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!
Roasted asparagus is one of the most delectable things ever.
I lived in Chicago for awhile, and the most awesome place to run is by Lake Michigan. Cross Michigan Ave and just start running! Run across the bridges or streets and park to the other main road and cross. You can go left or right, any way it is BEAUTIFUL!
I find that just walking around Chicago is beautiful. A lot of the buildings are beautiful. I lived in the South Loop, and State Street was the place to go to do some shopping, but of course the Magnificent Mile (which is more north of Michigan Ave) is where the real shopping is. If you go up by the Navy Pier, there are a ton of pretty buildings, including the Drake hotel. I love walking by there. My great aunt worked there in the 50’s! And there are some small beaches out that way, also fun to run or rollerblade by, and beautiful to just stroll and take pictures. Have fun and tell Chicago hi for me! I’m moving to Nashville, but that city will always be home.
Mmm, that asparagus looks delicious!
My husband go on a walk after dinner almost every night. I think it helps us digest our food, but it’s also just so pleasant! It’s our time to enjoy each others company.
I do my asparagus exactly like you do! It comes out SO flavourful! Haha, I was cracking up because tonight i cleaned out our crisper too! So many coincidences! We’re having zucchini, baby sunburst squash and japanese eggplant roasted with balsamic vinaigrette and italian herbs. YUM! Last night was zucchini and asparagus on the grill! Yay for summer veggies!
Sounds DELICIOUS!
That sounds delicious!! I would never have thought to use maple on regular potatoes!
Everything looks delicious!
Thanks everyone for your suggestions!!! So excited :)
I loooove roasted veggies – those look awesome! I am a total “to do” list person. I feel like I have accomplished something if I get to cross it off. I also put things on mylists that have already been done just so I can cross them off – DON’T judge.
I live in Chicago (well, just outside) – it is an absolutely amazing city. I am really sad though because I wanted to sign up for the Healthy Living Summit but was too late. I kind of still want to come to the city though on Sunday for the fun run or something. I kind of feel like the outcast kid who just wants to fit in – hahaha! :)
I’m so excited to read all the suggestions for Chicago! I’ve been once several years ago, but I don’t really remember much. I can’t wait for HLS, though!
The asparagus looks amazing…I’m getting a major craving:)
Wow great idea with the maple syrup for your veggies. I can’t wait to try that out on my grill once it warms up here.
I like my asparagus simple too, but instead of sea salt and pepper, once oiled I sprinkle Montreal steak spice on my asparagus before grilling. I love the simple taste of it (plus the spices are all in one container! Super convenient)
I usually roast zucchini with green peppers … it’s amazing , but recently tried it with Garlic Gold nuggets(Italian Herb) I that KERF uses and this is amazing …. . Personally I love the Hancock Tower , visit the aquarium , take a evening cruise ( the one where they talk about Chicago’s architecture if you are into that) . Defintely do a run along navy pier leading to planetarium , you will pass the museums , it is beautiful one !! I hope Eric and you have a wonderful time !!
I love roasted asparagus! It’s my favorite way to prepare it! Okay, that’s a lie. My favorite way is grilling, but next is roasted!
I roasted sweet potatoes with maple syrup once. Very tasty!
Hi Angela,
I’m from Chi-town (that’s the cool way to say it :)) and there’s lots to see! I would say, do the regular sites and the do the sites that the locals hit. If you want to go to a beach I recommend Pratt Beach up in Rogers Park, it’s gorgeous and a little more laid back then the business of the downtown beaches. A good place to run is through Old Town, cause you can see all the old historical buildings, on down the lake front, which runs from Evanston to downtown (that is also a very awesome bike route). If you’re a fan of archetecture come to Oak Park and see Frank Lloyd WRight’s classic buildings and the Hemingway House. Also, I love the Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park, on Marion and South Blvd (all local food, all fresh, vegan friendly).
You’ve got to check out Karen’s Cooked: an all vegan restaurant that is affordable and delicious. Coffee shop wise I love Brothers K in Evanston and downtown, Intelligencia in the Monogonuk Building (that is not spelled correctly, heads-up). Also, there’s the great farmer’s markets. Thursdays is the Daley Market at the Daley Center on Clark and on Randolph and Wabash is the Downtown Farmstand (a small, all-be-it adorable only local produce joint).
There’s just so much to see. I love Wicker Park for shopping. Endless boutitues. Lincoln Square has a great coffee shop called The Grind and a famous vintage shop and Logan Square’s got the city’s only Co-op, voted in The Reader the best co-op (and only co-op, although there are a lot of farmer’s markets) in the city. And since I will live in Logan Sq, I’m partial to it myself.
I just hope you love it and, hey, if you want someone to do lunch with, I’d me so happy to meet you!
Best,
Heather
Hi Ange,
I live in Chicago as well, and would love to meet up! Are there any auxiliary events as part of the conference that we could attend?
I think you’ll have a great time in Chicago! I’m really excited for the Healthy Living Summit myself. But I disagree with recommendations for dining at the Chicago Diner… The Chicago Diner is like veggie fast food. All mock meats and really processed. There are other great healthy veggie places that actually use vegetables in their vegan dishes (such a novelty, right?). There’s a chain called Karyn’s (raw food) which is really great and the Green Zebra. Sadly Chicago is pretty meat and potatoes’ish for the most part.
I’m not a fan of asparagus, but the other roasted veggies look delicious! I’ll keep this recipe in mind for the winter when I want to oven on!
I’m going to HLS…and I’m so excited! Actually, I’m a little nervous because I don’t know anyone else going and I’m a little shy. :) It will be my first time meeting the writers of blogs I read in “real life”. But I’m sure it will be a great time.
And I’m excited to find some good vegetarian restaurants in Chicago!
:O You’d never done maple roasted veggies!!?? You’d been missing out Angela!
Today I^ll do an exception to the rules of summer (no oven!) and I’ll do some maple roasted potatoes, onions, zucchini and eggplants from my vegetable garden… yum I can’t wait to taste it! :)
ciao ciao Lalla
I’ll be there working for one of the sponsors, Attune. Come say HI!!
I’m not a big fan of asparagus but I always had them steamed. I’m excited to roast them next time! I love crispy vegetable! I always roast my brussel sprouts and my brocoli now.
I have a question for you or your readers. My parents are coming over for 3 days this week and I don’t know what to cook to please everybody. I’ve been vegan for a month but my parents are not and my dad doesn’t think vegetables can be a meal… Any idea what I could cook for 2 dinners and 3 lunches?? I’m thinking about veggie burgers with sweet potato fries for one of the meals but I’m out of idea for the rest. It’s too hot to cook a lasagna (and they would probably not be fan of a cheeseless lasagna anyway). Thank you!