let it marinate.

Chicago Food Bloggers

2013-10-15T13:21:00.000-05:00

So I went to this a couple of weeks ago:
http://on.fb.me/1aJBIOb

I joined the Chicago Food Bloggers not too long ago, but I hadn’t attended an event yet.
I have been poking around at the site, getting to “know” the bloggers and seeing what other people are up to in my city, but this event gave me a chance to meet other writers/food lovers in person.
I’m up for networking events but often don’t make it to them. I jumped on the brown line and headed down to The Chopping Block (my former employer) at the Mart. It was a welcome change to attend a cooking class from the opposite point of view. While the recipes weren’t life-changing, they were tasty and it was a nice thing to do with my Sunday afternoon.

And if you’re a Chicago food blogger, join them! I’m looking forward to the next meet up.

let it marinate.: BALANCE.

2011-08-19T11:53:00.000-05:00

let it marinate.: BALANCE.: Underemployment is an interesting thing. Especially in the summer. And it's a constant balance to be...

BALANCE.

2011-08-19T11:51:00.000-05:00

Underemployment is an interesting thing. Especially in the summer. And it's a constant balance to be a good/fun mom, and to work dilligently at WORK. workplayworkplayworkplayworkplay.
I really try not to do the guilt thing, but I often feel guilty when I'm inside [read NOW] instead of outside on a beautiful fleeting August day, yet when I am am outside playing with my toddler, I feel equally as guilty that I'm not stuck inside looking for work. I know the work-life balance is a classic struggle moms go through, yet looking for a job poses its own unique problems.

Something's brewing. I'm going to be featured on a major coupon site, which is awesome, but there is a lot of work to be done in the meantime. And I'm confronted with a dilemma: do I continue to look for work, or spend my "free" time pursuing my dream of working for myself, or at the very least freelance? I'm fortunate to have something lined up for October, but what about until then?

Anyone else come upon these unique circumstances? I did come up with a temporary solution, if she's up for it: I have a SAHM friend who is also an outstanding playwright. On the days where she doesn't have coverage, maybe we can watch each other's kids, taking turns working. You up for it SAW?
image courtesy of toxel.com

website

2011-08-18T19:26:00.002-05:00

thinking. learning. creating. editing. liking. disliking. fixing. changing. confusing. enlightening.

creating a website, finally.

MsCareerGirl Event

2011-08-03T15:41:00.001-05:00

You know when you have second thoughts about attending a networking event for some silly reason? Yeah, well I had those about this particular event. I'm too old. I don't have a complete vision/business plan yet/it's a pain to go downtown, blahblahblah. And that's all those thoughts were. I am SO happy I went! I have to say, I am going to really make an effort to go to these events from now on. Some will be better than others, but I firmly believe that when it comes to reaching out, none are wastes of time.

MsCareerGirl herself: http://www.mscareergirl.com/ couldn't be nicer, and after reading her blog, I realized she too had some fears and trepidations about hosting as well. If we all had these and let them hold us back, nothing would be accomplished.

I FINALLY met Jill Salzman of: http://foundingmoms.com/ (who also couldn't be nicer and more supportive) and promised I would attend the next founding moms event. It's already on my calendar. Again, I didn't attend these meetings (mainly for mom entrepreneurs) because I didn't want to bring Z, they were "all the way" in Oak Park, or for some other foolish reason. But on the days/nights when I'm feeling like I'm in this alone, these meetings will help me. Even meeting Amanda Young: http://simplifiedmom.com/ (who had the cutest bookmarks promoting her book) and finding out she had similar things that were holding her back helped.

So this are definitely BABY steps, but steps nonetheless. I've applied to http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/welcome.aspx. (Cross your fingers!) I'm making steps toward this candy biz. I need a name. (Any ideas?) Jill gave me homework of coming up with one before the meeting (and bringing said candy with me of course).

Now I wish I was going to blogher 11! I guess I have to write more first.

I'm getting somewhere.

2011-05-16T11:19:00.001-05:00

Small steps. I met with a woman this morning (before work!) who works for Plum District. I'm not sure what the result of our meeting up will entail, but these are small business steps for me. On a different note, I also ~~want to~~ WILL start making candy to test out a few different recipes. Having a close pregnant friend who might pop at any moment is reason enough for gift giving and fun caramel/toffee/candy making. Even though the bacon thing is over saturated, I think it would make a great caramel, so I am going to experiment with that. Speaking of experimenting, I am also in the process of getting my foot in the door at a test kitchen, which would be super fun and a great opportunity. Working part-time and hangin' with the toddler set part-time? I like it. I see a tumbling class in our future, a block away, with the twins.

Too bad I can't take advantage of my time at Kellogg and take some type of mini-classes or something. If they were giving degrees out I probably couldn't get in. But I digress.
So..getting more focused. Honing. Thinking. Networking ideas. Ice cream? You never know. Etsy? Craft fairs? Farmer's Market?
babystepsbabystepsbabystepsbabystepsbabystepsbabystepsbabysteps

something.

