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 ADORE asparagus :)
I’d never would have thought to use maple syrup to marinade veggies in maple syrup…such a clever idea.
Have a wonderful evening stroll with the hubbie!!
I love your blog – thank you for all your wonderful posts! When you’re in Chicago, you should definitely try and eat at Karyn’s on Green (a wonderful vegan place!). Don’t leave w/out trying the steak fries! Some other great vegan places: Karyn’s Cooked and Chicago Diner. For some yummy vegan cupcakes try Molly’s and Swirlz. Running on the lake early in the morning is so wonderful! For a great view, grab a drink at the top of the Hancock. For an eco friendly hotel, check out Felix. Enjoy your trip!
I love love love roasted potatoes! those look amazing :)
I was vacationing in Chicago last month and totally fell in love with an Italian restaurant called Quartino. There’s also a nice sandwich place near there called Eleaven. If you’re an area called Wicker Park at all you can check out a nice little place called Ear Wax (awful name but great vegetarian breakfasts).
The Chicago Cultural Centre right downtown has two absolutely astoundingly beautiful stained glass domes (and it’s totally free to see them!) And as tourist-y as it is Millennium park is pretty fun.
Also highly recommend one of the Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruises if you have the time. It’s especially cool if you’re into the history of Chicago.
Have fun!
Try Sepia in Chicago – I adore it there! They were filming a move there last week but should be open again now. It is in the West Loop and really amazing. Similarly Avec or Blackbird are also amazing. Or if you want Mexican hit up Topolobampo or Frontera (Rick Bayless restuarants). If you are looking for recommendations online – try to get into the neighborhoods and out of the Loop. Wicker Park and Bucktown have AMAZING food. So does the West Loop (and Greek Town is close to the West Loop for amazing Greek food). For brunch on Saturday or Sunday you need to be up EARLY to avoid lines but try Feast in Wicker Park, Orange in Lincoln Park (my FAVORITE with frushi – fruit sushi) or Ann Sathers.
I live north of Chicago. I second the Chicago Diner for you…check out their website.
Also not mentioned yet is the top of the Willis Tower (formerly known as Sears Tower). They have these glass ledges that were recently built out from the building..totally cool. The French Market is also a good place to pick up fresh fruit. One of the vendors is also RAW a raw food restaurant. There are many farmer’s markets during the summer…Thursday morning is at Daley Plaza.
I would stop at a Walgreen’s drug store. They sell the CTA unlimited 1 day or 3 day pass there. That way you can explore a lot and save some money without having to walk everywhere. Don’t worry, you’ll get plenty of exercise, but it’s nice to hop on the “El” train for a break and cheaper than taking a cab. If you will be here on a Thursday night, the Art Institute is free from 5-8 p.m. Many people have commented that their favorite tour in Chicago is the architecture boat tours on the Chicago River. They also have a website. (Chicago Architecture Foundation)
Hottix sells available last minute tickets to almost every theatre in the city…you might be able to catch a late night show or matinee cheap. (hottix.org)
People in Chicago are friendly, so don’t be afraid to ask for help finding stuff.
Why hello there. It’s not very nice of you to taunt me with that delicious veggie dinner and not invite a girl over to help eat it! ;) Wish we could have dinner dates weekly!!! I love roasted zucch!!
im going to HLS!!
i cant wait to meet you! any chance you’ll be selling your bakery products? ;)
Looking forward to meeting you as well :)
I wont be selling the bars BUT I will be donating bars in the swag bags!
I’m going to HLS, too! Can’t wait to meet you!
Yes…I agree about getting out of the Loop for food. The neighborhoods are great, and you can get their with your CTA pass! Also, you would think that restaurants in the Loop would be open on weekends, but MANY are not! It’s more of a Monday-Friday food place. So, double check hours before you head out somewhere.
I cant even begin to describe how perfect your pictures are today. im inspired to continue saving money so I can get my Nikon DSLR. oh boy
The maple roasted veggies sounds delicious.
Thnaks! :)
Chicago is so much fun! The architecture boat tour on the river would be my top recommendation for something fun to do. Walking/running/biking along Lake Michigan is also a must and there are beaches on the lake so you could do a little swimming too. You can take bike tours of the city too which is a fun and different way to see the sights and explore.
Can’t help you out in the food department though – when I go to Chicago I’m all about the Chicago-style pizza and the hotdogs (not so healthy and definitely not vegan!).
I love roasted asparagus. It’s also really good with a squeeze of lemon.
You MUST go to Karyn’s on Green. I saw that a bunch of people already recommended it…and with good reason!!! It’s phenomenal.
Another must go to is this adorable place called Orange. It’s a contemporary, funky little restaurant that serves brunch. Their specialty is frushi, which is fruit sushi!! It’s wonderful!
For a little sweet treat, stop by Molly’s Cupcakes on the north side. So delicious with vegan options as well!
Have fun in my gorgeous city…you’ll fall in love with it:)
I love roasted veggies. You are making me very hungry today. I thought I should tell you I was inspired by your cute pictures of cherry soft serve with your oats and posted about it today on my blog. Stole the cherry-on-top idea from you for sure. :-)
Oh maple syrup roasted veggies sounds great! Man, I can’t believe you get more CSA food in two days. I don’t think I could keep up. That’s a lot of food for two people!
lol I know and its only a half share…and I probably eat enough for 2 ppl as it is! haha
I looove roasted veggies – esp asparagus…it’s a totally different flavor!
Love, love asparagus. Especially roasted.
Great post tonight! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that dinner you made…. i frequently make things like that all summer long- roasted zucchini is one of my FAVOURITES!
Great job on making the TO DO list…. I LOVE LIST MAKING and I have made a GIGANTIC one this week- as i leave July 19 for a trip and have a lot to do- here’s hoping i get it all done :)
Mmm I just bought some asparagus today and I’m totally going to try it roasted up like this!