more soccer

reilly's soccer team (manchester united) has had 3 games

they are 2 and 1. 

the season is going well

although, i'm convinced their play 

is directly related to the weather

chilly = a win

ungodly hot = a loss

here are some new photos from the last two games...

manchester united vs. huntley blue 

(5 to 1 loss)

reilly (in the pig-tails) running

more running

i have no idea what reilly is doing in the photo... but it makes me laugh! 

it appears reilly is walking now

more walking... remember it was ungodly hot that day :) 

reilly throwing in the ball

on the bench.... look how red her little face is.... she's kinda behind the girl in blue

hahaha!

good game, good game, good game.
dan is assistant coach, see my cute hubby at the end of the line?

 manchester united vs. huntley pink 

(7 to 0 win) 

reilly in background in a striped jersey... we accidentally sent her to the game in her uniform from last year!
hey... i never claimed to be perfect. at least it's the right color!

throw in... in the wrong jersey. GAH! 

happy girl running.... remember it was chilly this day!

hope your enjoying your fall.
xoxo - e

roasted tomato soup with fresh basil

yesterday i blogged about a 

baby shower i co-hosted last weekend

now, as promised...

here is the recipe for the roasted tomato soup i served at the shower.

a special thanks to krysta from my life in food

who shared this (fantastic) recipe on her beautiful blog

here are a few of my cooking photos

followed by the recipe 

the ingredients

roasting the fresh tomatoes, onion and garlic.... this made the house smell devine!

all the ingredients (minus the cream) in the pot....

after i used my brand-spankin-new immersion blender and added the cream.... yummo!

here's the recipe...

roasted tomato soup with fresh basil
(via my life in food)

2-1/2 lbs fresh tomatoes (mix of heirlooms, cherry, vine, & plum tomatoes)
2 small yellow onions, sliced
6 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 c extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
4 c chicken broth
2 bay leaves
4 tbs unsalted butter
1/2 c chopped fresh basil leaves
3/4 c heavy whipping cream
1 cup croutons (optional)
(serves 4... i doubled the recipe)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Wash, core, and cut the tomatoes into halves. Spread the tomatoes, onions, and garlic onto a baking tray. (Add the cherry tomatoes whole). Drizzle with the olive oil & season with salt & pepper. Roast for 20-30 minutes, until caramelized.

Transfer the roasted tomatoes, onions & garlic to a large stockpot. Pour in any roasting liquid from the tray, 3 cups of the chicken broth, the bay leaves, and butter. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat & simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until liquid has reduced by a third.

Remove & discard bay leaves. Add chopped basil. Puree the soup with an immersion blender until smooth. You can also puree in batches in a regular blender. Return soup to low heat; add the 3/4 cup cream & adjust consistency with remaining chicken broth, if necessary. Season to taste with salt & pepper. Ladle soup into bowls. if you like, garnish each bowl with fresh chopped basil and croutons.

this is an amazing recipe! i promise!

xoxo -e

baby shower

last weekend

i co-hosted a baby shower

for my sister-in-law

at my home

this is her third baby,
so it was a small gathering of her closest friends

the theme was..

well..

baby shower or rain

i guess

here are some photos...

sorry about the crummy photos
but
i think you can get the idea
it was a success
and my sister-in-law was happy :)

for lunch we served...
chicken salad croissants
roasted tomato basil soup
ramen noodle salad (my sister-in-law's favorite)

and

a yummy white cake with lemon filling & buttercream frosting

YUM!

I will post some recipes later this week.

xoxo - e

diy: painting my front door

the front door is painted

and i'm thrilled with the finished product.

AND

as far as diy home improvement projects go,

this one was quick and easy!

let me remind you of what my house looked like before

before

july 2010

after

this morning / september 2012

while i have you, i thought i'd share our family plaque.... i love it :)

here are the tools i used...

1. Exterior Behr Ultra Premium Semi Gloss

2. Color: Behr Red Red Wine

3. ScotchBlue Painters Tape

4. Wooster Journeyman Master 2 in. Angle Sash Brush

5. Wooster Pro 3-Piece Mini Roller Tray Set

How to paint your front door

(the easy way) 

1. This is tutorial is for doors that are already painted 

(not naked or stained doors)

2) do not take door off hinges 

3) wash the door (give it a good scrub) 

and let it completely dry (i used pine-sol and warm water)

4) if you only want to paint one side of the door, 

use blue tape to tape the areas you don't want painted

5) use a 2" angled brush to paint the angled parts around the door panels and 

cut in around the door hardware. paint a thin coat to avoid drips.