2011-03-15T14:57:00.000-05:00

I'm supposed to write everyday. This is all fine & good, except for the fact that this was supposed to start over a year ago. I'm trying now. I have been doing yoga every day (only 10 minutes at home, but it's a start) thanks to my friend Steph. I'm figuring if I start to get disciplined in one area, it will spill over to the next. Right?

I have been contemplating my next career move, and trying to combat the feelings of STUCK I have been having. I spoke with a friend about my next step, about starting this candy biz I have merely been talking about,
(my un-resolution is less talk and more action) about continuing to freelance, and really navigating that world. The online cooking class I helped with was a great start. There really are a lot of things out there in the freelance writing/cooking/blogosphere. You just have to know where to look, where to start, where to go from here.
This is the hard part. I kind of feel like with every step, I get more and more motivated. It's when I'm home with Z (no offense choochoo) that my motivation begins to wane.
(Although my candy ideas seem to get better. Go figure for winter boredom).

What I DON'T want to do is put my culinary background to waste. Starting a business is so tough, yet I love the creativity and autonomy that comes from it. I'd love to start small, i.e. farmers markets, fundraisers, friends, family, etc. I'd start with one kind of candy/maybe two, one or two flavors, and that's it.

Now all I need is a name, a business plan, money, a kitchen to work in...

Not much huh?

Anyone have any tips to combat their own lack of motivation? Or business tips? Candy tips? I'll take 'em all.

Sweet Treats Class Recap

2011-03-15T09:56:00.000-05:00

For those of you who missed the Sweet Treats class, here is a recap.

Thanks for checking it out!

themotherhood.com

Sweet Treats class today!

2011-03-09T11:20:00.000-06:00

I am co-hosting a Sweet Treats class on the Motherhood today.
Please come check it out! This is my first time doing this, but it should be fun.
More to come on this blog..there is a lot of work to do, but also some exciting things on the horizon.

let it marinate.: tasty blogs

2011-01-07T22:21:00.000-06:00

let it marinate.: Immersion Blender

2011-01-07T22:18:00.000-06:00

let it marinate.: Immersion Blender

Immersion Blender

2011-01-07T22:17:00.000-06:00

A good friend and I had a GREAT dinner at Nightwood tonight. I highly recommend it.
We were talking about a lot of things, i.e. life, getting older, being happy, being complacent, challenging ourselves, DOING something. I know it's a total cliche, and it's a cliche for saying it's a cliche, but I'm ~~trying to focus~~ focusing on more doing and less talking. Perfect example right there. So this post is about not much, but trying to write something every day. And I still haven't replaced my immersion blender, although I did get this:for my birthday and LOVE it. Anyway, which immersion blenders do you like? Thoughts?

Win! Win! Win!

2010-11-04T12:12:00.005-05:00

Ok. I NEED to write soon. Today. Yesterday. I need to make the donuts. I. e. truffles.
But first, my immersion blender just broke, and I'm trying to win one, and you can too!
Visit this awesome blog:

http://thehappiestmom.com/?p=1952&cpage=1#comment-6351
and you can also win a copy of Louisa Shafia’s cookbook, Lucid Food: Cooking For An Eco-Conscious Life.

And more to come from me.

GOAL: Writing for a Living.

2010-02-15T15:07:00.005-06:00

NOW: Sitting in a coffee shop in Evanston.

A RANT of Sorts.
I got an email yesterday. A friend nicely thought of me and wanted to let me know of two women-in-food events that are happening this week. I'm not sure I'll go. They're both downtown. They both sound equally inviting: One is Terra Brockman speaking on her new book: The Seasons on Henry's Farm: A Year of Food and Life on a Sustainable Farm. The other is a discussion with five different Chicago female entrepreneurs. This is what stops me in my tracks. I want to go. This is right up my alley. EXACTLY what I want to be doing - either writing about food, and/or having my own food-related business. The problem? A seemingly silly one, although one which has probably been stopping my all along. I am jealous. Is this crazy? I should be happy for these women. But I'm not. I know why. It is because I am capable of starting out on my own..I'm just scared. 

Foodies are all around us these days. They have always been all around me, growing up with two foodie parents and many relatives, and a bunch of my friends are foodies as well. Just as I'm sitting in this cafe, the people next to me are talking food. One has pictures from last night's dinner. So what's holding me back? I went to school for this. I went BACK to school for this. I have loans for this. People without a culinary degree venture out on their own all of the time. I find excuses: new baby (not so new now), not enough money, (most never have enough) not a new idea. I'm thinking now, no ideas are new, they evolve out of old ones or improve on old ones. THIS I CAN HANDLE. I  DO have an idea: a truffle business. I saw one at the Uncommon Ground farmers market this summer. A teeny tiny market, a one-woman-show of a truffle business. Just because she's out there, by no means means I can't be. Competition is good. I can start out small, in my kitchen, selling to friends. 

