walk around the neighbourhood (we try to get out every night for about 20 minutes in the summer). We love our summer walks! They are so peaceful and it gives us a chance to unwind from the busy day. Our summers don’t last long so we need to make use of every minute we can!
Tonight, I also need to book flights and hotel for the Healthy Living Summit conference in Chicago. I am excited because I have heard that Chicago is an amazing, historic, and beautiful city and I can’t wait to explore it. Eric is going to join me as well (but he won’t be attending the conference). Anyone here from Chicago or been there before? What are the great sights to check out? Nice places to run? Restaurants? Anyone else attending the HLS?
Have a lovely evening and I will see you in the morning!
I love summer walks too! My husband gets home pretty late but we always try to walk when we can. There is nothing like incredible summer smells and watching kids playing outside. ;)
I love just straight veggies for dinner once in awhile, especially when they’re so excellently prepared! Love the maple syrup idea, it sounds absolutely mouthwatering!
Love roasted zuchinni…do you know you can STUFF your zuchinni and cook it on the grill. Oh yes, yes you can! =)
I lived near Chicago for nearly 22 years of my life and it’s one of my favorite cities. For the best possible view, go to the Signature Lounge in the Hancock Bldg on Michigan Ave. It’s on the 97th floor and has 360 degree views. Champagne and strawberries will make the view even better ;)
Wow it sounds incredible thanks!
I also recommend the Signature Lounge!!
What a wonderful meal :) I love asparagus. Actually, it was the chosen ingredient from my Mystery Box last week and I made an asparagus risotto! My only complaint was that there were no leftovers!
Gorgeous photos!!
The Chicago Diner is a vegan/vegetarian diner in Chicago…amazingly good! We had to wait some time for a table, but it was completely worth it. I would highly reccomend!!!
thanks!
Random roasted veggie tray is my go to meal for organic co-op leftovers. Thanks for the maple syrup idea, sounds delicious!
I *SO* wish I was going to HLS… I have an important wedding that weekend. hopefully next year…
I LOVE roasted asparagus, probably my favorite! I roast veggies all the time, and love it… I totally forgot about maple syrup (right now I have none)… that is delicious, I had it at a restaurant and did it once after that.
We LOVE to walk in the evening… (Basil Pup loves it too!) we have a great trail along our property, where we meet other dogs and friendly people, and our far off neighbors :)
I work and live in the Chicago-land area. If you want fresh fish and an awesome staff the place to go is Shaw’s Crab House’s Blue Crab Lounge (to the right when you walk in) on Hubbard and Wabash. We go there all the time and the staff is truly amazing.
Get a run in along the Lake – I always suggest running South because it stays a little further away from the Drive. For normal touristy things go to the signature room on the 95th for drinks and enjoy the view (top of the Hancock tower at North Michigan Avenue), check out Navy Pier, visit the Parks, especially Grant Millennium (South Michigan Ave.), if you want to check out some raw food go to the French Market located in the train station (Canal and Randolph). Stroll down Michigan Avenue and shop at the huge Macy’s on State Street.
Just a few ideas!
Since you’re sometimes in a bind trying to eat up all your CSA veggies, have you ever thought about freezing some? I once did a Google search about the proper way to freeze different types of vegetables (how long to blanch, type of container to freeze it in, etc.) and it was pretty helpful. Obviously some of the produce wouldn’t freeze well, but I’m sure it could prolong the life of some veggies so you can enjoy them in the fall or winter!
I’ve thought about it…I think I would be more likely to make a huge batch of something and then freeze it for quick meals. Just need to find the time!
The weather here had been so cool, I planned a dinner that involved the oven and now its 80* outside! I can’t win ;P
I’m sure you knew this already, but check out Porter for your flight!! They’re having a seat sale that’s over today, and when I booked mine they were around $100 each, each way.
Thanks were going to fly out of Buffalo :) its about $200 cheaper
I absolutely love roasted asparagus – it reminds me of spring & summer!
Those roasted veggies sound awesome!
I’m going to the HLS too! I can’t wait :)
Your asparagus is gorgeous!
Where to start….. I LOVE Chicago and I find it to be an excellent ‘healthy living city’, if you know where to look, that is!
Karyn’s on Green, Karyn’s Raw, Karyn’s Cooked, and the Chicago Diner are all great vegan restaurants. And of course, you have Trader Joe’s and numerous Whole Foods locations!
I live just off Michigan Ave AND
I am a Chicago suburb dweller, and I love going to the city as much as possible! I would say that going to see a live show at The Vic or The Riveria is quite the experience, but hard to plan if no bands or musicians you know will be playing during your stay :/
As for food, you MUST MUST eat at The Chicago Diner (seriously…must!) They have the best vegan food I have ever had, and always have splurges as well as raw and healthful items. Another great restaurant is Karyn’s Raw or Karyn’s Cooked – both delicious.
Of course, you must see Millennium Park, The Bean (touristy to the max, but mentionable), and shop :o)
My husband and I like to go on walks around the neighborhood as well. I’ve been to Chicago and it’s definitely an awesome place to visit. I would go in the John Hancock building (a little shorter than the Sears Tower) but has a more amazing view and an awesome restaurant up stairs. Running in the city is apparently really fun… that’s what our friend said when we visited!
…..ooops didn’t mean to send that previous comment so soon…
Meant to say that I love running up Michigan Ave to people watch the tourists and to enjoy the river, beautiful flowers and architecture. And you definitely have to run along the lakefront!
Sorry if this has been answered a lot before. I havent been reading for long. Is your Glo Bakery the same thing as your home kitchen or is it somewhere different?
Thanks!