6) use a small roller to paint the flat surfaces, a thin coat to avoid drips

7) VERY IMPORTANT: let the door dry overnight

8) day 2, lightly clean the door and let it dry

9) repeat steps 5 through 7

my door only took two coats, but you may need more 

depending on the thickness of your coats and the color you use.

the result was beautiful and it was such an easy process!

xoxo - e

ikea love.

i was at ikea today.

and 

this

is 

what 

i 

saw...

oh ya!

a fiddle leaf fig

FOR TWELVE DOLLARS!

they weren't the big fancy trees i've seen on design blogs.

but

they were $12.

maybe they can grow into

a big fancy trees?

i will have my front door reveal soon.

due to weather, i haven't gotten a good photo.

xoxo - e

diy - painting the front door

i've been researching the correct way

to successfully paint my front door.

there are a lot of tutorials out there, 

but i decided to ask a professional.

more specifically, the guy at home depot:)

first up...

choose a color.

here is how my front door looks now...

 i used photoshop to change the door color.
here are a few options i'm considering...

 option 1 -  dark green

option 2 - red

option 3 - dark blue

option 4: dark brown (matching the trim color) 

so what do you think?

i'll reveal the "after" tomorrow.

xoxo - e

big boy haircut

before

during

after

admiring his new look :)

 

sniff sniff
my boy is growing up!

hope you have a great weekend!
-e

i pinned it then i [cooked] it

this recipe was so yummy.

my family licked their plates.

the mustard adds some extra zing.

i cut down on calories by substituting

the sour cream for reduced fat sour cream

pin

Beef Stroganoff

• 2 pounds beef chuck, trimmed of fat & cut into thin slices 
• (about 1/2 inch thick and 3 inches long)
• 1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
• 1 pound sliced white mushrooms
• kosher salt & ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• i lb. Cooked egg noodles
• 
  

Directions

In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, toss beef, onion, 

& mushrooms, 1 1/2 tsp. coarse salt & 1 tsp. pepper

Cover, & cook on low until meat is tender, 

about 8 hours (or on high for 6 hours).

In a 2-cup glass measuring cup, whisk cornstarch 

with 2 tablespoons water. Ladle 1 cup cooking 

liquid into measuring cup; whisk to combine. 

Pour into a small saucepan, & bring to a boil;

 cook until thickened, about 1 minute. 

With slow cooker turned off, stir in cornstarch 

mixture, then sour cream and mustard. 

Serve beef over noodles.

a perfect meal, for a chilly fall evening!
-e

9.11.01

where were you?

i was in my loft 

in the chicago loop

in the shadow of the sears tower

watching the today show

live

the first plane hits 

matt lauer is reporting

there is confusion

then

the second plane hits
it's clear

we're under attack

i wonder 

when will the sears tower be hit?

i can see it from my window

still standing

no fire

yet

dan had already left for work

safely out of the city

there's a knock on my door

it 's heather
my neighbor

we cry

a plane hits the pentagon

what we should do?

i grab my mini hand-held tv

we walk to work

together

we stop at the chicago river

OH MY GOD!

the south tower collapses

we watch

on my mini hand-held tv

a few people gathered
they watch too

looking up from the tv

the sears tower is now being evacuated

i walk on

i arrive at work

my  building is closed

i head home
running past the sears tower
hoping it won't be hit

heather is already home

her building is closed too

another plane crashes in a field pennsylvania

then

the north tower goes down

heather leaves the city

suburb bound

i remember my dad is traveling

i panic

is he in new york?

it's possible... i can't remember

i call my mom in california

she's asleep

she knows nothing

i share the news

dad is in detroit

he's safe

will chicago be next?

will the sears tower be attacked?

will it fall?

dan comes home

we decide to stay in the city

all u.s. planes grounded and accounted for

we cry and cry

we can't stop watching the tv

downtown chicago is a ghost town
quiet
eerie

we hang a flag from our balcony
our neighbors do too

the world will never be the same

it's soccer season!

it's soccer season

and i love it

saturday was reilly's first game

the air was cool and crisp

(a little windy)

and we won!

Go Manchester United!

check out my little #6

after kneeing the ball

lots of running!

after reilly's first shot on goal.... i missed the photo :(

with coach after the game 

glowing after their 3 to 2 win 

so proud of our little bootsy!

-e