Fall weather recipe

It's a great day for homemade soup!

One of my favorite things to cook is soup. It stores really well, is easy to make and has those weather-comforting properties that make it so good! Below is one of my newest throw-it-in-the-pot-and-hope-it-comes-out-okay, cupboard clearing creations: vegetable lentil.



Use some variation of the following:

Sweat in a big pot:
1/2 onion
2 cloves of garlic
a small puddle of olive oil
pinch salt
pinch red pepper flake

Add (as much as you like)
3 stalks of celery
3 medium carrots
Cook until tender

I don't have measuring spoons, so I use my hands, makes life interesting!
palmful of cumin
palmful of corriander
Three bay leaves
a few grinds of the pepper mill

1 28oz. can of whole tomatoes (chop em up)
3 cans of water (use the empty tomato can)
1 can of chic peas (rinse em off)

I like to let this come to a boil

Then add
1 cup of lentils
1 bunch of rainbow chard (or whatever chard your market has)

Then cook this sucker till the lentils are soft, say 45 mins.? I usually add another tomato can of water at the half way point in this process.

At the very end, I like to add a few splashes of red wine vinegar. (I usually do this after I've divided the soup into various containers for storage.)

My basil runneth over

As we all know by now, I am a sucker for a farmers market. It's pretty clear I have some major veg love.

Last weekend I hit up the Ann Arbor Farmers Market and there was a colorful bounty of AMAZING tomatoes, peppers, corn, berries and herbs. And speaking of herbs, basil was the star of this Saturday morning. It was everywhere! Needless to say, I came home with a giant bag full, leaving me with the challenge to use it all. Can one ever use a giant bag of basil? Well I certainly tired. Here are two tasty, basily treats I came up with.

Heirloom tomato, mozzarella and basil salad and a basil infused green tea. Summer love!


And just because I can't help myself, here are some vegetable beauty shots.

The Jersey Shore

Well, not that Jersey Shore, well, maybe a little of that Jersey Shore.

I took a four-day vacation and flew into Atlantic City to meet up with family staying at a house on the shore in Sea Isle City, New Jersey. I know it seems strange to vacation in New Jersey, especially seeing as none of us had ever visited, but my mom placed a bid on a weeks stay during a charity auction, and bam, we were going to Jersey. We had a great, and HUMID time enjoying the beach, the food and a little Jersey (or is it Philly?) "wurta ice," or water ice.

Sunset over Sea Isle and the nightclub across the street from the nice house we stayed at.


The beach was just steps from our door.




A masterpiece dinner we prepared with all local ingredients, so tasty!




Here is the view from the balcony, we had a good view of the ocean and the only open air bar in town.






One random brother, who wishes to remain anonymous, mom and mark make their way down the street at sunset. On the right, we stayed in the left side of this lovely duplex.


Everywhere you look there's a pizza. I'm not gunna argue that.


When seagulls attack, Atlantic City boardwalk.


I started this post with a sunset, so I guess I'll end it with one too. Sunset through the windows of the Atlantic City airport overlooking the runway, as we wait out a delay.

Feeling creative? Hit the kitchen

I am often struck with involved visions of creativity. These flashes tend come in the form of massive projects that I am woefully unprepared for and must attempt to satisfy immediately, such as sewing new curtains for every window in the house in a weekend or knitting everyone's Christmas gifts the night before the big day. I am sure you can guess how these "visions" turn out. Over the years I've started to learn how to harness my creativity, often satisfying the need to create, by simpler, less involved means. One of the most convenient ways is cooking, well, minus the mess and dishes. There is nothing convenient about dishes.

Here is a farmer's market hash I made for breakfast earlier this week.


Lemon pepper crusted sole, with sautéed spinach, tomato, lemon aioli and Zingerman's bread!


And while I know I didn't exactly cook these, I couldn't help but take their picture. Fantastic made in Michigan summer treat!

Grill master

Turns out that I am obsessed with grilling. For the second weekend in a row, I bought every vegetable I could find and I cooked the heck out of them on the grill.



My sister and I went down to Detroit to visit my mom this past weekend. Lots of eating and lots of relaxing.




Over looking the Detroit River.

Never leave your corn unattended

My sister Julianne and I put together a fantastic early Father's Day dinner for our dad, Jack. We grilled up all sorts of veggies: asparagus, onions, peppers and of course some corn on the cob. Dinner was awesome and became entertainment only after I got up to get a napkin from the kitchen. I returned to Dad's kitty, Phoebe, stealing my half eaten corn off my plate and destroying it, right there on the table.

Another Saturday at Eastern Market - Detroit, Michigan

Here are some photos from another awesome Saturday afternoon at Eastern Market.



Fantastic rows of beauty!




If only they stayed this sweet and tiny!


My sister Julianne works the phones as we wait in line for lunch at Russell Street Deli. She likes plaid.

Eating Better

As of late, I have been eating like a college frat boy. Or at least what I think a college frat boy who doesn't eat meat would eat. The fridge is empty! I was so desperate for dinner last week that I ordered a pizza, something I do maybe twice a year. Over the weekend I dragged my behind to a grocery store or two (LOVE Trader Joe's!) and dropped a couple of bucks.

Here's a photo of some fish I inadvertently spent way too much on, but it was tasty!

Saturday at Eastern Market - Detroit, Michigan

Eastern Market is honestly one of my favorite places on the planet. Since I've moved back to Michigan (and have been granted Saturdays off!) I've been making more frequent trips. Interestingly enough, I did my first-ever photo essay at Eastern Market. It was terrible. I think it has since become a photo essay that I will work on for life, as I will always be collecting photographs of my experiences there.

Farmers and vendors come from all over the state and set up their stands in the sheds where they sell produce, baked goods, grains, plants and many other items for much less than most grocery store prices.


I couldn't resist photographing at this table, everything was bathed in beautiful, warm light. I managed to snatch up some of those red potatoes and a basket of onions, $1 each!


This vendor sells firewood. He was also caught trying to sell some charm to my mom, the wag of her finger told him who's boss!


Pretty red tulips on the left, Mom and Mark on the right.


I took this while we waited in line for my favorite restaurant in the village, Russell Street Deli. It's the kind of place where if there isn't a line out front, then they must be out of the day's fantastic specials. (See photo of my meatless ruben below, not a Saturday special, but special for my stomach!)

Good, Cheap, Veg Eats

One of the many perks of living in Ann Arbor is the city's diverse offerings in dining. Every time I am faced with choosing a place to eat, I get into an argument with myself. You name it and Ann Arbor's got it. It's basically the opposite problem I used to have where there was no need for an argument, because there were no options! Today was like any other (with exception of a beautiful blue sky!) There I found myself, standing on the corner of Liberty and Fifth street, with a rumble in my stomach, daring myself to make a decision. Where to eat? Good question. After an inner fist fight, I came to a simple conclusion: Earthen Jar, an all vegetarian Indian buffet, just a mere 50 steps away.

I know this is supposed to be a "fancy" photo blog, but hey, I didn't have my "fancy" camera when the inspiration hit to take these pictures so we will have to suffer through with unfancy iPhone photos for the sake of good food. I am sure you understand! ;)



All of this for $6.35. Which is a pretty good deal. I mean, come on, you can lose your retirement eating out in this city.




I mean really, where else can you go and hear the same Bob Marley song EVERY SINGLE TIME you are there. I think they just play it on a loop.