The funny thing is, I didn't love the pastry part of culinary school. Even staying on to get a pastry certificate, I didn't love it. I am a savory person. But I adored my chocolate class. Who wouldn't? 
Truffles are fun. They're manageable. People love them. People are happy when they get them. I wouldn't want to start a catering company. Small cooking classes, yes. A restaurant? Oh no..not for me. But truffles? Yes. I need a name. I need recipes. I need flavors. But most of all, I need motivation. This is the start.

Almost TWO years later??

2010-01-27T17:45:00.003-06:00

My last post was almost two years ago. My goal is to be writing for a living. This will not work. How funny that I was writing about going to the dentist, and I've started up yet again. This brings up an interesting problem for me: I like to eat. Being that I have one tooth that may need a root canal and another that needs to be pulled, I now have to watch what I eat. So..do I delve into the world of puddings, smoothies, baby food? That doesn't sound like much fun. Nuts seem to be a problem. Popcorn is out. Candy?? Not so much. So I think I will make a pudding. I have coconut milk and coconut cream leftover from the Massaman curry I made last night (which was soo good, btw). http://macandcheesereview.blogspot.com/2006/11/massaman-curry.html (Thanks Taylor!)

I'll let you know what I come up with.

tasty blogs

2008-04-02T17:32:00.004-05:00

I found these on another blog, and I'd like to check them out. I've added a few too.

*A Chicken in Every Granny Cart
* A Finger in Every Pie
* Accidental Hedonist
* Alice q. Foodie
* Amateur Gourmet
* Baking and Books
* Baking Sheet
* Becks & Posh
* Bitespot
* Bron Marshall
* Brownie Points
* Bruni Digest
* Candy Blog
* Chez Pim
* Chocolate & Zucchini
* Christine Cooks
* Chubby Hubby
* Cookbook 411
* Cooking with Amy
* Cream Puffs in Venice
* Culinary Concoctions by Peabody
* Culinary in the Desert
* David Lebovitz
* Delicious Days
* Dinner for One
* Dirty Sugar Cookies
* Domestic Goddess
* Eggbeater
* Epi-Log
* Farmgirl Fare
* Food Blog S’cool
* Foodmomiac
* Food Porn Watch
* I was really just very hungry
* Kalyn's Kitchen
* Kiplog’s Foodblog

* * Kitchenography
* Kuidaore
* La Mia Cucina
* La Tartine Gourmande
* Lenndevours
* Lex Culinaria
* Lobstersquad
* Lucullian Delights
* Mahanandi
* Megnut
* Milk & Cookies
* Noodle Pie
* Nordljus
* Obsession With Food
* Orangette
* Oswego Tea
* Seriously Good
* Simply Recipes
* Spice Blog
* Sweetnicks
* Tasting Menu
* The Delicious Life
* The Food Section
* The Food Whore
* The Girl Who Ate Everything
* The Laughing Gastronome
* The Passionate Cook
* The Wednesday Chef
* Tigers & Strawberries
* Too Many Chefs
* Traveler’s Lunchbox
* Vanilla Garlic
* Vinography
* Weekly Dish
* What's For Lunch Honey
* 101 Cookbooks
* Chefs Blogs

some more random pics

2008-03-13T14:01:00.009-05:00

why me?

2008-03-13T13:15:00.002-05:00

i went to a women's blog seminar-type thing yesterday. it was supposed to be a motivation for me to really write on this blog i have, instead of just thinking and talking and procrastinating about it. after all, i can take all these foodie pics, but they don't do anybody any good in my camera.

so i went to the seminar, and it was great. i met all sorts of different women--the ones on the panel who have had blogs for years, the ones from yahoo who were putting this site together, and some women who simply read and enjoy them. i made some nice contacts.

i'm now in my kitchen eating a latelate brunch (after returning from the dentist yet again) and am reading the food section from yesterday. they're discussing all these foodie blogs. i decided..I NEED TO WRITE SOMETHING. NOW. i learned to simply dive in. the readers will come. but if these other people can write about food, why can't i? what makes them authorities on food, and not me? i love to cook, i love to eat, i love to talk about food.

after all, what was all that toil at kendall for?

so i'm off and running, almost a year after i started this. i have some backup pics i'll put up. i'll write about my new teaching job. it's almost spring, and it all feels good.

so there.

2008-01-15T00:51:00.001-06:00

birthday sushi made just for me!

dinner one night

2008-01-15T00:49:00.001-06:00

2008-01-15T00:47:00.001-06:00

latkes!

2008-01-15T00:45:00.001-06:00

latkes!

2008-01-15T00:41:00.000-06:00

young's chocolate stout. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/152/73/ who needs dessert?

2008-01-15T00:40:00.001-06:00

are you serious??

i've been neglectful

2008-01-15T00:27:00.000-06:00

thanksgiving

my breakfast one day
my dinner another day
mmmmm mocha porter